Dawn came too soon. I dressed plainly, in a new mini dress I had gotten during the week, clevage out in the open, a small scale wounded around my neck to hide the fading marks, and headed to the Pack house. Guards nodded me through—Silvercrest ones, of course.
The penthouse was guarded. Father had never lived in the penthouse before. He had been planning to give it to Simon and I when we got married.
Simon, that bastard...
It was breathtaking. The penthouse in the middle of no where. Made with black granite. Floor-to-ceiling windows and a jacuzzi just by the entrance.
Wooden stairs led to the entrance. I stepped in, two strong-faced men guiding the door. They were pack warriors. When I walked into the house, the strong scent of an Alpha hitting me, almost knocking me down. The last time I felt that scent was from my father, a month ago.
The memory of my father renewed the hatred I had for him in me.
"He is upstairs. In his office."
One of the men by the door spoke, although his voice was almost a whisper but my sensitive hearing heard him loud and clear.
I went up through the elevator leading to his office, the last floor in the penthouse, rage in my eyes.
Can I knock him down once I see him?
My knock echoed on the door.
"Come in," his voice called, smooth and commanding. Like, that night.
"Look at me when I fuc—"
I quickly shook my head.
"Focus, you are here to bring him down..." I whispered to myself.
I pushed the door open, stepping into luxury I hated. He sat at a desk, papers spread out, looking every bit the powerful Alpha. Dark hair perfect, gray eyes lifting to meet mine.
"Irene Harvey," he said, smiling charmingly. "Right on time. Sit."
My brows furrowed, breath uneven.
What game was he playing now? Don't he recognize me from that night?
I stayed standing. "What do you want, Alpha?"
His smile widened. "Direct. I like that. We're discussing your assignment. But first—coffee?"
"No," I snapped.
He poured himself one anyway, sipping coolly. "Suit yourself. I've reviewed your file. Daughter of Theo, impressive training history. You'll oversee part of the new Omega training sessions."
Is he pulling my legs?
"Me?" I blinked. "Why?"
"You're capable," he said simply. "And I need Ironfang loyalty in key spots."
"Loyalty?" I laughed. "To you? After what you did?"
His eyes darkened, but his tone stayed charming. "What I did was justice. Your father—"
"Liar," I cut in. "You framed him."
He set the cup down, leaning back. "Feisty. Reminds me of someone I met recently. At a party."
My blood ran cold. "And...?"
"She was quite feisty." He stood, circling the desk. "Dark hair, fire in her eyes. Left in a hurry."
I swore to Brielle that I'd admit I was the one, now I couldn't summon the courage to do that. I couldn't bring myself to own up. Stupid!
"Coincidence," I said, stepping back.
He stepped close, scent overwhelming. "Is it? Because I remember every detail."
"Back off," I warned.
He chuckled softly. "Relax. This is business. Take the role or face reassignment. Maybe training duty."
I shoved him angrily. "What silly game are you playing? No—scratch that, why exactly are you here? To take over? You can easily to that in your dark, little empire, within your Pack over there. Why exactly are you here? What point are you trying to prove?"
"I'm here to mark territory, Irene."
The way he spelt out my name. This spiteful demon...
"And, just so you know, I already started, on Friday night. Exactly 11:35pm."
I frowned. Was that...?
He grabbed onto my chin, causing few hair strands to fall before my eyes. I glared at him and if glares could kill, he would be six feet below with nothing left but skeleton.
"You. I started with you."
My world shattered. This audacious bastard.
I shoved him. Hard. That he stumbled back.
"You filthy devil, get your hands off me!" I warned, rage twisting my stomach.
"You tasted so good." He proceeded. "Skin on skin. Saliva exchange. Your pussy clenching around my—"
A loud crack. I didn't know when my hand moved. It did on its own. Tears blurring my face.
He massaged the place I had slapped him, eyes cold.
The next thing, he grabbed my chin, shoving me backwards till my back hit the wall. I struggled but I failed to get out of his grip, the power I used to have as the Alpha's daughter gone and buried all thanks to the bastard standing right before me. My eyes blurred even more but I pushed the tears back.
"Watch yourself, Irene Harvey." He barked.
It was the only thing I could do. The only thing that didn't require using strength. Moreover, his face enraged me the more I think of that night and how I had let this man slid into me.
So, I do it. I spat on his face.
He released his hand from my jaw and fished out his handkerchief to wipe it off. "You are joining the other Omegas to oversee the training tomorrow." He finalised.
"If you think I'd offer some loyalty to you, you must be out of your damn mind." I bit out.
"Oh, sweetheart," he paused, gauging my expression, gray eyes pinning me like a trap. "I'd have agreed if you had refused this meeting but sadly, you presence here contradicts your claims."
My fingers curled. "You don't know what loyalty means, do you? Little wonder you have such a black heart. None of the Omegas or elite wolves are loyal to you. They are simply adjusting to the new rules brought to them. Because, Alpha, loyalty means years of dedication to an authority or person. But, why would you be familiar with that concept when you framed an innocent man?"
He nodded. "You are right. I don't have their loyalty. But, I do have their respect, you inclusive."
I walked up to him, closing the space between us but not close enough to feel his breath. "I'll rather have my body mutilated than offer a single respect to you."
His hand wrapped around my waist before I know, I'm pressed into him, feeling his buldge behind his pants. I swallowed, my breath hitched. He leaned into me, his warm breath now felt on my face, his cedar scent suffocating, a little more leaning in of his head and his stubble would be scratching my chin. "Why not give a test to that? Try not to appear at the training tomorrow as ordered by me and see the consequences unfold before you. Try me, love." He murmured.
I aggressively take his hand off my waist and stumbled back, glaring. "Fine. I'll take it. But don't still think this means loyalty."
"Good girl," he said, echoing that night. My fists clenched.
As I turned to leave, he added, "One more thing. Dinner tonight. Discuss details."
"No," I shot back.
"It's not a request," he said coolly. "7 PM. Here."
I stormed out, slamming the door. My body was shaking when I left the penthouse, my lips quivering.
I imagined the worst of our first interaction before I came here and none of them were as worst as what I experienced up there.
Back at Brielle's, I burst in. Brielle looked up.
"He wants me to oversee training. And dinner." I bit out.
Her eyes widened. "Dinner? Alone?"
"Yeah," I said. "Perfect chance to snoop."
She nodded. I went into my room and screamed into the pillow.
Gideon arrived later. "Heard about your meeting. What happened?"
I recounted it, fists shaking. "He's arrogant. Thinks he can charm me into submission."
"Use the dinner," Gideon said. "Slip something in his drink? No—too soon. Listen for weaknesses."
Brielle nodded. "And the training? Omegas are thrilled. More power, they say.
I said nothing. My mind circling back to that terrible interaction. I had played it off to Gideon and Brielle. Lied to them that he didn't remember me and I also didn't bring anything up so, our interaction was near normal.
I couldn't tell them what exactly happened. Was it embarrassment?
Gideon and Brielle were speaking about some other Pack gist while my thoughts drifted. Alpha Devon...
He seemed harder to handle.
Night drew in. When I wore the gown Brielle suggested—sleeves, mini dress, jean—I finally figured out why my heart had been pumping fast ever since the sun set. I was meeting that monster. Again...
I was scared and irritated.
When I was heading there, Brielle and Gideon gave me a lot of ideas on how to get close to Devon. I wasn't listening. Or maybe I had but forgot all the points they dropped.
I believe I had Brielle saying something the perfume I sprayed was a seduction fragrance
She was kidding right?