Strike One

*Ares's POV*

Elais gets up from his seat the moment I enter the room.

“We have done the research on him.”he begins with an unusual coolness. “He is into real estates and hotels.He has already bought land in the territory for construction.He is from Ravenclaw pack but his family relocated to England years ago.I doubt he is the spy.”

I stare at my beta blankly,he wasn't giving me anything I can use to pin on this man and drive him out of my territory.

“Did you find anything incriminating?”I oblige despite my countless requests that he did it earlier.

He hands me the file and shakes his head.

“No.”

I frowned,Elais could find out if you cheated on your fifth grade test if he wanted to. No one is perfect,if he had searched,he would have found something.

“Did you look for anything incriminating?”I asked calmly.

Elais rubbed his hand on his jaw. “No.”

Be calm,I tell myself.You already snapped once tonight.

“Why not?”

His eyes searched around the room for listeners and found none,he took a step closer and began in a hushed tone.

“Your mother talked to me–”he stops to see my reaction before he continued.“She was concerned that you may have began an obsession with–you know.And I thought that perhaps–with a spy and all on grounds, we should focus our resources on other purposes.”

Elais wasn't the level headed and rational one between us,I was…the fact that he had to assume a whole new persona should raise alarms in my mind–right?

Wrong.

It was about time he matured,if my madness helped,so be it.

I ran my eyes over the files and my eyes halted on a particular word.

Torchelli.

It wasn't a name you forgot.

“He is a Torchelli?” I asked Elais.

Elais hestisted for a moment and nodded.

“Yes,but just because he built her a hotel doesn't actually mean he committed a crime. Half of the men at the ball nearly destroyed the garden trying to get her flowers–”

“He built her a hotel?”I asked,feeling a hot blood rush rising to my head. “What this is the freak who built the hotel?”

Elais eyebrows scrunched. “Isn't that why you arrested him?”

“No.”

“So it was for dancing alone?”He asked in obvious disbelief. “Ares you arrested a man for dancing with Selene?”

It sounded even crazier now that I was hearing it but yes.That was exactly what I had done.It wasnt ashamed of it.If anything it proved my point that we were still mates. Only something supernatural could make me act like that.

I handed him back the clipboard. “The Torchelli family is a famous mafia family,do the research and find me something good.”

Elais grunted as he accepted the file.“You are a mad man.”

“I agree.”I nod along. “Now where is the bastard?”

“Room 403.”

“Lets go see if we can get information directly from him.”

Elais and I were just about to walk to the room when the room when my mother and Noelle entered through the front door.

“Honey,is everything okay?”Noelle asks grabbing on to my arm.

“Everything is fine.”I say shrugging her off as I give my mother a glare for bringing her along.“You should go home,I'll take care of this.”

“But–”

“Noelle.”I cut her off. “We will talk later.”

My mother gives me a disapproving look but makes no comment.

“Elais.Can you make sure these ladies get home safe?”

Elais opens his mouth to protest but nods instead. “Sure.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”my mother says defiantly. “Someone has to keep an eye on you.”

It's not an idea I support but I allow it for the sake of peace..and precaution.

We walk to Room 403 and find Dominic pacing around the small squared room with his eyes In the daze.He catches a glimpse of us and freezes.

“Is everything alright?”He asks in an aggravated British accent.

“That depends on your answer,”I begin as I drop the file on the table. “Tell me what brings you here.” I ask,not minding how cold my voice sounds.

The clock's ticks and tocks filled the silence in the room and Dominic glances at my face and back at my mother,as If calling for help.

“What's this about?”He asks her worriedly.

This was a bad idea,I tell myself,having him here for no reason,bringing Selene back,letting myself loose my goddamn mind over a mere dance.Especially knowing that the spy may be watching.

I thought I knew the insane jealousy when I watched Selene act as the sexy love interest in her movies,but seeing her here,out of my reach,in another man's arms…not acting. It was a literal punch in the stomach.

My mother gives Dominic an assuring smile as an attempt to easen the air.

“Dont worry Mister,its just a quick security check-up.”

Dominic throws me a doubtful look and takes a deep breath as he adjusts his tie.

“If you must know,I'm a business man.”He says taking a seat.“I came here to do business.”

My eyes narrow and my jaw clenches. That dance he had with Selene wasn't business related. He came to pursue her.He had built a whole hotel in her name for fuck's sake. Who on earth did he think he was fooling.

I could tell he could see that I didn't buy the bullshit he has so long recited for the formalities and instead of stating his real reason,he looks away and readjusts his tie.

I wanted to wrap my hand around the damn tie and choke him till his eyes popped,but my mother will run mad if I did,so I just clenched my fists instead.

I knew the Torchelli family,I have had business with some,so I knew them long enough to know little Mr.Perfect business man wasnt as innocent as he looks.They came from a long line of devious man who did horrendous things to get what they want and hid behind the mask of a decent profession.

“What business?”I snapped more arrogantly than I intended.

“What kind of business are you into?”my mother asks calmly behind me.

“Hotels.” He says easily. “I want to build a chain of hotel here–”

“Bullshit.”I hissed.

“I see.”my mother nods and leans over to whisper to me. “Ares,we have to let this man go,there's enough commotion about how voilently you sent the gaurds after him.”she brings her voice even lower for the next part. “Please,this is not the time to behave like this.”

“No.”I reply coldly and turn to face him. “Dominic,I want the truth.”

There was a pause,another look to my mother and then finally an answer–another lie.

“I already said the truth.”

A small cynical laugh bubbles from my mouth and I walk around the table to properly question him.

“You are from the Torchelli family? Correct?”

He chuckles nervously. “I know what you are thinking.”

