Hard
Kaden’s POV
The tall trees within the pack compound stood monstrously, towering over every thing within the space. Everything about the building screamed vintage, much like the figure that lived solely within the building and ruled over the pack.
Right in the center of the compound was a water fountain reminiscent of the one back at my pack house. The figure sitting right in the middle had two heads that spew water into the fountain, joined at the neck like a two headed dragon.
The SUV swerved through the curved, tarred lane through to where the guards present had ushered us, and the ignition was turned off as soon as it had been parked.
I was staring out the window blankly before there was a soft tap on my shoulders. Hunter was seated beside me with same stoic expression plastered on his face, tapping at my coat gently.
“We’re here, my Lord.” He spoke up and I could feel a frown form on my face.
“I know that.” I half snapped, reaching for the door lock before pushing it open. Jackson had alighted the SUV as well, standing and waiting for me to step out before reaching out to take my briefcase.
I stared at the building from far off one last time, impressed by its regal architecture. I preferred the modernity of my pack house littered with artifacts. That was much better.
Taking a deep breath, I made my way to where the building stood with my beta and Jackson trailing right behind me. The guards who were familiar with my face ushered us into the living room. Inside the living room was a single cathedra and several arm chairs embracing a monochromatic red and purple. I couldn’t tell if it was her doing or that of the former alpha. If it was the former, I was certain that she was out of her damn mind.
“I would like to ask that you wait for a moment. The Luna would be here in a minute.” One sweet faced guard spoke up with a bow before disappearing from my field of view.
The entire interior had an oriental undertone, very unfamiliar compared to the sweetness that I was used to. But none of that mattered at the moment. I needed to combat a mutual enemy, and I needed to do it fast.
“Well, who do we have here?!” I could recognize the sing song voice from even a mile away, the same sugary voice that made even ants irritated. My attention shifted to the spiral staircase standing a little far from the main living room, making out the shadow of the shameless woman right before I could see her.
She was dressed in a purple robe that flowed all the way to the ground, sweeping whatever was in her wake as she took dramatic steps down the stairs. Her dark hair the color of the obsidians she so treasured hung low past her bare shoulders. She had both hands out although covered by the feathers that extended from the overly long sleeves as she bounced, finally flipping her hair when she had reached the cathedra in the living room.
She was peering at me, her plastic smile not fading. She was beaming, crossing one leg over the other in exaggerated movements. I couldn’t even tell if the purple polish on her nails were extensions or actual claws. She definitely was one delusional woman.
“The last time I checked, some overly cocky being I know was being a big baby about me visiting without prior notice.” She finally drawled out with a smirk, looking at me. I saw mischief in her eyes, but I wasn’t in the mood for her excesses.
“This is strictly business, Lilian. The last time was you being your overbearing self.” I countered swiftly, catching Jackson struggle to stifle a laugh. She laughed at that, leaning away from the cathedra and towards me.
“I won’t have you talk down at me, Kaden. Please watch your language, even if I have a soft spot for you.” She continued with the same smile, her eyes widening in mock surprise. She leaned back with a small hair flip, stretching one hand out to admire her nail polish. “It’s such a pity, don’t you think, darling? That Jeremy isn’t here to see you call me by my name.”
“I do not believe that your son would fancy seeing you hit on an alpha that is young enough to be his sibling.” I snickered back, causing her to grasp dramatically. She brought both hands to her chest in playful shock, her lips rounding into saucers before falling into a smile.Content © NôvelDrama.Org.
“Jeremy is fifteen. You’re not a baby, I don’t fuck with babies.” She pointed out, batting her eyes slowly.
With another hair flip, she was completely recoiled into the cathedra and had her eyes closed. She finally opened them and smiled widely. “So, to what do I owe this unexpected visit, my love?”
I straightened up, seeing as she looked the most serious she could muster. “One of my former men…my former beta was murdered a few days ago in the South Sea pack.”
“Oh dear, I heard the tales! He met a good death, although I must say that I am proud of him for doing the unthinkable. Too bad he’s dead now.” She shot up her seat still sitting, taunting with mock surprise on her face.
I wanted to wipe that annoying smirk off her ugly face. She seemed to understand as she returned to her delusional sitting position. “Anyways, my love. You were saying?”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Mhm hmm.” She nodded with the same goddamn smirk. What was I even thinking to have come here? Reasoning with this woman was a pain in the ass.
“I know he was murdered, he didn’t just die. Besides, I am certain that they knew that he was once affiliated with my pack. Rumors have it that the Luna is aware of who he is, and that she has tied to whoever is behind this.”
I was struggling to hold it together. The mention of his name drove me mad every fucking time because I couldn’t help but remember the stupid note Amaya had left me two years ago. So he thought karma was no bitch? The fuck he did.
“So why are you telling me this? What am I to do with the information?”
