Find her

Aveline POV  

I stormed out of the restaurant, furious.  

Who did Ethan think he was?  

The audacity.  

How could he sit there and make me such a disgusting offer? Had something gone horribly wrong with his brain overnight, or had he always been this rotten, and I was just too stupid?  

“Aveline!”  

I froze.  

That same irritating voice.  

I slowly turned around, clenching my jaw so tightly it hurt.  

There he was.  

Still wearing that infuriating smug smile as if he hadn't just humiliated himself five minutes ago.  

“Nah," I said flatly. “Wipe that stupid smile off your face first.”  

To my surprise, he actually did.  

“Okay, okay.” He lifted both hands in playful surrender. “I'll be quick, Angry Bird.”  

He walked toward me with the same arrogance he'd always had.  

Two bodyguards followed a few steps behind him, both with identical blank expressions, while another man stood by the sleek black BMW parked at the curb.  

The driver, I figured.  

Ethan spread his arms dramatically.  

“You see what I'm talking about?” he said proudly. “Power. This, this is power, my love.”  

For a moment, I just stared at him.  

Then I laughed.  

Not a small laugh.  

A full, uncontrollable laugh.  

I bent over slightly, shaking my head as if he'd just told me the funniest joke ever.  

When I finally caught my breath, I looked at him again.  

“You think that's power?”  

I pointed to the black BMW.  

“A Seven Series BMW, two bodyguards, and a driver?”  

I chuckled again.  

“Ethan... that's just having money.”  

The smugness on his face faltered, just a little.  

I noticed.  

I stepped slowly toward him.  

“Power isn't what you drive.”  

Another step.  

“Power is what enters the room before you do.”  

His smile disappeared entirely.  

“Power is when people straighten their backs because they heard your name.”  

I poked a finger against his chest.  

“Power is when people follow you because they believe in you... or because disappointing you terrifies them.”  

Another poke.  

“Not because you signed their paycheck.”  

His jaw tightened.  

“Real power can't be leased.”  

I gestured toward the car.  

“It can't be financed.”  

Then toward his bodyguards.  

“It can't be hired.”  

Finally, I looked him straight in the eye.  

“And it certainly can't be parked outside a restaurant.”  

Silence settled between us.  

“If your bank account disappeared tomorrow and all you had left was your first name...” I shrugged casually.  

“...then you were never powerful to begin with.”  

His expression darkened.  

I tilted my head toward the two bodyguards behind him.  

“Those two?”  

I smiled.  

“They're here because you're paying them.”  

I pointed at one of them.  

“Stop paying him today, and tomorrow he'll be standing behind the next rich idiot willing to pay more.”  

Neither guard reacted.  

Professionals. I'll give them that.  

Then I looked at the driver.  

“And him?”  

I pointed at the car.  

“He isn't standing there because he'd die for you.”  

I folded my arms.  

“He's standing there because his shift ends at six.”  

A moment of silence.  

“Don't confuse employment with loyalty, Ethan.”  

That's when I noticed it.  

The driver's lips twitched, ever so slightly.  

A muffled snort escaped him before he quickly lowered his head, pretending to check the side mirror.  

One of the bodyguards coughed into his fist.  

The other suddenly found the sky very interesting.  

I smiled wider.  

“Well...”  

I shrugged.  

“Looks like even your employees agree with me.”  

Ethan slowly turned toward them.  

The three men instantly straightened, faces blank again.  

He looked back at me before letting out a quiet laugh.  

“Nice speech.”  

He nodded slowly.  

“I almost forgot how smart you are.”  

He leaned closer.  

“But tell me something... where exactly has all that intelligence gotten you?”  

My smile faded.  

“Your father is still sitting behind bars.”  

His voice dripped with mock sympathy.  

“Can your intelligence get him released?”  

I said nothing.  

“Can it magically erase the forty-eight million dollars hanging over his head?”  

Still nothing.  

“Can it buy you one of these?”  

He tapped the hood of the BMW proudly.  

“No?”  

He smiled.  

“Let's make it easier.”  

He leaned closer, lowering his voice.  

“Can your intelligence even buy you a bicycle?”  

I clenched my fists.  

“When did you become this arrogant?”  

He laughed.  

“I've always been this arrogant.”  

He shrugged.  

“You were just too hopelessly in love to notice.”  

The words stung.  

Not because they hurt.  

Because they were pathetic.  

“How delusional were you, Aveline?”  

He shook his head dramatically.  

“You really thought I'd end up with someone like you?”  

I looked up at the sky.  

“Oh, Moon Goddess...”  

I sighed dramatically, placing both hands over my head.  

“I actually fell for a jerk.”  

I clicked my tongue.  

“How tragic.”  

I looked back at him.  

“How was I so blind?”  

He smirked.  

I rolled my eyes.  

“Whatever you decide to do with your miserable life, Ethan... I genuinely couldn't care less.”  

“You should.”  

He smiled again.  

“Because you're beneath me.”  

He stepped closer.  

“I'm far above your league.”  

His eyes slowly traveled over me.  

“You're just a lowlife little wolf.”  

I stared at him.  

Then closed the distance between us.  

Before he could react—  

Slap!  

