Chapter 4

I had not slept in two days.

My eyes burned as I stared at the screen, cross-referencing the final piece of data. Border disputes from fifteen years ago. A territorial claim dismissed by the Council. Financial records showing the Shadowmere Pack had lost significant resources when the ruling went against them.

There.

The connection I needed.

Shadowmere Pack. Led by Alpha Daemon Lupin, a wolf known for holding grudges and harboring ambitions beyond his station. The IP addresses, when mapped against known Shadowmere safe houses and business fronts, aligned perfectly. The language in the threats matched speeches Lupin had given at Council meetings, railing against what he called “unearned privilege” and “corrupt bloodlines.”

I had him.

The clock on my computer showed 7:47 AM. I had been in the office since yesterday afternoon, fueled by coffee and determination. Now I had answers.

I grabbed my tablet, loaded with evidence, and headed for Lucian’s office.

The headquarters was mostly empty at this hour. A few early arrivals nodded as I passed. My heart raced with the thrill of solving the puzzle, of having concrete intelligence to present.

I reached his office door and raised my hand to knock.

A sound stopped me. Low and male. A groan of pleasure.

My stomach dropped.

Not again.

I knocked anyway. Hard. Three sharp raps.

“Come in,” Lucian called out, his voice strained.

I opened the door.

The brunette was on her knees between his spread thighs, her head bobbing as she worked him with her mouth. Lucian sat in his leather chair, head tilted back, one hand tangled in her hair while the other gripped the armrest.

His eyes opened when I entered. Found mine. Held my gaze.

He did not stop her.

“Aurelia,” he said, his voice rough. “Early visit.”

The woman made a wet sound, taking him deeper. Her hands gripped his thighs, manicured nails digging into the fabric of his pants.

I stood frozen, fury and disgust warring in my chest.

“I have information,” I said through clenched teeth. “About the threats.”

“Go ahead.” His breathing was heavier now. “I’m listening.”

“Are you serious?”

“You knocked. I said come in.” He looked down at the woman between his legs, his expression one of dark satisfaction. “Keep going, beautiful. Don’t let me interrupt you.”

She made an eager sound and increased her pace.

My hands clenched around the tablet. “This is important.”

“So is this.” His grip tightened in her hair. “But I’m capable of multitasking. Speak.”

The woman moaned around him, the vibration making Lucian’s jaw clench. His hips shifted, pushing deeper into her mouth.

“Forget this,” I said. “I’ll come back when you’re not occupied.”

“No.” The command in his voice stopped me at the door. “You worked all night. You have intelligence. I want to hear what you have now.”

“While she’s—”

“Yes.” His eyes challenged me. “While she’s exactly where she wants to be, doing exactly what she wants to do. Now tell me what you found, or admit you’re too distracted by what’s happening to focus on your job.”

Heat flooded my face. Anger. Embarrassment. Something else I refused to name.

I turned back, keeping my eyes fixed on his face. Only his face.

“Shadowmere Pack,” I said coldly. “Led by Alpha Daemon Lupin.”

His expression sharpened despite the pleasure clearly building in his body. “Shadowmere.”

“Fifteen years ago, they challenged your pack’s claim to the northern forest territory. The Council ruled in your favor. Lupin lost face, resources, and expansion opportunities.” I held up the tablet, showing him the data from across the room. “The threats originate from locations connected to known Shadowmere operations.”

The woman below him worked faster, her head moving with practiced expertise. Lucian’s breathing grew rougher, but his focus remained on me.

“Show me,” he said.

“I am showing you.”

“Closer.”

I wanted to refuse. Wanted to throw the tablet at him and walk out.

But I had spent sleepless nights on this analysis. The information was critical.

I crossed the room, stopping at the edge of his desk. Close enough to show him the screen. Far enough to maintain some semblance of professional distance.

His hand was still buried in the woman’s hair, guiding her rhythm. The wet sounds of her mouth on him filled the space between us.

“The language matches Lupin’s public speeches,” I continued, my voice flat. “References to corrupt bloodlines, unearned privilege. Financial analysis shows Shadowmere has been hemorrhaging money. Failed investments, bad leadership.”

“They need a win,” Lucian said, his voice strained.

“Or they need you to look weak enough for other packs to challenge your authority.”

“Fuck,” he breathed, and I did not know if he meant my analysis or what the woman was doing to him.

Probably both.

His eyes closed briefly, his whole body tensing. Then he looked at me again, his gaze intense despite the distraction.

“Don’t stop,” he told the woman below him. To me, he said, “What do you recommend?”

“Increased border security. Intelligence gathering on Shadowmere movements. Counter-intelligence to feed them false information—”

His grip tightened. His breathing turned ragged. “How certain are you about this?”

“Ninety percent. The evidence is—”

He came with a low groan, his body going rigid. The woman made a satisfied sound, swallowing everything he gave her.

I looked away, staring at the wall behind his head.

Silence. Heavy and awkward.

“You can go now,” Lucian told the woman, his voice returning to normal. “Thank you for the stress relief.”

She rose gracefully, wiping the corner of her mouth with one finger. She smiled at him, completely unbothered by my presence. “Anytime, Alpha.”

She collected her purse from the couch and left, her heels clicking against the floor.

The door closed.

Lucian adjusted his clothing, tucking himself back in and zipping his pants. He stood, moved around the desk, and took the tablet from my hands.

“This is excellent work,” he said, scrolling through the data.

“You are vile.”

“I’m honest about what I want.” He looked up from the screen. “You knocked. I told you to come in. You chose to stay and deliver your report.”

“Because the information is time-sensitive.”

“And now I have the information. Thanks to your professionalism.” He set the tablet down. “You could have left. Could have waited. But you prioritized the job over your personal discomfort. I respect this.”

“You respect nothing.”

“I respect competence. Dedication. Results.” He stepped closer. “You gave me all three. The fact I was receiving pleasure while you briefed me does not diminish the quality of your work.”

“You are impossible.”

“I’m efficient. I have needs. I meet them without apology or shame.” His gaze held mine. “You find this disgusting because you suppress your own desires. Deny what your body wants. That’s your choice. But don’t judge me for being honest about mine.”

“I am nothing like you.”

“No. You’re wound so tight you’re about to snap.” He tilted his head. “When was the last time you let yourself feel pleasure, Aurelia? Real, uncontrolled pleasure?”

“None of your concern.”

“Everything about you is my concern. You work for me. You’re investigating threats to my pack. Your well-being affects your performance.”

A sharp knock interrupted whatever I might have said.

The door opened. Margot stood there, her face pale, her usual composure shattered.

“Sir,” she said, voice shaking. “The pack is under attack.”

The room went cold.

Lucian’s whole demeanor changed. The Alpha rose to the surface, pushing aside every trace of the playboy.

“Where?” he demanded.

“Northern border. Multiple breaches. Shadowmere wolves.”

His eyes met mine. “You were right.”

“I hate being right about this.”

“Margot, sound the alarm. Get every available fighter to the northern perimeter. I want—”

An explosion, distant but audible, shook the building.

Lucian was already moving, grabbing his phone, issuing commands. The lazy, arrogant heir was gone. In his place stood a warrior. A leader.

And despite everything, despite my disgust and anger, I felt a flicker of something else.

Respect.

He might be a hedonistic playboy who treated his office like a personal pleasure den.

But when his pack needed him, he transformed into exactly what they required.

An Alpha.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​