The Lone Wolf's Lycan Princess

Mouse

River POV

Humans annoyed me to no end. Their constant presence grated on my nerves, and so I chose to live as far away from them as possible. I had a career within their world, but I made sure to avoid crowded cities or densely populated areas whenever I could. However, there was one reason I agreed to meet in person - my mate. I have sensed her for four years, and I could occasionally feel her presence. At first, it was faint, but I knew she was out there, suffering. Sometimes, as I slept, I heard her silent pleas to never wake up again. It pained me deeply.

I had moved to a secluded cabin, an hour away from the city, because I could feel her more strongly in this area. Whenever the mate bond allowed me to sense her more intensely, I would venture closer, hoping to finally find her and release her from whatever torment she endured. Recently, a new publisher contacted me about my work. I was self-published and had little interest, but I decided to go to the meeting, as I had a feeling my mate might be nearby. However, I had experienced this feeling before, only to end up disappointed in the end.

I sat in the meeting room, my mood already sour. My wolf Max, was on edge as well. Suddenly, her scent hit me. Max perked up immediately, informing me that my mate was in the building. I was about to excuse myself from the meeting, but before I could do so, the door opened. Her scent grew stronger as a girl with reddish-blonde hair entered. She was petite in height, with flawless skin and no makeup. She exuded natural beauty, wearing a form-fitting black dress that Max despised for showing too much of her off. However, it also revealed her worryingly thin figure, causing concern to wash over me.

I could sense her fear and trembling, her desperate attempt to hide her discomfort. Slowly, she began delivering drinks to the attendees. The head of the company looked at her in a way that made my blood boil. I had a gut feeling that the sick bastard had something to do with the dress she wore. And when he announced that she was mute, he did so with an air of superiority. By the time she reached me, she was on the verge of a panic attack. I knew about her struggles, as I had sensed her anxiety for years. I desperately hoped that my voice could reach her, as I tried to calm her down from far away.

Her hand trembled so violently when she took my cup, the clattering of porcelain against saucer echoed through the room. I couldn't bear to witness it any longer, but my intervention only led to trouble for her. As she left, the head of the company spoke with a calculated tone, "I apologize, she is not our regular assistant. I made a grave mistake in assigning her. She will be promptly removed from this company." His words seemed almost rehearsed, as if he had orchestrated her failure.

I pushed my chair back abruptly, rising to my feet. "Who was that girl to this company?" I demanded, my voice filled with frustration.

"A nobody. She will be dealt with, I assure you," he responded dismissively.

An idea struck me, and I decided to strike a deal. "I'll sign a contract with you, but on one condition. As you know, I prefer to work alone. However, you offered to assign an assistant to me. Erin is to be my assistant," I declared firmly.

"The mute girl? She's hardly trained," one of the employees interjected.

Ignoring the comment, I stood my ground. "She is who I want, and I will only agree if she is the one."

"Very well. I will make the necessary arrangements for her," the owner conceded.

"I have a spare room, so no living arrangements will be needed," I explained.

"Draft the contract and have it sent to my hotel," I instructed, as I turned and walked out of the room. The urgency to find Erin was overwhelming. If I didn't locate her soon, my wolf would go berserk. Following her strong scent, I made my way towards the restrooms.

As I neared, the sound of commotion reached my ears. Rage coursed through me, and I burst into the scene. The receptionist was lucky to escape with her life as I swooped Erin into my arms, carrying her out of the restroom.

Several people tried to stop me in the hallway, their urgent voices echoing off the walls. Ignoring their pleas, I pushed past them, my focus solely on getting her away. With gentle determination, I cradled her fragile form in my arms and hurried through the parking garage.

As I placed her in the backseat of my car, a sudden realization struck me like a bolt of lightning. My briefcase. I had left it behind in the building. Letting out a weary sigh, I closed the car door and sprinted back inside.

Max's disapproval lingered in my mind for leaving our mate as I hurriedly left Erin alone in the car. In my briefcase were sensitive documents that I couldn't afford falling into the wrong hands. As I made my way back, a familiar voice interrupted me. "Missing something?" The girl from the bathroom stood before me, clutching my briefcase. "You know, I'd make a far better assistant than that silent mouse," she sneered.

Suppressing my instinct to growl, I maintained my human facade. Humans were oblivious to my kind, and I intended to keep it that way. "I prefer someone who keeps quiet," I replied tersely, snatching my briefcase from her grasp.

Approaching the car, I noticed the backseat door ajar. Panic surged through me as I realized my mate was no longer there. Frustration surged within me, causing me to slam my hand against the hood of the car. The secretary, a thorn in my side, approached once more. "The little mouse scurried off again. You'll quickly learn she's afraid of everyone," she taunted.

"Tell me where she lives," I commanded.

The secretary shrugged, claiming ignorance. "No idea, but she'll be back soon. Timid as she is, she never misses a shift. Expect her around 8 to clean the building." I nodded curtly, turning away and climbing into my car.

The constant reference to Erin as a mouse drove me to the brink of madness, but I maintained control. "Find her," my wolf snarled within my mind. I agreed silently, knowing we would return later, but caution was necessary. Our mate was frightened, and we needed to tread carefully. It seemed her wolf had yet to connect with her, despite my sensing its presence. Today, she remained unaware of her true nature.

She doesn't sense our bond; I doubt she even knows what one is. The only thing I am certain of is that she recognized my voice.

