Liliam

The office buzzed with the usual morning chatter, but today, there was a palpable excitement in the air. As I settled into my desk, I could hear snippets of conversation all around me, and it didn't take long to realize the subject of the gossip: Zeff Gunnolf, the new intern.

"He's so handsome, did you see his eyes?" one of the girls whispered to her friend, barely concealing her excitement.

"And those tattoos—so mysterious," another added, her voice filled with admiration.

I tried to focus on my work, but the constant murmuring was hard to ignore. It seemed every group in the office had something to say about Zeff. I glanced over at him; he was busy at his desk, oblivious to the attention he was garnering. Or maybe he was just good at pretending not to notice.

"He's working with Liliam, you know," someone said, not quite as quietly as they probably intended.

The statement seemed to spread like wildfire. I could feel eyes turning toward me, curiosity and perhaps a bit of envy sparking in their gazes.

"Lucky her," I heard a sarcastic tone. "Of course, she gets the hot intern."

The whispers grew louder, and I tried to focus on the spreadsheet in front of me, but it was impossible to ignore the growing resentment. The girls who usually chatted amicably with me now shot me looks that ranged from curious to outright hostile.

"Do you think she's, you know, into him?" one girl speculated, her voice dripping with intrigue.

"Isn't Liliam already in a relationship?" another questioned, raising an eyebrow. "Doesn't she have a boyfriend?"

"I wouldn't be surprised. She's always so quiet and reserved. Maybe she's got a wild side we don't know about," another replied, giggling.

The gossip was relentless, and I could feel the weight of their words pressing down on me. It was both embarrassing and frustrating. I had done nothing to deserve their suspicion or envy.

As the day wore on, the office atmosphere grew more charged. I noticed my workload increasing. Files began piling up on my desk, requests for assistance coming in from all directions. It was common as I turned into the saving godmother that solve problems around. It was the reason I always end up training interns and new hires.

"Hey, Liliam, could you handle this report for me? I'm swamped," one of them said, not meeting my eyes as she dropped a thick file on my desk.

"Yeah, and I need these documents sorted out by the end of the day," another added, her tone almost dismissive.

I sighed inwardly, feeling the pressure mount. It was clear they were trying to make my life difficult, perhaps hoping I'd be too busy to spend any time with Zeff. I glanced over at him; he seemed engrossed in his work, his presence a stark contrast to the chaos around me.

I squared my shoulders and got to work, focusing on the tasks at hand. I juggled between answering phone calls, typing up reports, and handling the extra workload that was being unfairly dumped on me.

During lunch, I overheard more whispers in the break room.

"Did you see how close he sits to her? I bet she loves the attention," one girl said, her voice dripping with envy.

"Well, she'd better not get too comfortable. New interns don't last long around here," another chimed in.

I glanced at Zeff's desk and just noticed how awfully close was to mine. I caught Zeff's eye. He gave me a small, encouraging smile, completely unaware of the turmoil he'd unintentionally stirred up. His presence was a double-edged sword, bringing both a sense of connection and an avalanche of complications.

Just as I was starting to feel overwhelmed, a steaming cup of coffee appeared on my desk. I looked up, surprised to see Zeff standing there with a kind smile on his face.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Thought you could use a pick-me-up," he said softly, placing the coffee beside my keyboard.

"Thank you," I replied, genuinely touched by the gesture. The warmth of the cup seeped into my hands, offering a small but much-needed comfort.

"Looks like they're piling it on you today," Zeff observed, glancing at the stacks of files and the constantly ringing phone.

I sighed. "Yeah, it's been a bit... hectic."

"If you need any help, just let me know," he offered, his eyes full of sincerity.

I smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude. "I might take you up on that. Thanks, Zeff."

As he returned to his desk, the aroma of coffee and chocolate mingled in the air, providing a soothing backdrop to the chaos around me. Despite the gossip, the extra work, and the stress, having Zeff's support made everything a little more bearable. It was clear that this was going to be an interesting few weeks, and I was determined to navigate it with as much grace and resilience as I could muster.

