This is our little secret !

EMMA

"Oh, it's nothing. Anyway, why are you having breakfast alone?" I asked her, steering the conversation away from the previous topic.

“Elijah is busy with his duties, and as part of the higher-ranking order, I’m not allowed to have meals with the lower ranks. It leaves me pretty lonely,” she admitted, her expression heavy with solitude. Her words only deepened my guilt for almost crossing a line with her mate.

But I couldn’t afford to let guilt consume me. My revenge on Violet for taking away everything I loved—and my mission to uncover the truth about my mother—depended on my resolve. I had to suppress these emotions if I wanted to succeed in my plan to trap the alpha, Elijah.

I took a seat beside Violet and served myself some bacon and bread. There were important matters to discuss later with the so-called “sexy alpha,” but for now, I tried to focus on breakfast.

“So, spill the beans—was it Mason who left that hickey on your neck?” Violet teased, catching me off guard. I nearly choked on my food.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, quickly wiping my mouth.

“Last night, I saw you dressed to impress, heading toward the terrace. Naturally, I followed you and stumbled upon your little date with Beta Mason,” she said with a mischievous grin. I couldn’t believe my once-arrogant sister was now enjoying teasing me.

“How could you, Violet? That’s such an invasion of privacy!” I snapped, my irritation rising.

“I was just looking out for my little sister. And for what it’s worth, I think Beta Mason is an excellent choice,” she replied with a playful wink.

“I’m not dating him! He’s just a good friend,” I retorted, rolling my eyes. But Violet’s grin only widened.

“What are you girls whispering about?” Elijah’s deep voice cut through the room, sending a shiver down my spine. He approached us with his commanding presence, kissing Violet on the lips as he joined us at the table. For a fleeting moment, something inside me stirred, though I quickly buried the thought.

“Did you know your Beta is seeing someone special?” Violet said to Elijah, her tone light and teasing.

I froze, knowing exactly where this conversation was heading. Elijah, notorious for his possessiveness, would not take this lightly.

Elijah sat across from us, his gaze flicking between Violet and me. A maid quickly served his breakfast. “I didn’t know Mason had a romantic side,” he commented, taking a measured bite of his steak.

“Oh, he does! In fact, the lucky girl is my sister, Emma,” Violet said with enthusiasm. I resisted the urge to groan aloud, internally facepalming.

Elijah’s sharp gaze landed on me, filled with unspoken fury. “I love you, Violet, but let’s not make assumptions. They aren’t mates, so this isn’t possible,” he stated firmly, his tone laced with warning.

“But they’d make such a cute pair! And what if they are mates? I’ve heard it can happen,” Violet replied in her chirpy way, clearly oblivious to the storm brewing in Elijah’s expression.

“And how would you know about this? Did little Emma confess something?” Elijah’s forced smile was more unsettling than any glare.

“They had a little date last night,” Violet said innocently, unaware of the tension rising in the room.

The sound of Elijah’s fork hitting the plate echoed as his jaw clenched. Veins bulged on his arms, and his eyes burned with restrained anger.

“It wasn’t a date, Violet,” I said quickly, trying to extinguish the flames before they erupted.

“Elijah—I mean, Alpha—I can explain,” I stammered when he abruptly stood.

“Emma, I need to discuss something with you. Come to my office after breakfast,” he ordered, his voice cold and detached before leaving the room.

Once he was gone, Violet turned to me. “Did you notice something different about him, or was it just me?” she asked, her curiosity unshaken.

I chuckled nervously. “I didn’t notice anything,” I lied, offering her a weak smile.

“You know, I miss the old Elijah. Since our mating ceremony, he’s changed. It feels like I can’t connect with him anymore. I love him more than anything, but he’s become... distant,” Violet confessed, her vulnerability shining through.

I gulped hard, guilt gnawing at me. I was the reason for this change.

“I don’t know what to say, Violet. That’s between you and your mate. Spare me the couple drama, please,” I replied, deflecting the conversation.

