Chapter 9: Meeting Fidel Again

“Fancy seeing you here,” Fidel said, his smooth voice cutting through the gentle hum of waves crashing against the shore.  

I glanced up from my cup of coffee, feigning surprise. “Fidel,” I said, letting a smile play on my lips. “This is starting to feel like fate.”  

He chuckled, sliding into the chair across from me without an invitation. “If it is, I’m not complaining.”  

I tilted my head, studying him as though I hadn’t already analyzed every move he’d made during our last meeting. His posture was relaxed, but his dark eyes betrayed something more—a mix of interest and calculation. It amused me to no end that he thought he was in control.  

“Is this your favorite spot?” he asked, gesturing to the café’s open terrace overlooking the sea.  

“It’s peaceful,” I said with a shrug, swirling the coffee in my cup. “Good for thinking.”  

“Thinking about what?”  

“Oh, you know,” I said airily, leaning back in my chair. “Life. Choices. The usual existential stuff.”  

Fidel smirked, leaning forward on his elbows. “And here I thought you might be thinking about me.”  

I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. “You don’t strike me as the kind of man who keeps women up at night.”  

His smile faltered for the briefest moment, but he recovered quickly, masking his irritation with charm. “Not yet, maybe.”  

You’re trying too hard, Fidel, I thought, but I didn’t let it show. Instead, I picked up my coffee, taking a slow sip as I let him stew in the silence.  

“You’re an interesting woman, Lila,” he said finally, breaking the quiet. “There’s something… different about you.”  

“Oh?” I arched an eyebrow, feigning curiosity. “Different how?”  

“I can’t quite put my finger on it,” he admitted, his gaze lingering on my face. “But I’d like to find out.”  

His words were heavy with implication, and I couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at my lips. “Well, aren’t you full of surprises?”  

---

Fidel’s Proposal  

“Speaking of surprises,” Fidel said, his tone shifting to something more serious. “There’s a party at the Pearl Hotel tonight. Private, exclusive. I think you’d enjoy it.”  

I raised an eyebrow, setting my cup down. “You think so?”  

“I know so,” he said, leaning closer. “It’s the perfect setting for someone like you—beautiful, mysterious, captivating. You’ll fit right in.”  

Smooth, Fidel, I thought, though his words only made me more suspicious. The Pearl Hotel wasn’t just any hotel—it was where Fidel and his pack were based during their time here.  

“What’s the catch?” I asked, letting a hint of skepticism creep into my voice.  

“No catch,” he said quickly, though his eyes told a different story. “Just good company, good drinks, and maybe a little dancing.”  

I tilted my head, pretending to consider it. “Sounds tempting. But why me?”  

“Because I want to get to know you better,” he said simply. “And because I think you’ll enjoy yourself.”  

His charm was relentless, and I could see why others might fall for it. But I wasn’t others. I saw through the mask he wore, the way his casual demeanor barely concealed the predator beneath.  

“Well,” I said after a pause, letting a smile curl my lips. “How could I say no to an offer like that?”  

Fidel’s grin widened, and for a moment, I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.  

This is going to be fun, I thought, already calculating my next move.  

---  

Fidel leaned back in his chair, his smirk intact but his gaze sharper than before. “You’re full of surprises, Lila. I can’t quite figure you out.”  

I tilted my head, letting the light sea breeze tousle my hair as I met his gaze. “Maybe that’s the point,” I said lightly, the corners of my lips curving into a teasing smile.  

His eyes darkened, something possessive flickering beneath the surface. “Well, I don’t like mysteries that keep me at arm’s length.”  

Oh, here we go, I thought, hiding my amusement. Fidel’s jealousy was as obvious as the crashing waves behind him, and it was far too easy to exploit.  

“You don’t strike me as the type to let anything stay out of reach for long,” I replied, my voice softening just enough to keep him hooked.  

Fidel leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “You’re right. And I don’t like sharing, either.”  

I raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “Sharing? Who said anything about that?”  

He hesitated for a moment, his jaw tightening. “The party tonight. I know there will be others there—men who’ll want your attention.”  

My wolf stirred at his possessiveness, though it wasn’t attraction that fueled her reaction. It was annoyance. Who does he think he is?  

I laughed, a soft, melodic sound that I knew would both disarm and frustrate him. “Fidel, it’s a party. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of people to talk to. Isn’t that the whole point?”  

“Maybe for them,” he said, his tone darkening. “But not for me.”  

Ah, so the mask is slipping, I noted. Fidel’s arrogance was starting to show, and it was as unappealing as I’d expected.  

“I didn’t realize you had such a possessive streak,” I said, tilting my head with mock curiosity. “Is that supposed to impress me?”  

His lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, I thought he might snap. Instead, he forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I just don’t like wasting time. And you… you’re worth my time.”  

I leaned back, letting his words hang in the air as I considered my next move. Fidel was easy to read, and that made him easy to manipulate. But I had bigger concerns than his fragile ego.  

---

Lila’s Inner Conflict  

As I stared at Fidel, pretending to be intrigued by his words, my mind wandered to the party. If the King brothers were anywhere in the area—and I had no doubt they were—there was a good chance they’d be at the Pearl Hotel.  

The thought sent a thrill through me, one I wasn’t entirely comfortable with. Lucas and Jake King were dangerous, their presence stirring something in my wolf that I didn’t fully understand. But it wasn’t fear.  

