LOGINJeremiah’s POV
"Tell me where Salome is, or I will let my wolf decide what happens to you next," I said.
The room felt small. The air was thick with the scent of old grease and the sharp, metallic tang of fear. Benedict stood at my shoulder like a statue. Behind me, Barnabas was a ticking bomb. His skin practically hummed with heat. Inside my own chest, Sovereign was pacing. My wolf wanted blood. He wanted to tear the truth out of someone's throat.
Salome’s POV“Just handle the details, Steven,” Jeremiah said, his voice flat as he cut the other man off with a sharp flick of his wrist. “You live here. I don’t. Use your own judgment.”Steven didn't seem bothered by the dismissal. If anything, he looked more eager than before. He had spent the last twenty minutes rattling off schedules and event ideas while Jeremiah stared at nothing. To Steven, pleasing the Alpha was clearly a competitive sport. He straightened his posture, looking like he was about to burst with pride, and then he turned his focus toward me.The bus had finally stopped moving. I took a deep breath, still a little dizzy from the winding roads we had just climbed. The resort was massive, a sprawling collection of stone and glass nestled against the hills.“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Salome,” Steven said, stepping closer to me as we climbed out into the mountain air. “I was t
Salome’s POV“You don’t have to act like it’s some big secret, Salome. It was pretty obvious you were dying to use my shoulder as a bed. You even talked in your sleep. I think your exact words were something about needing a better pillow.”I bolted upright, my heart hammering against my ribs. My face felt like it was on fire as I looked at Jeremiah, then darted my eyes toward the driver, hoping for some kind of denial. “That is not true! I did not say that!”The driver caught my gaze in the rearview mirror. He gave me a small, apologetic nod that made my stomach drop. “Actually, miss, you did mention something about being comfortable. It was right when the boss tried to move you into a better position earlier.”I wanted the floor of the car to open up and swallow me whole. My skin burned, the heat crawling up my neck and staining my cheeks. I turned on Jeremiah, pointing a finger at his chest to hide h
Salome’s POV“You’re late,” Jeremiah said, his voice as smooth as the coffee he was currently sipping.I froze in the doorway of the massive dining room. My lungs burned from the sprint I had just made from the front door, and the handle of my suitcase was still digging into my palm. I looked at the clock on the wall and winced. Eight-forty. I was ten minutes behind schedule, which felt like ten hours when dealing with a man like Jeremiah.“I am so incredibly sorry,” I managed to puff out, trying to smooth down my cream top. I had rushed so fast that I forgot to check if my black slacks were even lint-free. “I didn’t mean to oversleep. It won't happen again.”Jeremiah didn't look angry. Instead, he just tilted his head toward the empty chair across from him. His eyes traveled over my messy hair before settling on the plate in front of him. It was a spread that belonged in a food magazine. The eggs were
Salome’s POV"I will handle the driving and accompany you inside," Benedict said, his eyes meeting Jeremiah’s in the rearview mirror.Jeremiah didn't answer immediately. He leaned back against the leather seat, his fingers tapping a slow, rhythmic beat against his knee. He looked like he was weighing a dozen different options before he finally spoke."No," Jeremiah said. "I have a different plan. Salome, you are coming with me instead."I froze. Beside me, I could feel Benedict’s entire body go stiff. My own heart took a sharp dive into my stomach. I looked at Jeremiah, hoping I had misheard him, but his expression was calm."Sir?" I asked, my voice a bit smaller than I wanted it to be."The meeting is straightforward," Jeremiah explained. He didn't look at Benedict. He kept his focus entirely on me. "You are still learning how we manage our primary operations. This will be a good chance for you to see how I handle things i
Salome’s POV“Take this, Caspian,” Jeremiah said. He pulled a small, white business card from his inner pocket and held it out. “Dr. Luke Davis is the director over at Riverside. He deals with the most difficult cases in the city. He is very good at what he does.”Jeremiah shifted his gaze toward Barnabas as he finished the sentence. The implication was heavy. He wasn't just offering a doctor; he was offering a cage.Caspian took the card with a tight nod. “I appreciate the lead. I will keep it in mind.”Caspian reached out and pulled Barnabas close, tucking the younger man under his arm. Barnabas played his part perfectly. He sagged against Caspian, his eyes glazed and his movements clumsy. He looked like a man who had spent the last three hours drowning in whiskey. They turned and began the long walk through the center of the restaurant.I watched them go. My heart was still hammering against my ribs. I s
Salome’s POV“You’re only thinking about him, aren’t you?”Barnabas stopped in his tracks. He turned back to look at me, and his face was twisted with something dark. It wasn’t just anger. It was a bitter, jagged kind of resentment that made my skin crawl. He took a step toward me, his shadow falling over my lap.“Everything is about him now,” he said. His voice was low, vibrating with a shakiness he couldn't quite hide. “You don’t even see me anymore, Salome. I’m just a ghost in the room while you worry about his every breath.”I didn't answer. I kept my face as blank as a sheet of paper. I knew how this worked. If I gave him a single word, he would use it like a match to light a fire. I just sat there, my hands folded in my lap, watching him. The air in the conference room felt heavy and thin at the same time.Then, Barnabas did something I didn't expect. He turned away from
Salome’s POV"You actually showed up," Portia hissed, her voice cutting through the sudden silence of the ballroom.I didn't answer her right away. I let the heavy doors settle behind me. The room was a sea of silk, tailored suits, and the expensive scent of floral arrangement
Salome’s POV"You really should watch your mouth when the floor is this slippery, Portia."I didn't scramble to my feet. I took a breath, feeling the cold marble against my palms, and pushed myself up with deliberate, slow movements. My elbow throbbed where it had slammed into
Salome’s POVThe sun hadn’t even started to peak over the horizon when I crept out of my childhood bedroom. The floorboards groaned under my weight, sounding like gunshots in the silence of the hallway. I held my breath, listening for any sign of movement from my parents. Usual
Jeremiah’s POV"Break it down!" I roared.The heavy oak door didn't just open; it surrendered. The wood shrieked as it splintered off the hinges, the frame buckling under the weight of my kick. Inside, the scene was a blur of frantic movement. Men scrambled like vermin caught







