"Mr. Darren," I called out to him, my eyes wide with surprise—and confusion. In a dazed state, I moved closer.
He flinched as my fingers brushed against the fabric of his sleeve.
"What is it that you want, Layla?" he asked, and my lips parted in shock at the softness in his tone.
"Can we please have a word?" I asked.
Perhaps the desperation in my voice was evident. I tugged on his sleeve, urging him to face me.
"Mrs. Barren... I'll join you all in a minute," he said.
"Somewhere private," I added, lowering my head in shame and retreat.
So, we hadn't really shared a night. For some reason, it relieved me. I wasn't rotten to the core.
"Fine," he said.
He started walking. I followed close behind. We passed rows of glass doors, a set of cubicles, and then a corner office. A placard above the door read Alphonso Darren.
"Get in," he said, casually opening the door and stepping aside to let me in.
"Thank you," I murmured, walking past him.
His office wasn't much different from his room at the club—monochrome, lacking detail. A portrait hung on the wall opposite the door. A glass panel on the right revealed a view of the road in front of Avitek. Against the left wall stood a couch.
A mahogany desk sat in the center—two chairs on one side, a revolving chair on the other. No decorations. Just a pile of books and stacked papers.
Beneath the portrait, a heavy-duty bookshelf rested. Its fat spines were crammed together—some books old, others newer. The room felt devoid of anything personal.
"Speak," he said, settling into one of the chairs. His gaze drifted to the skyline beyond the glass wall.
"I'm sorry. I had no idea. I behaved… crudely. Though, it doesn't help knowing I was sold to you. Regardless...
It's also not lost on me that you're doing all of this for your grandmother. Isn't that right?" I said.
His jaw clenched.
"Just get to the point, Little Dove," he snapped, cutting me off.
"I won't deny that all of this is wretched. But I also won't deny that you and I... we're going to see a lot of each other.
How about we call a truce?" I offered. His eyes narrowed.
"And your proposal is—?"
"I'll stay out of your way. You stay out of mine.
I get why it's important for you to have me here... but it's not fair to those who worked their asses off for this position.
Don't get me wrong—I just don't want to be here because I'm supposed to marry you. There's no merit to the job."
His brows furrowed.
"You're not doing yourself any favors, talking like that.
You're a Chen. Don't act like you've got integrity. Stop pretending.
You play the sweet, innocent virgin... and yet you tease the hell out of me. Testing my patience.
You're just like those women, aren't you?"
I couldn't help it—I burst out laughing. A full, disbelieving snort.
"A what now? God, you really are out of it. Stop pretending you know me," I said, wiping tears from the corners of my eyes.
"Enough. You don't know me either.
But blood doesn't lie," he said darkly. "The Chens are the worst I've known—scoundrels. Weasels."
"Oh, I'd agree," I said, steady now. "But they fed me for most of my life. Even when I wasn't their blood."
He paused. Caught off guard.
"Oh," he said, the word small.
"And here I thought you were important to the Chen family. The way they begged me not to harm you—" His voice dripped with bitterness, with rage.
"I don't know what you've been told. It's common knowledge that the Chen family, despite working for the Ministry of Healthcare, didn't have an heir.
They were my foster parents.
Indeed, what my brother did was unfortunate. And what you did... was devoid of any humanness.
I'll bear with you—for the sake of your grandmother. Not because I'm kind. But simply because I have no other option.
But..." My voice faltered.
"What?" he asked, rising from his seat.
"I don't want you to make my life miserable.
Keep your truths. Hold onto your lies. But don't make this harder than it already is.
Just tell me what you want, and I'll give it to you. Just like that. There's no catch here." My voice trembled.
"I'm just a girl. I'm not asking to be loved or accepted.
I'm not fit for someone like you. And yes, none of the other families my brother owed would have me marry their sons.
They would have killed me in cold blood. I'm surprised you haven't.
I'd be a fool to think you have nothing to gain from me." I crossed my arms, goosebumps rising on my skin as I stepped closer.
I closed the distance between us.
"If this is going to be a contract marriage, then I get to have a say. I have three conditions. It's only fair, if I'm going to be around."
"What are your conditions?" he asked, his eyes never leaving mine.
"You must not hurt me. You won't see other women while we're married. And... you won't control my life."
A low growl rumbled in his throat.
"I'll agree to all that—if you agree to mine. I'll be allowed to touch you—with your consent. You won't push me away when you want me. And you must not fall in love with me," he said, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Accepted," I whispered, barely breathing.
"Seal it… with a kiss, Mrs. Darren," he said, wrapping his hand around the back of my head. He pulled me toward him, fingers slipping through his hair.
