Her Dragon Protector

Prologue

Olivia Cook sat in her car in the Dark Moon Industries parking lot. She managed to eke out a living with the pictures she took, but her dream was to be a professional photographer; this was her chance. Her mother had told her that a staff photographer was needed for Dark Moon Instrusties. They needed someone who could photograph their events as well as their sales and marketing campaigns. While that was not the wildlife, nature, and landscapes she preferred to shoot, it was a start at a company she knew would help her reach her goals. 

“You got this,” she mumbled as she exited her car and walked to the building.

Olivia paused momentarily at the revolving glass door as she shifted her portfolio under her arm. Then, she took a deep breath and went to the receptionist’s desk. The woman sitting behind it greeted her with a bright smile.

“Good morning, and welcome to Dark Moon Industries. How may I help you?” the woman asked Olivia.

“Good morning,” Olivia replied. “I am here to interview for the photographer position.”

“You must be Ms. Cook. I will let them know you are here, and someone will be down shortly,” the receptionist told her as she motioned to a row of chairs against the wall facing the elevators.

“Thank you,” Olivia nodded before taking her seat. 

She hoped the interview would only be a formality. Olivia belonged to the Dark Moon Pack, and Alpha Nicholas Williams was its leader. He was also the current CEO of Dark Moon Industries. The company preferred to hire werewolves and, if possible, from the Dark Moon Pack. Olivia knew she was the best and most qualified photographer in the pack. 

When the elevator doors opened, Olivia froze when she saw Jacob Sanders, the pack Beta and Chief Financial Officer for Dark Moon Industries, enter the lobby. He was friends with her older brother Eric, and she had always had a bit of a crush on him when she was younger.

“Livie!” Jacob called out as he stepped toward Olivia. “I was hoping it was you when I saw your name.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. “Eric has sent me quite a few pictures you have taken, and I love them,” he continued as he placed his hand on her back, guided her to the elevator, and waited for the doors to close before he continued. “There are many that you have taken around the pack that I have shared with the Alpha, and he is very impressed, so you can relax a little and stop holding your breath.”

Olivia bit her lip and exhaled the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She could feel her face flushing with embarrassment.

Jacob chuckled, “You have always done that, especially if you were nervous.” The elevator doors opened, and she followed him until they stood before a pair of large wooden doors. “I can almost promise you that you already have the job,” he whispered. “You just have to meet the boss.”

Jacob pulled one of the wooden doors open and motioned for Olivia to enter. He followed her and nodded to the blonde woman sitting behind the desk next to another set of doors. A plaque on the door read: Nicholas Williams, CEO.

“Gretchen,” Jacob addressed the blonde with a nod.

“He is waiting for you,” She replied as she inspected Olivia with a critical eye.

Jacob gave the door with the nameplate a soft knock before he opened it and stepped in. Olivia entered after him and saw her Alpha sitting behind his desk. Olivia tried to be calm and not stare at him, but it was difficult. Nicholas pushed his wavy brown hair away from his face as he looked at her with ocean-blue eyes. She could feel her heart pounding and knew the Alpha and Beta could hear it.

“Ms. Cook, it is a pleasure to meet you finally,” Alpha Nicholas told her. “Jake has shared your work with me frequently over the last few years, and it is impressive.”

“Thank you, Alpha,” Olivia replied as she bowed her head to him in respect.

“Please call me Nicholas. I like to have a more personal connection with the people I work with, and we will be working together closely on many projects. Your work will represent Dark Moon Industries. I will have the final say on all of it.”

“I understand, Nicholas. I have brought my portfolio with me so you can see the full scope of my abilities if you would like to see it,” Olivia offered.

“I would love to,” Nicholas said as Jake took the case containing her work and handed it to his boss before moving around the desk to also look at the photos. “Please sit, Ms. Cook, while we look through your pictures.”

Olivia sat in the chair in front of his desk and said, “Please call me Olivia.”

“Olivia,” Nicholas smiled as he unzipped and opened her case. He immediately let out a gasp as he saw the first photograph. It was of the sunset over their pack lands. The bright reds, oranges, and purples were in sharp contrast to the black shadows in the valleys. “Olivia, this is stunning. Why haven’t I seen this before?”

Olivia shrugged and replied, “Honestly, it never occurred to me that you would be interested. Over the years, I have taken thousands of pictures of the sunset and sunrise around the pack. I took most of them for myself and have never shared them.”

“I want to see all of them,” Nicholas stated firmly.

“All of them?”

“Yes…all of them,” Nicholas told her as he continued to look at her work. “If you haven’t guessed, you’re hired. I also want to add to your job description. You will not only be the staff photographer for Dark Moon Industries, but also the pack photographer. I want pictures of every event that takes place in the pack as well as more things like this.” He held up a picture of the river that ran through the center of the pack. A wolf sat proudly, watching two pups playing in the flowers near the water’s edge. “This is beautiful, and it shows what we are.”

“Thank you,” Olivia gushed. “Of course, whatever you need me to photograph here or at home, I am thrilled to do it. I can send you the link to where all of my photos are stored, and you can look at them all.”

“That would be perfect,” Jacob said.

Nicholas closed her portfolio and looked at her. “I do have a question for you, Olivia. I have seen a few portraits here but not a single self-portrait. Why is that?” he questioned.

“Oh, that,” Olivia stammered with a weak smile. “I have a great love of being behind the camera. I have an equal hatred for being in front of the camera. I know that may seem strange, but I despise having my picture taken or being on film. I always have. You can ask Jake. I’m sure he can remember at least once when I put up a fight about having my picture taken as a kid. I still do.”

Jacob laughed, “Oh yes. Nick, I remember more than a few times when it happened. She always wanted to be the one taking the pictures. It turns out she was right, and that was exactly where she should have been from the start.”

“I agree,” Nicholas stated. “Olivia, you belong behind the camera. You have a gift, and it is one that we need. I will see you at 8 am on Monday morning. The two of us will go over the first assignment I want you to take care of for us.”

“Thank you,” Olivia beamed. “Thank you both. I promise you won’t regret this.”

“I’m sure we won’t,” Nicholas told her as he handed her the portfolio. “Can you find your way back down, or do you need Jake to walk you out?”

“I can find my way. Thank you again,” Olivia said before turning and leaving the office. 

Even though the office was soundproof, neither man spoke for close to a minute to ensure that Olivia had left the floor. Then, finally, Jacob was the one who broke the silence.

“Alright, Nick, what gives?” he questioned.

Nicholas raised an eyebrow and asked, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you never work one-on-one with anyone here other than me. You always delegate everything. Why, suddenly, are you taking over all of the final approval of Olivia’s work? That isn’t something that either one of us has ever done.”

“There is something about her,” Nicholas sighed.

“Something about her? Could you be more specific?”

“As soon as she stepped into this office, I wanted her.”

Jake asked, “Are you telling me she is your mate?”

“No, not a fated mate anyway. But I must say, I would not mind taking her as a chosen mate. I am getting old enough that some are beginning to ask questions as to why I have not found my mate.”

“What have you told them?”

“Nothing because it is none of their business. What happens in my personal life is no one’s business but mine as long as it doesn’t affect this corporation or the pack.”

“I agree with you, but please, don’t hurt her. I watched her grow up and think of her like a little sister.”

“I won’t hurt her. I promise I won’t do anything she doesn’t want me to do. Does that make you feel better?” Nicholas asked with a smile. 

Jake sighed, “I wish I could say yes, but no, it doesn’t.”