CLAIMED BY THE ALPHA CEO

café just outside the university gates, clutching her reusable cup with both hands like it might warm more

morning she hadn'

vict

with her usual grin. Her braids were threaded with thin

ot no sleep and too much c

d up re-reading the note

cally, voice low. "Because Professor Dus

a blu

ned like a wicke

talk about ancient funeral rituals and I'd still sit i

as something magnetic about him. Something dangerous in the way he n

poken a word

dn't stop t

prises – H

links on his charcoal suit as

se in a huff that morning, a

her stockings up with practiced irritat

n't de

l lingered-fai

caught it again. In the halls. On the

rack it. Always fadi

deep within him. "Y

ed under his breath, ignoring the startl

this scent had cracked something open inside him-something f

e. Moonlight

nished ev

University –

uring in from the tall arched windows as Auro

lence here. She

il from her internship supervisor-standard schedule conf

en sure he kn

," a shadow pass

look

er, a few books in one han

rming. Sharp jaw. Impossibly long lashes.

calmly, voice low a

Yes-I mean, yes,

her, setting his bo

, adjusting his glasses. "You're not afraid to argue m

mmering. "I... I didn't kn

orner of his mouth twitching-almost a

s met for

est ti

he added, softer now. "Even if y

ess I just... relate to p

watching her like he cou

l," he said quietly.

no

efore leaving a folded slip of pap

articles that might help. I'll ex

ring after him with trembling han

ises – Rooft

, sleeves rolled to his elbows, c

ut sometimes he li

sed hi

in. Lingering on the wi

ed low in

here. Rig

't I find her?" Damien

te doesn't

his eyes, da

de it, or maybe the damn café across the st

fin

en he

if he'd be able