My eyes narrows. “Trust me,you don't.”

“Yes,my family has a reputation but–I have made an honest living for myself. I have nothing to do with my family's shenanigans.”

The door slams open before I could speak and Selene's poised figure stands majestically at the doorway.

Selene’s heels sound against the white marble tiles in a calcutated stride. Her hips sway gently in her tight dress.It was almost hard to believe she wasn't a model on duty.

My eyes pinned on her in a hypnotic pull,she was breathtaking In all her forms.I had met and fallen for Selene Fortlyn,now I was staring at Selene Foxx,and even now,I was loosing my mind over her.

She pushed a strand of jet black hair off her face and gave the room an uninterested scan.

“Hello everyone.”she said with an upbeat tone that didn't match the mischievous glint her black eyes held.

She caught the visibly horrified face of my mother and she gave her a small wave.

“Hello to you too Mrs.Sinclair.”

“Selene?”Dominic called in confusion.

“Hello,mi amor”she answered sweetly,her eyes still avoiding mine.

‘Mi amor’,seriously? At this point I'm sure she just wants to play on my nerves because she can.The worst part was,it was working.

“I brought you a lawyer,”she continues with a smile as a small man follows her into the room. “The best in town.Everyone,meet my good Friend Caleb McHaven”

I narrowed my eyes at her,what on earth was she doing. Why was she helping him–did they not just meet? Or was there a history I didn't know about.

Caleb cleared his throat and stepped foward.

“I am here to represent my client Mr.Dominic..”he paused abruptly and whispered into Selene's ear. Selene rolled her eyes and whispers back to him.

“Torchelli.”He resumed with unwavered professionalism. “Dominic Torchelli.”

“Oh no,”my mother said hastily,“There's no need to involve a lawyer.”

“On the contrary Mrs.Sinclair,there's every reason to involve a lawyer.”Selene rebutted “My dance was interrupted and my night ruined.And you know I am the type to demand a proper explanation.”

“It was just a quick security check up.”My mother said through gritted teeth. “There is no reason to make a mountain out of an anthill.”

Selene nudged Caleb and he began spitting out some legal blabber about it being an illegal arrest and how we are mandated by law to let him go or he could sue.

My mother’s chest heaved with fury and she threw me a ‘see what you have done’ glare.

I looked at Selene and back at Dominic,I don't like this,I don't like this one bit. I was right,Selene would be the end of me.

Not that I was complaining,death by her hand will be the best way to go.

I sighed and shut my eyes to summon calm.

“You may go.”I say dismissively,already formulating thousands of plans to get him out of my territory.”

Dominic takes a relieved sigh and stands up.

“Mi amor,sit.”Selene commands. “I don't think we are truly done here.”

My eyes follows her as she walks to Dominic,drops her purse on his lap and places her hands on his shoulders.

Her gaze slowly rides up to my face,deadly and seductive.

“Alpha Ares,with all due respect,be more civil.You illegally arrested the man and all you can say is you may go?”

I raise an eyebrow.

“The elder Mrs.Sinclair looks like a very dignified woman,I’m sure she thought you manners.What do you say when you wrong someone?”

I run my tongue over my teeth in annoyance.

“You want me to apologise to him?”

“No.”Selene says rolling her eyes as if she was speaking to the dumbest person on earth. “He wants you to apologise to him.Dont you, mi amor?”

Dominic looks up at her and nods.

“Yes.I do want an apology.”

“Or else he will sue.”Selene adds with a bright smile. “And if my darling is given a proper apology,I will make sure to talk to paparazzi outside so the Royal family's image is not tarnished any further tonight.”

You could almost taste the venom in the air when she spoke,it was as though she planned to ruin my family’s image countless of times,but tonight was our grace period.

I licked my surprisingly parched lips and ran a hand through my hair. I turned and found my mother literally clutching her pearls and the tiny lawyer attentive eyes oggling from behind his glasses,taking in every detail so he can report it to his friends later.

I bite my pride down my throat and chuckled with a mix of boiling anger and sheer amazement.

I return my eyes to hers as I speak.

“I am sorry.”I say,the very words left an acidic taste in the back of my throat but it felt better looking into her eyes,it felt like I was saying it to her directly. “I see clearly now that I was being irrational with my actions.I wish I was thinking clearer.”

She cracked,just for a spilt second,her eyes softened and she looked away and never stared back into my eyes again. Or maybe I was just making it up?

There was a long pause in the room,I wasn't the best lair at times.Nevertheless,I continued,this time turning to Dominic and even extending my hand for a shake

“It will be an honour to have your hotels in my territory,My deepest apologies.”

Dominic smiled warmly and took my hand in a firm shake.

“It's no problem.”

“Great.”I nod, withdrawing my hand into my pocket. “You may go.”

A small victorious smile plays on Selene's lips as Dominic gets up from the chair.

He extendes his hand for a hug but Selene takes her purse from him instead.

“Well,”she exhales “That was fun.”

My mother throws me another one of her glares and I ignore it to stare at Selene hoping she meets me in the eye but she starves me of a glance.

Instead she throws her hair over her shoulder and bids us a jolly goodnight,carrying Dominic and Caleb with her.

My mother turned to me angrily.

“You see it now?”she spits. “You have given that woman too much attention and now she thinks she is all high and mighty.”

My gaze focuses hard on the door. Selene cracked…she felt it.She felt what I had been feeling or years. I don't care how weak our bond have gotten,it existed.

This further solidfied the hair theory,before I had doubts…maybe it was the lighting? Perhaps I was making it up…but now I had no doubts.She was my luna.

“Are you even listening to me?”my mother asks in frustration.

“Yes.”I replied, heading out the door. “I have to go,my night isn't over yet.”