Chapter 2: The King of Rogues

"I told you I was married," Alicia said, her voice shaking as she bit her lower lip to keep from crying.

She remembered what the Alpha had talked to her last night, how he had charmed her with his words and his touch. But now, in the cold light of day, she realized what a mistake she had made.

The Alpha just smiled, a mysterious glint in his eyes as he looked at her. "And yet you were still a virgin until you met me last night," he said. "You could try to sue me and have me thrown in jail, or to have your husband tear me to pieces."

Alicia's heart sank as he tossed her purse and her phone slid out of it. She knew she couldn't call anyone especially her husband because she had no idea where he was. Her stomach twisted in knots as she realized the depth of her predicament.

In the world of shifters, it wasn't uncommon for someone to meet their mate after they were already married. If the shifter had a strong relationship with their spouse, the mate pull would be invalidated and they could reject their mate without any repercussions from the Moon God. But if the relationship was already on shaky ground, the presence of a mate could be the final nail in the coffin.

Unfortunately, Alicia was in the latter category. Even worse was the fact that she was not the dominant party in the marriage, which meant she had no right to file for divorce.

"Let's forget about what happened last night! I, Alicia Scarlett, now officially ...." Before Alicia could finish her words, her lips were covered by the Alpha's large, strong hands.

The Alpha in front of Alicia leaned in, his piercing blue eyes seemingly searching her very soul. "Rejecting me without even knowing my name? How dare you she-wolf! Your name was Alicia Scarlett?" he demanded.

Alicia could only nod helplessly as the scent of lavender enveloped her, leaving her feeling as if she had stumbled into a field of the fragrant flowers.

"Alicia... a good name," he murmured, taking a strand of her bronze blonde hair between his fingers and inhaling deeply before kissing the ends. Then, his fingers traced over her beautiful face, lingering on her eyebrows, the bridge of her nose, and her rosy lips.

He wanted to remind her not to trust strangers and to be more cautious in Wilton Family. However, when he saw the hickey he had left under her collarbone, his memory of their passion last night came flooding back. He couldn't help but desire to caress her again, especially with the lingering scent of red wine still present on her skin.

Alicia tried to pull away, but her body refused to obey as she met the intense gaze of her mate. She could see his desire and tenderness for her, but she knew that continuing this relationship could destroy everything she held dear.

For Alicia, this mate was a ticking time bomb that could detonate her life, her family, and even her pack. She had to sever all ties with him in case the Wilton family, and especially her husband Tobias Wilton, found out she had cheated on him.

"Please let me go, or I'll call my husband right now. He's the Alpha's older brother, and he'll kill you," Alicia threatened, shivering as she turned her head away just as the hot Alpha was about to kiss her.

Sensing Alicia's fear, the Alpha reluctantly held back his desire. When she threatened him, he snorted and left the king-sized bed.

"Alpha's big brother? How powerful can this non-Alpha man be?" He muttered as he picked up his suit jacket from the floor and retrieved a clear, business card-sized device from his pocket.

Alicia recognized it as a business card machine that only the Alpha of a huge pack could possess.

With a flick of his wrist, he used the device to transfer his contact information to Alicia's phone.

"My phone number and email address are now in your contacts. You can always ask your husband to contact me. I'll accept any challenge, whether in human or wolf form. Or..." He trailed off, a mischievous glint in his eye as he threw Alicia's phone back on the bed.

"We'll continue this somewhere else next time." With a final wink, he left Alicia alone with her thoughts and her tears. He would have liked to stay longer but time was not on his side.

Alicia wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and glanced at the name on the screen: Damian Howard.

She knew who he was – Alpha Damian Howard, billionaire, also known as the King of Rogues. His pack, the Moon Halo Pack, was composed entirely of rogues and criminals, including some of the most violent and intelligent individuals in North America.

Despite this, rumors circulated that the Moon Halo Pack could easily destroy any pack in North America if Alpha Damian wished it, but he kept a low profile and rarely made public appearances or gave interviews.

As a result, he undoubtedly became the most mysterious and dangerous super-rich Alpha in North America.

The blaring of her phone alarm brought Alicia out of her reverie. She knew she had to hurry home and prepare for the Golden Moon Pack meeting. It was an important gathering, and as the wife of Alpha Ellis' elder brother, she couldn't afford to be late.

As soon as she arrived her apartment, Alicia made a beeline for the bathroom. Stripping off her clothes, she gazed at herself in the mirror and was met with an unpleasant sight. The hickey on her collarbone, a reminder of her infidelity, stood out in stark relief.

Her emotions were a jumbled mess - guilt, regret, and anger all mingled together. She bit her lip and scrubbed at her skin with ferocity, as though she could wash away the physical evidence of her betrayal.

But no matter how hard she tried, the pain between her legs and the stubborn hickey remained.

Alicia closed her eyes and hugged herself, tears mixing with the hot water as they streamed down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Tobias, sorry," she whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion.

A year ago, Alicia had married into the Wilton Family, one of the most powerful big packs in the world. The Golden Moon Pack, which boasted thousands of members, was Wilton Family’s largest and most prestigious subsidiary.

To the outside world, she was living the dream - a sudden rise to wealth and status. But all shifter society knew that the only Wilton male a girl couldn't marry was Tobias, the eldest of the young generation.

Rumors abounded about his condition - some said he was paralyzed since he had suffered an accident, while others whispered that he was a monster who could no longer shift.

Alicia imagined her wedding would be like a fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast, but the reality had been a cold and sterile affair.

She sat in the president's office of the Golden Moon Group and signed her name on a marriage license that Tobias Wilton had already signed.

Alpha Ellis, after signing the wedding officiant line, gave her a ring and announced that the wedding was over and that she was welcome to join the Wilton Family and the Golden Moon Pack.

No ceremony, no celebration, no love. She had never even met her husband, and when she asked after him, she was met with stony silence.

But even as she tried to come to terms with her empty existence, Alicia had made a fatal mistake. A year and seven days after her sham wedding, she had succumbed to the damn drug and the temptation of her mate.

She betrayed her husband.

As Alicia dried her hair, her phone rang. It was the driver from the pack house, coming to pick her up for the meeting. She hastily pulled on a long black turtleneck dress to hide the damning evidence on her skin.

Arriving at the pack house two hours later, Alicia was greeted by the butler and the maids, who bowed to her respectfully. She rarely came here, and her absence had not gone unnoticed. But as she approached the meeting room, she was met with the brown-haired, brown-eyed she-wolf she dreaded seeing the most.

"Hello, Alicia," Vivian sneered, her voice as sharp as a knife.

Alicia took a step back, fear and anger warring within her.