Chapter 5

                                    ~ THEO ~

Her scent still lingered in the air when I stomped on the brakes and drove out of the club. It nearly drove me nuts, and I had a hard time concentrating on the road.

'You should have claimed her then at the spot,' Jax, my wolf, said in my head.

'Calm down, boy,' I replied. 'What I did was even better.'

'Even so, the delay makes it more painful to bear,' he whined. 'Celine was speaking to me from within her.'

'Thank you for stating the obvious.' I rolled my eyes. 'Believe me when I said I could hear her, too. But that's not going to work. Before I can claim her, she and her wolf have to be one. Obviously, they were not on the same terms.'

'The woman is just too stubborn!' Jax barked.

'Tell me about it.'

Jax fell silent after that. I knew he was still brooding, as I could still hear his low growls every now and then. I wouldn't blame him. He was happy earlier today when he made the connection with that woman's wolf, and he had huge hopes. Hopes that were dashed by the woman's defiance earlier.

 I didn't understand why she was proving stubborn. She may have thought she won the battle, but she had another thing coming. I left my mark on her. And she was going to feel the aftermath the next day. The thought of it made me giddy.

As I turned around a corner, she materialised in my mind again, and I couldn't control the growing heat I felt within myself.

She was quite the complete package. She had curves in the right places that were hidden by her waitress uniform earlier. Slim waist, wide hips, a flat tummy, and huge breasts with prominent nipples that were begging to be sucked on. She didn't fool me. I saw them poke nearly out of her bra when we were in the booth. Her ass was so plump and perfect. I couldn't forget how they bounced and jiggled on stage as she danced earlier. They were like two bongo drums.

And that pair of lips? By the goddess, she had the most succulent-looking lips I had ever set my eyes on. I imagined kissing the heck out of them and later having them wrapped around my cock while she stared at me with those pure grey eyes.

 My cock twitched at the moment, and I held in a groan. My imagination would have come to pass earlier if she hadn't defy me. Well, she was going to learn the hard way.

As the manor came into view, my malicious grin shifted to a softer smile. It wasn't just her body that intrigued me. There was just something about her that drew me to her like bees to honey. Her eyes told a story that she wanted no one to know. The fact that she knew of her omega status and used it as a reason not to get involved with me intrigued me even more. Other women would have jumped at the offer I made, regardless of their rank in the pack. But not her.

At that point, I didn't care about her status. I didn't care if she was a stripper. What I saw was a bold and independent woman who was doing everything to survive in this city. My desire for her grew, and I would stop at nothing until she was mine.

 As for my wolf, Jax, he should not worry about his pretty head. Celine would soon be his. I wondered if the woman had a family. My pack was a big one, and the majority of the wolves were stationed around the city. We mingled with humans but never let them know our identity. That would be a stupid risk, knowing the paranoid nature of humans.

 The gates of the manor slowly opened as I approached. I drove in, parked, and then alighted. I stretched as two of my pack members approached. One of them collected the keys to the car, and the other took my briefcase.

 Yes, I was also a businessman, despite my werewolf status. Not just any kind, but a billionaire. C.E.O. of the largest timber company in the city. It was a position I inherited from my father, alongside the mantle of the Alpha, after his tragic demise in the war.

 I entered the outer chamber of the building. Elder Ronald, one of the longest-serving members of my father's counsel, approached me.

"Welcome back, Alpha," he greeted. "Forgive my observation, but you were unusually late today. I hope there were no issues."

"No, it's good that you showed concern." I shook my head. "And no, there were no issues."

'At least not something I can't handle later,' I thought with a grin, my plans resurfacing in my head.

There was an awkward silence between us. I stared at the elder in an inquisitive fashion.

"Is there a problem, Elder Ronald?" I asked.

"Well, not at all." He dragged his feet. "It's just the issue of the next silver moon. You know the one that comes every ten years. I and the elders have been discussing. You're in your prime, and you have yet to choose a mate to properly cement your status in the pack."

"Elder Ronald," I groaned. "We've had this talk before. Choosing a mate is not something that you just rush and do. It's an action that is guided by the will of the moon goddess. It has always been like that for years and generations."

"I know, but..."

"Elder Ronald." I raised my hand up. "Please do not stress yourself in your old age. You know I care about your health. When the time is right, the moon goddess will give me a mate."

'That is if she hasn't already,' Jax suddenly barked from within.

My mind flashed back to those alluring grey eyes and pouty lips from earlier. Maybe he was right.

"Alright." Elder Ronald was satisfied with my reply, albeit reluctant.

"Goodnight." I waved and made my way to my bedroom.

"Goodnight, Alpha," he replied behind me.

I entered my room, and immediately irritation invaded my soul. Lying on my bed was Meredith. She was a curvy brunette with brown eyes to match and a round nose. Her beauty was undeniable, but I and my wolf knew better.

 There was something about her aura that we couldn't stand. I just hated the fact that I was blind to it when we had sex two years ago. She was a high-ranking wolf I met in one of those pack ceremonies. Since that time, after our tumble under the sheets, she believed she was mine and has stuck around since then, hoping I would one day mark her. Her character reeked of ambition, and I knew it wasn't my love she wanted.

 She was currently dressed in a dark purple transparent lingerie that showed her full breasts and the thong she wore within. Her eyes lowered a bit, and a sultry smile graced her lips.

"Welcome back, baby," she purred.

"Thanks." I merely grunted and made my way into the bathroom.

She was still awake when I came out of the showers and wiped myself. Her eyes didn't leave my body, which irritated me even more. I didn't want her gaze. I wanted the grey-eyed gaze of someone else. I put on a pair of boxer shorts and lay on the bed beside her, making sure to leave some space between us. Apparently, she didn't get the memo and inched towards me, tracing her finger around my pectorial.

"So," she said. "The silver moon is drawing nearer."

"Yes, I'm well aware of that," I said, rolling my eyes. "Elder Ronald made sure to remind me."

"Great." She grinned. "Glad he did. You know you must choose a mate by then."

She gave me a suggestive gaze and tilted her neck for emphasis. Yeah, right. If she thought I was going to mark her, she had another thing coming.

"I know." I turned my back to her and feigned sleep.

I heard her discreet, frustrated huff as she lay on the bed, and that brought a smile to my face.

My smile even widened when I thought of what tomorrow would bring.