I didn't care for a mate bond for a long time, believing it would only be a weakness. Cast out of my pack when I was young, I've fended for myself, fought for my life. Taking on a mate, I assumed, would only add to my responsibilities. But I was wrong. The first time I sensed her presence, I felt her become a part of my strength, a part of my soul. And not just that, she was the one I was chosen to keep safe.

The moment I sensed her suffering, I made a promise to myself. I would find her, I would not fail, for the moon goddess had chosen me for her. The more I sensed her, the deeper my feelings grew. Though I am unaware of the cause of her suffering, the reason she does not speak, I am determined to uncover the truth and help her heal. I want her to become strong. I just hope she will accept me, someone who has been rejected by many for being the bastard son of the Alpha.

Max was restless, pushing me to only visit my hotel briefly and then return. I parked and kept watch of the building. As the clock approached eight, I finally saw her enter, all alone. "We need to go to her," Max insisted in my mind.

"I understand, but you have already witnessed how she fears being around others. We can't spook her," I reasoned with him. He grumbled in my mind yet agreed. Although I wanted to be with her right now, take her away from what scared her, I needed to be patient.

My phone buzzed, jolting me from my thoughts. I glanced at the caller ID, wondering who would be calling me at this time. It was Steven, the owner of the company. I answered, greeting him over the phone. "River, I wanted to personally thank you for signing with us. I just finished your contract and will have it delivered first thing in the morning," he explained. This may be my excuse to go back in.

"I'm actually in the area. How about I pick it up real fast and save you the trouble?" I offered.

"That works. I will stay and wait for you," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. I ended the call and waited several minutes before making my way towards the building. Steven had already notified security, making my entry easy. I was guided to his office, one of the few with lights on. As I walked, I caught a faint whiff of my mate's scent a few doors down.

Steve welcomed me at his door, a warm smile on his face. "Come in, let's have a drink," he said. I rarely accepted offers like this, but it kept me here, so I obliged. He placed a glass of whisky in front of me, its rich aroma filling the air. I skimmed through the contract as I sipped the drink, the smooth liquid warming me from the inside. Sure enough, it detailed Erin coming to stay with me as a personal assistant for the three-month contract term.

"So Erin has agreed?" I asked him, my curiosity piqued.

"She will. She needs this job, so there will be no issue. Although I will offer one more time, I have others better fit. Erin, well, she is not good at much. She is only here due to a program our company is part of," he explained, his voice tinged with a hint of pity.

"I assume all risk choosing her, but I won't sign until she accepts," I said.

"Well, then it seems you came at the perfect time since she is here. I'll go grab her," he replied, requesting that I wait. I remained seated, the leather chair cool against my skin, and after some time, Erin walked into the room.

"Erin, this is River, the author from the meeting earlier. Can you please nod, showing you have accepted being his personal assistant?" he said to her.

Erin nodded without ever looking at me, her eyes fixed on the ground. I could almost feel her fear in the air, causing me to yet again hold back a growl.

"If I may request, I would like a moment to speak with her alone," I said.

"Very well," Steve said, leaving me alone in his office. He shut the door, blocking out the noise from outside. Erin stayed against the wall, her gaze still towards the ground.

"Erin, I'm afraid I've never even had an assistant, so I'm new to this. I know you have shown you accept, but once I talk to you, I'll have you confirm once more, okay?" I said. She nodded, avoiding eye contact.

"First off, is it true that you are unable to speak?" I asked her. She nodded again, her silence speaking volumes.

"I understand, and that's not an issue. I can promise you that taking on this temporary position will be very easy. I have a large room for you and guarantee you will have your personal space. We are strangers, and I can tell you are nervous, but I promise you will not be made to do anything you are uncomfortable with. Since you are unable to speak, I will give you my number. Anytime you are not comfortable with a request at work, simply text me. I won't be upset, understand?" I reassured her. She nodded, her body language showing a mix of relief and apprehension.

"Do you have a cell phone on you?" I asked. She nodded again, her fingers fidgeting slightly.

"Text me then," I said, providing her with my number. She typed it on her phone and sent a text with her name in the message.

"Erin, do you accept coming with me for three months?" I asked her. She typed on her phone this time, her fingers moving swiftly. Soon, my phone buzzed with a message.

"I accept. I'll do my best, sir, and will try not to disappoint," it read.

"She called us sir. Does she think we are old?" Max grumbled in my mind.

"She is trying to be polite," I replied.

"I look forward to working with you then, Erin," I said, extending my hand. She hesitated for a moment, her hand trembling slightly, before finally placing hers in mine. As our hands met, I regretted making her uncomfortable as I now sensed she was even more panicked.

"I'll be signing tonight since I'm not one to stay in the city," I said, the words hanging in the air as I glanced at the dimly lit room. I looked at Erin, her nod confirming her readiness to leave by 10 am the next morning. Gratitude filled me as I acknowledged her, "Thank you, Erin. You may continue with your work now." The creak of the door opening added a sense of finality as she left the office.

Just as I thought the conversation was over, Steve reappeared. With no need for further discussion, I reached for a pen and signed the contract. Placing the signed copy on his desk. "I'll be departing tomorrow morning. Erin is aware of the time," I stated simply. As I walked away, I knew that earning her trust would take time, but for now, I found solace in the fact that I was one step closer to her.