As the days turned into weeks, Luna found herself spending more and more time with Ethan. They worked together on numerous projects, and Luna began to realize that she enjoyed being around him more than anyone else.
One morning, as she sat at her desk, she noticed that Ethan was deep in thought. He had a furrowed brow and was tapping his fingers on the desk, a sign that he was trying to work out a problem. Luna decided to approach him.
"Hey, Ethan," she said softly. "Is everything okay?"
Ethan looked up and smiled at her reassuringly. "Yeah, just trying to figure out a way to increase sales on one of our products. It's been slow lately."
Luna nodded, having faced similar problems in her previous jobs. "Have you thought about changing up the marketing strategy? Maybe adding some incentives or discounts?"
Ethan's face lit up at her suggestion. "That's a great idea, Luna. I don't know why I didn't think of that. Do you mind putting together a proposal?"
Luna felt a sense of pride at his response. She knew that she had made a difference, and she was eager to get started on the proposal.
As the weeks went on, Luna found herself working closely with Ethan almost every day. She felt comfortable around him, and they had developed a close friendship. But there was one thing that Luna couldn't shake off: her feelings for Ethan were deepening by the day. She knew that it was unprofessional, and he was her boss, but she couldn't help it.
One afternoon, when they were alone in the conference room, Luna mustered up the courage to tell Ethan how she felt. She knew that it might put their friendship in jeopardy, but she felt that it was worth the risk.
"Ethan," Luna said, her voice shaking slightly. "I know that this might sound crazy, but I have to tell you how I feel. I...I think I'm falling for you."
Ethan's face softened, and he reached out a hand to touch Luna's arm. "Luna, I feel the same way."
Luna felt a sense of relief wash over her, but also a tinge of apprehension. "But...what about work? What about the fact that you're my boss?"
Ethan sighed, his brow furrowing as he considered her question. "I know that it's complicated, Luna. I never meant for this to happen. But the truth is, I can't stop thinking about you. I want to be with you."
Luna felt her heart race at his words. She had never felt this way about anyone before, and she knew that she wanted to take a chance on him.
"But what about the pack?" Luna said softly, remembering his earlier words about being away from them for too long.
Ethan nodded, his expression growing serious. "That's the other complication. My pack is used to me being single, and they might not take kindly to a human being with me. But I won't let that stop me from being with you. We'll figure it out."
Luna smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her body. She knew that it was reckless and that there could be consequences, but she didn't care. She had found someone who made her feel alive, and she wasn't going to let him go.
---
As their relationship continued to develop, Luna found herself spending more and more time with Ethan outside of work. They would go on walks in Central Park or have dinner together at fancy restaurants. Luna loved the way that Ethan would listen to her every word, and she was drawn to his dry sense of humor.
One evening, as they were sitting on a bench in the park, Luna felt Ethan's hand on hers. She looked over and saw the gentle smile on his face, and she knew that she was right where she was supposed to be.
"I'm glad that we're doing this," Ethan said softly, his voice low.
Luna's heart swelled at the words. "Me too. I've never felt this way before, Ethan."
Ethan turned to face her, his hand moving to her cheek. "I know that this might not be easy, Luna. But I promise you, I'll do everything I can to make it work."
Luna leaned into his touch, feeling a sense of safety and comfort. "I believe you, Ethan. I trust you."
As they sat there in the peaceful silence of the park, Luna couldn't shake off the feeling that something was looming on the horizon. She didn't know what it was, but she felt a sense of foreboding that wouldn't go away.
---
Over the next few days, Luna noticed that Ethan was behaving slightly differently. He seemed more guarded, and he would often disappear into his office for long periods of time without explanation. Luna tried not to read too much into it, but she couldn't help feeling a sense of unease.
One afternoon, when they were alone in the conference room, Luna decided to confront Ethan about his strange behavior.
"Ethan, is everything okay? I've noticed that you've been more distant lately."
Ethan sighed, looking at her with a pained expression. "Luna, there's something that I need to tell you. It's not easy for me to say."
Luna felt her heart sink as he spoke. She knew that whatever he was going to say couldn't be good.
"What is it, Ethan?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan took a deep breath before speaking. "There's been an incident in the pack. One of our own has been attacked and is in critical condition. I need to go back to the pack and take care of things. I don't know how long I'll be gone."
Luna's eyes widened in shock. "What happened? Is there anything that I can do to help?"
Ethan shook his head, his face hardening with determination. "No, Luna. This is something that I need to handle on my own. But I promise you, I'll be back as soon as I can."
Luna felt a sense of sadness wash over her as she watched him leave the room. She knew that he needed to go back to his pack, but she couldn't help feeling that this would be the beginning of the end for them.
---
As the days turned into weeks, Luna tried to focus on her work and push Ethan to the back of her mind. But it was impossible. She missed him more than she thought possible, and she longed for the sound of his voice and the touch of his hand on hers.
One evening, as she sat alone in her apartment, Luna heard a knock on the front door. She made her way over, wondering who it might be at this hour. When she opened the door, she saw Ethan standing there, his face tired but determined.
"Ethan," Luna breathed, her heart racing as she took in his appearance.
"It's good to see you," he said softly, his gaze intent on hers.
They talked for hours, catching up on everything that had happened since he left. Luna learned about the attack on his pack member and the efforts they were making to find the ones who had done it. Ethan listened intently as Luna told him about her work and the projects she had been working on.
As the night wore on, Luna couldn't resist the pull that she felt towards Ethan. She knew that it was risky, but she wanted to feel his touch again. She leaned in and kissed him softly, her heart pounding in her chest.
Ethan responded eagerly, his arms wrapping around her as they deepened the kiss. They made their way to the bedroom, and Luna felt alive in a way that she never had before. She knew that this was dangerous, that their affair could have consequences, but in that moment, she didn't care.
---
The next morning, Luna woke up to an empty bed. She felt a sense of sadness wash over her as she realized that Ethan was gone, and that this might be the last time they were together. But she knew that she would always remember the pleasure that they shared, and the love that she felt for him.
As she got ready for work, Luna felt a sense of anticipation and dread. She knew that she would see Ethan again, but she didn't know what would happen between them. But she also knew that she was willing to take the risk, because the reward was worth it: the chance to love and be loved in return.