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Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: The Devil’s Meeting

Dara stared out at the blustery street of Sandgate, watching 9-5ers jostling for public transport and hastening to their places of work so early in the morning. The clouds were slowly gathering, darkening and soon, rain would pelt the reinforced glass windows of her office on the first floor of her father's sky scraper.

Behind her was a hive of movement and sound. Her assistant's chirped instructions to the new rookies on the job while they prepared for a meeting. Her department heads sat snugly in their chairs, waiting for her to finish her routine stare at the manic view of plebeians.

Then, the entire room fell silent. To the best of her knowledge, she had only groomed them to go hush in the presence of two men; her father who was the mafia lord of the Burning Blade gang, and the man she was hopelessly obsessed with. She heard her staff hastily take a five minutes break and in seconds, the room was cleared out. Still, she didn't turn.

She felt him draw close, watched excitedly as his handsome face went from blurred to crystal clear against the glass. Satisfied it was the man who dominated her wet dreams, she spun and clasped her hands behind his neck.

"This is a pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting you for another two days." Yet jitters arrowed through her heart knowing his unscheduled visits only preempted bad news or a serious, urgent issue. She planted a soft kiss on his lips. "Humor me by convincing me you are here solely because you need me and not just to answer to my father or ask me for a favor."

Ryan skimmed a finger over her dimples. "He asked for me."

Dara rolled her eyes and dropped her hands. "I have a meeting." She frowned when he grabbed her waist. "I haven't got time for this. You know the way to his office so skedaddle."

"Don't be like that. You promised me this was going to be fun. No strings attached. No feelings, remember?"

She shoved at his chest. "Don't confuse my lust for love, alpha Ryan. Werewolf sex just hits different and I still can't get enough of you. Asides that, I have no interest in your pack life."

"Great." He bent and kissed her so hard her senses were almost numbed. With the pad of his thumb, he wiped off her lipstick on his lips and smirked at her. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck." She replied in a raspy breath. "I wish you didn't need it." She yanked his tie, kissed him hard again before pushing him away. "Get out of my sight."

While he walked away, she turned back to stare at the masses, but this time she didn't see them. She preferred to watch Ryan's impressive build retreating.

***

The moment she saw him, Jen's bright countenance flickered.

"Go right in, Mr. Ryan. The boss is expecting you."

At the secretary's words, Ryan didn't break his stride to the mafia lord's office. If he had been only human, his heart might have skipped over this meeting, over the sight of about twenty members of the burning blade gang seated at a long table when he swung open the door to Mr. Stone's office. It didn't. Instead, he worked his suit and advanced towards them with a small smile.

"Mr. Stone. Gentlemen. I sincerely hope I didn't keep you waiting." Without waiting to be ushered to one, Ryan pulled out a seat and got comfortable in it. Only after did he register the displeasure on the faces of his clients. "Shall we get right into it?"

"Remind me again why we have to deal with this smug bastard rather than hunt him like the animal he is?" Dodge asked, gritting his gold veneers as an intern went round the table serving water at the meeting.

Mr. Stone unclenched his hands and leaned back on his seat. "Go ahead, alpha Ryan. Remind us why we shouldn't decimate you and your pack despite the bloody massacre of humans perpetrated by none other than werewolves."

With a button click, the grisly images of the bodies of the gang's members filled one section of the wall. Ryan mentally commended Cody's work, especially placing the human hearts inside the mouths of the victims.

While his heart was merry, his face darkened with anger as he turned to the men watching him. "Because MY pack has nothing to do with the bloody massacre of humans. If I was interested in such reckless display of violence against your race, I wouldn't pay the steep price for peace every other month. THAT," he said, pointing to the images, "is not my style."

"But you know exactly who did it, don't you? You can't deny that much."

Ryan scowled at Dodge. More than any other member of the pack, Dodge had always made clear his disapproval with his leader's decision to have business dealings with a werewolf. Judging from the suspicious stares around the room, Ryan deduced that Dodge's supporters were growing and soon, that might prove to be a big problem for his relationship with Mr. Stone.

