Taya
My whole body stiffened. I didn’t dare to move, afraid of getting Roman even more aroused.
I fought to suppress my disgust and keep calm. “Bela Starke, when I fall in love with you one day, I’ll be bold enough for you, too.”
Roman pulled me against him, my dress still soaked in red wine, pressed against his chest. He lowered his head to kiss my neck. “I can’t wait that long.”
After saying that, he lifted my dress until it was bunched around my waist and started to unzip his pants.
All the color drained from my face, and I struggled with all my might.
But all that did was turn Roman on even more. He held me even more tightly in his arms and clamped his teeth down on my neck harder.
“Beta Starke!”
Trapped, I could do nothing but hopelessly try to press my hands against his chest.
I frantically looked around for my bag. Sh it. It was on the opposite sofa, too far unreachable.
My palms were covered in a cold sweat, anxiety spreading through my body, but I had to force myself to calm down.
“Roman…you want the project from Alpha Knight, r-right? I can get it for you i-if you let me go!”
Roman was fiddling with his pants again. When he heard me mention the project, his fingers paused. “You can help me get it?”
“My plan to seduce Alpha Knight may have failed, but there was a moment when he mistook me for Ms. Thorin, and he kissed me. I recorded a video. If I use it to blackmail him and help you secure the project, he’ll comply. Unquestionably.”
When Roman heard Taya could help him get the project, his interest was immediately piqued.
The bidding for the new project would start next month, and his father said that if he could secure it for the Starke Pack, he would hand over the position of Alpha to him.
However, his competitor was the Collins Pack from Chicago, one of the top pack companies in the country. It would be difficult for him to defeat them based on reputation and talent alone. The Collins Pack had more resources and were more competitive, could probably complete the project at a cheaper rate.
All Roman could do was try to win Griffon over personally, befriend him, and make Griffon want to work with him.
But dealing with Griffon was far more difficult than he initially thought.
If it weren’t for Preston’s assistance, Roman wouldn’t have been able to even meet the Alpha.
Befriending Griffon would be impossible.
But if Taya could somehow help him, then…
Something wasn’t adding up, though.
Confused, he asked her, “Why didn’t you blackmail him into being with you?”
“Who said I didn’t? I’ve threatened him before. I said I wanted to be his girlfriend, but he refused,” she replied.
Roman narrowed his eyes. “If he refused you, what makes you think he’ll agree to anything now?”
“If he doesn’t agree this time, I’ll just send the video to Ms. Thorin,” Taya said firmly, shrugging one shoulder.
Roman raised an eyebrow. “You proposed this because you would rather not sleep with me. Didn’t you?”
“Yes,” she said, plain and forthright. “I told you before that I Can’t be physically intimate with someone I don’t love. Currently, all I can do is help you with this project.”
Roman never expected her to admit that so freely and directly, especially being in the position she was in. A girl who had no power, no wolf, no pack to protect her.
It made him look at her differently.
A few days ago, Taya had impressed and persuaded him with her cleverness, but today she earned a bit of his admiration as well.
Roman thought that Taya had no interest in money or power, so finding out that she loved Alpha Knight was surprising.
No wonder, she didn’t have eyes for Roman. She was interested in someone far more powerful.
Intelligence, ambition, tactics, negotiation. The small woman in his arms was formidable in all aspects.
Maybe if he left it to her, she could help him get the Western City project, but…
Roman grabbed Taya’s chin, forcing her to look at him. “I’ll bite. Just this once. But if you fuck up, all of my pack guards will take a run at Harper.”
Harper was a weak spot for Taya, and just the leverage he needed to make Taya comply.
I shook with anger.
How dare he threaten Harper in such a way. She had no involvement in any of this. But there was no way I was going to risk any harm coming to her. Not when I wasn’t long for this world, anyway.
Once I was dead, this would all be over and Harper would be safe.
I gritted my teeth. “Don’t worry.”
Only then did Roman let go of me.
A hint of regret colored his voice, his fingers tightening on my chin as he stared at me. “I really wanted to fuck you. But now…” The points of his claws came out, and he licked one of his canines, leering at me. “For now, let’s just focus on your securing the Western City project for my pack. I want that more than I want to fuck you right now. After you’ve gotten the project for me, we can focus on our relationship…”
I swallowed hard, trying not to flinch at his grip on my jaw.
He leaned forward to kiss me-hard-and then abruptly let go of my face, turning to leave.
Bo was gone, I lay on the ground and breathed a sigh of relief.
I stood up slowly with the help of the sofa, trembling all over.
I didn’t know who frightened me more-Roman or Griffon.
With shaky hands, I dug the medicine from my bag and took a few pills to calm my heart before struggling to leave.
After I was finally outside of Nightshade, the cold wind whipped through my dress.
However, I didn’t feel cold at all. Like a statue, I walked home step by step.
A Town Car pulled up, blocking my way.
Andre exited the car, walked up to me, and said respectfully, “Ms. Palmer, Alpha Knight is looking for you.”
I continued walking forward, keeping my face schooled as if I hadn’t heard him speak.
Andre reached out a hand and placed it on my elbow to stop me. “Ms. Palmer, you know Alpha Knight’s temper. He’s not someone you can afford to offend.”
Yes, of course, I thought, rolling my eyes. But…how could I offend the powerful and influential Griffon as a wolfless orphan with nothing?
I couldn’t imagine what would happen if I didn’t listen to him. It Would probably be even more difficult to deal with than Roman’s punishment.
Heaving a sigh, I gave up and got into the car obediently,
surprised to see that Griffon was in the car. I’d thought Andre would be taking me to him.
The differences between us right now almost made me giggle. This whole situation was ludicrous.
The Alpha wolf versus the nobody human.
His designer suit and expensive cologne versus my dress reeking of spilled wine.
A Rolex versus…nothing.
All I wanted was to get out of here, to get this over with.
“Alpha Knight.” I kept my voice chilly and abrupt. “What do you need?”
Griffon turned his head slightly, pursing his lips at my tone.
When I’d been his lover, I’d never spoken to him this way. Would have never dared to speak to him this way. His deep and gloomy eyes seared into my soul as he looked at me, and I had to remind myself to breathe as I got sucked into the depths of his gaze.
I turned my head to the side to look away from him, but he suddenly leaned over.
Taya My whole body stiffened. I didn’t dare to move, afraid of getting Roman even more aroused.
I fought to suppress my disgust and keep calm. “Bela Starke, when I fall in love with you one day, I’ll be bold enough for you, too.”
Roman pulled me against him, my dress still soaked in red wine, pressed against his chest. He lowered his head to kiss my neck. “I can’t wait that long.”
After saying that, he lifted my dress until it was bunched around my waist and started to unzip his pants.
All the color drained from my face, and I struggled with all my might.
But all that did was turn Roman on even more. He held me even more tightly in his arms and clamped his teeth down on my neck harder.
“Beta Starke!”
Trapped, I could do nothing but hopelessly try to press my hands against his chest.
I frantically looked around