His Fifth Mate

Chapter 1

Clarissa POV

I giggle excitedly as I check the screen of my phone to see the email that was sent to me from the company. After job hunting for a couple of months, I finally got one in the company I least expected. That is a blessing in disguise.

"MJ group of company," I say to the cabby I just stopped.

"Fifty bucks," He replies to me, and I pull the door open and hop in. It's my first day at work, and I'm a bit nervous.

It looked like we were not going to make it to the company since we got stuck in a traffic jam for about twenty minutes, but we finally got out a few minutes ago, and we are currently on our way to the company, on the last route.

"We're here," He announces as he pulls over at the side of the road, and I pay him before I hop out of the car.

Staring at the tall building in front of me, I gulp down nothing nervously. I check my wristwatch for the time, and as expected, I'm fifteen minutes late. I didn't want to create a bad impression about myself on my first day here, but the traffic jam has to be blamed for all these shits.

I proceed into the building, and luckily, I spot the lady that interviewed me the last time I was here.

"You came quite late on your first day at work. Why?" The forty-five-year-old woman questions me as we both walk side by side to God knows where.

"I'm sorry, I got stuck in the traffic," I reply to her, and she remains silent.

We finally arrive at the front of my supposed office.

"Just go to your office, and don't bother the CEO. He doesn't want to be disturbed now," She says to me before she finally walks away, leaving me to sort myself out.

Taking a deep breath, I finally walk inside the office, but my mouth drops open at the sight that welcomes me. The office looks way prettier for a secretary.

Being an orphan of both parents, and all alone in the world is so tiring. Nobody cares for me, and nobody gives a damn about whatever happens to me. It's pretty pathetic to be without a family. For a twenty-two years old girl, you can imagine the pain I have been through, right?

Three years ago, I finally graduated from the best university in Atlanta with a first-class degree in business administration, but guess the job I got with that best result. Well, I had to work in a restaurant as a waitress for over two years, before I got a higher-paying job to work as a bartender in a popular bar in town. Just six months ago, I got sacked from the bar because my bad mouth got me into trouble, and since then, I have been trying to secure another one, but couldn't, until I finally got this one.

I sit gently on my supposed seat, where a set of desktop is already placed on the desk for me. I resume work immediately since some documents were forwarded to my email yesterday.

After a few minutes of working, I stop to glance at my supposed boss's office, and I find him sitting there with all of his attention on the desktop. Although the glass demarcating us is transparent enough for me to see him, his face is kind of blurred and I can't tell what he looks like. Wait! Am I not going to see him before I leave? It's not ideal. What if someone asks me later what my boss looks like? What would I tell them?

"You're here for work, just stay focused," I mumble, turning my attention back to my work.

It's finally lunchtime, and I stop to look at him, but he doesn't look like he's going out to eat, and my stomach is already hurting. I wanted to be early to work today that I ended up not having breakfast before I left, and here I am now, about to die of hunger.

I try to endure the hunger and not complain, but it gets so worse that I can't even take it anymore, so I stand up to my feet and rush to his door. I place a soft knock on it.

"Excuse me, Sir. This is Clarissa, your new secretary," My heart beats nervously as I speak. I wait patiently for him to either usher me in, or answer me, but two minutes passed, and I'm still standing here like a fool. Did he not hear me knock?

"Sir..." I place another knock on the door.

"You can go for lunch," His deep voice cuts me off weirdly, and I flinch as I blink my eyes confusingly. How the hell did he know that I was going to ask for that?

"Come see me when you're done," He further says, and I gulp down the sudden lump that forms in my throat. Am I going to be working with an introvert? I hope not, because I don't want to die of depression.

"Yes, Sir," I reply to my ghost boss before I turn and advance toward the door, leaving the office afterward.

Finding my way to the company's canteen didn't turn out difficult as I had thought, and luckily, the food here is free for staff.

Returning to the office after I had lunch, I find him still sitting on the same spot, and I begin to ask myself if this man doesn't get hungry. Even if he had eaten earlier, it's time to get hungry, for a normal person.

I place a knock on his door.

