Vladimir: I walked inside the auction hall, knowing that he was going to be waiting. Our eyes met from a distance, and though I knew that normally, the man would have gotten up to greet me and I would have walked straight to him. But I also knew that more eyes were on us than we could count, and every move that we made was being watched. And I wasn’t dumb, Konstantin’s men were more than a little anxious of what was to happen tonight. “Vladimir, it is an honor to have you.” Akshana, one of the hostesses said. Her eyes met mine and I read her silent message. The woman didn’t want any trouble, and I knew that she had given Killian the same stern look. “The pleasure is mine, Akshana. I won’t be long. I just have a few things to settle with Killian and I am to be on my way.” I said, and she nodded, allowing me to pass. She stopped the men, not allowing them in. She was one of Killian’s trusted women, and one of the very few that knew of me being alive. “He is to go inside alone.” “

Vladimir: It took everything in me to stay calm and quiet as I looked at my mate, processing everything that was going on. His eyes met mine, and I took a deep breath, trying to think of a right way to explain things to her. “Are you a wolf?” Elena asked, her tone somewhat hesitant. I looked down at the book, avoiding her eyes as I knew that she was looking at me through the mirror. “Would it change anything if I was?” I asked, turning to face her. Her heart raced, and she looked down at her lap for a second. “It depends on whether or not you are the monster that is in the books or that is scaring Konstantin…” “And if I was?” I asked, stopping her. “Would you want me to leave?” Elena stayed quiet, but shook her head. She clenched and unclenched her fists, taking a deep breath as she did before she got up from the bed. She took a slow step toward me, her hands shaking before she put her hand on mine, running her finger over mine. “I don’t want to lose you, Elena,” I said, look

Vladimir: “You seem to be satisfied.” Konstantin said, and I smirked, taking a seat beside him. “I take it that you enjoyed your little woman?” The fact that I knew not to tell him about what Elena told me wasn’t something that I liked, but I knew, for her safety, that I shouldn’t be putting her through the risk of thinking that she could go through such a thing. Plus, I had no benefit in him finding out that I knew of it now. In the end, I knew how to get what I wanted when I wanted it, but for now, the man was going to think me an oblivious fool. “I trust that you were well while I was gone? I haven’t heard of you despite the fact that I knew that your men have been giving you the information of everything that I did throughout my entire stay in the States.” I said, and he smirked, handing me the files where his ‘businesses’ were taken care of. Killian was sure to put up a few offers that he knew would seem logical for a man that wouldn’t be rejecting anything from him, and consid

Vladimir: “You managed to convince Alonso?” Konstantin asked, shaking his head in question as he read through the contracts that have been signed by both Alonso and I, agreeing to the business corporation. “My face seems to bring more trust from the families and men. It seems that you failed to earn that over the years.” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. He nodded, seeming to be pleased before putting the file back in a drawer. “I will have the lawyers look into it later. We will see how things are going to start proceeding in this partnership. And if things go as we plan, then we can extend the businesses toward a different rig. We might even be able to manage a few different projects, and you know, the more we grow, the more we earn. And that is something that I aim to reach.” He said, and I nodded, knowing that it was something that every smart man wanted to do. The difference was, he wasn’t the brightest of men, and I knew that his aim was to grow his empire to become the

Elena: I frowned when I saw Batrov in the garden, walking aimlessly as if he had nothing to do. The man had lost more than he would want to, and I knew that deep down, despite him not saying anything about it, that he might be blaming me for it. “Batrov.” I said, calling the man who had hurt me the other day. I could still remember how he held me the other day. The man who I trusted with something in this house was another to have hurt me. It was a shame. I had to admit, I didn’t like where things went, but I knew not to be foolish to trust him again. “You called for me, Elena.” He stated, looking down at his feet, avoiding my eyes. I could still remember when he would watch as his boss took me mercilessly. The man never bothered to stop him, but I knew that he had no other option. He wasn’t Vladimir, and he was loyal to Konstantin with everything that he had. But he still did suggest that he would help me run, and that was something that I couldn’t understand. Everything about him