Logan
“She is quite a vivacious female. I like her,” Donovan finds it necessary to say. I shot him a glare that screams “shut the fuck up!” Of course, he would like her after the flirtatious looks she was throwing at him from the other side of my office. She was getting on my nerves. What is her problem?
“I wouldn’t assure you that she liked the way you treated her need to see you before leaving the room,” he adds with a side smirk.
“It’s none of your business as far as I am concerned. Whatever happens between me and my mate has nothing to do with you,” I hope he got that clear in his damn aged skull.
“Sorry, alpha. But you have to take my proposal seriously. Remember this issue is no joke. If you are reluctant to cooperate, let me know. We can do this with or without your help. The Vampire so society is strong enough to carry out this expedition without your assistance. I am including you because you are a good comrade. You are so ambitious that you will do anything to make your pack the strongest that ever existed. If you are going to let your little one make you a piece of meat then it is up to you,” he says, his face somber. “We have seen that happen. A mate can make an alpha stronger or weaker depending on how she is willing to cooperate with you. You insist that I shouldn’t meddle but take it as a concern from the one that has held your, back, your father’s, and your grandfather’s. You are like a son to me and all I want is to see you stronger,” he adds. I cringe with uneasiness at being called his son. His face is like that of an age mate, and though I am well aware of his age, it still makes me uneasy.
“I will think about it. I promise,” my voice is hoarse in my throat. Does it sound like a betrayal or a lie?
“If you are going to just play about, keep your mate as close to you as possible because she might end up getting seriously hurt, or even killed,” his cold icy green eyes bore through mine. What the hell? The room goes gravely silent after that. All I want is for this goddamned meeting to end. My wolf keeps shifting uncomfortably inside me at the idea of hurting our mate.
I won’t let that happen. I will protect her no matter what it costs. The only problem is if she will be willing to let me do that at all.
AFTER ESCORTING Donovan and his fellows out of my house, I am wishing I could extinguish their bleak scent out of every corner. I take in a deep cleansing breath.
If I had never met Arya, this would have been the best idea. I have always wanted to get my hands on the gold and getting the entire pack would be a huge premium.
Shit!
This is total shit now!
Donovan is right. Even though I refuse to cooperate, the vampires will still go ahead, worse of all find another pack to be interested in the idea. Though I doubt another pack would accept the proposition. All the packs loathe vampires and they highly cooperate.
“Where is Arya?” I inquire from the guard on the door because I can’t sight anyone else around.
“She left like thirty minutes ago,” he responds grimly.
Damn it!
How am I supposed to be sure she is safe out there? What if she doesn’t make it home?
I can’t let that get to me. She is an adult. She knows her way around things. She said that herself.
I head to the library, avoiding my office because it still reeks like vampires. I know I can find something there that will help me clear my head. I should order a bottle. I can get some work done.
FRIDAY NIGHT, I have to meet with my new investors in a club to celebrate how our project is succeeding. They are humans. Filthy rich, fat, and old men. Among the three, the youngest seems to be in his early fifties. I am escorted by a bodyguard who remains at the entrance. Being a pack member, I can communicate with him through the mind link in case anything goes wrong.
Being the most expensive club, everything is in order, unlike the crowded one in which I found my mate with her best friend.
I wonder what she is up to now, on a Friday night. Is she getting herself drunk again? I wouldn’t hesitate to do another save. I have missed her so much this last week, it has been affecting my body, my wolf, and my senses. I was warned about the effects of delaying mating and marking your mate after you have met. The effect has been taking its toll on me. Sometimes it is too much I just shift and take a run in the woods. That only gives momentary relief. It can’t save me for long.
I am led to the VIP section of the club where I meet the men in a private room they have booked. They have already invited some ladies to entertain them. The table is filled with drinks of many different types. There is faint alluring music playing in the background. It seems I haven’t missed out a lot.
“Mr. Conley, we are glad you have decided to join us,” Mr. Brown says, inviting me to take a side. I sit down at an end away from the girls. I don’t like the way their scents mix with the smell of the drinks, the sweat, the cigarettes, and the entire surrounding. I doubt I will be here for long.
A waiter serves me a glass of bourbon which I take. After a huge gulp, I lean into the chair facing my hosts. To my relief, we begin with, business. They are very satisfied with my company. They are interested in beginning another project with me any time soon if I am willing. Of course, I can’t turn them down. They have the money and they are patient. That’s what makes them worthy.
