AITHANI was worried as I glanced towards the door. For hours since Alex left me in that house, I had been anxious. I couldn't tell what it was I was afraid of. It could be that look on his face as he said those last words, or how determined he looked when he took off. I just couldn't tell the mood I would find him in, tonight.“What's wrong?” Viktor placed his right hand on my shoulder and patted it gently. “Was it about the man?”“Not at all.” I forced a smile, shaking my head. When I returned this afternoon, with the news of the man's death, I didn't tell Viktor all that transpired in there. I felt it wasn't necessary to do so. Alex wasn't supposed to be there. Should Viktor learn about it, he will start having doubts about Alex's involvement. It didn't help that Alex did the man a pretty good number on his face and stomach. I didn't see that as the body was still turned when I left, so Viktor assumed I had a squabble with the guy before killing him. I had never been violent, whic
Alex gritted his teeth but didn't say a word. Instead, he kept stuffing his mouth with the food. Viktor and Marcus continued with their talks about us as if we weren't even there. From the way they kept on talking, you would have thought they were competing to know whose son was the best. Okay, they actually were. Each of them wanted to rub it on the other's face that they had a son more competent than the others. It was just a pity they couldn't agree on anything. After dinner, Alex and his father left with his date. Michelle stayed over to have a glass of wine with me before I escorted her out of the gate. As she didn't bring her car with her, she called a taxi. I actually offered to drive her, but she didn't need that. She felt I needed to rest and was against letting me drive her home.“Are you certain you don't want me to drive you?” I asked for the fifth time since we stood outside the gate waiting for the taxi she had booked.“Of course, not. You don't have to worry about me.”
ALEXI didn't think he would agree to this so easily. He was right when he said we didn't necessarily need to act like a couple. We could have stayed outside to wait for Mr Maximo. However, the thought of acting like a couple with him made me convince him it was the only way. I wanted to touch him without getting a punch from him. “You look happy,” Marcus said, with a raise of his brows. He was sitting outside on the gazebo, taking a sip of his wine when I strode out of the house. I must have been smiling at the thought of finally getting Aithan where I wanted him, without realizing he was around. I paused in my steps, frowning. “Isn't that a basic werewolf instinct?”“Not for someone like you.” He placed the glass of wine on the table and focused on me. “You haven't been this happy in a long time. The Alex I know always brood like one who has a vendetta with the world. So, tell me, what's going on with you?” He gave me an appraisal, noting how dressed up I was for the occasion. I
AITHAN His silence was suspicious. Alex had never held his tongue whenever we spent time together. Seeing him sitting back, looking so at peace, made me want to ruffle his feathers, but I didn't give in to that urge. I knew I would only call his teasing looks on myself by doing that. When we got to the bar, I parked my car in the only space I could find. Luckily, we were in the human part of the town. Only a few know about us. Well, that was if they watched the news and read the newspapers. The paparazzi that always followed us must have had enough to say about our families. The second I killed the engine, Alex got out and rushed over to my side before I could open my door. And I wondered why he removed his seatbelt before I even stopped the car. He opened the door for me and offered his elbow, grinning. “I'm not a damned woman!”“I know.” He kept his elbow for me. “I know you are a man who's capable of stepping out without my help, but I want to do this. I have always wanted to d
“Do we have to do this?” I asked after a few seconds. “Do we really have to dance?” “Of course, we do.” He grinned, getting up. “Let's just show them how natural we can be.” Winking, he offered his arm to me, which I took, while grumbling under my breath. I still didn't trust him enough, but I knew I had to do this. I had already let him fool me more than twice. This time wouldn't make any difference at all. He led me to the dance floor, careful enough not to let my body touch the others. When we got to a place safe enough, he let go and started nodding his head to the beating of the music. At first, I just stood there, watching him. It wasn't until he inclined his head that I joined him. I had been so used to the ball dances I learned from Viktor, that this one seemed difficult for me. I had to focus on Alex, copying his moves, while trying to look as natural as I could without coming out as too extreme.As we danced, our bodies moved in perfect sync, our hips swaying to the rhyth
ALEXI was so fucking pissed. Seeing that guy close to my Aithan made me wish to punch him in his face, but I had never been one to fight those I was stronger than. He looked fragile, the type I knew Aithan would choose to protect, another reason I didn't like them together. Aithan had always loved any who depended on him, and the man looked exactly like that.I didn't let go of his hand until we stepped outside. It was only then that I let go, drawing a step back.“What's the meaning of what you did back in there?” Aithan sounded calm, but I knew he was holding himself back from punching me.“Why did you let him touch you?” I whirled around to face him. “You have never let me get close to you and —”“And?” He folded his arms, his eyes narrowed at me. “First, he didn't touch me, and even if he did, it was worse than what you have ever done. You never listened when I ordered you not to get close to me.”“I…” Trailing off, I tried to think of what to say. His words weren't what I was ex
