The Deal

Marcus Blackthorn’s office was in the business building. Top floor. Corner office with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking campus.

I’d never been in this building before. It smelled like expensive cologne and leather. Everything was polished wood and thick carpet. The kind of place that made it clear you didn’t belong.

His secretary barely looked at me when I walked in at four o’clock.

“Ms. Hale?”

“Yes.”

“He’s expecting you. Go right in.”

The door to his office was heavy. Solid wood. I knocked anyway.

“Enter.”

I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Marcus Blackthorn sat behind a massive desk. He was in his fifties, with silver hair and sharp green eyes. Madison looked just like him. Same eyes. Same predator smile.

“Sit,” he said. Not an invitation. A command.

I sat in the chair across from his desk. It was lower than his chair. Designed to make you feel small.

“Thank you for coming, Ms. Hale.”

“You didn’t really give me a choice.”

His smile widened. “Smart girl. I like that.”

I didn’t say anything. Just waited.

“I’ll get straight to the point,” he said. “I want you to stay away from Lycian Valor.”

My stomach clenched. “I’m not near him.”

“Don’t lie to me. I have eyes everywhere on this campus. You met with him yesterday. And again this morning in the library.”

How did he know that? Was he actually having me followed?

“He approached me,” I said. “Not the other way around.”

“I don’t care who approached whom. I’m telling you to end it.”

“There’s nothing to end.”

“Good. Let’s keep it that way.” He leaned back in his chair. Steepled his fingers. “Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to avoid Lycian Valor. Don’t talk to him. Don’t look at him. Don’t even breathe in his direction. If he approaches you, you walk away. Are we clear?”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then your scholarship disappears. Along with any chance you have of finishing your degree at this university or any other. I’ll make sure of it.”

The threat hung in the air between us. Heavy and real.

“You can’t do that.”

“Can’t I?” He pulled out a file. Slid it across the desk toward me. “Elowen Hale. Age twenty-one. Wolfless. Parents deceased. Living with your aunt, Clara Hale, who has stage three cancer. You work two jobs. Library assistant and barista at Grind House. Your combined income barely covers rent and food. Your aunt’s medical bills are drowning you both.”

My hands shook in my lap. He’d done his homework. Knew everything about me.

“One phone call,” he continued. “That’s all it takes. One call and your scholarship is revoked. You’ll be forced to drop out. And without a degree, what kind of job will you get? Minimum wage at best. Certainly not enough to help with those medical bills.”

Nausea rolled through my stomach. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because my daughter wants to mate with Lycian Valor. And you’re in the way.”

“I’m not in the way of anything. He doesn’t even know me.”

“He knows you enough to meet with you twice in two days.” Marcus leaned forward. “Let me explain something about wolves, Ms. Hale. We’re territorial. When we see something we want, we take it. And right now, for some inexplicable reason, Lycian seems interested in you.”

“That’s not my fault.”

“I don’t care whose fault it is. I care about results. Madison has been groomed since birth to be the perfect mate for an Alpha. She’s strong, beautiful, and from an excellent bloodline. She will be an asset to the Valor pack.”

“Then let Lycian decide that.”

“He’s too young to understand what he needs. Too distracted by whatever novelty you represent.” Marcus stood up. Walked around his desk. Leaned against it, looking down at me. “You’re a pretty girl. I can see the appeal. But you’re also smart enough to know this doesn’t end well for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if Lycian’s interest is genuine, it won’t last. Wolves mate with wolves. It’s biology. It’s tradition. It’s how things work.” He crossed his arms. “At best, you’d be a temporary distraction. At worst, you’d be the wolfless human who somehow trapped an Alpha heir. Either way, the pack would destroy you.”

“I’m not trying to trap anyone.”

“Good. Then we have an understanding.”

“What exactly do you want from me?”

“Simple. Stay away from Lycian. If he approaches you, shut it down. Be cold. Be rude. I don’t care. Just make it clear you’re not interested.”

“And if I do this, my scholarship is safe?”