It was my turn to smirk. “My men need some assistance, so what better way to be sure? I heard the Luna of the Shadow pack is excellent at stealing information from other packs.”
She cocked a brow at that, her smirk faltering so inconspicuously that I may have missed it if I didn’t keep my eyes transfixed on her.
“Just like how you found out that my wife was no more before any other person found out. Tell me, do you have a spy in my pack? I will spare your life if you tell me the truth right now.”
She snickered back, bursting out in a loud, uncomfortable cackle.
“Not ‘no more’,” She corrected, pointing her fingers at me before rolling her eyes with the same playful tingle. “Eloped with her lover, that’s more like it.”
I felt my company shift uncomfortably in their seats at that. My fists had formed on their own, wanting to pulverize her face. Her indifference and guts were really testing my patience. But no good would come out of attacking her pack this instant. We were outnumbered, even if I could easily overpower even the strongest wolf here.
“I’ll help you as you want.” She continued, forcing me to look away from the wine bar ahead of me and straight at her, even if her bright red lipstick was severely distracting. “But you must meet my demands.”
I cocked a brow, crossing my hands.
“Your hand in marriage!” She yelled out, tossing her hands in the air as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Don’t act so dense for crying out loud!”
“I object.” I snapped harshly, rising to my feet. I’d had more than enough of her nonsense. “I’d take my leave now, if you can’t help.”
“Wait, not so fast, Kaden.” She drawled again, smirking at me. “You’re so touchy feely, fuck.”
“You have a better proposal?”
“What’s better than marriage? That way, I’ll do all the work for you for free, in exchange for your love!”
“Lillian.”
“Alright. Alright. Ten pieces of ten carat diamonds. Deal?”
“Four.”
“Seven.”
“Five.”
Finally, she has a poker expression. As if thinking carefully, she nodded and the smirk was back. “Five pieces of ten carat diamonds, it is.”
“I’ll have it delivered as soon as you get the job done.” I replied, straightened the coat I wore. Hunter and Jackson rose to their feet as well, leaving her a bow before walking out of the building.
I could hear her snicker and almost pictured that eerie smirk on her face as she did. But it no longer mattered. She may be a delusional bitch, but she was excellent at snooping out information in the most unconventional ways.
The drive back to my pack house was fast, it seemed that time had flown as quickly as the wind. It was evening as soon as it had been morning. Quickly dismissing my right-hand men, I continued up the stairs only to meet the one whom I wanted to cross paths with the least.
She was just stepping out of Declan’s room, dressed in a bloody transparent sleep wear. The shorts were definitely shorter than comfortable, I could feel my wolf’s excitement at the sight of her however. She twitched when she noticed me standing in front of my door, staring at her instead of walking in.
“Er…good evening, Alpha.” She muttered almost inaudibly, struggling to wrap the thin rob properly over her torso. In doing that, I found my eyes trailing over her figure. Damn she would make a good fuck in my bed.
“Come here.” I said without thinking. The only thoughts in my head were eating her out. She seemed surprised, pointing at herself before taking careful steps in my direction.
“Is everything okay?”
I nodded, finally twisting the door knob open. She hesitantly followed me in, pattering with soft steps. I shut the door behind her, now fully taking her entire form in.
Her hands sat on the ridges of the robe in a bid to hold them in place. But her neckline was still visible, as was that part of her neck that always pulled me in. it smelled of soft roses again, and I was beginning to feel that familiar tightness in my pants.
Kaden, what the actual fuck? Are you going to –
“No.” I snapped before I could catch myself. She was staring at me weirdly in response to my sudden outburst. Cocking her head to the side, the way she was looking at me was alluring. And I was beginning to smell the pheromones consume the room. Fuck.
I reached for her hair instead, watching her attention trained on my arm before pulling away the elastic band that held her hair in its ponytail. I heard her gasp and whip her head to look at me in surprise.
“Wear your hair down. It’s an order.”
“But – ”
“I said it’s an order.” I intercepted and she nodded with visible hesitation. “That’s all. You may leave.”
She stared at me again, muttering something under her breath before stepping back and wrapping the robe around her torso again. I couldn’t tell if she was glaring at me now or simply staring. She nodded after a moment and turned to leave the room.
I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding as soon as I heard the door lock, running straight to the bathroom. The heat was coursing through my veins without mercy. Has it gotten so bad that merely the sight of her was tempting in all the wrong ways?
In the bathroom, I stared down at the bulge that had now formed in my pants before. The fuck was I even thinking? I bit my bottom lip, clenching my eyes and fists in a bid to get rid of the crude thoughts in my head. Then I made a resolve and walked into the shower, deciding to douse myself in cold water.
Maybe it would help. Because it made no sense to grow an erection just at the sight of her. Then I realized that perhaps it was happening for a reason.
She was my mate after all, no matter how much I wanted to hate it. And mating season was fucking near.