#Chapter 5 - The Deal

Elijah’s POV

I looked down at the petite woman in front of me. I could not deny that I admired her ambition. Her drive. Hell, I admired anyone that had that much gull to stand up to me.

As I grabbed a hold of her hand and shook in agreement to her deal, I could not help but notice that fire that radiated between the two of us. Almost like electricity flowing from her into me.

 It was almost magnetic, but I brushed it off to just static from an unknown source. I kept thinking about her eyes.

 They held a brilliant fire that I could not place. It was vivid and infectious to see her responses to me. Even her reactions to the situations have been funny.

She was beautiful. No, she was absolutely gorgeous standing at 5’3. Her frame was petite and graceful yet deadly and patient. I could not lie she looked familiar to me, but I could not place her.

The breath of air that she created around her was ambiguous to say the least. But I felt that I was letting my emotions get in the way of my judgement. I thought I was being too sensitive on this matter.

I could not for the life of me begin to fathom the reasons for my actions. I did not know why I did it. Maybe it was because annoying her would get a rise out of her that I wanted to see.

But why? I had only just met her. What did it matter? Did it truly matter that she was annoyed by me?

This actor competition is one of the most single important to me. This was a step in the right direction for me to enter into the human entertainment industry. I had been making a lot of preparations and this is not something to take lightly. But this I, the fact that no one knows where she came from has me worried.

I saw through her guise the moment she entered my office. She did not look like any of the competitors. Or did she try to throw herself at me like the rest of them. It was actually refreshing. I don’t want to let someone like her get away especially if she does have talent that she boosts about.

Maybe she could be a star in the making? Maybe she was a cash cow by the looks of her? I did not want to think of her like that be talent and beauty like hers does not fall out of the sky. And when it does you cannot just ignore it.

I tried to walk away from the conversation with I to make a quick call to Grayson. My Beta. But she was persistent to say the least.

Why did I have to mock her?

Despite Ava’s interruptions I continued to text Grayson . Being in the world of humans dulls the senses. Mindlinking with the pack is practically impossible. Whether it was tracking or just to communicate it was hard to sustain. Which is why I demanded that all of my pack that were here with me keep there cellular devices on at all times.

 My sense of smell is shit. And there are times that I feel the desire to leave this place and head to the world of the weres. But I have a duty and an obligation, and I cannot let my pack down.

“Jake, there’s a woman here who wants to make a bet with me and I need it notarized. You bring a few people over here. Now.”

There was that annoying ringtone that Grayson had installed that I could not get rid of. A yipping wolf.

I hate this damn sound, but I have no idea how to change it for the life of me.

As I quickly answered the phone I could hear my Beta snarling in laughter as he picked up.

“Haha! A bet? My Goddess! When did you start acting so irresponsible. And this is at the entertainment company again?” Jake responded him back.

“You heard correct.” I said as I rubbed his fingers against the bridge of my nose. If he were not my second in command, I’d kick his ass.

Grayson continued to laugh. “Stop joking around.”

I took a deep breath. “You finished yet?”

Grayson stopped laughing momentarily to answer me. I am the Alpha my word is final. “Yes, I am. I am sorry Alpha, but do you know how insanely busy I have been lately.  The human head of state called again a while ago to ask for accountability, saying that there have been more shifter sightings recently...”

“You can brief me more on the subject tomorrow.” I intercepted Grayson . I already had an idea what might be going on but I did not want to sit and hold a humans hand right now. I could deal with whatever the problem as tomorrow.

 “Come here right now.” Without any further discussion, I hung up the phone.

 The rules of the human world and the werewolf world are different. Here, without mind link, even the werewolf’s sense of smell will be polluted by humans, and we are able to smell the same kind. We can barely identify if someone near us is another were or not. Even myself being an Alpha could not detect someone if they were right under my nose. Some of us would not even be able to tell their mates scent from a normal person.

The two worlds are strictly regulated. And my pack is responsible for handling the extremely rare passage between the two worlds. There are stragglers here and there but nothing like how bad it use to be. And dealing with shifters that accidentally and unsanctioned come to the human world, as long as we have witnessed.

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Ava’s POV

I stood there growing more uncomfortable by the second as Elijah made phone calls. One minute he was texting someone the next he was growling into his phone from there to be witnesses to our arrangement.

He even called a few people over. This mixture looks of curiosity and awe did not help my nerves either.

I began to clear my throat, “I want you to witness a bet for me.” I tried to get everyone’s attention however they all kept staring at Elijah. What did I expect he was in charge of this competition—of course they won’t listen to me. One of them even knew who I was.

“Everyone listen up, you know that I do not like to have anything repeated,” Elijah said sternly. That got everyone looking at both of us.

I swallowed deeply as I looked over at him. Damn why did this man have to be so sexy. Too bad he is such a pompous ass.

“If I make it into the top three of this casting contest, then this man, Elijah, I would like for him to publicly apologize to me.” I stated this loud enough and clear enough that everyone around could hear.

The people gathered looked at one another with different remarks and expressions on their faces.

Elijah chuckled as he looked relaxed and unphased. “And prey tell what happens when…I am sorry if you lose? What benefits am I to reap from this bet of yours?” This bastard had a lot of nerve.

He looked deep into my eyes. I was tempted to slam my heel on his foot. Bring him down a few notches. I turned my head away from his gaze.

His stares, his gaze I felt as if I was hypnotizing by his deep green eyes. His eyes were so intense it made me not want to look back. I have never been shy like this. Not even with Jacob. I did not care for it.

I could not back down from him. I knew I could see this contest through. I know I can make my dream a reality.

“If I lost than…I will serve under your modeling agency for free for half a year. Does that seem fair enough?” I said regaining my confidence. I could not help but glared back at Elijah. I really hoped that it would get rid of the strange feeling of uncertainty in the air.

Elijah smiled as he took hold of my hand. He shook it once more for the audience to see. The heat radiating from his hand was enough to make me sweat. His firmness alone was a turn on.

Stop it Ava, do not show any signs of attraction to this man. He is just like Jacob.

“Sounds like a fair trade to me, little kitten.” He said. I do not like that nickname. No matter how sexy it sounded on his lips.

“If I lose than I will publicly apologize to you, I.” Elijah said with a smile repeating the terms. “But it you lose than you work as a model in my business for free for half of the year. Sound about right?” Elijah said.

I shook his hand. “Deal.”

Elijah smiled to the point where his teeth reminded me of the big bad wolf. “Deal,” he said softly.