CAELLUM’S POV
The veins in my forehead bulged and I fought the urge to control the anger that simmered close to the surface.
“Your woman?” I nearly laughed, “Don’t be funny.”
Alek was unmoved, standing with his hands shoved in his pockets. “Mila was mine. In every sense of the word. It’s a pity she didn’t know that and fell into your conniving arms.”
I didn’t even remember the name of the woman he was yapping about, she was that insignificant.
“Well, maybe you should take it up with her, and not me. I heard you took over the Bravta’s these days,” I tsked, “One would think with the responsibility on your shoulders you will have a lot more to do than walk around, kissing my father’s ass.”
“Caellum!” My father yelled in anger.
My head swapped to him, “Not another word.” My tone was low and unforgiving. “You have abused your privilege as the former Alpha of this pack. I will ask you to leave, and take them with you.”
“My father handed over the pack to me.” Alek stated, “I don’t expect you to understand that seeing you betray yours to take his place.” His eyes moved to Naledi as he continued, “You betrayed your father, betrayed me, who knows who’s next?”
That did it. A guttural growl left my lips and the next moment, I went at this throat, pushing him roughly to the wall as I bared my fangs at him.
One thing I knew about Alek was that he never backed out from a fight. He was that one person who came at you head-on like he had been waiting for a fight.
My living room was thrashed in minutes and soon enough, I had him exactly where I wanted him – Pinned to the floor with a bloodied nose, unable to use that smart mouth of his.
I spoke too early as he made matters worse with his next words.
“She knows I’m right. That’s why you are unmarked.” A bloodied smile, “You know it too.”
I drove my fist in his face relentlessly until some men dragged me away from him. That was when I realised Arturo had been talking to me.
“Are you trying to start a war?!” He roared, and for the first time in a long while, his alpha tone shook the entire house.
“Get him out of here.” I ordered the men outside the room, “All of them.”
As expected, the men carried out my orders, approaching my dad with hard faces when someone spoke.
“We are here to trade gold.”
I froze, unable to believe my ears. I turned around to the voice and it was Donna. My freaking betrothed.
“She speaks.” My tone dripped with sarcasm.
“And she is appalled by your actions.” She threw right back, somehow able to maintain a straight face while speaking. “She also hopes you can put away whatever individual differences you have with Alpha Alek, and act the part of an alpha.” Her eyes met Naledi’s, “If not for anything, for your woman who is watching you go at it for another woman.”
Naledi was fast with her replies, as well as condescending. “I don’t know who you are or what you represent but I swear you don’t want to get on my bad books.”
“Neither do you,” Donna answered, not the least moved by Naledi. She faced me, “I understand that there has been bad blood between the Cosa Nostra and the Bravta for a while now. But even enemies can become friends when faced with a common goal.”
“What do you say, Alpha Caellum? Are you willing to bury the hatchet and be a partner in this business or do we take our deal elsewhere?”
Donna spoke with such charisma I had to take some time to think it through.
“To safely conduct business, there needs to be trust. How do I know you are not trying to fuck me over with this deal?” I said looking between them. “It’s public knowledge that we are looking to go into the Gold mining business.”
“You haven’t even heard the deal,” Alek muttered, and I felt my blood boil at his words.
“If there is a slight opportunity that I get to do business with the Bravta pack, then there needs to be ground rules.” I faced Alek, “Watch your words, and try not to get on my bad side.”
He was pushing it as is.
“We might as well walk out the door.” Alek deadpanned and I was done with him.
“They have a big client ready to pay the sum to bring in a lot of gold.” My father started. “We just need to help them bring it in.”
“And how am I supposed to do that?”
“The gold will be arriving from a hostile territory.” Alek stated, “I need you to dialogue with them.”
A smile make its way to my lips, “Let me guess, you stepped on someone’s toes and now it came to bite you in the ass.”
“Are you interested in the deal or not.”
I walked towards the couch and sat down, relaxing with a smirk on my face. “What do I get?”
“Thirty percent profits.”
“Forty.”
Alek looked ruffled, “You only have to put in a word. Thirty is more than you worked for.”
I shook my head, “This is business. You came to me and not the other way around. If you are not willing to play by my terms then maybe you should try something else.” I tsked, “Oh right, you can’t.”
“Thirty-five.” Alek pushed, a grotesque look on his face. “Take it or leave it.”
“When are you expecting this shipment?”
“In a couple of weeks. Do we have an agreement?”
“As long as you behave. Where are the papers?” Alek looked over to Donna who produced some papers in a second. I couldn’t help myself. “What is this? Personal secretary?”
A smirk stretched on Alek’s lip, “I think you have a lot on your plate with your mate. Except you have other plans.”
“Here you go.” Donna handed over the papers which I took and passed to Naledi without sparing a glance.
“I will send the papers as soon as it’s signed. If you don’t mind, I have other places I need to be.”
Alek made to speak but Arturo interrupted, “Go, son. I’ll see to it that everything goes well.”
Son? Yeah right.
“Will you go or do I need to move y’all myself?”