CHAPTER ONE

EMMA'S POV

Grinning from ear to ear, I breathed in the familiar scent of my mate as I reached for his office door. I don't really know why, but whenever I feel his presence near me, all my worries will disappear.

I used my left hand to smooth down my hair and then tucked down a few loose strands behind my ear, before giving a soft knock on the door.

“Come in,” came his deep voice.

Grabbing the door handle, I slowly pushed the door open, and then peeked my head inside, only to see Darrell sitting at his desk with his eyes locked on his laptop screen. He seems pretty completely immersed in whatever he was doing.

“Hey, baby,” I said softly.

His head snapped up as he heard my voice, and the moment his eyes landed on me, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

That smile. I don't know why but it always got me, making my heart swell.

“Hey.”

I stepped fully into the room and quietly closed the door behind me.

“You busy?” I asked, smiling back.

“Yeah, a little bit,” he sighed, running a hand through his thick black hair. “But I will soon be done. Just need to wrap up this damn report. But I’m glad you’re here.”

“It’s okay. I can wait,” I offered gently.

Then his eyes returned back to the screen, and I walked towards the visitor’s chair to have my seat. As I took my seat, I was unable to take my eyes off his face—those sharp cheekbones, that perfect jawline, and the stormy gray eyes that always seemed to pierce right through me.

Then Darell raised his gaze again, his brow arching. “And why are you sitting miles away? Are you avoiding me?”

I gave a soft smile. “Of course not. It’s just…..”

“Then come here,” he said, patting his lap.

“But what if someone walks in and sees us?” I whispered, glancing nervously at the door.

“That’s for me to worry about, sweetheart,” he said with a teasing smirk. “Now come to me.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I began to fiddle with my fingers, hesitating if I should do as he says or not.

“Or do you want me to come help you up?” he asked, rising halfway from his chair.

“No..” I said, quickly standing up before he could, my cheeks burning.

As I walked over to his side, I tried to keep my blush hidden, but I knew he already saw it.

I thought he’d let me sit beside him but of course not. The moment I got close enough to him, Darrell suddenly reached out to me and grabbed my hand, pulling me right onto his lap.

“Darrell!” I gasped, trying to stand up. “The door isn't locked. What if someone walks in?”

But his arms was locked around me like steel, stopping me from standing from his lap. “Let them. Why do I have to concern myself with that?”

Knowing fully well that I would not win this, I stopped resisting and let him have it his way. Then his hands cupped my face, and without another word, he pressed his lips to mine.

The kiss was soft, warm, and passionate.

It would have deepened and been more if I hadn't gently pulled away from him.

“Seriously... someone might walk in,” I whispered again.

“So?” He raised a brow. “Are you that shy of me?”

“No, baby…” I sighed, because the truth was more complicated.

Darrell wasn’t just the Alpha of Nightshade Pack which was one of the biggest and most powerful packs in America. He was also his father’s chosen successor, expected to become the next Supreme Alpha.

Being an Alpha wasn’t actually the highest title a werewolf could have. There's also one rank above it: 'the Supreme Alpha'.

Each country only had one Supreme Alpha, who ruled over all the Alphas and their packs within their territory. They enforced laws, kept the peace, held absolute authority, and attended meetings with other Supreme Alphas from around the world. And in America, that position currently belonged to Darrell’s father. His command is the law of all the werewolves in America.

And his bloodline had ruling for decades.

But just because Darrell came from the best bloodline and his father is currently in the seat, didn’t mean the title would be handed to him on a silver plate. There was still the challenge which is a process every future Supreme Alpha had to face. It involved trials of strength, wisdom, and finally, something like a vote from the High Council.

But still, in all of America, there's no one as strong, as supported and as wise….no I will call him cunny—as cunning as Darrell Backwood.

And maybe that’s why everyone including me, believed he would take the seat just like his father did.

And when he did, right by his side would be me.

Apart from him being the next Alpha, Darrell is also every woman’s dream. That chiseled face of his, his sharp nose, and those intense eyes….. definitely make it impossible for any girls not to fall for him and chase him around, and I knew I’d hit the jackpot when fate bound us together a month ago.

We haven't revealed our relationship to the public, as I was scared of being hunted down by his admirers and up till now, only my parents and his parents know about our relationship.

Now, we’re both eagerly waiting for the next marking ceremony, which is only in a month's time, so that we could finally be together forever. Pack tradition requires that mates can only mark each other during the official ceremony, which happens every four months. Three months had already passed, and now… we were counting down.

I couldn’t wait.

“You know I don't really like trouble. So I'm just…” I sighed heavily. “Just trying to avoid problems with all the girls who have their eyes on you,” I admitted, voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t want my name in anyone’s mouth.”

Darrell chuckled softly. “Since when do you care about what people think?”

“Since I started dating you,” I said, and we both chuckled.

“Really?”

“Yeah. And moreover, you know how my parents are.”

His face darkened slightly.