AITHANWhy did I concede to this? Well, I knew why I did that. It was long overdue. If I didn't agree to this tonight, I knew it wouldn't be a long time before I did. The earlier, the better. This way, we would get each other out of our systems. We wouldn't have to ignore our insistent needs.Alex didn't speak to me as he drove to the place he spoke about, not like I needed to hear him speak. I wanted nothing to make me change my mind, and I knew hearing his voice would undoubtedly make me feel that way. He drove us into the heart of the city, to a hotel. I blushed at the thought of walking into the establishment with a man when I had done this countlessly with women. Alex didn't seem to share my embarrassment or worries because he got down and rushed over to my side. He opened my door before I could — okay; I was secretly waiting for him to do that — and stepped back, so I could walk out of the car. “So, what do you think?” He asked me as the hotel valet took my keys from him so h
So, this was how women always felt whenever I asked them to undress for me? I got the shirt out of the way and stood up to remove my slacks. “Why are you staring at me?” I glared at him when I noticed his attention on me. “Aren't you undressing?”“I will.” He smirked as his gaze took in my naked chest. It took all my willpower not to cover my body from his gaze. “I'm just admiring the handsome man in front of me.” He drew a step towards me, his eyes glinting with mischief. “I don't think I can get enough of you, Ly. You —”“Why do you call me Ly whenever we are in a compromising situation?” I'd noticed how he always changed my name. Sometimes he called me Aithan, but mostly, it was Ly. “Because it makes me feel fucking close to you.” He reached out and pushed me on the bed, following me before I could rise. “I love the way the name feels on my tongue. It makes me feel like I owe you.”“Bastard!”He chuckled, leaning in closer. “Just for you, LY. Just for you, I can be anything. Bast
“Aithan!”I blinked when I felt someone shake me. Alex stood over me, a concerned expression on his face as he stared into my eyes. “What's going on? You grew pale instantly and…”“I'm okay.” I blinked rapidly, calming my racing heart. I turned to look at the place the man once stood, only to notice it was empty. The man's gone.“No, you are not.” He squatted in front of me and placed his hands on my thighs. “What's going on with you? Why did you look like someone who saw a ghost a few minutes ago?”I did see a ghost, I wanted to say, but couldn't. I couldn't tell him I saw the man who raped me with the others years ago, the same man I believed I killed. He wasn't supposed to be alive, but he seemed to be. It wasn't a project of my imagination. I saw him, standing there, with that same expression he gave me those years ago. He must have risen from the grave to shatter the perfect life I tried to build.“Aithan?”“I…” I gulped, closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. “It's… I thought I saw
AITHANI wanted us to stay at home to wait for Max's call, but Alex was hellbent on taking me out as he had planned before we got Max's update. This was our first date in forever, and he wanted to make it better than the last one we had. It wasn't the best of dates. I got shot the minute I stepped away from my car. To think we hadn't gone on one since that incident. “Order anything you want. Feel free okay?” Alex said as he passed the menu and the ticking pen over to me.Taking them from him, I rolled my eyes at that, pursing my lips. “You make it sound like I can't afford my meal, Alex. You might be the head of your family now, but I believe I have more money than you do. I'm Viktor's favourite son, after all.”I just hope I'm still his favourite. He hadn't called me since the last time we spoke, and I knew it would take more to get him to extend the olive branch first. I didn't want to be the first, as that would mean I got to swallow my pride and promise things I wouldn't even kee
“Don't change your mind.” “Hello, boss?” Max's voice caused me to tear my gaze away from my naughty sister. “Sophia said you called? Is everything okay?”“There was a raid in the warehouse. Though I sent some men to take care of it, I thought you would wish to know about it.”I gripped my phone hard, feeling a slow rage creeping in. “When was it? Do you know who did it?” “We are still investigating. I will let you know when we get something from it.”Aithan walked over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Okay. Kindly notify me once you do. Be safe,” I added before I disconnected and turned to my mate. “Our warehouse was raided.”“What?” Aithan drew a step back. “When? How? By whom? Did they get them? Tell me they did.”I shook my head and let out a sigh. “They didn't.”It would have been great if they did. “What do we do now? Should we head over there? Were any of our men wounded? Do they need our help?”“I doubt.” I passed the phone back to the owner so I could hug him. “
ALEXLuca didn't show up after our dispute. His absence didn't lessen my anxiety, it only made me apprehensive. I couldn't tell what he was planning, or how he would meet Aithan. I had yet to tell him of my confrontation with Luca. I doubt I would, though. I couldn't let him see that side of me, know what a psycho the man he loves is. Protecting him from the truth was the least I could do. If I have my way, he will never get to know the truth. Keeping him in the dark would only put a little strain on me, as the knowledge that I had all along been lying to him would forever plague me, but it would make things easier. He wouldn't have to force himself to be with me just because he liked me. “Alex?”I blinked when I felt him wave his palm in my face. Blinking once more, I looked at him, furrowing my brows. “What's wrong?”“I've been calling you for the last freaking minute without getting any response, and you are asking me what's wrong? Are you for real?” He narrowed his eyes at me.