"Come in," Following his reply, I push the door open, and walk inside. The office is twice as big as mine, and its interior design is everything beautiful. It's weird how I can't find any portrait on the wall, unlike every other companies I've been to for an interview, where the CEOs would always have portraits hanging on the wall. Everybody has their preferences though.

I finally tilt my head to look at the man that has been avoiding everyone all day, but my mouth drops open in shock at the sight I behold. Sitting before me is an angel, probably a fallen one that has been missing on earth, because he doesn't look like any human. His pair of blue eyes that pierce into mine, are sharp, charming, and look intimidating. His long pointed nose compliments his cuteness. His pink lips look juicy and appetizing. His skin is flawlessly glowing and screams nothing, but wealth. For goodness sake, how much did he spend on that skin to make it so perfect? His thick black hair though is messy, but he looks perfect in it. He looks flawlessly cute even with that deep frown on his face. Just who the hell is this man?

Alpha Miguel

It has been five months since the death of Jenny, but I'm yet to get over it. Although that has happened before, but hers makes me feel so guilty each time I think about it. Every day, I come to work, feeling distressed. I guess my secretary got tired of the new me and decided to quit. I got a new secretary today, but I don't just feel like seeing her. I just want to be left alone.

"Sir, it's me, Clarissa," Her voice sounds from outside, reminding me that I asked her to see me after lunch.

"Come in," The door opens as soon as I usher her in, and she walks in.

"Mate!" Ares, my wolf growls inside me, and I snap my head up to see her standing there and staring around the room. It's my first time seeing her, and she looks extremely beautiful. She is not too tall and has a curvy shape that makes her suit fits her perfectly. Her long blonde hair is packed in a ponytail with some strands on her forehead. Her skin is flawlessly smooth and beautiful, even though she doesn't look so wealthy.

"Mate!" Ares growls for the second time, and my heart sinks into my stomach as my mouth didn't fail to open in shock.

She finally tilts her head to look at me. Her pair of hazel eyes stares at me, and for some seconds, I feel my heart stop beating. My heart melts in my chest as she seems to be staring into my soul, and for the next seconds, I forget my pain and burdens.

"Mate!" This time that Ares growl for the third time, I spring up to my feet, and grab the edge of the desk, resisting the urge to go hold her in my hands. This can't be, please. Not again.

"Are you ok, Sir?" She asks as she blinks her eyes, and I feel Ares so excited. For the first time in five months, he finally feels lively again. He has been down with me for these past few months, but that isn't the case right now. He feels so happy, and I can feel the anticipation in him.

"Leave!" I say to her between gritted teeth as I throw my gaze away.

"Huh? But, Sir... You sent for me," Her voice sounds a bit confused, which I was expecting.

"I told you to leave!" I slam my hands on the desk, and she flinches fearfully.

"Ye... Yes, Sir," She stutters before she turns and scurries out of my office, closing the door behind her.

"Shit!" I curse under my breath as soon as she's out of the office, running my fingers through my hair. This wasn't supposed to happen. This isn't another punishment, is it? My name is Miguel Jaxon, thirty-three years old cursed Alpha of Dynamite pack. Yes, you heard that. What would you call an Alpha that has lost four of his mated? Yes, you will ask how it all happened, but I guess it's all because of my ill fate. I was only twenty five when I had my first mate, whose name was Ella. Ella was a beautiful young lady full of life and always cheerful. She was my first love, a she wolf that captured my heart at the very first time we met, but she died the night after we mated. She didn't live to tell the story of the sweet mating that night.

After the death of Ella, I was devastated and stayed for a long time before I found another mate, Alicia. Alicia was everything any man would want in a woman, but she could never fill the space which Ella left in my heart, but she tried to gather my brokenheart together and mend them. She gave me all the comfort I ever wanted, but she died the same way as Ella. She didn't wake up the next morning after we consummated our mating. It was after her death I realized that I was cursed. I found out that for as long as I had a mate and sleep with her, she would die the same way, and because of this, I lived the next few years of my life wallowing in pain. I stayed single for the next two years up until I met Nancy, a young she-wolf who was crazy about me. I didn't want to get involved with her for the fear of her dying, but with the pressure from my people, pushing me to have a mate, I eventually was left with no option, and that was how I took the life of another innocent lady. To me, I wasn't any different from a serial killer.