"Deny?" He almost laughed as he leaped to his feet. "I don't have to deny anything, Dodge. I know the trademark of the Lawless pack when I see one and that right there is their handiwork. They tried to attack me on the very same night too, but thankfully, my best friend took the hit. He's fighting for his life as we speak, might not make it to the weekend from what the doctors say."

The pain that flitted across his face was real and the most accurate expression he had worn in the room so far. Everyone watched him silently.

"Why would they go after you?"

"Because it's their nature! They pride themselves as supernatural judges of human and wolf actions. They spare no race. They fear no status. They live by no code." Ryan leaned on the table as his eyes darted from one face to another. "That pack is the bane of our existence. Personally, I think they got tired of being rejected by honorable packs and decided to form one themselves." His eyes zeroed in on Mr. Stone. "THAT'S the werewolf pack you should be hunting. Eliminate them and trust me, this senseless bloodshed would stop."

He frowned when water was accidentally spilled on him by the intern.

"Watch it." He snapped.

"I deeply apologize, sir…"

"Getting your suit wet is far below what you deserve, you animal." He heard Dodge say under his breath while the intern hastily wiped the table. Ryan focused on the subdued whispers around the table. While some bought into his act, a few still nursed suspicions. Among them was Mr. Stone.

As much as that was a huge problem for him, he couldn't focus on it. Instead, he was trying to make sense of faint scent he was catching. It was heavily suppressed under layers of both spell and perfume. Yet, Ryan was able to pick it, especially since it smelt familiar.

Just as it clicked, he looked up and locked eyes with the intern leaving the room, covered in uniform, a nose mask and even gloves. Before he left the room, Rick nodded sagely at his brother.

He was so distracted he didn't notice his seatmate pull out a sharp-edged stake. Pain seared through his side as it was forcefully stabbed into him. Ryan groaned, flashing red eyes at his assaulter but before he could lose his control, the barrel of Mr. Stone's gun flashed.

"What the hell was that for?" He thundered at the gang, holding his side with the stake gaping out.

"You have a week to produce at least three members of the Lawless gang for me to punish, Ryan." Mr. Stone said in a dangerously cold tone. "That's how you'll prove your loyalty to me! If you fail to do so, I'll kill one hundred werewolves in retaliation, including YOU. How does that sound?"

Ryan masked his rage, yanked off the stake and tossed it on the table, smearing his blood all over it. He worked his jaw while his flesh healed.

"When I do decide to risk everything by going after the lawless pack, Mr. Stone, it will be a strategic decision, not one spurred by a threat. Don't forget we got into this agreement as business partners and leaders in our own right. I am NOT one of your lackeys!" He eyed Dodge and others seated. Their hearts were beating fast now. Their fear was poignant in his nose.

"Don't be stupid, Ryan. I am not bluffing."

"And neither am I." Ryan replied with glowing red eyes. "I didn't come to you out of weakness or fear. I DON'T need the peace treaty as much as you humans do. For every one werewolf you successfully kill, five humans die in the process. I know the numbers, yet I am the only alpha who is trying to work out peace. Do you have any idea how close to being ostracized from my community this decision has gotten me?"

He chucked lightly. His flesh was completely healed without as much as a dent, save for the blood stains in his inner shirt.

"You want to discuss a way forward, Mr. Stone, call me but if you need someone to boss around or threaten, I believe you have enough of them in your gang to satiate your need to feel in control."

"RYAN." Dodge sparked.

"SHUT UP!" Ryan growled at him. Dodge almost fell off his chair while obeying the command. Fixing his suit, Ryan turned to the leader who was seething in silent anger. "I know you can kill a hundred werewolves but try to remember how many human lives would be sacrificed in the process and how many more will go down in retaliation from my community. The bloodbath will last for generations to come, defeating the peace the government has strived for. Is that what you want to be remembered as, Mr. Stone? The leader who destroyed Sandgate city because of a foolish advice."

It pleased him to see Mr. Stone briefly glance at Dodge. With the air thick with equal parts remorse and shame, Ryan walked out of the office the same way he came in; fearless.

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