His chin dipped as our eyes locked. His brown eyes dilated. Lust radiated from him like a spell, pulling me in.
He held me like he needed me to breathe.
"Accepted," I murmured again, giving in to the dizzying high. My lips parted, catching his in a kiss that started soft—then deepened, hungry. I tugged at him, breathing into him as he tried to regain control.
Damned be the boundaries. This was my deal with the devil.
So when he arched my back against the couch and pressed himself over me, I didn't resist.
His touch set me on fire. Every second ravaged me. It threatened to consume me—and baptize me in its flames.
"Mr. Darren—" I moaned as he pulled back.
"That ought to keep you on the edge. We'll continue from where we left. I have work to do," he said, flashing a presumptuous smirk.
"What do you mean?" I asked, trying to make sense of the whirlwind in my head.
"You look so innocent, Little Dove, when your head is filled with such dark thoughts. I'll rip apart your sly disguise," he whispered, biting my ear.
"You're not that special. It's only because my body finds you attractive. It'd be the same with any other man. Had you seen him naked..."
My thoughts spiraled. Was that true?
The attraction was electric. I was a wreck. And he—he was the devil reincarnated in breathtaking form.
"Good for you, Little Dove. I'll leave it at that. To spare you some embarrassment," he said, his fingers tightening around my throat.
I gasped, struggling to breathe. I tried to pry his hand away, but he didn't budge.
He stared into my eyes.
"Go and enjoy your free day. I'll switch you to my personal secretary team. We'll see how passionate you really are. Or how quickly you give up and break down—just like the Little Dove you are.
Seducing me, to save yourself?
I'll destroy your life... and you'll love me for it."
He let go, and I gasped, rubbing at my aching neck.
"You'll be begging. On your knees. And I won't stop. Get that inside your head," he said coldly, yanking me off the couch. I stumbled to the floor as he released me.
"I'll show you what you're worth. And we'll do it your way," he added with a smirk.
***
Alphonso's POV
My secrets in life weren't scarce. Everyone who worked for the Capo had them. Mine were just... the most dreaded.
A hundred years ago, the Capo's family made a wager with the God of the Wild. They sought the blessing of the Moon Goddess, and in return, their lineage turned into that of wolves.
Soon, the Capo would choose one lucky heir to be the sovereign Alpha of the lineage. A pack full of shapeshifting wolves — beasts that tore through flesh and feasted on blood. It was tradition. A part of the Capo's legacy.
My father was one of the chosen. It was only natural his sons would follow in his footsteps. And so be it. But the Capo wasn't easily pleased.
Everything was going well. Until someone betrayed the Capo.
The underworld was a nest of secrets. Its workings were mysterious — but they didn't involve humans alone. The Capo's lineage of werewolves wasn't the only one. There were Vampires. The Mers. And the Shadows.
All waiting for a moment to strike. Peace and order was only possible because of the moonstone. It's whereabouts were only revealed to the Alpha. It's powers threatened to ruin the world — humans, and beasts alike.
That's why it was important to secure our position. We needed a Luna. But that scum... Kaifer Chen had whisked her away right under our noses.
He impregnated her, made her unfit for marking. The Capo's family would have accepted her. And it was all ruined because of the filthy Chens.
And with her — our one chance was gone.
It was true that I was doing it for my grandmother. I wanted to get myself a wife — because after whatever happened with Alyssa, she couldn't trust me to heir a scion.
My job for the Capo was a risky one. At the Sex Club, we picked out mates fit to be marked by those in the pack. They were all allowed to make their own choices. The alcohol and pheromones helped. It worked well — for most of us. Except me.
Alyssa and I had broken up because I knew she wasn't the one. Whatever she wanted from me, I couldn't give it. Being the Capo's daughter gave her power over everyone, but there was no reason for me to stay. I'd moved on. Painfully so. Knowing that I was nothing more than a useless addition to the pack.
But when Kaifer stole our only chance to sire a strong heir with the Capo's family... I saw red. The Chens knew more than they were allowed to. But Layla? She felt like she was from another world.
And yet... I couldn't ignore the unrest that came with her presence. I wanted to fuck her. The urge was irresistible.
But before I did that, I had to turn her in. To the Capo.
My only fear — they would kill her. Just like they did the other Chens. And just like that, I'd have to let her go.
Whatever it was I felt for this woman... was making me blind. In lust. In rage. This was physical. Absolutely. I wanted her for her body. I hated her.
Layla Chen couldn't be the woman I love. Because I only ever loved one.
And she was taken from me. Years ago. But now, I had gained control.