Chapter 18
His Revenge
Alastair
“Hello, Lorraine,” I greet the woman.
Her mouth parts slightly, and she blinks in surprise. Cute. Almost too easy. Like a child being handed candy, her entire face lights up the second she sees me.
“Oh my God, Alpha Alastair.” Her eyes drop to the bouquet in my hand. “Are those for me?”
“’Course they are, sweetheart.” I hand her the bouquet, rich with the mixed fragrance of fresh flowers. “Who else would I bring flowers to?”
“Thank you.” Her voice softens instantly. “I really love them.”
Before I can say another word, she throws herself into my arms, looping her hands around my neck.
My arms hold her waist automatically, pulling her closer while she presses an eager kiss against my lips.
Desperate already. Her mouth opens for me without hesitation, soft little moans slipping out between kisses as our tongues tangle together.
Pathetic, but useful.
The more she melts into me, the easier it becomes to guide her backward into the house. The door shuts behind us with a quiet click while my hands roam over her body possessively. Outside, the guards remain stationed at the entrance. No one will interrupt us.
“Aren’t you naughty?” she asks with a breathless laugh when she finally pulls back enough to look at me. A playful smile stretches across her swollen lips, still wet from kissing me.
I chuckle low in my throat. “What’s so wrong with that? A man can’t admire a pretty woman now?”
“No, Alpha.” Her voice turns syrupy sweet as she leans closer again. “You could never do anything wrong.”
Her lips brush against my neck. “I want you to keep looking at me like this forever,” she whispers. “Make me your queen.”
The warmth of her breath slides beneath my skin, stirring the heat already building low in my body.
My hand closes around her ass, firm and soft beneath the thin fabric of her dress, and I pull her harder against me until her hips grind directly against my cock straining beneath my pants. A shaky moan escapes her.
“Queen, huh?” I growl softly beside her ear while my other hand slips higher, brushing over the outline of her hardened nipple beneath the fabric. “Honestly, sweetheart, after all the crap you’ve been through because of that bastard Gabriel, maybe you deserve it.”
Her eyes flutter shut instantly. “Yes…” she breathes, fingers tangling in my hair. “Yes, Alpha. I’d do anything for you.”
I smile against her throat. “Anything?” My hand kneads her breast harder this time, earning another needy sound from her lips.
“Uh-huh.” She nods, already intoxicated by attention alone. “I know you’ll save me from this hell. Take me, Alpha. I’ll give you anything you want.”
God, she means it too. The desperation in her voice almost makes me laugh. Instead, I keep my expression calm, feeding her exactly what she wants to hear while the real plan unfolds quietly inside my head.
“Good girl,” I murmur.
I take the bouquet from her hands and toss it carelessly onto the sofa beside us. Then I turn her around and push her gently against the nearest wall.
“Hands up,” I order softly. “Against the wall for me.”
* * *
A week ago
Lorraine keeps crying throughout the ride. Eventually, her sobs grate on my nerves. Poor girl. Such a waste too, considering her body is sexy enough to satisfy my desires while we’re here.
“C’mon, Ms. Lorraine. Don’t tell me you’re still crying, hm?” I ask, trying to coax her again.
Tonight is our first meeting. Even though she isn’t my potential mate, her body responds incredibly well beneath my touch.
It was all just a coincidence that I met her at the local bar, but I love this good coincidence.
Truthfully, I prefer Alexa too, but she’s busy with wedding preparation, and Lorraine isn’t a bad way to kill time.
“I can’t believe Gabriel just abandoned me like that. He left like I don’t even matter to him anymore. He promised he’d choose me over Alexa as his Luna. And now?” she pours out every complaint between broken sobs.
I watch her cry inside my car. She sits in the exact position Alexa sat in when I first met her. The memory sours my mood instantly, and I take another sip of whiskey to wash it down.
The longer I study Lorraine, the more I understand why Gabriel chooses Alexa over her. This girl could never compare to the strongest future Luna. Still, that doesn’t make her useless. Gabriel is just a fool who doesn’t know how to satisfy his woman.
“You know, sweetheart, you’re giving up way too easily. Long as those vows ain’t spoken yet, you still got a shot.” I shrug.
