03. Negotiations in the Old Warehouse

ROSEANNE

The afternoon wind blew through the broken window at the end of the warehouse, bringing with it swirling dust before landing back on the long-untouched floor. I stood in the middle of the dim room, arms folded across my chest, my eyes staring at the figure tied up in the corner of the room— Tion. His mouth was gagged with a cloth, but his sharp gaze still tried to fight back even though his body was limp.

Kiren and Raven stood not far from me, watching with a vigilant attitude. After getting some important information, I immediately ordered Kiren to catch a man who betrayed Damian, only after that did I contact Damian.

I know this is an exaggeration, but meeting a man like Damian Fenrison certainly requires extra steps because I'm sure he wouldn't want to meet me if I didn't have something important that is directly related to him. I don't know him well, but the stories I've heard are enough to give me an idea.

An Alpha is ruthless, ambitious, and notoriously cares about no one but himself and the people he deems essential.

The roar of a car engine came closer, breaking my reverie. The warehouse door creaked open, and the man finally appeared.

Damian Fenrison.

'He came,' I muttered to myself, and immediately noticed him moving as he approached.

Damian was very tall, with a strong posture that radiated power. The black suit he wore stood in stark contrast to the dusty warehouse. His eyes were cold, piercing like the blade of a sword. But what was most disturbing was the aura Damian gave off— it felt oppressive, like a storm ready to erupt at any moment.

When we were close enough, Damian turned his gaze towards Tion, and I could see a murderous look there—making me sure that the problem between them was pretty big.

“I don’t have much time, Roseanne. Since I’m here, hand Tion over to me now,” Damian said matter-of-factly, his voice heavy and impatient.

Since the warehouse was abandoned, there wasn't enough lighting. The only bright light came from the lamp above Damian's head.

Instead of answering, I walked closer to him, letting my high heels tap against the concrete floor, creating a small echo. “So you came, Damian. I thought you were too arrogant to meet me.”

I closed the distance between us. I saw a flash of surprise in Damian's eyes as he got a better look at my face. It only lasted a few seconds, but I noticed it.

He raised an eyebrow. “Just tell me what you want, and I’ll take Tion.”

I snorted, crossing my arms. “Tion will stay here until we’re done talking.”

Damian took two steps closer without hesitation. The Betas behind me moved warily, but I raised my hand to keep them from interfering. Damian stopped right in front of me, staring at me coldly.

'For someone who will be my future Alpha, this guy doesn't look friendly at all. If he doesn't like me, I should be able to break off our arranged marriage easily,' I thought to myself, trying to analyze Damian's character.

“Okay, Roseanne,” he said, emphasizing my name as if to remind me that he was serious. “What do you want to talk about?”

I straightened my shoulders, looking at Damian without fear. “I want to cancel our arranged marriage.”

Damian snorted softly as if what I had just said was a joke. “Didn’t you just call yourself my future wife a moment ago? Why did you suddenly change your mind?”

“I haven't changed my mind, I really don't want to marry you!”

Damian then chuckled, but it wasn’t a pleasant laugh, of course. He looked like he had just belittled me. “And you think I’ll let that happen?”

“I don’t care what you want,” I said sharply. I was now in serious mode, no longer joking around like I had been on the phone. “I’m not going to marry someone like you. I know how cruel you are, Damian. Do you think I will give myself up to living with you for the long haul? Of course, I won’t!”

Him's gaze darkened. "You don't know anything about me, so don't try to judge."

“Precisely because I know,” I said firmly, “I know how you have been trying to destroy my grandfather for years. If I need to remind you, our companies are rivals. You have always wanted to seize the power my grandfather has. So why are you agreeing to marry me now? What is your game, Damian?!”

Damian was silent for a moment, but I could see a flash of emotion in his eyes, which he hid very well.

“There are many reasons,” Damian finally answered, his tone clearly casual. “But the main reason is because you’re beautiful, Roseanne. Who wouldn’t want to marry an Omega as beautiful as you? Andreas has always been looking out for you, but now that I have the chance, I must take it well.”

I was stunned momentarily, but then my sarcastic laugh filled the room. “You want to marry me because I’m beautiful? Is that the best answer you can give?”

Damian just stared at me expressionlessly. “Roseanne, as you said, our companies used to be rivals, but if we get married, doesn’t that mean Moonveil Group will no longer have a rival? This marriage will benefit both parties, and you know that.”

I immediately shook my head, feeling even angrier. “I don’t believe it. You don’t even look like you’re trying to convince me with a more reasonable reason.”

“Because I don’t need to do that,” he said coldly. “If you want to cancel this marriage, go ahead. But I’m sure your grandfather won’t agree after all the agreement has been made, and I was told first that you would definitely agree no matter what.”

“Who said I would definitely agree?” I asked sharply but with a slight tremor in my voice. “This is my life. I am the one who can make decisions for myself, not my grandfather or anyone else.”

Damian stared at me silently for a long time. I don't know what the man was thinking as he studied my face with his sharp eyes. Then he stepped back, looking at me with an expression that was hard to explain.

“Then why don’t you just run away?” he said flatly. “Leave your family, leave everything. If you don’t want to marry me, that’s your choice.”

I froze, not expecting Damian to say something like that.

Did he think I could easily live alone as an Omega after leaving my family and the Moonveil Pack? I would be targeted by many werewolves and end up with a bad fate, not to mention the belief that Grandpa Andreas would not let me leave the pack.

“Why are you making things difficult, Damian? You and I can take the easy way out of this arranged marriage. I can clearly see that you have no interest in me, and I don’t like you at all! So, agree to this request and tell my grandfather that you want to cancel the arranged marriage!”

Damian suddenly chuckled, but it sounded very annoying to my ears. “Too bad, Roseanne. But I can’t grant that one request of yours.”

“Why?!” I asked quickly.

“Because I don’t care about your feelings,” he replied coldly. “I just do what I have to do. As for your part, you have to take care of it yourself.”

I felt angry and confused at the same time. However, one thing was clear, I hated Damian's indifferent attitude. However, I also felt something behind his words— something deeper and darker, but I didn't know what.

Damian is an enigma I can't figure out.

I tried to bait him with one last trick I had. “If you really want to marry me… then what about Lyra?”

Damian suddenly froze. His gaze, which was originally cold, now turned darker and more dangerous. I could even feel that the wolf in him was also reacting until the man radiated a terrifying aura.

"Don't take Lyra with you," Damian said in a low voice, making the hairs on my neck bristle.

“I just want to know,” I said, sounding casual even as my heart raced. “Are you really over your late Luna, or is this marriage just an escape from your guilt?”

Damian suddenly stepped closer, and for the first time, I felt a little scared by the man's intimidating gaze.

“Roseanne, I warn you,” his voice sounded like a threat, “don't bring up Lyra's name again.”

I stared at him and unconsciously held my breath, so scared that I couldn't say anything. All I could do was watch Damian, who then passed me and walked over to Tion.

Damian pulled Tion to his feet with a very rough movement. I couldn't tell whether it was a form of hatred toward Tion or perhaps an outlet for emotions that he couldn't channel directly to me.

But what is certain is that I couldn't do anything anymore when Damian intended to take the man away.

“Our conversation is over, Roseanne,” he said one last time before finally walking out of this old warehouse dragging Tion along, and my negotiations ended in complete failure.

When Damian finally left with Tion, I could catch my breath again, still trying to comprehend what had just happened. I don't know, I felt like there was something else hidden in the purpose of the marriage between me and Damian.

I also began to realize that maybe I was trapped in something much more complicated than I thought. However, if I was trapped, I would make sure that I was not an easy pawn to be played with.