That didn't stop there, I mated Jenny, and guess what? Again, I was the reason she lost her life about five months ago. I have been living with the guilt for the past few months, and now we just found another mate? Am I destined to taking innocent lives?

Taking a deep breath, I throw myself on the chair and recline on it.

The rest of my day at the office was boring. It's finally closing hour, I pick up my car keys from the desk, and stride out of my office. I stop on my track when I step into her office and find her sleeping with her head on the desk. I stare at her face even if I want to resist the urge to. This is crazy. Finding another mate just five months after the death of my fourth mate. Isn't this scary?

I knock on her desk, pulling her out of her sleep, and she jerks up as soon as she opens her eyes and sees me standing.

"Si... Sir..." She stutters as she stands up to her feet.

"Do you need anything?" She asks, but I shake my head.

"Lock the door on your way out, and drop the key at the reception," I say to her, and without sparing another second, I advance toward the door, and exit the office.

As I drive down the road a few minutes later, many thoughts parade my mind, I ask myself many questions which I ended up not getting answers to. I don't want to ever get involved with any woman again, I don't want to hurt anyone again.

I finally arrive at my mansion after driving for thirty minutes, and I park roughly at the garage, heading to the entrance door afterward. I sink into the couch as soon as I walk into the living room.

'Mate!' The word replay in my head, and I slowly clench my fingers tightly as I stare into space. This is not happening. Never!

It's finally 9pm, and I get dressed to go to the pack to see Roan. I didn't plan to go to the pack, but I think going to see him now will do me some good.

I teleport to the pack and head straight to his chamber, where I meet him meditating as usual.

"You didn't tell me you were coming. Is everything alright?" He asks, raising his gaze to look at me.

"Roan... Everything is not fine... There's a girl at my office... Ares... Ares called her our mate," My voice cracks as I try to explain to him, but he doesn't look bothered as always.

"She is the one, Miguel... The real one..." He pauses and closes his eyes as he goes back to meditating, but I only scoff unbelievably.

"What are you saying?" I ask him.

"You need to go for her, Miguel... If you want to break the curse, you need her. She's the one," He says to me, while his eyes are still closed.

"Are you out of your mind, Roan? I told you that I am not doing this again! I don't want to hurt anyone again... She's going to die if she gets involved with me... I... I don't want to take any life again," I shake my head.

"Do you want to break the curse? It's your chance now..."

"No, never! You assured me that nothing would happen to Jenny, but she died in my arms. I killed her because of my selfishness, and I won't have you make me do the same thing again. I don't want to make the same mistake," I shake my head.

"The mating bond will continue to draw you to her, no matter how much you try to resist it... So it's better if you don't try to resist," He replies to me.

"And that is why you need to stop it. I can't do this anymore... She's going to die too if she gets involved with me, can't you get it?" I yell at him and run my fingers through my hair.

"Forgive me, Alpha, but the bond is not something that can be destroyed. You will always feel attracted to her, whether or not she's around you. You can't change this, Alpha... This is the fate that can't be changed," He slowly shakes his head, and my heart sinks into my stomach. Is this really happening again?

Clarissa POV

It has been over thirty minutes since I arrived here, but there has been no sign of Mr. Miguel in the office yet, and I'm disturbed because he's always the first to get here before me. Thinking of the way he has been avoiding me for the past one week that I have been working here, I can only wonder what it is that I might've done wrong.

Feeling his presence in the office, I raise my gaze to see him walk in with the usual deep frown on his face.

"Good morning, Sir," I quickly stand up to my feet and bow to greet him, but he only hums and walks straight into his office, leaving me standing here like a fool.

"What's wrong with him?" I sigh briefly as I sink into my seat, and get back to work.

Glancing at him through the glass for the seventh time, I take a deep breath and run my fingers through my hair. I have no idea why I'm disturbed by his mood, but I can't just help it.

It's finally time to go submit the documents for last week to him, but I'm a bit nervous that he won't want to see me. Finally, I muster courage and pack the files together, heading to his office afterward.

