Chapter 3

KEIRA'S POV

The Alpha's eyes had followed me throughout the entire night.

And in turn, I stayed away from him to create tension and scarcity.

But the right time came when the other senior wolves dispersed to refill their drinks, leaving him momentarily unguarded.

This was my chance.

My move needed to be made when Matthias was completely alone.

Now, he was standing at a far corner of the hall.

Gathering the courage, I went up to him.

"Alpha Matthias?"

He turned and his gray eyes fell on me, studying me.

The intensity in them almost made me take a step back but I held my ground.

Power emanated off him in waves.

And I was entirely convinced that his presence felt more overwhelming up close.

I had rehearsed what I would say to him a dozen times in the past hours.

The words had died in throat when he had looked at me.

"Keira Ashford," he said my government name in a deep, measured voice.

I swallowed softly.

"I noticed that you have been avoiding pack gatherings recently," he continued.

"I have been recovering."

Subconsciously, my tone was respectful in his presence.

But it was not submissive.

"Ah, I see," he mused.

A short silence ensued.

"Alpha, I was hoping we could speak privately concerning my father."

His expression changed.

Before I knew it, he dropped his glass on a table.

"Follow me."

I did so without protest.

I was well aware that the eyes of the ton were tracking our movement.

Let them watch.

Let them wonder.

We got to his office.

"After you."

I offered him a small smile.

Then I entered.

It had been a while since I had been here.

Nonetheless, I could see the place had been renovated.

I heard the door close behind us.

When I spun around to look at him, he was leaning against it.

His arms were crossed.

He looked sexy in that pose.

I swallowed softly.

"Your father was a good man, Miss Keira Ashford," Matthias started. "And I assume this is not actually about him."

My gaze rounded.

Heat slowly crept up my neck at the realization that I had been discovered.

How the hell had he seen through me?

Still I didn't think much about it and pushed forward without an iota of shame.

"You know, my late father trained me in diplomacy before he died?"

He nodded.

"That is why I would like to be assigned as one of the pack's diplomats," I explained with full confidence.

The corner of his mouth instantly lifted.

The gesture was what I couldn't quite call a smile.

I was surprised he didn't laugh.

"Is that so?"

I was at the verge of nodding.

But the amused glint in his eye held me back.

"And this sudden interest in diplomatic work has nothing to do with my son?"

My jaw fell slack as my carefully constructed plan began to crumble afore me.

No wonder he had been able to rule the northwest pack for as long as this.

He was too observative.

Still, I swallowed softly.

"I do not know what you mean."

Matthias pushed himself off the door.

He uncrossed his arms with a scoff.

"I know exactly what you are doing, Keira," he mumbled… his voice was low and husky.

Something rose in my throat.

Fear, maybe?

I swallowed hard as he began to walk towards me with predatory vibes.

My feet unconsciously started to move back the closer he came towards me.

"Alpha?" I murmured.

He didn't reply.

My chest constricted as my thighs touched the table.

The panic that consumed me nearly.

I froze.

He stopped just inches away from me.

Blood roared in my ears.

He was close enough that I even had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes.

"Your eyes burned into me all evening," he continued.

He came closer.

His hands lifted towards my face.

"Like an assassin."

My breath quickened as his fingers pushed stray strands of hair away.

Meanwhile I stayed motionless, the touch sending warm sensations down my spine.

"Your dress, the way you were moving in the hall"—he accused—"you wanted me to notice you."

My breath hitched.

"Alpha, I—"

"You do know that your attempts at seduction are completely unnecessary?"

The look in his eyes crippled me.

Sweat started to gather on my forehead.

I could feel my breathing growing heavier.

My hands felt clammy too.

"I decided you were mine months ago."

The world tilted around me.

My mouth fell open.

What did he mean?

"Months?"

I stared moon-eyed at him.

"Yes Kiera," he told me.

He leaned back.

Unconsciously, I breathed a sigh of relief.

I hadn't even realized I was holding my breath until I did.

"I have been watching you everyday since my son shattered your bond."

His thumb came up to trace my jawline.

I blinked rapidly in confusion.

What the hell was going on?

"You have the right person if you want revenge against Dominic."

The smile he flashed me was terrifying.

He had something up his sleeves.

I could tell.

I should have been mortified that this Alpha had just claimed me without hesitation.

Instead, something hotter and quite fierce started to unfurl inside of my chest.

"Why?"

The word came out breathless.

Why wouldn't it when this powerful man was almost pressed against me?

Matthias dropped his hand and stepped back.

Finally I was given space to breathe again.

"Dominic has always been a disappointment."

A dry scoff left his mouth.

He slid his hands into his pockets.

"He has become cruel and entitled. I have always hated to see him take exactly what he wants due to privilege and then destroy it."

His jaw tightened.

"I knew your father well. I promised him I would protect you after his death."

Suddenly he was in my personal space again.

My heart rate instantly spiked.

I leaned back, breathing heavily.

"When I learned of how Dominic had treated you and how he betrayed your mate's bond with your own family..."

His voice trailed off as the temperature in the room quickly began to drop.

Matthias' face hardened.

I felt the rage riding in the air as his Alpha dominance filled the air.

"Still," I whispered. "He's your son."

His eyes snapped to mine.

"Blood does not excuse weakness here, Kiera," he said. "Dominic needs to learn that every action has consequences."

My brows lifted.

"You want to punish your own son?"

"I want him to understand the value of what he threw away," he said.

His lips lifted into a smirk.

"YOU."

My stomach did the thing.

You know, when butterflies go on a rampage?

It took a bit for me to regain my composure.

That was because I almost wasn't buying this.

But then I thought, what reason would cause Matthias to lie to me?

I watched Matthias as he moved to his desk.

He took a bottle and poured two glasses of whiskey.

Then he came up to me.

He offered a glass to me with a suspicious smile dancing on his lips.

I swallowed lightly.

"Your father taught you diplomacy," he began as I took the glass from him.

I nodded, "yes."

"Drink," he urged.

I lifted the glass to my lips and took a small sip.

My mind was racing.

I had drunk champagne before.

Most importantly, I didn't want to be inebriated with him.

Not that I would hate it.

I just didn't want to make a drunk impression on him this early.

"Diplomacy makes you highly valuable to this pack beyond being just a pawn in whatever game you think you are playing."

My hand tightened around the glass.

I had expected to seduce him slowly, to manipulate him into wanting me.

Instead, this man, he had seen through me and turned the tables completely.

"So you will give me the position?"

"Yes."

He raised his glass.

"You will work directly under me. We will see how well your father trained you."

My eyes widened.

"Really?"

He nodded.

Joy—white, hot and blinding—bubled through me as I broke into a smile.

"And Dominic?"

Matthias scoffed, amused.

"Leave my son to me."

I quirked a brow at him.

"If we do this, Keira, we will do it right. No more games and no pretense too."

I nodded.

Then I took another sip.

I had come here planning to use my ex mate's father, the Alpha, for revenge.

Somehow, I had ended up doing the opposite.

I had walked into a trap of his own making.

And the most terrifying part?

I wanted to stay caught.