The Deal

*Ares's POV*

The moment the door cracked open, her scent hit me like a punch to the gut. A wave of something—memories, anger, desire—crashed over me all at once. She was standing there in nothing but a silk robe, her hair wrapped up in a towel, eyes flashing with the kind of fire that had swore drawn me in and destroyed me all at once.

I cleared my throat as I took a step further.

Seeing her again felt like reopening an old wound, one that never healed properly, festering beneath the surface. Yet, I’d sought her out, walked straight into this room knowing it would happen. I’d prepared myself for it—at least, I thought I had.

“Well,well… What a pleasant surprise.The Alpha himself in my hotel room.”she said,her voice in a deadly calm,her hands sitting in a fold under her breasts.“Quite a scandal,don't you think?”

I didn’t answer immediately. I let my eyes roam in the room she stayed in, taking it in. Every piece of furniture stood in effortless elegance as they blended into each other.A wide space…something about gave me satisfaction. I don't know what I would do in an enclosed space with this woman.

“It won't be a scandal,”I say as my eyes wander the small bar in the room. “It's an enclosed neighbourhood,no journalists allowed.”

“And who is to say I wouldn't tell the press?”

“You wouldn't.” I say with a brave load Of faith. “Fake it all you want,but your reputation means way more to you than you let on.”

Her eyes glistened and she cocked her head. “You think you know me so well,don't you,Mr.Sinclair?”

“I know what I need to know” I said, my voice calmer than I felt. My eyes dropped, following the way the silk clung to her body, how the damp fabric outlined every curve. Heat flared inside me. My fingers twitched at my sides, a dangerous urge to touch her rising within me. I swallowed hard, forcing it down.

She scoffed, turning her back to me and walking across the room with a deliberate grace that made me want to chase her, corner her. But I stayed rooted in place, watching her, my pulse racing.

“Make it quick,Alpha Ares.” she said, spitting out the title like it disgusted her.

I deserved that. I deserved a lot more, but right now, I couldn’t think about that. I had to focus, had to stay on task. This wasn’t about us. This was about her safety.

“Dominic Torchelli,” I said, following her movements with my eyes. “I brought you a file on the case so you can review it yourself,he is suspected to be the mafia going under the nickname Saint Locke. My beta is presenting his findings to the Grand Council as we speak.I learned last night that he was already part of the suspects ”

She nonchalantly removed the towel from her head,and began to comb out her hair.

I got a little invested and found myself squinting to see if I could find a white strand. I didn't.

She walked back to me and picked up the green manila file from the table.Her lips stretched into a smile as her eyes went over the details.

“And here I was thinking he was just a boring businessman,if it is true,my interests in him may have skyrocketed.”

“Did you have a relationship with him before the Ball?”

This,she turned to-slowly, deliberately, her eyes locking onto mine with a cold fury that sent a neat chill down my spine. “And you think that’s any of your business?”

I wanted to say it was. I wanted to remind her that she had been mine once and somehow my brain couldn't quite understand that she wasn't anymore, that I still felt a possessiveness over her that I had no right to. But I bit back the words, forcing them down with a wave of bitterness. “Maybe not,” I said instead, stepping closer, the tension between us growing thicker with every inch I closed. “But this is my business. He’s dangerous, Selene. The council wants him locked away, and you're going to be the one to make him confess.”

She laughed without mirth,dropping the file down.“And why will I ever help you?”

“Because,”I say,pulling out another file from my coat and resting it on the table. “You are also a suspect.Apparently you have been around so many criminals,they think you are the masked criminal.”

She didn't react like I thought she would,instead of confusion or fear,she kept her gaze on mine–unphased. Like she actually was guilty.

“And you care why?” she asked smoothly, her eyes narrowing.

That hit harder than I expected. My jaw tightened, and for a second, the room seemed to tilt, everything sliding out of focus except for her.I shouldn't have drunk before I came.

“It's either you or him.”

Her laugh was bitter, sharp. “Since when have you cared about what happens to me?”

I took another step closer, closing the gap between us until I could feel the heat radiating off her skin, smell the faint scent of her perfume that stirred too many memories, too many feelings I had tried to bury. “I never stopped protecting you,” I murmured, my voice low, almost pleading.

She rolled her eyes and tried to step away, but I grabbed her wrist, my fingers curling around her skin—not hard, but enough to make her stop, make her look at me.

“Alpha Ares.”she said,pressing on my title. “I will scream bloody murder if you don't let me go this instant.”

“Selene–”

“And I swear,on the moon goddess herself, that I will make an accusation so horrendous that neither you nor your bloodline will ever rule again.”

“I am doing this for you.”I say. “You weren't even supposed to know that you are a suspect.”

“I'm assuming you want me to thank you now?”She asked sarcastically.

I bounced the words in my head for a while,I was trying my best not to offend her even more given the fact that I already crossed so many lines. My hands loosened around hers and I took a deep breath.

“Why are you so stubborn?”I asked instead. “Yes,I was an idiot, but I am trying to make amends,can't you see?”

“I don't want your pity help.”

“I am not offering pity help.”I say,frustration taking a hold of my tone. “I am trying to put a criminal away and take you out of the limelight. Do you know what the Council thinks about you? You have a lengthy history with dangerous men and they know that.Why won't you let me help you”

She pushed her hair behind her ear and stared up at me. “Get out.”

“So you are rejecting my offer?”

“I don't think you understand me…I said go”

“I think you should think it over.”I say firmly. “Jail won't be a nice touch to your outstanding resume.”

Her eyes darkened and she walked to the hotel phone and calmly began to dial the numbers in.It didn't take a seer to know that she was calling security.

It was time to leave.

“This conversation is not over.” I say before stepping out of the room.