"Excuse me, Sir. Can I come in?" I ask after I knock on the door, and as expected, I get no reply.

"Excuse..."

"You can come in," He cuts me off, and I sigh briefly, before I push the door open, and walk inside the office.

"Sir, I came to deliver the file from last week," I announce, but his gaze is strictly fixed on the screen of his desktop, and he doesn't even act like someone is talking to him.

"Sir, I..."

"Drop it on the desk and leave," He utters dismissively, not sparing me a glance, and I gulp down the sudden lump that forms in my throat as I stare at him, wondering why he's so moody. Did someone get on his nerve? Did he fight with someone on his way here?

"Hmm, yes Sir," I finally drop the files on the desk and bite my lip.

"Uhm... Sir, are you okay?" I begin.

"Yes," He replies bluntly, his gaze still fixated on the desktop.

"But Sir, you don't look fine," I further say to him, and he stops what he's doing for seconds before he continues again.

"I told you I'm fine, Clarissa," He finally calls my name for the first time since I started working here. I have always thought that he doesn't know my name, but turns out that I have been thinking wrong.

"Uhm... Ok..." I turn to leave, but stop and turn to face him again. I know I'm crossing my boundary now, which shouldn't have ever happened, but seeing him in this mood makes me feel uncomfortable and concerned to know what's wrong with him. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to help him out.

"Did you fight with someone on your way? Is there anything bothering you? Is there anything I can do to cheer you up? You can tell me if there is, and I'll help you out," He slams his hands on the desk angrily and spring up to his feet, making me flinch.

"Do you not want to work here anymore?" He snaps at me, and I flinch.

"I'm sorry, Sir... I was just trying to..."

"Just leave my office and don't come here until I ask you to. Is that too much to ask, huh?" He barks at me, and I flinch.

"Sir..." My lips tremble, and he sighs deeply as he runs his fingers through his hair.

"Just go, Clarissa. I'm fine, and I will call you if I need anything," He utters, his voice suddenly calms like he wasn't the one that yelled at me moments ago. What's wrong with him? It can't be that he's having a mental breakdown, right?

"Yes, Sir," I nod my head and turn to leave.

"You can go for lunch when it's time. Don't disturb me," He says to me before I stride out of his office, and close the door behind me.

The rest of my day at the office was boring as expected, and after what seemed like forever, I finally closed from the office.

I have been waiting for over ten minutes for my boss to come out, so I can plead with him to drop me off at the bus stop since we're going the same way. I know I am overstepping my boundary, but on second thought, I don't think he would mind dropping me off.

The door finally opens, and I quickly stand up to greet him.

"Why are you still here?" He inquires, and I bite my bottom lip.

"Uhm... Sir... I was thinking if you don't mind dropping me off at the bus stop. You know, the place is still a bit far, and my legs hurt that I can't walk for too long," I say to him, and wince pretentiously.

"You should go to the parking lot and ask any of the staffers to drop you off," He says to me coldly and strides out of the office immediately. I scoff unbelievably. My boss is not only cold, but also an inconsiderate young man.

"Taking a deep breath, I grab my bag from the desk and finally stride out of the office.

Walking down the hallway minutes later, I keep scoffing angrily as the thought of Mr. Miguel fills my mind. What reason would any boss have to be so mean to his secretary, even after I complained to him that I wasn't feeling too well?

I stop at the reception where I drop the key before I finally leave the company. Although my legs are exhausted and numb, but I know that I have to get to the bus stop quickly if I don't want to miss the bus, which means trekking home later.

"Ah! It hurts!" I wince in pain as I stop to catch my breath. The bus stop is still about fifteen minutes walk ahead, and I think I'm going to faint along the line.

Just when I'm about to start walking again, a black flashy car haul beside me, and I blink my eyes rapidly when I turn to see the familiar car with its windows tinted.

The window finally wine down, revealing my boss. Did he change his mind?

"Get inside," He says to me coldly like he is being forced to do this.

"Oh, Sir... You don't have to push it if you don't want to do it," I quickly say to him, and he scoffs.

"Get in," He says for the second time, and I quickly hop inside his car. My boss is indeed a cold-hearted person...