“Lila?” Fidel’s voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.  

I blinked, forcing a smile. “Sorry, what were you saying?”  

“I asked if you’d thought about what to wear tonight,” he said, his smirk returning as if he hadn’t noticed my distraction.  

What to wear? My wolf growled softly, irritated by his presumptuousness. But I pushed the thought aside.  

“Oh, I’m sure I’ll come up with something,” I said lightly.  

As Fidel talked about the party, his excitement barely contained, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of anticipation. The King brothers were relentless, their presence in town throwing my carefully constructed world into chaos. And yet, a part of me wanted to see them again.  

I clenched my jaw, my inner conflict boiling to the surface. They’re just men. Reckless, power-hungry Alphas who think the world owes them loyalty. They’re nothing I can’t handle.  

My wolf disagreed, her curiosity about the brothers growing with every passing thought. But I wasn’t about to give in to her instincts. I had no intention of submitting to anyone, especially not to a pair of overconfident Alphas who thought they could hunt me down.  

Still, the idea of facing them at the party sent a spark of excitement through me. The game was shifting, and I was determined to stay ahead.  

---

Fidel’s Jealousy and Possessiveness 

 “You’re awfully quiet,” Fidel said, his voice breaking through my thoughts once again. “What’s on your mind?”  

I looked at him, letting a small smile cross my lips. “Just thinking about tonight. It should be… interesting.”  

His eyes narrowed slightly, and I saw the flicker of suspicion in his expression. “Interesting how?”  

“Oh, you know,” I said, waving a hand dismissively. “Meeting new people, enjoying the atmosphere. That sort of thing.”  

Fidel didn’t look convinced, his jaw tightening again. “Just remember who invited you.”  

I laughed, the sound light and airy. “Is that your way of telling me to stay by your side all night?”  

“Maybe it is,” he said, his voice low. “I don’t like the idea of anyone else getting the wrong impression.”  

The wrong impression? My amusement grew, though I hid it behind a mask of coyness. Fidel’s possessiveness was almost endearing in its predictability, but it also made him easier to manipulate.  

“Don’t worry,” I said, leaning forward slightly. “I wouldn’t want to hurt your feelings.”  

He relaxed a fraction, his smirk returning. “Good. Because I don’t share.”  

---

As Fidel continued to talk, his confidence growing with every passing minute, I let my mind drift once more to the King brothers. Their presence was a problem, yes, but it was also an opportunity.  

“You seem distracted again,” Fidel interrupted, his tone sharp now. “Something I should know?”  

I blinked, feigning surprise. “Not at all. Just trying to imagine how the night will unfold. You know I like to plan ahead.”  

He leaned closer, his dark eyes narrowing. “You don’t need to plan anything. Just follow my lead.”  

“Follow your lead?” I tilted my head, the corners of my lips curling into a faint smile. “That sounds like an order, Fidel.”  

“Call it what you want,” he said with a shrug, his confidence unmistakable. “But I know how to handle things. Stick with me, and you’ll see how it’s done.”  

I almost laughed at his certainty, but instead, I reached for my drink, letting the moment stretch.  

“You really think you have everything figured out, don’t you?” I asked softly, my tone light but probing.  

“Of course I do,” he replied with a cocky grin. “Why wouldn’t I? I’m always two steps ahead.”  

“Two steps ahead…” I repeated, swirling my drink thoughtfully. “Interesting.”  

“Why? You don’t think I can handle whatever comes my way?” he challenged, leaning back in his chair with a smirk that practically dared me to disagree.  

“Oh, I’m sure you can,” I said, my voice smooth. “I’ve seen how you operate. Very… strategic.”  

The flattery worked. His posture relaxed, and his smirk deepened.  

“Exactly. And that’s why you don’t need to worry about anything tonight,” he said. “Just enjoy yourself, and let me take care of the rest.”  

“Enjoy myself,” I echoed, letting the words roll off my tongue. “That does sound tempting. But…”  

“But?” he prompted, his brow arching.  

“I wouldn’t want to accidentally step out of line and ruin your grand plans,” I teased, leaning forward just enough to keep him hooked.  

“You won’t,” he said confidently. “Because you’ll be with me.”  

“With you,” I repeated, my tone softer now. “Well, when you put it that way…”  

“You know it’s the best way,” he added, his voice dropping slightly. “Just trust me.”  

Trust him? The idea was almost laughable, but I kept my expression neutral, nodding slightly as though his words carried weight.  

“Of course, Fidel,” I said. “You’ve never given me a reason not to.”  

He looked satisfied, leaning back in his chair and watching me closely. I let the silence settle for a moment, knowing it would only feed his ego further.  

“Good,” he said at last. “Because tonight is important. More important than you might realize.”  

“Important?” I asked, my curiosity genuine this time. “What makes it so?”  

He hesitated, as though weighing how much to reveal. “You’ll see. Just stay close, and you’ll understand soon enough.”  

“Mysterious as always,” I said lightly, though my mind was already racing. Whatever Fidel had planned, it was clear he thought it would solidify his control. That only made it more intriguing.  

---

As I watched Fidel leave the café, his swagger more pronounced than ever, I couldn’t help but laugh softly to myself. He thought he was luring me into his world, but he had no idea he was walking straight into mine.  

The game was just beginning, and I was ready to play.