Rejecting My Shifter Boss by Skye Alder

One

Kiera

I keepmy head down as I grab my purse and lunch bag from the bottom drawer of my desk and take off for the elevator. I’m supposed to be meeting my sister, Peyton, downstairs for lunch in five minutes and I don’t want to be late.

Some of my other coworkers step onto the elevator with me, all of us headed for lunch, I’m sure. I try to hide in the back. I figure by now at least a few of them have caught onto the fact that I have no idea what a cybersecurity junior analyst does, and that I am in no way qualified for my job at Alpha Cybersecurity.

I’ll admit, when Peyton and I first got to Forest Park, Colorado, we were both a little desperate to find a job. My younger sister and I showed up in this town with only a few dollars and whatever we could carry. We were almost broke, and when we discovered that a few businesses down by the forest were looking to hire, we applied.

Peyton is actually qualified for her job over at Leader of the Pack Marketing. She’s a phenomenal artist and loves what she does. I’m so dang proud of her for all her accomplishments. It makes everything we’ve been through worth it, as long as she’s fulfilled.

I, on the other hand, lied on my application. To be fair, I know my way around a computer and I’d like to think I’m competent enough to learn on my feet. Either way, I managed to convince someone at Alpha Cybersecurity to give me a job. Now I’m worried that I won’t be able to hold onto it. Turns out there’s more to being an analyst than computers and numbers.

“Kiera!” Peyton calls, waving excitedly as soon as I step off the elevator, and I grin and head over to join her. I shake my head, clearing my anxious thoughts.

The three businesses, Alpha Cybersecurity, Leader of the Pack Marketing, and Full Moon Real Estate Development all border the forest. They also all share a main lobby on the ground floor, elevator banks, and a cafeteria. That’s where we’re headed now.

Even though I’ve been here for a few weeks, I’m still not used to the decadence surrounding us as we make our way to lunch. It might not be much to some people, but to my sister and me, it’s more lavish than anything we ever saw growing up.

The floors are marbled, the walls a complimentary off-white color with tiny threads of gold somehow woven throughout. The lobby itself boasts of golden accents and a fountain. Even the hallway to the cafeteria is lined with tasteful and interesting art pieces with ambient lighting.

“How’s it going?” Peyton asks, her sweet voice bringing me back into the present as we take out our peanut butter sandwiches and pretzels.

We eat the same thing every day for lunch since we can’t afford much else. Our paychecks here barely cover the rent for our cramped little apartment and meals. We walk everywhere and save the rest since we never know when we’re going to have to pack up and run again.

God, I hope we get to stay here. I’m so tired of looking over my shoulder or lying awake at night listening for possible intruders. The times I do drift to sleep are filled with worry and the ever present threat of being caught and forced back into that hellhole.

“Good,” I lie, but I can tell Peyton knows I’m not being honest. “What about you?”

She eyes me skeptically, a slight frown pulling at her lips. She wisely decides this isn’t the time or the place to push me on the subject. “Things are going alright. I’m on this new project designing a logo for a car dealership.”

“Sounds fun.”

“It’s not,” she sighs dramatically. “They don’t want anything creative or fun. Just the usual steering wheel or car next to their name. I want a challenge! Give me something with a little oomph, you know?”

I give her a sympathetic smile, then roll my eyes. “Well, I’ve been studying numbers all morning so…”

“So, you win,” she says with a laugh, and I join her as I take a bite of my sandwich.

I look around the cafeteria, scanning to see if I can recognize anyone. I’m pretty sure we’re safe here, but it’s a habit I can’t seem to quit ever since Peyton and I packed up and ran one night.

Peyton and I grew up in the First Coming cult. My mom and dad joined when we were just three. I have no idea what prompted them to up and sell everything they had in order to join, but I’d like to think it wasn’t always as horrible as it is now.

However, just a year and a half later, my mom was done. She couldn’t stand the lifestyle, and apparently, she couldn’t stand being a mom. While I understand the desire for her to leave, I can’t forgive her for abandoning Peyton and me, knowing we’d have to grow up in a cult.

First Coming doesn’t treat women very well. Okay, that’s the understatement of the century. Women are second class citizens who are expected to obey their husbands and fathers without question. I figured out the hard way what happens when you push back on the leadership’s ideas. Curiosity, especially from a woman, is rewarded with swift punishment, either a lashing or time in solitary. The sole godly purpose for women is to stay in the house, cooking, cleaning, and tending to the needs of the family, especially the husband’s demands.

The leader of First Coming, Isaiah, announced a few months ago that Peyton was to be one of his wives when she turned eighteen. My father was over the moon, bragging to anyone who would listen that his daughter was special, chosen by the prophet himself.

