Chapter 2

ZAX

“Thank you for meeting me here, Mr. Skoll.” Kaleb Myers was in his thirties, and I was a lot older than him. In fact, I could be his father.

I’d never been to Case Restaurant before, but he, the beta to Alpha Knight Blackwell of the White Moon Pack, knew the restaurant owner. Case Woodrow is the grandfather of Knight’s mate, Nirvana.

“You promised me a good steak and Greek specialties.”

He smiled. “My alpha sends his deep regrets that he couldn’t come, but he’s grateful for your investment.”

“His proposal is very impressive, and I understand, considering there’s a new family member to the Blackwell family. I sent the baby a gift, on its way to the vineyards.”

“That’s thoughtful of you.” He slightly bowed his head in respect, even though he served another alpha. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now, the steak you promised.” I breathed deeply and slowly released it as I caught something in the air.

Werewolf’s senses were way more sensitive than humans’. I squeezed my eyes closed as a muscle ticked in my jaw. When I opened my eyes again, Kaleb’s brown eyes bore into mine.

“Is everything okay?” Worried was deep in his voice.

“Yeah.”

Then, slow, calculated steps caught my hearing, definitely female.

Before the waitress could approach the table, something spicy, citrusy hit the air. The smell of food, perfume, and spices faded away, changing into sweet lavender with a hint of praline and chocolate, leaving a soft, sweet, and warm hug of vanilla, amber, and musk.

A low growl rumbled from within my throat as the waitress stopped before us. Before I even realized what I was doing, my hands formed into fists under the table, and the rune on my back burned hotly and excruciatingly. It was

molten and slowly sinking through my skin and muscle, deeper into my spine, the same pain I had endured for the last sixty years.

At this moment, I instantly knew what was happening. A new kind of pain clutched and set in my chest, simmering dangerously.

While Kaleb interacted with a woman in a friendly and soft tone, I drew another deep breath before my eyes could glow.

When I lifted my gaze and looked at her, my wolf— my stupid fucking wolf, Coal— just claimed his mate. “Mine.”

This is not happening. As much as I loved to have a mate, finally, this wasn’t right. I couldn’t help but ask the Goddess why.

For fuck’s sake, why does she have to be a human?

I’d been waiting for this moment since I started to shift at eight years old, but unfortunately, my curse was more than just the agonizing, uncontrollable shifts every full moon. It was a bloodlust.

And she was too small for my size and too young for my age.

My wolf growled again in delight as my gaze locked with the most beautiful, big, round ocean blue eyes I’d ever seen.

She was a waitress in a restaurant uniform with her name, Red, pinned on the white shirt. She had pale skin with strawberry blonde hair tied in a neat bun. She had light makeup on her heart-shaped face. And she seemed to have been checking me out as well.

She was smiling politely, waiting for my order, but I was too enthralled by her beauty.

Yes, there was no doubt how beautiful she was, so innocent looking, but again, she was human, and there was no place for a human like her in my world.

Before Kaleb could sense what was going on, I replied to her, “Water. Tap.”

As he dismissed her, I excused myself and stood up. “Give me a minute.”

My bodyguard and trusted enforcer, Gillean, met me halfway. “Is everything okay, sir?”

“Follow me.” I walked out of the restaurant and shuddered in relief when her scent faded in the air.

“You’re tense, sir.”

“The meeting is doing well.” I grabbed my handkerchief and wiped off my sweat. “I just need some air, and call Axl to find out who that woman is, the waitress serving us, named Red. I want to know everything about her. This is his top priority.”

Axl had a previous military intelligence background, and he was good at finding someone who didn’t want to be found. He was also my enforcer and often served as my bodyguard when Gillean or Clay was not available.

“Of course, sir. Extensive background checks.” He was trained not to question my orders but to do them.

As we went back inside, I sat back across Kaleb. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine, Mr. Skoll.”

“I might take a rain check on that steak.”

Moments later, that irresistible smell flooded my senses again. All I could do was stare at the glass of water with thin slices of lime inside as I tried to block her presence in my head.

When I lifted my gaze, I told Kaleb, “I apologize if I have to leave immediately, but I will inform my CEO, Slade Fitzroy, to meet Alpha Knight.” I stood up and offered my hand.

“He’d be glad to hear it, Mr. Skoll.” He stood up and shook my hand firmly. “It’s really an honor to meet you, Alpha Zax.”

I put some bills and left a generous tip before I walked out of the restaurant.

I knew most werewolves would say that I made quite a name for myself when I was Zaxton Wulfric, but when you were a seventy-year-old man who didn’t age, you had to move a lot to avoid bumping into humans of my age.

***

“What the fuck?” I frowned at Axl and back at the papers in my hand. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes, sir,” he replied confidently.

My nose flared as I read through the report.

Redleigh Lyra Klein just dropped out of college last year to take care of her sick father. It was admirable and heroic that she prioritized her family over finishing college.

“She’s only twenty fucking years old?” My eyes narrowed at the report on my desk. Of course, she was young. I even expected her to be eighteen or nineteen with her small-framed hourglass figure.

“Yes, sir. An adult. Are you hiring her to be your assistant?” Unlike Clay and Gillean, sometimes Axl could be intrusive.

Coal growled, and my eyes glowed. I was restless since yesterday, and I hadn’t run. The last thing he would do was to piss me off.

“Apologies, Alpha King.” He instantly dropped his gaze.

“Call Clay to come.”

A few seconds later, Clay walked in.

“I want you to bring Redleigh Klein here.”

Clay gave me a confused look. “Sir?”

“Did I stutter?” When I didn’t hear a response, I closed the file and put it in my drawer. “Axl will explain to you. Do what’s necessary.”

“How do you want us to proceed, sir?” Clay asked further.

“You know what to do.” I rose from the chair. “But make sure she’s unscathed, or you both die.”

“May I suggest first, sir?”

Shrugging, I turned to Clay, crossing my arms over my chest, waiting for his idea.

“Maybe we can ask her politely, and if she declines— ”

“Or if she suspects something, call the cops, and your plan fails, you will pay the price. Now get out of my office.”

At night, her innocent face would constantly visit me before I slept. I drove all the way back to the city to feed my curiosity. I knew I was being reckless with my unrestrained fascination and dangerous obsession with finding out what was so special about this human.

She even looked a lot younger, sleeping soundly, not knowing a creep had already gotten through her window, watching her with disturbing craving.

My heart pounded hard in my chest. My limbs moved of their own accord as I sat on her bed. She didn’t even stir.

Violent shudder rippled through me as I inhaled her sweet, intoxicating scent deep into my lungs.

I popped a button of her pajama top with my claw, revealing the pale smoothness of the sweet swell of her ripe breasts.

She was definitely perfect— this beautiful obsession of mine.