CHAPTER 4

~Ava's POV~

"What?!"

The word flew out of my mouth before I could stop it the moment I recovered, and I shot to my feet so fast the chair toppled over with a loud crash. My heart was pounding in my chest, each beat louder than the last as I tried to wrap my head around what Alpha Grayson had just said.

The nerve-the absolute nerve of this man..

"How dare you?" My voice trembled, my anger almost choking me. "Do you think I'm some kind of cheap woman just because you-"

The words got stuck in my throat, and I couldn't even finish the sentence. I turned away from him, my fists clenching by my sides. "I should have known... You're all the same." My voice wavered, but I forced the words out. "Thanks for saving me from Dylan, but I'm out of here."

I started to walk away just as his voice cut through the room like a blade, calm and edged with a hint of irritation. "Ava."

I stopped, the sound of my name hanging in the air.

 It wasn't just the way he said it-it was the way it seeped into my bones, commanding, making me freeze on the spot. He didn't raise his voice, didn't shout, yet the authority in his tone was undeniable.

"Turn around and sit down."

I didn't move.

I didn't trust myself to even look at him then he said it again, this time with a tone that sent shivers down my spine. "Ava. Turn around, pick up the chair, and sit down."

My body acted before my mind caught up. I found myself turning around, bending down to lift the chair, and sitting back down, as if his words were a spell I couldn't break. My heart was still racing, my cheeks burning, but I forced myself to look at him.

His eyes were on me, a mixture of boredom and something else I couldn't quite place. He let out a small sigh, his expression hardly changing. "The past few hours made me believe you're a smart woman," he said, his tone almost casual, "I'd appreciate it if you didn't change that perception."

His words stung more than they should have, and I looked away, unable to meet the intensity in his gaze.

What the hell was happening here?

Why did he make me feel like this, like every emotion I had was on the verge of boiling over?

"I'm not asking you to be my mistress," he continued, his voice even, unbothered by the chaos he'd just unleashed in my mind. "And I most certainly do not have any intentions of sleeping with you."

My head snapped back up, and I felt my entire body heat up at the bluntness of his words. The room felt too small, the air too thick, and I struggled to control my breathing.

"Then why the offer?" I blurted out, hating how desperate and confused I sounded. There was no way this man could say things like that and not expect a reaction.

His gaze never wavered, not once. "Two reasons," he sighed, as if discussing the most mundane of topics. "First, it will get the high-ranking members off my back about being mated." His eyes narrowed slightly, and I could feel the weight of his stare. "Second, I'll need your medical expertise for something."

I waited for him to continue, but he didn't. The silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating. My mind raced, trying to piece together what he wasn't saying.

Why did he need my medical expertise of all people?

And then, he broke the silence with a single, devastating statement. "I have a problem with my erection. I can't get hard."

My mouth opened, but no sound came out. I was too stunned, too shocked to form any coherent thoughts. He had said it so casually, as if he were talking about the weather, without a trace of embarrassment.

I opened my mouth to say something when he spoke again, "A witch said it is connected to a curse but I don't believe in all that bullshit," He paused for a moment, watching me, "I know it can be fixed and that is why you are here, Ava. I need you to treat me."

My cheeks flushed hot, my heart skipping a beat. For a moment, all I could do was sit there, staring at him in disbelief. My mind was reeling, caught between wanting to laugh at the absurdity of it all and being completely mortified.

He suddenly rose to his feet, and my eyes, almost against my will, flickered down to his trousers-specifically that area. I immediately regretted it when I saw the faint curve of a smile on his lips. He'd caught me staring. I shrunk back, my face flaming with embarrassment.

"-H didn't mean-" I stammered, tripping over my own words.

What was wrong with me? I should be used to this in my profession.

Why then was I falling over my words?

"Ava," he sighed softly, so softly that it forced me to meet his eyes again. His voice was like a caress, gentle but commanding. "There's no need to feel embarrassed because I'm not."

He turned then, walking towards the window of his study with a calmness that felt almost surreal given the conversation we were having. I couldn't take my eyes off him, the way he moved, the confidence in every step.

He didn't need to say anything to own the room; he just did.

He continued speaking, still with his back to me, not a trace of embarrassment in his voice. "I know I'm asking a lot of you. I understand that you'll find this situation... awkward, but I don't plan on not giving you anything back in return."

He turned back to look at me, and I swear my lungs stopped working. A moment ago, I was breathing just fine, now it felt like the air was too thick, too heavy. He was giving me that look, the one that made me feel like he could see right through me, past all the walls I'd tried to build.

"If you had looked over the contract instead of jumping to conclusions, you would have seen that it's just for a year. After that, I'll give you enough money to start over, anywhere in the world you choose."

The words took a moment to register.

Anywhere in the world.

I could be my own person, do whatever I wanted. No more pretending, no more perfect Ava.

"So, I would be your Luna... only for show?" My voice trembled as I added, "And I have to treat your..."

"Erectile dysfunction," he finished for me, the corners of his lips curving into that same seductive smile that made my face burn even hotter. He wasn't even a little bit ashamed. I wished I could say the same.

"What if it doesn't work?" I whispered.

He moved towards me, keeping a remarkable distance between us. I was still sitting, and the difference in our heights made his presence overwhelming, engulfing me completely. My skin prickled with a strange, pleasurable heat, and just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, he stepped back.

The smile was still there, making me resent the effect it had on me, "I guess we will never know until we try."

"And if I refuse?" I asked, trying to sound defiant, but my voice wavered.

He didn't answer, just stared at me with a sudden blank expression that gave nothing away. The silence stretched, heavy and tense, until I couldn't take it anymore.

"So, it will be only transactional?" I finally sighed, the words tumbling out in a rush.

His smile returned then morphed into a smirk." There will be no love between us, Ava."

The way he said my name sent a jolt through me, like actual fire coursing through my veins. I swallowed hard, trying to maintain my composure.

"Just for a year," I said, more to myself than to him.

Something flickered in his eyes, but it was gone before I could figure out what it was. He nodded once, a simple, final gesture.

I turned my attention to the document that had fallen to the floor earlier. My hands were shaky as I picked it up, my mind racing.

I knew I should read it, but something told me Grayson Blackwood didn't waste his time on lies. He didn't need to. With a deep breath, I picked up the pen on the table which looked like it had magically appeared.

With one last look at the pair of gray eyes that I somehow knew would be my undoing, I signed the contract.