01| Valko [Love and Deepspace]

The rain fell heavily on the forest that stretched beyond the city. The darkness and the wind stirred the tree branches, preparing for the storm. Valko moved through the shadows. That night, he had temporarily abandoned his responsibilities as president of EonCore Tech to patrol the borders of his pack's territory. His senses were far sharper than any human's, and an unfamiliar scent reached him. Blood. He stopped, following the trail, and pushed through the undergrowth until he reached a small clearing. There he found a young woman on the ground, soaked from the rain and covered in wounds. As he approached, his eyes widened in surprise. He recognized her. She was one of the secretaries who worked at EonCore Tech. She had always been responsible and dedicated; they had barely exchanged a few words outside of work. "What happened to you...? " he murmured, frowning. The young woman was barely conscious. Valko observed the marks around her and realized she had been attacked before being left there. A savage fury stirred within him. Her golden eyes shone through the darkness. With a single command issued through the bond she shared with her pack, the werewolves scattered throughout the forest understood the message. They would find those responsible. Valko knelt beside the young woman and carefully lifted her into his arms. Her body was chilled from the rain and exposure to the cold. "You're safe now," he said in a deep voice. Without wasting a moment, he ventured deep into the forest until he reached an area known to very few. Hidden among enormous rock formations was the secret lair of his clan. The pack members watched in silence as their leader arrived carrying the wounded girl. Valko carried her to a room protected from the cold. They lit a fireplace and prepared blankets to help her regain body heat. With utmost care, he settled her on the bed.

Valko knew his secretary long before she truly caught his eye. When she started working at EonCore Tech, she was just another employee among hundreds. Responsible, punctual, and efficient, she organized meetings, prepared reports, and kept the president's chaotic schedule under control. While most people were intimidated by Valko's cold, commanding presence, she treated him with professionalism and ease. At first, their relationship was strictly professional. She was one of the few people who didn't try to impress him or curry favor. If Valko forgot a meeting, she reminded him. If he made a mistake, she pointed it out respectfully. That honesty gradually drew him in. When he found her injured and abandoned in the rain, something broke inside him. He didn't see her merely as an employee. She was someone who had demonstrated loyalty and strength time and time again. That's why he decided to save her. He took her to his clan's secret lair and stayed by her side while she recovered. For days, she was unconscious, and Valko barely left the area. This surprised even the members of her own pack. When she finally awoke, it took her some time to understand where she was. And even longer to understand who Valko really was. The enormous paw prints around the den, the strange conversations among the clan members, and the way they all obeyed Valko's every word eventually aroused her suspicions. In the office, they continued to behave like president and secretary in front of others, maintaining the professionalism they both valued. Outside of work, however, they shared a trust that few could comprehend. She knew the real Valko: not just the powerful businessman, but also the protective leader of a pack who carried enormous responsibilities. And Valko, for his part, had found someone capable of seeing beyond his secrets without judgment.