“Not only safe, but I’ll personally ensure you receive an additional stipend. Five thousand dollars per semester. Enough to actually help with your aunt’s medical bills.”

I stared at him. “You’re bribing me.”

“I’m offering you a solution to your problems. Think about it, Ms. Hale. Your aunt needs treatment. You’re drowning in debt. One simple action and all of that gets easier.”

My throat felt tight. This was wrong. Everything about this was wrong.

But he was right about one thing. I was drowning. And five thousand dollars per semester would be life-changing.

“I need time to think,” I said.

“You have until tomorrow morning. Nine o’clock. Call my secretary with your decision.” He walked back around his desk. Sat down. “But let me be clear. If you choose wrong, I will make your life very difficult. Not just your scholarship. Everything. Your jobs. Your housing. Your aunt’s treatment. I have connections everywhere.”

“That’s illegal.”

“Prove it.” He smiled. “Now get out of my office.”

I stood on shaky legs. Made it to the door before he spoke again.

“Ms. Hale.”

I turned back.

“You seem like a smart girl. I hope you make the smart choice.”

I left without responding. Walked through the secretary’s office. Down the hall. Into the elevator.

My hands were shaking so hard I could barely press the button for the ground floor.

The elevator doors closed and I leaned against the wall. Tried to breathe.

Five thousand dollars per semester. That would cover Aunt Clara’s copays. Maybe even some of the medication insurance didn’t cover.

But it meant giving up whatever this thing with Lycian was before it even started.

Not that there was anything to give up. He’d said we were mates, but that was impossible. Even if it wasn’t, Marcus was right. Wolves mated with wolves. Anything else was a fantasy.

The elevator dinged. Ground floor.

I stepped out and nearly ran into someone.

Lycian.

He grabbed my arms to steady me. That spark again. Racing through my whole body.

“Elowen. What are you doing here?”

“Nothing. I was just…” I couldn’t finish the sentence.

His eyes narrowed. “Were you meeting with someone?”

“No.”

“You’re lying.” He looked past me toward the elevators. “Whose office is on the top floor?”

I didn’t answer.

“Elowen. Tell me.”

“I have to go.” I tried to pull away but he held on.

“Not until you tell me what’s going on.”

“Let go of me.”

“No.”

We stood there in the lobby. Several students walked past, staring at us. Whispering.

Great. More gossip for the rumor mill.

“Please,” I said quietly. “Let me go.”

Something in my voice must have convinced him. He released my arms but didn’t step back.

“Did Marcus Blackthorn threaten you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not lying. I’m just trying to survive.” My voice cracked. “Some of us don’t have the luxury of doing whatever we want.”

“What did he say to you?”

“Nothing.”

“Elowen.”

“He offered me money, okay?” The words burst out of me. “He offered me five thousand dollars per semester to stay away from you. And considering I’m about to lose my scholarship and my aunt is dying and I can barely afford to eat, it’s a pretty good offer.”

Lycian’s face went hard. His eyes flashed gold and stayed that way.

“You’re not taking that deal.”

“You don’t get to decide that.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Why? Because you think we’re mates? That doesn’t mean anything. We barely know each other.”

“The bond means everything.”

“Not to me. I can’t eat a bond. I can’t use it to pay for chemotherapy.”

“I’ll pay for your aunt’s treatment.”

I laughed. Bitter and harsh. “And then what? I owe you? No thanks. I’ve been taking care of myself and my aunt for three years. I don’t need a rich wolf to swoop in and save me.”

“This isn’t about saving you. This is about us.”

“There is no us.” I stepped back. Away from him. Away from that pull I felt whenever he was near. “I’m sorry. But I can’t do this. Whatever this is.”

I turned and walked away.

This time he didn’t follow.

But I felt his eyes on me the whole way across the lobby.

And when I glanced back, just once, the look on his face made my chest ache.

He looked broken.

Like I’d just destroyed something important.

But I had to survive.

And survival meant making hard choices.

Even ones that hurt.