From Business, the topic is shifted to girls and how beautiful they are. Each one of them is probably going to drive one to a hotel room. All three have wedding rings on their fingers but forever doesn’t apply to humans. They never commit to partners and are always jumping from one partner to another.
One blonde approaches me with a seductively big smile. Her black dress only covers the ass and the nipples. It is open at the back and shredded at the stomach. It leaves nothing to the imagination.
Being the only one looking young among the tycoons, I get why she decided to approach me though I have shown no interest since I arrived.
“Hi there, honey. Can I refill your glass?” she then bites on her lower lip, reminding me of how seductive that is when Arya does it.
“No, thanks. The waiter can do that,” I respond nodding to the waiter.
“Why bother when I am already here and willing?” her lips stretch into a smirk. She raises her hand to stop the waiter.
“I can handle this,” she says, saving the bottle of bourbon. I realize that everyone else is watching us. I wouldn’t like to create a scene in front of my business associates, so I hold out my glass. She leans down deliberately, her eyes on me. Her dress hitches up showing me a fraction of her ass. While I stare, the sound of a drink pouring into the glass brings my attention back. She caught me looking, and the victorious smile makes me even more uncomfortable. I clear my throat and gulp from my drink.
The blonde boldly comes to me and fixes herself on my lap. Luckily, everyone’s attention is shifted to Mr. Archer’s new ship at sea. I could have thrown her off onto the floor, but I manage to keep calm. I don’t dare to touch her
“Get your ass off me before I do that myself. You know very well that I don’t want you. Stay the hell away from me,” I growl into her ear. Ignoring what I just said, she raises her hands to my chest.
“Calm down. I am only here to make you happy. Why are you so high-strung? Is it a girlfriend or a wife?” she raises an eyebrow at me, her hands stroking my chest. “Don’t let that bother you. Look at your friends. They are married but they are having fun because they don’t have to worry. Whatever happens in this room remains in this room. Now let yourself go and have some fun.” She wiggles her ass on my lap. Okay, this is getting out of hand. I grab both her hands a bit roughly, catching her unaware, and lift them off my chest. She gasps loudly and her eyes grow impossibly large. Getting up from the chair, She gets off me, her face a frown.
“Fuck you, bastard,” she spits angrily and grabs her bag from the table before stomping out of the room.
Everyone’s attention is back on me. There is a sudden urge to explain what just happened but dismiss it immediately. Why the hell should I?
“If there is no more business to discuss, I would prefer to be on my now,” I inform them. Mr. Brown frowns with disappointment.
“But why, Mr. Conley? Please stay and have fun with us. We promise no one will bother you again,” he says.
“No, thanks. I appreciate your kindness but I think I have had my fill of the fun. I will get on now.”
“Okay, if that’s what you want. We promise to stay in touch. Please consider our proposal,” Mr. Brown says.
“I will,” I assure them. With a nod, I head out of the room. Why does that feel like escaping prison?
That is how uncomfortable I have been around females for these past few days. The only hands I want on my body are Arya’s. It’s only her scent that I want. She is the only one whose body I want to be pressed on mine. She is the only thing I want to feel, see, touch, hold… She is all I want.
Outside the club, my bodyguard is still out waiting. He holds my coat and leads me to the car, which the driver has already gotten out of the parking lot. I take the back seat while my bodyguard takes the passenger seat in front with Jade.
“Where to, alpha?” jade inquires. I almost say home, but hell do I want to go home? Home is the place where I am properly haunted by the absence and need of Arya.
“I don’t know,” I mumble.
“Pardon me?” Jade turns to check on me.
“Blue Blood pack headquarters,” I respond in a firm and determined voice. I can see him debating on another pardon but he just nods.
“Okay, sir,” he says.
I close my eyes all I see is Arya. I want her. No, I need her. I need to be with her right now. I need to feel her skin, her nearness to me and her warmth. I don’t think I can survive tonight without her.
Driving into Alpha Eric’s residence I the night demanding to be with his sister wouldn’t be a good idea but it is the best I can come up with. If I called to ask Arya to meet me, she would stubbornly refuse because she can. My stubborn, stubborn Arya. For how long will you keep playing hard to get?
She will fall hopelessly in love with you…
I remember Donovan’s words. I can’t help but smile. He doesn’t know Arya. He doesn’t know her at all.