Zander’s POV.
The cabin was eerily quiet, save for the soft, constant hum of the jet’s engines as it cruised smoothly through the endless sea of clouds. I stood up slowly from my seat, stretching my legs deliberately, every movement intentional, every step a calculated display of control.
My boots thudded softly against the floor as I made my way toward the cabin door, the subtle sway of the jet adding a rhythm to my steps. I didn’t need to look back to know her eyes were on me. I could feel the weight of her stare like a physical force, burning into my back. Aria. The woman who defied me at every turn.
She sat stiffly in her seat, her back ramrod straight, as if her posture alone could shield her from me, from this moment, from everything. Her arms were crossed tightly against her chest, her fingers clutching at her elbows as though holding herself together was the only thing keeping her from unraveling completely. Her emerald-green eyes, sharp and unyielding, tracked my every movement. They were piercing, alive with anger, frustration, and something else buried deep beneath the surface-something she probably didn’t want me to see. Pain. I didn’t need her to say it; I could feel it radiating off her, even as she tried her best to mask it with that icy glare of hers. It was almost amusing, the way she thought she could fool me. Almost.
I let my lips curl into a slow smirk, the kind I knew would irritate her, and gave her a fleeting glance. Her expression didn’t falter, but I caught the faintest twitch in her jaw, a crack in her carefully constructed armor. Satisfied, I turned my attention to the flight attendant who had just stepped into the cabin. She was petite, blonde, with an overly bright smile that faltered ever so slightly when her gaze met mine. The shift was subtle but unmistakable-the way her eyes widened just a fraction, the way her pulse quickened in her neck, the way her cheeks flushed to a delicate pink. Humans. So predictable. So easy to read. So easy to manipulate.
“Alpha, do you need anything?” she asked, her voice soft but trembling, as though she were trying to maintain her professionalism but couldn’t quite hide the nervous edge creeping into her tone. She clasped her hands in front of her, her knuckles white against her pale skin, and I could see the faint tremor in her fingers as she waited for my response.
I leaned casually against the edge of the doorframe, crossing my arms over my chest, letting my smirk deepen just slightly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aria shift in her seat. Her arms tightened around herself, her posture stiffened, and her gaze burned hotter. She was watching. Good. That was exactly what I wanted.
I tilted my head slightly, my eyes locking onto the flight attendant’s as I lowered my voice to a smooth, teasing whisper. “Would you have some fun with me in bed?” The words rolled off my tongue effortlessly, dripping with confidence, as though they were the most natural thing in the world. I didn’t miss the way her breath hitched or the way her eyes widened ever so slightly, her composure faltering for just a brief moment.
The flight attendant froze, her lips parting in surprise, her eyes darting to mine as if to confirm that she’d heard me correctly. For a moment, she hesitated, the uncertainty flashing across her delicate features. But then her gaze flickered downward, tracing the sharp lines of my chest visible beneath my shirt, and I saw the faint flicker of excitement spark in her eyes. Her cheeks flushed a deeper pink, and she swallowed hard before responding, her voice barely above a whisper. “Sure, Alpha.”
But as quickly as the excitement appeared, doubt crept in. Her eyes darted nervously over my shoulder, toward the figure seated behind me. Toward Aria. She hesitated again, her voice shaking slightly as she asked, “But…what about your Luna?” Her words trembled in the air, and I could see the apprehension in her expression, as if she wasn’t sure whether she’d crossed a line merely by asking.
The corner of my mouth twitched in amusement, a low chuckle rumbling in the back of my throat. I reached out without hesitation, wrapping my hand gently around the flight attendant’s wrist and pulling her closer. Her small, delicate frame pressed against my chest, and I could feel the rapid rise and fall of her breath as it hitched for the second time. Her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of pink, and her wide eyes stared up at me, a mixture of nervousness and something else-something she might not even fully understand herself.
“Don’t mind her,” I said, my voice dropping to a low, deliberate tone, each word slow and calculated. I leaned in slightly, letting my words hang in the air for just a moment before continuing. “Let her watch.” My smirk deepened with the statement, and I didn’t miss the way Aria’s posture stiffened even more in my peripheral vision. The tension in the cabin was palpable now, thick and heavy, and I could feel the weight of Aria’s anger building behind me like a storm waiting to break.