The work week that followed was a dizzying loop of high-stakes corporate espionage and low-stakes domestic madness. Chase's days were a tightrope walk: dealing with Lilith's intensely possessive, newly "contractual" flirtation; fending off Seraphina's constant, subtle attempts to steal his blood—the vampire, terrified of Lilith's retribution, now hovered around him, trying to drop poisoned pens or offer him 'specially prepared' coffees.
The evenings were worse. The apartment was a zoo: Rixsa, newly empowered by her position in his room, used every opportunity to make "unnecessary" contact; Kaelen, collar humming, performed her cleaning duties with furious, aristocratic disdain; and Alex, the former Goddess, cried quietly over her spreadsheet debt.
Chase had been diligent. He allowed Rixsa and Alex to passively siphon his Essence daily, keeping the reservoir manageable. However, what he didn't realize was that the sheer stress of managing an Alpha CEO, a vengeful vampire, two demons, and a bankrupt Goddess caused his body's new spiritual system to go into overdrive. In a desperate effort to fix the chaos and exhaustion, his strong soul was producing a disgustingly large, unmanageable amount of Essence.
His body was not capable of absorbing that volume, resulting in an overwhelming Essence Overflow.
It was Friday night. Chase walked into Lilith's private penthouse apartment for their scheduled "Essence Maintenance" session. He felt strangely disconnected, his movements sluggish, his thoughts distant. The overflow had begun, numbing his mind and pushing him into the precursor state of the weekly collapse.
Lilith greeted him, her smile wide. She was wearing a simple, tailored silk dress, ready for their contractually obligated "prolonged physical contact."
"Welcome, partner," she purred, taking his hand.
Chase only responded with a slow, sluggish nod. "Lilith."
As she led him toward the living room, she noticed it. The air around Chase wasn't just charged—it was vibrating. The Essence pouring off him was not merely abundant; it was a tidal wave, easily triple the volume of the previous Monday. It smelled like pure, distilled victory, and the intoxicating rush nearly buckled her knees.
Taking advantage of his hollowed state, Lilith easily guided him not to the living room, but toward her private suite. Chase offered no resistance, responding only in mumbled, delayed answers.
The moment the door to her bedroom closed, the switch flipped.
The dullness vanished. The exhaustion fled. The ancient warrior's persona, now supercharged by the spiritual flood, took over completely. He stopped, his eyes—usually measured and calm—flashing with reckless confidence and primal command. The flood of Essence had pushed him over the edge, activating the flirtatious, dominant, and dangerous core his Goddess had warned her about.
Lilith, sensing the immense surge, grinned savagely. This is it. The Essence was too high, the inhibitions were gone. He was overflowing and unguarded.
She backed up against the massive bed, her eyes red with intent. "The contract is officially terminated, Chase. This requires the fourth method now. I will drain this excess power, and when it's over, you will be mine completely."
Before she could activate her Alpha command, Chase moved. It wasn't a rush; it was a smooth, predatory glide that covered the distance between them instantly. He pinned her to the bed—not with force, but with the sheer surprise and spiritual gravity of his overflowing power.
His voice was a deep, gravelly purr, laced with the irresistible command of the ancient. "The contract remains, Alpha. You just realized who owns the terms."
Thinking she could still dominate the situation through the ritualistic nature of the fourth method, Lilith surged with her own power, intending to wrap her legs around him and take control of the exchange.
But Chase was faster, smoother, and completely in control of the overwhelming Essence now vibrating through him. With a deceptively easy motion, he reached behind her, found the zipper of her dress, and pulled it down in one swift movement. He watched as the expensive silk pooled around her waist.
Then, Chase leaned down, his eyes locking with hers, and delivered the true command: "Tonight, you are not the Alpha, Lilith. You are the resource I will consume."
Lilith, overwhelmed by the spiritual dominance of his overflow, felt the fight drain out of her. Her body responded instantly to the superior power, her instincts betraying her command. She became the submissive in the exchange.