“Impossible. There are only a few hours left before the wedding.” Lorraine shakes her head.
“You never know. A whole lotta things can happen in one hour. You could seduce him, threaten him, hell, maybe even get violent if you have to.” My smile spreads wider as I take another sip of whiskey.
Lorraine turns toward me, her brows knitting together in disbelief. She shakes her head immediately. “No. I won’t use violence.”
“Alright then, no violence. But there’s gotta be something that could ruin his plans, right? You’ve been the closest person to him this whole time.” I swirl the whiskey inside my glass.
“If you put it that way, then maybe...” Her voice softens into hesitation. “But it would destroy his future. His reputation, his status... even mine could be ruined too.”
“So, what?” I place the whiskey glass into the cup holder before leaning closer toward her. “Forget reputation.” I lick my bottom lip slowly, already knowing she is about to fall straight into my plan.
“Listen carefully. I want that wedding ruined too, but Alexa’s tied to a blood pact. She can’t call off the wedding as long as Gabriel keeps his promise not to hurt her family, her friends, or Harlow. That means including you.”
Lorraine falls silent.
“If you can destroy this wedding for me, I’ll give you anything you want in return. Sound fair?”
“Anything?” she whispers.
“Anything. You handle your part, I’ll handle mine. Deal?”
* * *
Present day
I sit on the sofa facing Gabriel. That bastard still has the audacity to step into my room. Technically, this house belongs to him, and this is his guest room, but that doesn’t mean he gets to disturb me in the middle of the night.
“So what brings you here this late, hm?” I ask, crossing one leg over the other.
“Alpha Alastair, I’m sorry to bother you, but I want to offer you a deal. What if I told you that you could still marry Alexa?” He puts his elbows on his knees.
“Hm. Now that’s interesting. Go on.” I slip a cigarette between my lips and light it with my lighter.
“Tomorrow, the elders will announce that Harlow can’t be crowned Alpha. The elders already agreed to hold an Alpha battle between you, Alpha Romero, and Harlow. The winner gets to marry Alexa.” That bastard rambles on as if everything is already destined to happen exactly the way he says.
“What about you?”
“I’ll go into exile tomorrow.” He shakes his head.
The second I hear that confession, a grin slowly spreads across my face. “So you’re building yourself an alibi now? Clever little fox.” I blow smoke straight into the motherfucker’s face.
Gabriel recoils slightly from the smoke but continues talking about his plan anyway. “Not exactly. I still have to serve my sentence.” He clears his throat and sits straighter.
“So you came here to help me prepare for the fight?” I ask lazily. “Hoping to earn yourself a favor from the winner?”
Of course that’s what this sneaky bastard wants. He already knows I will crush Alpha Romero and Harlow. His rotten little schemes are easy to read.
“Alpha Alastair, I don’t want to become your enemy.
You were the one who taught me how to gain strength through that ritual.
Remember when I was at my lowest after losing to Alexa in her Lycan form that day?
You were the one who helped me rise again.
” That bastard flashes a bright smile that makes me sick.
“Besides, your idea about taking over neutral territories is brilliant. If you control this pack, nobody will be able to stop us. Even the First Light Pack might end up trembling in fear and bowing to you.”
Us?
His words disgust me. I only taught him the forbidden ritual once, yet he’s still too much of a coward to use it properly. And that pathetic bastard is the one who takes Alexa’s virginity.
She should have been mine.
Mine!
If I had known sooner, I would never have invited him to perform the ritual in the first place. That mistake still tastes bitter in my mouth.
“So now you’re gonna help me take Alexa and this pack?” I ask again, wanting to hear him say it clearly.
“Of course. All I ask is for my freedom and my reputation to be restored afterward.” He grins.
“Alright.”
I nod before taking another drag from my cigarette. Smoke fills my lungs as I send a mind link to the guards waiting outside the room.
“So, we have a deal?” he asks, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Deal,” I answer as I nod.
The next second, the guard I summoned opens the door. Gabriel turns around in surprise the moment he hears it. Big mistake.
“What are you...”
Before he can finish, the guard fires a tranquilizer dart straight into him. Gabriel collapses onto the couch in an instant.