*****

Zeff

The office was quieting down as the evening wore on. The fluorescent lights cast a stark glow over the nearly deserted room, and the hum of computers was the only sound breaking the silence. I glanced at the clock on my screen: 8:45 PM. Most of the office had already left, but I was still here, determined to make a good impression on my first days.

I looked over at Liliam. She was still at her desk, her eyes drooping, head slowly tilting to the side. Her hands rested on the keyboard, but it was clear she was fighting a losing battle against sleep.

Her exposed neck caught my attention, the soft curve of her skin illuminated by the light from her monitor. My breath hitched, and I felt an intense, primal urge surge through me. Gaius, my wolf, stirred restlessly within me, his instincts screaming to mark her as ours.

_Calm down, Gaius,_ I mentally whispered, trying to soothe him. _Not now. Not here._

But the sight of her, so vulnerable and unaware, was almost too much to bear. The scent of blackberries filled the air, it was intoxicating, and I had to close my eyes for a moment to regain control.

_Later,_ I promised him, _when the time is right._

Slowly, I approached her desk, each step deliberate and quiet. The urge to touch her, to claim her, was overwhelming, but I kept it in check. I reached out and gently tapped her shoulder.

"Liliam," I said softly, trying not to startle her.

She stirred, blinking her eyes open. "Zeff?"

"You were falling asleep," I said with a gentle smile. "It's late. You should head home."

She rubbed her eyes and waved her hand sleepily, as if to dismiss me. "Just a few more minutes..."

But before she could finish her sentence, she leaned down, her head resting on the keyboard. The scene made me chuckle softly. She looked so peaceful, so innocent.

I couldn't resist. My fingers traced the curve of her neck gently, feeling the warmth of her skin. Liliam moaned softly, a small smile playing on her lips. The sound sent a shiver down my spine, and I had to breathe in deeply, struggling to calm Gaius from taking over.

_Calm down, Gaius,_ I told him firmly. _Not now._

It took all my self-control to pull my hand away, to not let the primal urges take over. I leaned down and whispered, "Liliam, you really need to go home and get some rest."

She stirred again, slowly sitting up and blinking at me with those captivating amber eyes. "Okay, okay. You win," she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.

I helped her gather her things, all the while keeping a tight rein on my wolf. As she stood up, I placed a gentle hand on her back, guiding her towards the elevator.

"Let's get you home," I said softly, my voice betraying the mix of longing and protectiveness I felt.

As we descended to the ground floor, the elevator hummed softly around us. Liliam leaned slightly against the wall, clearly exhausted. The scent of blackberries and her presence was both soothing and torturous.

The elevator doors opened with a quiet ding, and we stepped out into the lobby. As we walked towards the exit, I noticed a familiar figure. Owen was downstairs, closing up the retail shop next door. He looked up as we approached, a frown immediately crossing his face.

"What are you doing here?" Owen asked, his voice tinged with suspicion as he looked between Liliam and me.

"I was just making sure Liliam got home safely," I replied, keeping my tone polite but firm. "She was working late."

Owen's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of jealousy flickering in his gaze. "And why is that your business?"

Liliam, still half-asleep, managed to speak up. "Zeff works with me now, Owen. He's the new intern."

Owen's expression softened slightly as he looked at her, but his eyes darted back to me, assessing. "Alright, let's get you home then." He stepped forward, gently taking Liliam's arm from me. I felt a pang of jealousy but kept my expression neutral.

"Thanks for helping her," Owen said, looking at me with a mix of gratitude and clear territoriality.

"Of course," I replied, my eyes meeting Liliam's for a brief moment. "Have a good night."

As they walked away, Owen glanced back at me, his jaw set. The scent of blackberries lingered in the air, mingling with the bittersweet taste of longing. Gaius howled softly in my mind, and I had to breathe deeply to calm both of us.

The sight of Owen's possessiveness over Liliam stirred something primal in me. I knew I had to be patient, but the jealousy gnawed at me, reminding me of what I couldn't yet claim. Our time would come, and when it did, I would be ready. Until then, I would protect her from the shadows, waiting for the moment when I could finally make her mine.