Chapter 3 : Cold Reality

I stirred from my sleep, my body feeling more relaxed than it had in weeks. Feeding from a werewolf, especially an Alpha, had that effect. I felt powerful, satiated, and utterly smug. 

I reached out a manicured hand to the other side of the bed, expecting to find his warm body and perhaps have another taste of him.

Instead, my hands met the cold sheets.

I sat upright, my fangs pricking my lower lip instinctively. William was sitting in the armchair across the room, fully dressed in the same black shirt from the night before, looking as if he hadn't slept a wink. 

He was calmly sipping a cup of espresso while staring at a tablet in his lap. "You’re awake," William said. His voice was smooth, devoid of the soft touch they had hours ago. "I’ve already had your assistant, Sarah, cancel your morning meetings. You’re going to need the time."

I scoffed, tossing my hair back with a soft, dismissive laugh. "Canceled my meetings? Darling, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but one night wouldn't leave me unable to handle business. You were a delicious snack, but I think it's time you leave."

William simply nodded then turned the tablet screen toward me.

And I felt my stomach drop from under me. On the screen was a crystal-clear, high-definition recording of last night.

And it wasn't the intimacy that had me frozen in place; It was the moment my eyes had turned a glowing, demonic red. It was the shot of my fangs sinking into his throat, and my face contorted in an expression of pure, supernatural hunger.

"The A.S.A. would find this fascinating," William said calmly. "The Ice Queen of London, a parasite feeding off the citizens she claims to serve. I wonder how fast your stock would plummet before they hauled you off to a laboratory for dissection."

"You... you recorded me?” I asked stupidly, still trying to process just how fast things would go wrong for me, if that video got into the wrong hands. “Do you have any idea who I am? I could have your head on a platter before the sun sets."

"You could try." William stood up, walking toward the bed with that predatory grace of a wolf. He tossed a thick legal folder onto my lap. "But while you’re planning my murder, your legal team should look at this. It’s a marriage contract, Astrid. And a merger agreement between Winchester Holdings and Lancetii Enterprises."

“You have gone insane.” I laughed, staring into his eyes that held no emotions.

“Have I?” William asked. He leaned down, his face inches from mine. The scent of him made my blood sing, which made me hate him even more.

"You're going to marry me, Astrid. You’re going to use your influence to clear my pack’s name and fund our reclamation. And in return, I don't send this video to the Director of the A.S.A."

The moment the last words left his mouth, I was off the bed. To a human, I would have been a blur; My fingers curled into claws, aiming straight for his throat I’d been worshiping just hours ago.

I slammed into him, my weight carrying us both backward. The armchair toppled over and I pinned him against the cold mahogany wardrobe. My fangs were fully extended, aching to shred the smugness right off his face.

"How dare you?" I spat, my voice vibrating with a low hiss. I pressed my forearm against his windpipe, putting every ounce of my immortal strength into it. 

"I have buried men for looking at me the wrong way. I will erase you, your pack, and every digital footprint you have."

William remained calm, despite me partially crushing his windpipe.

Then a sickening crack filled the room as his bone broke, his partially shifted hands grabbed my wrists, and for the first time in a century, I felt my bone begin to creak under a strength that surpassed mine. He twisted my hands, using my own momentum to flip our positions.

In a heartbeat, I was the one slammed against the wood. His hands were like iron manacles around my arms, pinning them above my head. His eyes now glowing a bright gold.

"Don't mistake my manners for weakness, Astrid," he growled, his breath hot against my ear. "You’re fast, but I’m a Winchester Alpha. I was bred to hunt creatures far more dangerous than vampires. You will submit." He stated.

And leaned in closer, his scent filling my senses even as my heart hammered in my chest with fear? No. Never. This was rage. Pure, unadulterated loathing.

"You have twenty-four hours," he whispered, his voice dropping back into that terrifyingly calm. "Sign the contract, set the merger in motion, or prepare for a very public execution."

He released me so abruptly I nearly stumbled. William didn't look back as he smoothed his shirt as if we hadn't just tried to murder each other. He picked up his espresso, took a final sip, and set the empty cup on my designer nightstand.

"I'll have my Beta, Kaelen, drop by your office to finalize the engagement announcement," he said, walking toward the door. "Wear something red for the press, darling. It suits your temperament."

And with that he was gone the heavy door clicked shut behind him.

I stood there, for minutes on end my chest heaving, the marks of his fingers already bruising purple against my pale skin. 

My gaze drifted to the folder on the bed. 

Twenty four hours. I had twenty four hours to have him assassinated.