We shared small talk while finishing breakfast, though I ate at a snail’s pace, dreading my upcoming meeting with Elijah. Once Violet excused herself to her room, I gathered my courage and headed for Elijah’s office.

I knocked softly, and his deep voice granted me entry. As I stepped inside, his piercing gaze locked onto me, sending a chill down my spine.

“Elijah, I can explain,” I began, but he raised a hand, cutting me off. His posture was relaxed, but the tension in the room was palpable.

“It’s Alpha to you. And I’d love to hear how you justify spending time with Mason after making out with me,” he said, his voice laced with dangerous calm.

He raised an eyebrow, and I felt every hair on my body stand on end. "I'm sorry," I murmured, not wanting to reveal too much. I couldn’t get into details, especially since Mason could also be hurt, and I cared about him.

"Are you soft on him?" Elijah asked, his tone dripping with disgust.

"Mason is a good guy, and yes, I like him," I replied. In a flash, his grip tightened around my neck, and I was slammed against the door. He was fast—how could I forget that he was a wolf?

"What did you say?" he growled, tightening his hold as I tried to break free. But he was too strong.

"You belong to me," he warned, his voice a low growl. "I don’t want to hear any other man’s name from your lips." His hand lingered near my neck, his grip firm but not suffocating.

His finger grazed my lips, sending a shiver through me. "Your lips will only speak my name," he threatened, his gaze darkening. "Otherwise, I’ll cut your tongue out."

His words were both chilling and electrifying, and my breath caught in my throat. He let go of my neck, and I coughed, trying to regain some composure.

"What is wrong with you?" I snapped. "You can kiss your mate in front of me, but I can’t even like anyone else? Why the double standard?"

He smirked. "Some questions in this world don’t have answers. This is one of them."

He straightened, his commanding presence making me feel small. "Let me make it clear: you won’t say any man’s name, and you don’t have the right to like anyone other than me. When I call you, you come to me," he stated, his words final.

"You’ll fuck me whenever I say, wherever I say. And this will remain our little secret," he added, his gaze intense. I could feel the tension, the undeniable pull between us.

He took off his coat and hung it on the chair, then unbuttoned his shirt with a slow, deliberate motion, settling on the desk in an alpha-male stance.

He was stunning—irresistible—and all I could think was that I wanted him, now. When did I become so shameless? But when he was around, I couldn’t deny the desire he stirred in me.

"You want me to be your whore?" I asked, trying to mask my intrigue, but his glare was enough to make me rethink my words.

"If that’s what you want to call it, I don’t mind," he said, his tone filled with authority.

It was my turn now. "But what do I get in return?" I asked, my voice steady.

He stepped closer, his body heat enveloping me. "I know you feel the same way I do. You want to understand what’s happening between us. Don’t act like this isn’t what you want. In return, you’ll get fucked by the greatest alpha," he whispered into my ear, his lips brushing against my skin.

I inhaled deeply, the tension between us building. "In return, I want you to find out about my mom," I said, the request slipping out before I could second-guess myself.

He pushed me back, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "What do you want to know about your treacherous mother?"

"What do you know about her?" I shot back.

"All I know is she cursed me. Beyond that, I have no idea. Your father refuses to speak about that... woman," he said, his tone dripping with disdain.

"She’s my mother, and I suggest you show her some respect," I said, my voice challenging.

He smirked, clearly unbothered. "What if I don’t?" he taunted.

"Then the deal is off, and I won’t let you touch me. The arrangement ends," I said, knowing he wouldn’t back down easily.

"You think I care about your decisions?" he said, stepping even closer. "I’ll do as I please. You can’t stop me from having you."

I swallowed hard, feeling his words resonate deep inside me. "But you’re giving me your body in exchange for the information about your mother," he continued, his gaze intense.

I took a deep breath. "So, the deal’s on," I said, stepping toward him.

He looked at me, confused that I was taking the first move, but I needed to break the sexual tension between us. Right and wrong were no longer part of my vocabulary.

I pulled him into a deep kiss. Our mouths met urgently, as if we both had been starved for this connection. The kiss was desperate, consuming—marking the beginning of something I couldn’t take back.