AITHAN Alex seemed off. For a week, he had been acting so absentmindedly, that it was disturbing. I tried to know what was wrong with him, but he waved it off as being worried about his men and how to go about his father's official funeral. I knew it wasn't true, though. We might not have known each other for a long time, but I could tell when he's been bothered by something. At that moment, he looked as if he had enough to worry, and more to think about. “Your coffee.” I passed a steaming mug of coffee to him and sat opposite him. He nodded his thanks before he took a face, smiled and said, “You have finally gotten the taste right, Ly. It's perfect, just the way I prefer it.”“I know, right?” I grinned. Finally, my good work paid off. For days, I had been perfecting that particular taste he liked in his coffee. He didn't ask me to do that, I just wanted to do something for him. Staying at home had gotten so damned boring, and I needed something to keep my mind off certain things,
I snorted. Everything that came out of the bastard's mouth felt incredulous. He didn't seem like he was joking, though. He looked serious and wanted me to know what he thought about my union with Ly.While a few of the men who were against the relationship and how things turned out after Marcus's death kept their mouths shut, he didn't. “That's rich coming from you, Lucas. You've always been jealous of my success, and now you're trying to spin this as if I'm somehow less capable because of Aithan? Is that what this is about? All that preaching about admiration is just beating about the bush for you?” I walked back to my desk and sat on it, with my feet crossed and my arms folded. I watched him, watching every move of his body, and how nervous he was even though he was acting like he wasn't. “I'm not jealous of you, Alex. I'm just worried. You're changing, and not for the better.” Lucas's face darkened, and he clenched his fists once more. “I want you to realize where you are mista
“Lucas,” I warned, my voice getting dangerously low. He might think we were playing over this, not knowing I wasn't fucking happy hearing him talk about my mate like that. He let out a sigh, looking down at his feet before he returned his gaze to my face. He rubbed the back of his head, gulping, preparing himself for what he was about to say. “You changed drastically, you know? Ever since he walked into your life, you transformed into someone who was barely recognizable. This isn't the Alex I know.”“Why? It's not as if you liked the Alex I was before.” I arched a brow at him. “We haven't been close since we were little. Don't make it sound like I changed since I got a lover.”Lucas and I might have been cousins, but we weren't that familiar with each other. He never hid his disgust and jealousy over me, and always made certain I knew how he felt. Talking now, like we had been friends for ages and only had issues because I got a mate, infuriated me. I didn't like the way he made it
ALEX“What the fucking hell is wrong with you?!” Lucas seethed, pacing the floor. “What did you think you would gain from this? The men are revolting! How did you let things escalate this far?!" “Because you leaked the news.” While he was acting like a mad dog let out of the cage, I was the more rational one. I wasn't in the mood to scream at anyone. I had done my fair share of yelling with the men a few minutes ago.He whirled around at that, his eyes narrowed. “What the fucking hell are you talking about? Who leaked what news?”“You know what you did.” I crossed my legs, looking nonchalant. “I don't need to tell you that.”“What are you talking about? Are you by chance speaking about the small Mafia families?” He drew a step towards me, the frown on his face getting more pronounced the nearer he got. “What else?” “Did you believe I would stoop so low as to do something like that? What do you take me for?”“A man who didn't think twice about sucking up to my father won't care for
I winced sharply when I sat down on the soft cushion of the couch. We left our romantic getaway a few hours ago, and I was yet to recover from everything. Tan was reluctant to help my healing process, so I would experience the price of my actions. 'Sluts like you need to know how painful it is to fuck like rabbits.' Those were his words before he broke the connection between us, leaving me in fucking pain! “Are you okay?” Sophia asked with a smile, giving me a knowing look. She didn't look concerned about me, just curious to know what the hell I had been up to, and I had no freaking desire to tell her about it, or else I would only give her the right weapon to tease me with. “Yeah, I'm good. Never been better.” I smiled at her, the expression forced. I wanted to yell that I wasn't okay, for her to just leave me to rest, but I knew it wouldn't even happen, not with how curious she was. Yelling would only make her curious.“I see.” Nodding, she crossed her legs. “So, how was the tri