CHAPTER 3

DRAKE POV

The sleek glass doors of my opulent office reflected the city lights as I leaned against my desk, arm crossed, listening to Andre’s latest escapade.

Lucas, ever the composed one, rolled his eyes while sipping his coffee.

“So then she said, ‘if you are the Alpha, why don’t you command me to stay” Andre smirked, wiggling his eyebrows. “….and I told her I do not need orders—my charm does the work for me.”

I scoffed and lifted my glass mockingly at Andre. “One day, that charm of yours is going to land you in a den of angry she-wolfs with claws.”

Lucas chuckled. “At least Andre here, tries to be smooth. You? You just glare until people…including she wolfs, submit.”

Before I could retort, my phone buzzed. The screen flashed ‘Sharon’ in bold letters. I ignored it, sipping my drink, but the call persisted. I exhaled sharply, but I answered. “Yeah?”

“Drake, baby, where are you?” Her voice was syrup sweet, laced with the tiniest edge of demand….like a bomb waiting to go off.

“I am at the office. With Andre and Lucas.”

“Good. Just checking,” A pause. “I miss you so much baby. When are you coming home?”

“Later” I replied curtly and hung up without another word.

Andre whistled. “Damn it man. You just told her where you were? No restrictions? No games?”

I shrugged. “Currently, she is at Milan for a shoot. What is the harm? She was just been inquisitive.”

Lucas shook his head, grinning from ear to ear. “This is why you two are hopeless. Playboys, the lot of you. Look here, love isn’t about control or games, it’s about finding your mate.” His eyes softened at the thought of Salome—Lucas mate, who is also a medical doctor like he is.

My jaw tightened. “Mate bonds are daily tales. I can’t just hand the Luna title to some random woman fate picks for me. No. The pack deserves better.”

Andre smirked. “Or maybe you are just scared of losing that iron grip on your heart. As an ice Alpha, you have to live up to your name right?”

“I have never seen an Alpha that doesn’t like women” Lucas snorted, “it’s a known fact that you are dating Sharon so no one questions your sexuality.”

A flicker of irritation crossed my face—until an image flashed in my mind. Lillian. The way her dark eyes had widened in the garden, the way she had stood her ground.

Fearfully, but determined.

“Speaking of the past….” I hesitated. “I saw Lillian earlier at the manor’s garden. I bet she went to see her mum.”

Silence.

Andre’s smirk vanished. “Lillian….Lillian? Or which Lillian?”

“How many Lillians do you know?” I snorted and downed the contents of my glass cup down my throat.

“The-we-were-absolute-jerks to her, Lillian?”

Lucas set his cup down and asked with a sad look on his face. “How is she?”

I ran a hand through my hair. “Strong. Defiant. Kinda shaken….beautiful.” The admission slipped out before I could stop it.

Andre whistled again, this time low. “Beautiful…eh, Alpha? Who would have thought you will ever say that.”

“Shut up.” I scowled. “I am going to see her at the conference tomorrow. I owe her an apology.”

Lucas nodded. “Good. It’s been years. We all acted like idiots without knowing the true meaning of life.”

Andre opened his mouth to reply, when the office doors swung open.

Click-click.

High heels echoed on marble. Sharon stood there, draped beautifully in a designer dress that cling to every curve, he blonde hair cascading over one shoulder. Her red lips curled into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Surprise, darling.”

My spine stiffened. “What are you doing here? I thought you were booked for a shoot this weekend and your flight was tomorrow.”

She glided forward with her chin raised up, ignoring Andre and Lucas. “I finished early. Thought I would check on you.” Her gaze sharpened. “And who is Lillian? Is it someone I know?”

The air turned to ice immediately.

My voice was steel. Staring at her, I replied briskly, “An old friend. Nothing more.”

Sharon’s manicured nail tapped his chest. “Then you won’t mind if I come to this—conference with you, hmm? As your plus one?”

Andre coughed into his fist awkwardly. Lucas looked ready to bolt.

“No.” I replied sternly, my tone leaving no room for argument. “It’s Buisness.”

Sharon’s smile turned venomous…more like leer. “We will see.”

As she strutted out, the door slamming behind her, Andre groaned. “Well. That’s a disaster waiting to happen.” He sat straight with a serious look on his face. “Well, I am sorry to say this, but from the looks of it, your apology is going to go bad.”

“Sharon will recognize Lillian at first sight,” Lucas said with a nod. “She hated her so much back in school, and it’s not everyone’s had a change of heart since then. Tomorrow just got a lot more complicated.”

My fists clenched with a scowl on my face. Because one thing was certain—when Sharon and Lillian were in the same room, war was inevitable.