Empire of Desires - Passion Tales in Dark Cities Pleasures 1

Astrid’s pov

"Finally, all set..." I said to myself with a pleased smile after lighting the last lavender scented candle on the dinning table, backing away to sweep my eyes, proudly admiring five hours of work.

Today marks my seventh year mate union anniversary with Damien Greyson, Alpha of Greymoon pack. My engagement to him was a last ditch effort by my father Beta Graham to maintain his profitable relationship with the Alpha family.

My sickly step sister, Taylor, was his fated mate and first love but on the day of their union she collapsed in the drop of a hat she was hastingly rushed over to the pack hospital. This was not a lone occurrence, Taylor had always been as fragile as a snowflake despite being older than me.

"Astrid, there's no other choice... in order to protect our families honor you have to replace your sister,"

My heart had sunk to the floor, hesitation crippling my legs. Surely, what I was about to do will save the honor of my family while mine was thrown out the window.

I wore a veil for the entire ceremony, sprayed with a scent that resembled Taylor's and then that night Damian took my first, marking me as his own. The blanket of the moonless night was stripped away as the morning rays poured into his bedroom.

He went for my neck, his hand moving in a flash from his side.

"Astrid? What the hell?Where is Taylor?!" With each questions his fingers sunk deeper, ironically blocking my voice and therefore his answers.

I brushed my neck, returning to the present with a sigh. Damien had really done everything he could to get rid of me, but eventually gave in when his father said I had to be his chosen mate because I was stronger than my step-sister and would bear healthier pups.

If only he knew that his son was feeding me contraceptives, shoving them down my throat after every intimate night.

With a swipe, I grabbed my phone from the table the brightness spilling over my face as I checked the time time–7:14 pm... Damian should have arrived 14 minutes ago, he promised me he'd clear everything up for our anniversary dinner.

My finger hovered over the call icon. He'd probably yell at me for being a nag if I called him now. But the food was getting cold, and he did promise he would be on time.

Just as I was about to call him, a ding came from my phone and his name popped up followed with a text.

I quickly tapped on it to read it, what I saw forced me to reach for the nearest chair and slump on it with a defeated sigh. It read; I'm sorry I can't make it tonight, I'm having an imprompt meeting with the Elder council.

I raised the phone above my head, staring at the text... rereading its message over and over again until the phone felt as heavy as lead table, my attention drifted to the healing cuts and bruises on my fingers. I had endured them all with a smile, thinking we'd be seated across from each other, smiling as we ate.

Maybe he would have gotten a little generous and given me a compliment.

Did he even remember that today was our mate union anniversary?

I covered my face with my palms, burying yet another sigh between them. It wasn't like I asked for this mate union, I was a merely a pawn in my father's game of pack politics. Over the years I had to try to tell Damian my side of the story, but he wouldn't care to listen to it in his eyes I was nothing more than a conniving seductress who jumped at the first chance to steal her step sister's mate.

It was still a piece of juicy gossip that pack members always returned to no matter how much I wished it would go stale.

Suddenly I heard another thing from my phone, my foolish hope had me waiting for it thinking that maybe Damian had canceled the meeting last minute and was rushing down to join me for dinner.

Once again I was hit with a wave of disappointment, the notification was from the pack platform. I tapped on it without thinking and my screen was plastered with the smile of my step sister, but she wasn't the one I was focused on in the picture beside her was my mate wearing the biggest smile and behind them was an exclusive pack restaurant, even high ranking wolves had trouble reserving a table.

There was no surprise he'd lied about the meeting, what hurt more was that I had been subtly hinting at this restaurant months ago, to think he'd bring Taylor to the very same place!

I nearly crushed the device in my hand, but instead I took a generous gulp of air calming myself. Nothing good ever came from me getting worked up, Damien would spin it all around on me.

But today was a harder battle than others.

I thought he had stopped at just reserving a table but turns out he reserved the entirety of the Bluemoon just for her sake. As the food I spent hours preparing went cold more pictures of delicacies came at my screen.

The captions was the most infuriating part.

Taylor wrote; Every meal is precious when shared with that special someone #Bluemoon

The comments came pouring in, supportive and gushy as always.

[[They both look so good together, literally couple goals!]]

[[I've been dying to come to Bluemoon but honestly seeing the two of you there I don't mind losing my table anymore]]

[[Girl, I just realized my standards are on the floor, what can I do to have a man like yours?]]

She replied coyly to that comment.

[[Oh, no you have it all wrong. He's my brother in law and my best friend. Nothing more]]

The tune of the comments split, with half of them charging at me, one made me shift on my chair.

[[Oh yeah, isn't today the Alpha's mate union anniversary?]]