Yeah. My parents hated the idea of me being with him, which was ironic, considering how much my father worshipped his father. Their bond was more than Alpha and Beta, as my father respected the Supreme Alpha, Darius Blackwood, more than anyone alive.

But that respect didn’t extend to his son.

My father thought Darrell was nothing like Darius. He said I’d regret falling for someone like him and also said he’d only end up breaking my heart.

But he’s wrong, as I'm really happy with him.

“You are scared of what people will say about you and you’re also scared of your parents. And yet… you’re in love with Darrell Blackwood, the next Supreme Alpha,” he teased, raising an amused brow. “How interesting.”

Look at him bragging?

Darrell grinned, seeing my angry expression.

I rolled my eyes and wanted to stand up in anger, but he pulled me back on his lap and suddenly pulled my tucked-in shirt free from my skirt. His warm hand slipped underneath, gliding over my stomach and slowly trailed upward.

“Darrell…” I warned, breath catching.

All anger suddenly faded away.

“I need you, angel,” he whispered, eyes dark with emotion. “If I don’t have you, I swear I’ll drop dead.”

Angel? He always called me that….his angel. He said I came into his life when everything was falling apart. That I brought light to his darkest nights. That I made him feel alive again.

He said I was the reason behind every smile he had.

And I believed him.

My cheeks burned hotter than ever…like I’d turned into a sun-ripened tomato. A shy smile tugged at my lips, but it was quickly replaced by a soft and helpless moan.

“Easy,” I whispered, trying to hide my flustered cheeks.

“You don’t like this?” he teased, pressing his thumb gently around my nipple.

“I do… it’s just that my boobs have been so sore lately and any little touch sends my whole body into a spiral.”

He gave me a wicked grin. “Then let’s check them out.”

Before I could protest, Darrell pulled up my shirt. I turned my back to him and he unclasped my bra. As my breasts became visible, I quickly covered them with my hand, my cheeks heating up despite the fact that he had seen me naked many times.

He turned me to face him and removed my hand away from my breast and latched onto my left nipple while his hand never left the other breast, fingers expertly teasing and twisting.

His mouth was warm and greedy and he was sucking as if he were a starved man who had just found his favorite food.

“Darrellllll…” I let out a soft moan, trying to keep my voice at bay.

God, I hate how much I love this.

I don't even have any idea when I placed my hand on Darrell's head, guiding him well to suck it more.

“Fuck, yeah!”

“Darrell,” I called out, the moment I felt him spread my legs the way I was seated on his lap.

“Still nervous?” he whispered, returning his lips to my nipples.

“No…I just… someone could walk in,” I mumbled, biting my lower lip.

“Forget everyone. Just focus on how good I make you feel,” he murmured, sliding my panties to the side and brushing his fingers over my slick, swollen clit.

“I love how you are always wet for me.”

I threw my head back as he circled his finger slowly, then faster, and my breath caught. I couldn’t trust my voice, so I just nodded, my eyes half-lidded.

Without warning, he slipped two fingers into me, curling them just right as his mouth left my breast and began kissing along my neck.

“Oh..oh.. yeah.” I moaned softly, grinding into his hand.

Increasing his pace, he said, “Don’t hold back your moan.”

I didn't trust myself well enough to speak, so I gave another nod.

“I love how your body reacts to my touch. I could fuck you all day.”

“Yes…..” I moaned.

“Yes what?” He knowingly increased the pace, pumping his fingers into me and wet sounds filled the air.

“Don't stop, baby.”

“Say it.”

“I….oh fuck…yes. I want you to fuck me hard, Darrell.”

“Beg for it.”

He’s really torturing me.

“Please,” I whispered, my lips parted, voice shaking.

“Please what?” he groaned, not relenting on his pace.

“I want yo…your cock…”

Before the words could fully leave my mouth, he pressed a finger against my lips to silence me.

“I told you already, I’ll make love to you like you deserve. Taste every inch of you. Worship you until you're breathless. And today won’t be any different.”

He gently slapped the face of my pussy and then made me stand up from his lap. He also stood up too, bent me over his desk with one of his hands pinning me down on the desk and the other hand lifting up my skirt.

Then he used his leg to spread my legs a bit, slapped my ass lightly, and then slid into me, deep and thick, filling me all at once.

His pace was slow at first.

“Hmm, yes, baby.” I moaned in pleasure as Darrell started to now thrust into me deeper and faster.

My nails scraped against the desk, my moans echoed off the soundproof wall, not bothering if others could hear us. He went rough on me until we both came together, with him emptying his seed inside of me.

But two weeks later, my little perfect world shattered like a delicate glass castle crushed underfoot, and I realized I had been living in a fantasy world that I built all on my own.

My parents were right after all, and their words echoed relentlessly in my mind.

“He will break your heart.”

And Darrell did. He's leaving me for good!

Now, he stood before me, not as the man who once whispered promises against my skin, but as a stranger….giving me a wedding invitation in his hands.

A wedding that wasn’t mine.