Chapter 2

Chapter Two: Debt and Desire

Enzo's POV

The smoke curled from my mouth in lazy spirals, mixing with the dim haze already filling the room. The lights were low, warm, and just enough to catch the glittering bodies moving around me. Music thumped somewhere in the background, but it was distant—more like a heartbeat than a song. I didn’t even know the names of the women dancing. Didn’t care either. They were here for one reason: distraction.

I leaned back in the velvet chair, a drink in one hand, cigarette in the other. My shirt was half unbuttoned, collar loose. My tie was already somewhere on the floor. One of the women sauntered over and sat on my lap like she owned it, her fingers trailing along my chest. She didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. Her eyes were saying enough.

I chuckled under my breath. There was no joy in it.

A knock came.

The door opened before I could answer. My beta stepped inside, eyes darting around the room, clearly uncomfortable with what he walked into. The guy always looked like he had a stick up his ass, but at least he was loyal. That counted for something.

I raised an eyebrow at him.

He didn’t speak, just gave me a look that told me this wasn’t something he wanted to say in front of... Human's.

I let out a sigh and waved my hand. "Out. All of you."

The women groaned and pouted, one even dared to tug my tie off the floor and swing it at me like a toy, but they all listened. My lap girl lingered a moment longer, running a finger down my jaw, but I caught her wrist before she got too bold.

"Now."

She smirked, kissed her teeth, and finally stood. One by one, they exited, the room growing quieter with every stiletto step that faded down the hall.

Once the door closed behind the last of them, I stood and walked toward the window. I took a long drag of my cigarette and exhaled, watching the smoke fog up the cold glass.

"Talk," I said without turning around.

"It’s the old man again," my beta said, voice steady but low.

"He missed the payment."

I didn't answer right away. I just took a slow sip from my drink, letting the burn of it crawl down my throat. My grip tightened on the glass. The man was warned. Twice.

"He says he needs more time," my beta added. "Something about medical bills. Family problems. You know, the usual act."

"So he's making excuses now," I muttered.

I felt the heat rise in my chest. Not from the drink. Not from the smoke.

From my wolf.

He stirred inside me, restless. Angry. The kind of quiet rage that simmers until it finds a crack to break through. My eyes dropped to the glass in my hand, and without warning, I clenched it until it shattered.

The shards dug into my palm, but I didn’t flinch. Blood trickled between my fingers, slow and warm.

My beta didn’t move either. He knew better.

I turned to face him, walking slow, controlled steps across the room until I was close enough to smell the tension coming off him.

I raised my bleeding hand and tapped his cheek lightly with my fingers, leaving streaks of red on his jaw.

"I don’t care if he’s sick. I don’t care if his family’s in the ground. He made a deal."

My voice was calm. Too calm.

"If he can’t pay in cash, he pays in blood, land, or loyalty. Make sure he understands that."

My beta nodded without a word and turned to leave.

But just before he reached the door, I added, "If he resists... make an example."

He paused, glanced back at me once, and then was gone.

The silence returned, heavy.

I lit another cigarette, my hand still bleeding, not caring. The sting was a good reminder. Control was everything. Without it, the beast inside would ruin everything I’d built.

A hand slid around my waist.

I didn’t even need to look to know who it was.

"You look tense," she whispered into my ear.

Her voice was soft, teasing. Her fingers moved up my chest slowly, like she was trying to calm me down or maybe tempt me into something.

I caught her wrist before she could go further.

"Leave."

She laughed, playful. "Don’t be like that. You invited me, remember?"

She stepped in front of me, tugging off her robe, letting it slide to the floor like a curtain dropping before a show. She stood there, nearly naked, smiling like she thought she had power here.

"Do you not like what you see?"

My eyes flashed.

The growl that ripped from my throat was low and sharp. Real. My wolf wasn’t playing anymore.

"Get. Out."

She blinked, startled. She’d heard the threat in my voice now.

She nodded quickly. "Yes, Alpha."

She scooped up her robe and slipped out the door without another word.

I walked back to the window.

Outside, clouds gathered thick and low. The air was heavy, the kind of weight that usually came before something broke.

Inside me, my wolf was pacing.

"When?" he asked. His voice was always there, under the surface, waiting for a moment to rise.

"When do we find our mate?"

I stared out at the dark skyline and raised my drink to my lips.

"Soon," I whispered.

It was a promise.

To him.

To myself.

To the mate I hadn’t met yet.