Ronan's POV
Father wants me to be an escort to his boring parties tonight, halting my plans. I hate this work by day, work by night bloody method, but Father always finds ways to stay on top during my stay here—always finding ways to show he has the upper hand.
Tonight's party would have no other motive than forming alliances with Alphas from other packs. He feeds on their weaknesses, even going as far as taking a mistress or a wife to prove how badly he wants a bond between packs. They all know he's a blood-sucking fool, yet they still accommodate him—each of them with the same intention of taking packs for themselves.
His second son, Dravon, follows him like a leech—exactly what Father has always wanted from me. But I was built differently. I found my way faster, built my empire with bloody hands even when my sanity was beyond redemption.
"You need a female escort, son. My Beta's daughter—Elysia's sister—is single and in need of a suitor. Both of you would fit. We should start bringing you closer, starting tonight. Her name is Elara—she's just as beautiful as her sister." Father chuckled as he began pressing buttons again.
"Don't you think it's time to settle down, brother? If you keep waiting for your fated mate, you might remain lonely forever," the fool Derek said.
"It wouldn't be bad following in your footsteps for a while—who trades their fated mate for gold? Quite the noble move you made there, brother, wasn't it?" My brow arched as I watched his grip tighten on Father's chair, his painted smile never leaving his lips.
"Who in their right mind would let a silly bond ruin their rise, brother? Mates are distractions—they want everything but have nothing to give."
"Then you shouldn't have a problem with me not wanting a woman."
The room fell silent before Father's throaty laughter cut through, and Derek followed suit.
"Your brother is just being nice. Who would rule by your side when I am gone? Elara is charming… their father did well raising them both."
"Who's Elysia?"
"Oh… my new wife. Also Elara's younger sister."
Wife.
My wolf growled in disapproval at that false claim. Ours. Mine. My mate.
"Since you describe her so well, why didn't you take her as your bride, Father? Why go for the latter?" Why had he decided it should be my mate?
"Father can choose whoever he wants. You being here doesn't mean you have the right to question his power."
"Don't you think it's time to stop kneeling? You'll be crippled soon, Derek." He was ready to be a dog all his life if it meant gaining power.
"Enough… enough, boys. Ronan, taking Elara as your escort won't hurt." His tone tried to sound calm, not authoritative.
"Then we can agree I won't come with you."
A sharp smirk curved his lips as he nodded, sipping from his cup of vodka. They might not have shown it, but I knew how they wished to bury the heels of their foot in my neck.
Elysia.
I ran my tongue over the edges of those letters carefully as I watched her from the wing of the pack house given to me. Her shy smile as she chatted with Vera in the garden made my wolf growl in delight—leaving me to wonder how I would survive my next heat knowing my mate was this close.
In the past, I had quenched desires by sleeping with multiple women, which was never enough. What difference would it make now, when I still fought hard to control myself.
A knock on my door pulled my attention away, and the pesky ass, Damon, walked in, his gaze peering through the window "Poor sick lover boy, how sad…pfft."
""I've got the perfect idea for you, man. You could just take her and keep her in one of your villa — no one will know, they'd think she ran away on her own. Or promise the Alpha something more precious and he would let you have her." Easy as words, but father was born of greed.
He might let her go, but he wouldn't let her live when he learns she belongs to me; he would pull his tacky schemes on her and it would get hard to protect her. He knows how to strike, and he would start from the softest spot.
"Montclair Co. pulled the first move again… it's been a while since we had a clash with them." A rival company — its CEO, an anonymous smartass I've been trying to dig out for ages — but everything keeps leading back to nothing: not even the slightest flaws, no face, no leaks…they say no one was perfect, I doubt it goes the same for the being who runs that company.
"They're biting slow but hard, buying off our smaller partners, and our last shipment got seized for drug importation, we didn't do that shit… those bastards." Damon balled his fist. "You can't stay here any longer; they'll drain us to bits."
I lit a cigarette, my gaze traveling back to the garden where Firefly had been, only to find she had left. "The owner attacks without even being in the company. Why do I have to be in mine too? They bite, we bite back — harder and calculated. It's time we change patterns. "Let's just enjoy this little vacation, shall we?"
I could hear him scoff. "You'd be the death of everyone… especially her. Oh — heard your father telling his mistresses to have your mate…" He paused, smoke trapped in my mouth. "His wife…" I puffed out a breath. "Dolled up for tonight, and the Elara girl is in the pack house already. Fate is a lucky bastard, tsk… this has me doubting if all this was coincidental. Imagine you getting set up with her sister."
"It feels like ages since I killed someone."
"Oh, your father's guard was jus—okay, okay." I snapped my head in his direction, cutting him off. Now I had more reasons to want to go to the damn party. "Get a suit and a car ready."