If she were Carlos’s mate, Carlos would not only abduct Stella but would also compel her to swear allegiance to Ryder, thereby enabling him to extract any and all information from Stella regarding Brianna, should he desire to do so.
Entered her office and proceeded downstairs; the store was already open. Greeted the three staff members present: Maria, who would assume the role of store manager from Stella in one month during their trip to Canada, and Vivian and Cora, the two employees working on the floor today. Customers were already present in the store with their families to assist the woman in selecting the dress she desired.
Brianna positioned the dress she completed the previous night in the rear. The item was contained within a sealed garment bag and bore the owner’s name. Subsequently, she retrieved the two wedding dresses from that section and relocated them to the front of the store for easy accessibility upon her clients’ arrival: one for final payment and collection, and the other for the final fitting, with the hope of no further adjustments being necessary.
Ryder’s Perspective
Ryder gazed at Nolan, thoroughly perplexed by the man’s statements. Indeed, everyone in the room was gazing at him with elevated eyebrows. The man informed him that he could not obtain any information from Stella, the Assistant Manager at Brianna’s Goddess Gown Store.
The diminutive woman appeared impervious not only to his physical attractiveness and inherent charm but also to his subtle and complete application of Gamma Charm. Everyone was astonished, and Nolan was evidently displeased; he had never encountered a human capable of withstanding the complete application of the Gamma Charm, bestowed upon him by the Goddess herself.
Stella observed him enter the store; he smiled at her with charm, nearly causing her to blush. She reciprocated the smile, seemingly already attracted to his appearance, leading him to believe the interaction would be effortless.
Upon her gaze sweeping over him, he noted her elevated heart rate and the sharp intake of breath, indicating her attraction. Her dark brown eyes deepened in hue, and her pupils dilated slightly, all clear indicators of desire. All the indicators he previously used to determine whether his Charm would be necessary or effective. All circumstances had aligned for him to captivate her.
Although he successfully flirted with the girl to gain her favour, he was ultimately focused on extracting the information he desired from her. Upon the mention of Brianna, her demeanour shifted dramatically; she transitioned from a cheerful disposition to an immediate frown, accompanied by narrowed eyes.
He intensified his efforts and activated his Gamma Charm sufficiently to charm her as he would any human woman, and the response he received astonished him entirely. Stella seemingly took a half step back and glared at him, then retorted, “I do not disclose personal information about employees to anyone.” It appeared she was on the verge of striking him.
Nolan resolved to fully employ his Gamma’s Charm on the woman to pacify her and extended his hand to facilitate its application, only to have her strike his hand away and admonish him not to touch her. His southern drawl was distinctly pronounced as he attempted once more to extract information from her, prompting her to raise an eyebrow at his abrupt change in accent; nevertheless, he still obtained nothing from her.
He altered his approach entirely, recognising that flirtation and charm were ineffective. He conveyed the truth: Brianna had sustained injuries in an alley behind the store, and he expressed genuine concern for her well-being, allowing his authentic worry for Brianna to be evident, as he simply wished to ensure her safety.
She had disbelieved him, standing before him with her arms crossed and directly accusing him of lying. Continued to withhold any information regarding Brianna.
Stella refused to contact Brianna to ensure her well-being and safety.
She asserted unequivocally, “If Brianna were in distress, she would have contacted me.” Subsequently, she glared at him, advanced a step, and fixed him with an unwavering gaze, exhibiting no trepidation in his presence; she was undeniably formidable, a sentiment Ryder had contemplated recently.
Following a full minute of intense eye contact, during which Nolan grew increasingly irritated with the woman, she pointed a finger directly at his face and narrowed her eyes, prompting him to quote her: “Tell your boss to get lost.” Brianna is disinterested in arrogant individuals who presume they can obtain anything they desire due to their wealth and status, exhibiting a callous disregard for the consequences of their actions.
She then turned and walked away from Nolan, strode across the store to the front door, yanked it open for him, looked directly at him, and stated, “Get out, and do not return.” Acquire a dress from another source.
Ryder continued to scowl at the man, as he did not consider him an imbecile. He was genuinely well-regarded by his pack, endeavoured to maintain their happiness, and ensured their protection. The arrogant individual likely derived that attitude from his prior interaction with her the previous day. Stella’s disregard for the consequences of her actions may indicate that she possesses greater knowledge about him and Brianna than he does.
However, he had not even glanced at another she-wolf since discovering the existence of his unknown Mate years prior. Uncertain whether a rejection was established, he refrained from touching another, fearing it might still cause her pain. He believed he had been exceptionally considerate of her, despite lacking any concrete evidence of her being his Mate. He has not permitted a she-wolf to approach him in eight years.