Peyton wanted nothing to do with Isaiah. We’ve all heard the horror stories of the things his wives have to endure. It’s all whispered gossip, of course, but there’s some truth to the rumors. Some of his wives hide bruises or even disappear altogether. I couldn’t let that happen to my baby sister. Her heartbroken sobs when she found out will always haunt me. I had to get her out of there.

I’ve always been the one to look out for us. It’s not like my father was going to do it. I’m the one who made sure Peyton had enough food, took care of her when she was sick, and blocked punches by our father. I’m also the one who came up with the plan for us to run.

There was no way out of the engagement, especially to Isaiah. It would be seen as humiliating, and we’ve both seen what happens to anyone who embarrasses the prophet and his men.

I waited as long as possible to give myself time to plan and save, then we ran the night before the wedding. We’ve been running ever since. Isaiah will have taken the rejection personally, and even though he already has nine other wives, he won’t be happy until he has Peyton. He’s the hunter and she’s his prey. Too bad I’m mama bear and I won’t let anyone touch my baby sister.

Which means I need to always stay alert. I’m sure Isaiah has people out looking for us, which is why we pay our rent in cash and try to keep expenses to a minimum. We don’t go out much, not only because we’re broke, but because it reduces our chances of being seen.

“I’m going to grab a bag of candy,” Peyton says as she finishes off her sandwich, and I roll my eyes with a smile.

She has a major sweet tooth and only allows herself a treat once a week. I wish we could afford for her to indulge more often.

“Did you want anything?” she asks, but I shake my head.

“No, I’m alright.”

She heads over to grab her candy from the vending machine, and I stuff the Ziplock bags from my food back into my lunch bag so I can reuse them. Peyton comes back, handing me a bag of peanut butter M&M’s and I smile.

“Thanks.”

She nudges me with her shoulder, popping a Skittle into her mouth as we head back to the elevators. There are three on the ground floor. One for the real estate company, one for Leader of the Pack, and the last for Alpha Cybersecurity. My sister gives me a quick hug before she heads over to the one for Leader of the Pack and I wave and head toward my office.

There’s a man waiting for the elevator, and I stand a few feet behind him. Something about him pulls me in and I can’t help but study the broad, mysterious man in front of me.

He’s tall with pitch black hair, wide shoulders, and a commanding presence. I take another tentative step forward, almost unaware of my movement. I’m inexplicably drawn to him, and the closer I get, my skin shivers and breaks out into goosebumps.

I’ve never been interested in men or dating. I’ve never so much as been attracted to anyone, aside from an appreciative glance every now and then. I’ve certainly never felt this dull, throbbing ache somewhere deep in my belly just by simply standing near someone.

The elevator comes and I watch him step inside, quickly following after, trying to be subtle about checking him out. As I step past him, I notice him tense, his nostrils flaring as he takes a deep breath.

A shiver runs down my spine as I turn and press the button for the third floor. The man takes another deep breath and grunts something before he punches the button for the top floor with more force than necessary. A tiny gasp leaves my lips when I see he cracked the button. What the heck? I didn’t even know that could happen.

He must be some bigshot executive, or maybe he’s just here for a meeting. Either way, I can’t seem to look away. The dull ache I’ve had ever since laying eyes on him turns sharp, and I feel like I’m on a razor’s edge. Every part of me is attuned to him and his movements. It’s like I can feel each one of his breaths wash over my skin, prickling my nerve endings and causing my knees to tremble.

I tear my eyes away from him and try looking straight ahead instead of gawking at the man next to me. The shiny silver of the closed elevator doors does little to distract me from the confusingly sexy stranger. In the reflection, I see him turn toward me, his eyes roaming up and down my body the way I was just doing to him.

God, I can feel his gaze everywhere, almost as if he were touching me. I tilt my head back and close my eyes, trying my hardest not to imagine those large hands sliding up and down my body.

I swear I hear him growl, but the elevator doors ding loudly before opening. The spell is broken.

I clear my throat, stepping past him, but I can’t help but look back just one last time. A few other women are walking past and they all slow and check him out, fluffing their hair and laughing loudly to try to draw his attention as they pass.

He’s only watching me, though. Sapphire blue eyes capture mine and refuse to let go. He doesn’t look away and it’s like there’s just the two of us in the world. My heart starts to race as we stare at each other, and I could swear his eyes are glowing.

The man starts to take a step toward me, and I wonder if he’s going to grab me and drag me back into the elevator with him. I think I’d let him do whatever he wants to me. Who am I right now?

He stops abruptly, every muscle in his body tensing as he steps back into the elevator. I want to weep.

His eyes seem to glow even brighter and I blink, wondering if I’m seeing things. That’s when the elevator doors close, blocking my view of him.

I shake my head, reminding myself I need to get it under control. I need to figure out my job. I can’t afford to lose it.

I head back to my desk, telling myself to forget about the mystery man in the elevator as I get back to work.

It takes me a long time to forget those eyes, though.