CHAPTER 4

CREIGHTON

Her eyes dilated, shock written in them. I glanced down at her, curled up in the middle of the rain, crying, her eyes swollen. My jaw locked.

It took all the self-control I had not to pull her into my arms and demand the name of the bastard who hurt her. I didn't know much yet, but there were only a few things that could make a girl cry this hard: death or heartbreak.

The latter stood correct.

She stared for a while, her eyes puzzled.

I didn't freaking drive out here to offer her a deal; I came to claim her, to take what was mine. But I have known Scar for years—she would rather die trying than ask for a favor.

"Why?" she stuttered out.

"Because I want you." True, also.

"You don't know me."

My lips twisted into a grin. "Sweetheart, I know you more than you know yourself."

"Are you a stalker?"

"You can say that."

"How can I—"

"Listen to me, sweetheart. It's either you get up and follow me, or I toss you over my shoulder and make you. One way or the other, you are leaving with me."

She swallowed hard, her lips falling open, ready to ask yet another question. My patience snapped.

I tossed the umbrella aside and scooped her into my arms. She gasped, caught off guard. For a moment, I thought she would fight—kick and demand to be put down just like she always did when we were kids—but she didn’t. Her muscles simply stiffened under my grasp.

I turned and headed back to my car. The driver pulled the door open, and I laid her inside, securing her seatbelt before I ducked in after her.

She blinked, trying to process what had happened. I slid off my jacket and handed it to her. She eyed it like it was a hazard before she accepted it.

“I… I am soaking wet. Your seat will be ruined,” she stammered. I stared at her, tracing the contours of her face.

Fuck. She looked so small and fragile. All I wanted to do was pull her into my arms and remind her who she was: Scarlett Ravengod. The warrior, the most sassy and authoritative woman I had ever met.

“It will dry,” I stuck with that answer.

“But it will get ruined.”

“If it does, I will buy another one.”

“Seat?”

“Car.” Her eyes widened. I was lying through my teeth, but she didn't need to know that.

It would be a cold day in hell before I got rid of anything she touched, not when I craved her presence like a fish craves water.

Her lips pressed into a defeated line. She pressed herself against the window, keeping a good distance, yet her scent filled the space. She smelled like spring, like she was carved out of nature—calm and soothing.

The drive was quiet, aside from the sound of her heartbeat, the nervous fluttering of her fingers, and the way she sharply inhaled.

We finally reached my penthouse—thank goddess. One more minute and I would have pulled her into my arms just to breathe her in.

“Do it,” my wolf clawed.

Shut it.

I stepped out of the car, and so did she. Her gaze swept over the penthouse before she lowered her eyes.

“Follow me.”

She did. We stepped into the large living room, and the maid hurried over and bowed.

“Greetings, Alpha Creighton.”

At the maid's words, I heard Scarlett gasp. I turned to look at her shocked features.

“You… you are Alpha Creighton,” she stuttered out

A twisted smile crept onto my lips 

~~~~

Her scent filled the hallway before she even came into view. I drew my gaze away from the window, looking toward the figure that waltzed into my study. She was now clothed in a brown, curved-neck gown that did a pretty good job of hiding her figure. Her blonde hair was packed into a sleek bun, and her eyes…

They weren't just blue; they were the color of the ocean, the color of warmth. Her skin was flawless and radiant.

My wolf growled.

It had taken everything in me to bend him to my will this morning when I was so freaking close to her—when she was wrapped in my arms, clinging to me. I shoved the thought away.

She took a deep breath, her face stoic. "About your proposal. I accept."

A smile twisted onto my face.

"Careful, sweetheart. Saying yes means it's you and I forever." I leaned off the wall, my hands tucked into my pockets to keep them safe and far away from her.

"If it means I get to destroy every single one of them," anger gleamed in her eyes, "then yes."

Pride bloomed in my heart. Now that's my Scarlett.

“Perfect. We have a lot of work to do.”

She nodded. If only she knew she had walked into the devil's house, spoken with the devil, and signed herself over to him. Now there was no going back, no holding back. It was me and her until the earth ceased to exist.

~~~~

 A WEEK LATER

It had been a week of endless meetings and enduring my father's lectures. I had arrived home a week ago, and just as I expected, I was bombarded with political matters. Although a little part of me missed this—the workload and the hours of reading—I made sure Scarlett was tucked away safely in my penthouse while I sorted it all out.

"The pack would be happy if you had a bride," my father's words thudded in my ears.

I snorted, taking one last look at my reflection. I was clad in deep blue royal attire embedded with golden designs, my hair gelled back as the crown glittered in the dim light. Just perfect.

Tonight was my welcome-back ceremony. It wasn't something I had asked for, but certain protocols are required of an Alpha.

The party had begun, guards were flooding the perimeter, the decorations were exquisite, and the security was tight. As the guests rushed in, the herald finally announced my arrival.

The curtains pulled open, and heads bowed. I made my way to my father, who was greeting the crowd. Soon, the guests flooded in, including the special advisor—Scarlett's father. He introduced the bastard who had hurt her. A week had been enough time to get the truth out of Scarlett. She had trusted the wrong man, and I swore I would make him regret every single day of his life.

A little part of me was happy he had given up a real gem, but the fact that he hurt her was unforgivable. I barely acknowledged him before other guests grabbed my attention.

Soon, it was time for my speech. I walked to the center of the room, all eyes glued to me.

“I would like to thank everyone, not only for your presence but for a love that never changed, a respect that distance didn't break, and a bond that time didn't forget. Cheers to my father, too. But before we officially begin, I would like to introduce someone special.”

The hall broke out into chatter. They silenced immediately at my glare.

“What's an Alpha without his Luna?” I raised my drink toward the doors as they pulled open. All eyes fell on the figure standing there. “Welcome your future Luna.”

The door pulled open and she stepped in, clad in a blue, diamond-plated dress that clung to her body in all the right places. Her hair was styled into a sleek bun with a few strands left to frame her face. Her gaze met mine, and her lips pulled into a wide smile.

Gasps ripped through the hall, the air thinned, and everyone had the exact same name on their lips.

Scarlett.

She glided in like the queen she was until she stood right beside me.

Her plan was simple: show her off, secure the throne, be the trophy wife, and destroy James. Walk into the ball and make them believe we were a couple.

That was her plan. But mine…

My hand slid over her waist and pulled her flush against me until our bodies collided. A little gasp left her lips, and before she could react, my lips met hers.