RAFAEL`S POV
That morning after the shocking revelation of who I had just slept with, given the embroidered underwear, I was still a little stunned but I got up quietly and went to the bathroom and cleaned up while Niko sat on the chair by the bed waiting for me and he didn't say much at first, he just sat there tapping his fingers and looking serious and I already knew he had something important to say so I didn't ask right away I just got dressed calmly and fixed my sleeves and rolled my neck a bit to relax,
When I stepped out of the bathroom and grabbed my watch Niko finally spoke and said "We've got trouble down south"
I raised a brow and looked at him through the mirror while buttoning my shirt and asked "Blood Hound pack?"
He nodded fast and leaned forward like it was urgent and said "Yeah, they're moving strange again and I think they're planning to hit again...as usual, I can't confirm it yet but their movements are getting bold and it's too close for comfort"
I exhaled slow and shook my head and said "They never learn, do they"
Niko stood up then and looked at me with a serious face and said "There's more, you're not gonna like it, it's not just the Blood Hounds, the one pulling the strings is Caesar"
That name made my jaw tighten and I stopped for a second and stared at him,, I was surprised to hear Caeser`s name again, I didn't think he still had the audacity to challenge me after what happened a few years ago;
Caesar used to be my friend, my business partner at VOSS PHARMACEUTICALS, we built things together, conquered markets together, stood side by side, but all it took was power to make him turn on me,
He opened his own company behind my back, Caesar LTD, and with a slick tongue and a lying smile, he stole some of my shareholders, the ones too weak to stay loyal, and I let them go because if you can be taken, you were never mine to begin with,
But it didn't end there,
A few years ago, at The King's Summit, a private event only meant for supernatural elites, wolves, vampires, mystics, banshees, creatures you many walks of life, you name it, I stood as leader of all, Alpha above Alphas, and Caesar, that black-hearted traitor, challenged me, a fight to the death, last man standing is the ULTIMATE leader, for me, it was such a dumb challenge but he did it so openly, in front of everyone, right in the middle of the moonlit summit grounds, and when he screamed the challenge, the crowd erupted into "Fight! Fight! Fight!", claws came out, magic sparked, and the whole damn place turned into a bloodthirsty circus, I wanted to fight, not to win or kill but to put caesar in his place.
I didn't hesitate, I shifted,
My wolf came forward, big, white, and Caesar's wolf was black, wild, angry, but smaller, messier, reckless,
I could've killed him, I beat him so bad the dirt shook with every slam of my paw, and when I had his throat between my teeth, silence dropped over the summit like a death sentence, but I didn't kill him, I let him live
Because I didn't need to end him to prove I was king, I just needed him to know his place and to remember what it felt like to be a loser, and trust me, he remembers.
"Caesar," he repeated and didn't even flinch "He's the one fueling the tension, he's out there saying you're not fit to lead Nightbane anymore, that you can't take a wife, can't reproduce, and if there's no heir there's no future, no leadership, no right to run New Port at all"
I laughed a little but there was no humor in it and I looked Niko dead in the eye and said "New port is my city, my territory...he wants the city? MY city?"
"He's making people believe he's the better choice," Niko said with a shrug "Says he's capable of running the territory, says you're holding back everyone by staying silent, that the people deserve someone stronger"
I smirked and cracked my knuckles and said "He thinks he's stronger than me?"
Niko didn't answer but I could see it in his eyes that even he thought Caesar had balls for starting this war,
I walked to the window and looked down at the streets below and I said low but clear "If he wants war, I'll give him war, let them come"
Niko stayed quiet for a second and then nodded and said "I'll go deeper, I'll find out who he's working with and if any of our allies are shifting sides"
"Do that," I said and then picked up my blazer from the couch and threw it over my shoulder and just as I was about to walk out of the room I turned back around slowly and walked over to the nightstand
I reached into the drawer and pulled out the embroidered underwear and I held it in my hand for a second and then folded it neatly and slid it into my pocket
yeah, I meant it when I said this was a souvenir.
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By the time we left the hotel, I wasn't in the mood to talk much, my mind was running in a hundred directions, all I wanted was to get to the office, shut everyone out, and finish the damn pile of work waiting for me, I was tired of everyone trying to poke the wolf just to see if he'd bite, thing is, I WILL BITE...ive just been patient.
We arrived at VOSS PHARMACEUTICALS, the guards at the barricade stepped aside quickly the moment they saw me, I nodded at them and walked straight in with Niko and my protocol behind me, I didn't stop to talk to anyone, just straight ahead like always,
Then I saw her...Isabella Faulkner
Red tag around her neck, standing in the other elevator like fate just couldn't help itself today, she was here for the interview,
My lips twitched, and I thought to myself, we've got to stop meeting like this, Isabella, it was mostly amusing, she didn't see me, even if she did see me, she wouldn't even remember me or know that I was the man she had just slept with last night, this is hilarious;
Only I noticed her, Niko didn't, he was too busy checking something on his tablet,
I didn't say a word, I just stepped into our private elevator and leaned against the wall, how do I make this even more entertaining?, I asked myself, and already, ideas were brewing, dangerous ideas, it was amusing,
We reached the last floor, the one nobody came to unless I invited them personally, my floor, I stepped out of the elevator and walked straight to my office, Niko following close behind, I arrived at my office and opened the door—
I stopped, Anastasia was inside, remember Anastasia? chosen luna, political toy, etc..yeah, that one;
She stood by my table and was wearing a black furry rob, she looked like the wife of a mafia boss, She turned slowly when she heard the door open, and her eyes locked onto mine, filled with seduction and hunger, she slowly opened up the robe and I saw her bare chest and instantly turned my back, "Shit," I muttered, throwing my hand back to push Niko out of the room,
"Get out," I ordered sharply, I shut the door behind him without another word
I turned slowly back to her, I didn't like Anastasia, I didn't trust her either
But even if I hated a woman, I never disrespected one, mother taught me better...
"Anastasia," I said, my tone flat, "what are you doing here?"
She gave a slow and wicked smile, then let the robe fall all the way down to the floor, standing in front of me, she had NOTHING on, I could see everything from head to toe,
"Today, Alpha Rafael," she whispered, "I'm all yours… do with me whatever you wish"