ALPHA XANDER There are a few things I hate in this world. Dreya, and social gatherings. I would have missed this masquerade but I got a tip that the woman who looked like Adriana will be here tonight. And when she comes, I’ll be here for her. I know she is still alive. Her mental state is what I’m not sure of, and if she is even okay. What Dreya did was dangerous, and any slight wrong move would have blown it all up in flames. Now, that is where we would have a real problem. I took a break to fully mourn my mate, now I am back for her and I’m vengeful. “Aren’t you glad you decided to come out?” Daciana tugs on my arm, making me swivel to face her. She chose to dress as Peresphone tonight, only she has a mask with flowers. I wasn’t in the mood for a party, talk less of one that required me to wear a mask. She understood that so she didn’t pressure me to dress up. But since the requirement for attending is the mask, she got me one for the devil. “No, I’m not.” I reply, keeping
ADRIANAI hear when he comes in. My back stiffened and my heart raced in my chest. My hands which have been cold the entire night are now sweaty and clammy.I maintain my cool and wait for him to approach me.We both know I know of his presence, not that it makes me acknowledge him. According to what mum said, his arrogance wouldn’t let him leave. Being ignored is one of the things he hated.I hated men like that. Albeit, I haven’t met anyone like him in my current life. In the past, probably. Everyone in the pack is like family and they are humble.His footsteps are loud in the quiet room. You can’t hear the sound of the party from here. That must be why mum picked this room.I took in a small unnoticeable breath, reminding myself why I need to do this. I’m nothing like the Adriana he used to know. He should know this by the end of the night.“Not a big party goer.” He says, coming to stand beside me.“Mostly the ones where clothes are taken off in public.” My voice comes out cool an
XANDER“Remind me again, why are we throwing a party?”Daciana asks the same question she has asked five times already. each time, I give her no reply because she wouldn’t believe me anyway.“And why do you care so much about how it is planned? You usually avoid this like the plague.”“I felt like throwing a party, so I’m going to do it.” I replied. We both know that is a fucking lie.I hate parties and I hate throwing them even more. I didn’t have to perform any host duties. The people who make the invite list are usually fucking elated to be there that they know not to talk to me directly. “Bullshit.” She grumbles. “You’re hiding something, and I’m going to find out what.”She points a finger at me, squinting her eyes as she walks out of the room without turning back.Without her breathing over my shoulder, I pick out all the things I want faster. The organizer looked like she couldn’t wait to get the hell out of here. When I told her she could leave, I heard her sigh of relief.It
XANDERThe party has been in full swing for two hours now. Everything is exactly the way I wanted it to be. Yet, I was fucking pissed because she hasn’t shown up.At first, I wasn’t bothered by her lack of attendance, coming up with endless excuses for her. She must have gotten delayed or something happened to her car.The guy I have back at the hotel confirmed that she hasn’t left her room since she went to pick a dress up.I was dying with worry. Did something happen to her or did she simply not want to come?I even went as far as considering this was all delusion on my part. That I had made her up because I didn’t want to believe Adriana was gone.The man isn’t delusional, because what are the chances he is thinking the same thing I am. She is real, and she is not here.“Your special guest still hasn’t arrived?”I ignored Daciana’s taunting question, promising myself the next time she asked, I’m going to knock her the fuck out.“If you told me who she is or what she looked like, I
ADRIANAI hear it then, in the rough edge of Xander’s voice, in the way he makes me tremble even without lifting a finger toward me. I see the reason why he is so feared.He could pretend to be a gentleman all he wanted but he couldn’t shake the monster he was underneath. He can wear a designer suit and comb his hair back, every single strand bent to submission atop his head. But that doesn’t mean he has control over his basic urges.And last, his stride, always so confident and a tad bit too arrogant, had so much to do with that power. Not the one he showed the world, the one he hid carefully.It made me wonder how much more they would really fear him if they knew what he was capable of. What he was truly capable of.I hide the tremble in my hands, the feel of his monster, so close. The heat from him simmering under his host’s body and seeping into mine, like a slow poison.This is the first time I am meeting Xander’s wolf like this.I don’t recall anything about it. There is no fami
ADRIANA“Your mother sent word,” I sat up hearing Henry’s voice.It lacks the usual friendliness I was used to.“Oh, what did she say?” I get up so I’m standing in front of him.“That we should return soon. And no more doing things that weren’t part of the plan.”“Alright. I’ll get packing.” I said, walking into the bedroom from the balcony.When he’d pulled up to this duplex after we left Xander’s place late last night. I knew I wanted this room the second I saw the balcony.It was in the middle of nowhere and it looked like something my mother would pick. I hadn’t even realized there was somewhere for us to go to instead of the hotel.The initial plan had been to go back to the airport and get on the next flight out. Before he told me we weren’t going there, I thought the tickets had already been booked. Turns out, that wasn’t it.Henry said it was because Xander would have his men everywhere looking for us. Well, me.He also informed me that they’d raided all the cars, but there wa
XANDERThe shock on Adriana’s face is everything.After she made her escape last night, or at least tried to. I let her leave even though it killed me because I wanted her with me. But after our conversation, it was obvious she wasn’t there for reconciliation or to even listen to me. The last thing on her mind was listening to me.So I let her leave, only to follow her after.When they couldn’t figure out which car she had gotten off from, I ordered my security to put a tracker on all the cars.To my surprise—not really—the other seven cars headed back to the hotel while one went the opposite way.I still had a man down at the hotel so I would know if she was there. But she wasn’t.Unable to sleep, I followed the woods that night. Lo and behold, a big ass house in the middle of nowhere.This has Dreaya written all over it.“I want nothing to do with you, I thought I made that clear last night.” She says, now glaring at me.Her green eyes would have softened the blow of her words if sh
ADRIANAIf only looks could kill, then I would have rid myself of Xander.Unfortunately, I do not have that superpower. And it didn’t matter how scathing my glare was or how hard I glared at him, nothing happened.Even his smug smile was still on his face. Damn it.“You’re delusional.”I retort weakly, not having anything better to say.“You say delusional, I say hopeful. Little wolf.”He says with a smirk.“Get off me, then we’ll see just how hopeful you are.” I faked a sweet smile.The way he chuckles tells me sees right through it, and that instantly makes my smile drop.There is no winning this guy. He is too fucking smart and not very trusting. I would have been more annoyed by all of it if I wasn’t impressed.“I’m hopeful, not stupid. I know you’ll try to knock me out the second I release you. You won’t succeed.” He gives me a bright smile. “But it’ll waste my time, and your protector will be up any minute now.”My brows creased at the mention of Henry. He does have him. Not tha