The sound echoed across the street.  

His head snapped to the side.  

Silence.  

Even the traffic suddenly felt quieter.  

Ethan slowly turned back to me.  

His eyes were wide.  

One hand came up to his reddening cheek.  

“You...” he whispered.  

“Yes.”  

I smiled coldly.  

“I did.”  

I stepped closer until we were nearly nose to nose.  

“I can handle your insults.”  

I jabbed a finger into his chest.  

“But don't you ever insult my family.”  

My voice was calm.  

Dangerously calm.  

“This...”  

I glanced at the red mark blooming on his cheek.  

“...is the first slap.”  

I tilted my head.  

“Say one more stupid thing.”  

I slowly raised my other hand.  

“And I'll make sure your face matches on both sides.”  

His eyes burned with fury.  

“How dare you?”  

I laughed.  

“Because of your Seven Series?”  

I patted the hood of the car.  

“One day, Ethan...”  

I looked him dead in the eye.  

“You'll watch me step out of a car that makes this overpriced toy look ordinary.”  

His lips parted.  

“You're not half the man you think you are.”  

I tapped the side of his head with my finger.  

“And trust me... that ego of yours won't survive reality forever.”  

I took a step back.  

“Don't ever stand in front of me again.”  

My voice turned icy.  

“I swear to the Moon Goddess... next time, I'll do a lot more than slap you.”  

I watched his jaw flex.  

“You're free to marry Vivienne.”  

I shrugged.  

“Go chase the power you think comes with her name.”  

A smirk tugged at my lips.  

“It's not like that marriage will last anyway.”  

I turned around and started walking away.  

“Aveline!”  

He shouted after me.  

I ignored him.  

“Aveline!”  

Still, I kept walking.  

“I'LL MAKE YOU KNEEL BEFORE ME!”  

His voice echoed down the street.  

I didn't even bother turning around.  

“Over my dead body, jerk,” I muttered, raising my hand to flag down the first cab that passed.  

The taxi pulled over almost immediately.  

As I climbed into the back seat, I finally let myself breathe.  

Where had all that confidence come from?  

I had no idea.  

But one thing I did know...  

That slap?  

He deserved every bit of it.  

No.  

He deserved worse.  

I leaned my head against the window as the cab pulled away.  

How had I been so blind?  

How had I spent years loving someone so shallow, so arrogant, so utterly disgusting?  

This was the man I had dreamed of marrying?  

What a joke.  

I had planned to grab breakfast before heading to school.  

Now?  

My entire day already felt ruined.  

The last thing I wanted was to drag myself through classes pretending everything was fine.  

I wasn't in the mood to smile.  

I wasn't in the mood to answer questions.  

I wasn't in the mood to be around people.  

So I changed my mind.  

I knew exactly where I was going instead.  

Lyla would be home.  

A few weeks ago, she'd talked about skipping classes today because there was an online event she wanted to watch.  

Yes, she was awful when it came to attendance.  

But academically?  

That girl was annoyingly brilliant.  

She could skip half the semester and still score higher than everyone else.  

Right now...  

She was exactly the person I needed.

                        Darius POV

I sat in my mansion's study, rocking my chair side to side. My thoughts wouldn’t settle. For once, I wasn’t thinking about business, war, or politics. My mind was on one person: one photograph sitting on my desk.

The room was silent. My men stood in different corners, waiting for orders. One approached with a bottle of whiskey. “Alpha.” I nodded slightly. He poured the amber liquid into my crystal glass, while another man added two ice cubes and then retreated silently. I picked up the glass. For a brief moment, I just stared at it before bringing it to my nose, inhaling the rich scent. I swirled the whiskey lazily; the ice clinked softly against the glass. Then my eyes drifted back to the photograph. Her.

My jaw tightened. “Where did you last see her?” I asked, keeping my gaze on the picture.

 “Just a few streets from the bar, Alpha Darius,” one man replied quickly. I took a slow sip of my drink and lifted the photograph. There she was, the same woman from the bar. She had walked away from me so fast that night. 

She looked rushed, distracted, as if the weight of the world had suddenly landed on her shoulders. “And who was she with?” I asked. “We couldn't identify him, Alpha. Just some troublesome man.” 

That word irritated me. I absentmindedly brushed my thumb over the edge of the photograph. “I want everything.” The room fell silent. Every pair of eyes turned toward me. “Everything, Alpha?” one of them asked carefully. I looked up. “You heard me.” Another exchanged uncertain glances with the others before speaking warily. “She... she's just a woman, Alpha.” I slowly turned my head toward him. “One question.” 

He straightened up. “Yes, Alpha?” “Did I ask you to investigate a man?” “N-No, Alpha.” “Then why are you reminding me she's a woman?” He lowered his head. “My apologies, Alpha.” I set my glass down and stood up.

 “I don't care where she lives.” I buttoned my suit jacket. “I don't care where she works.” I picked up the photograph again. “I don't care who she talks to.” My gaze hardened. “I want every detail.” “Yes, Alpha.”

Just as I reached the door, there was a knock. Without waiting for permission, the door swung open. Only one person in this mansion had that level of confidence, or stupidity.

 “Well, thank the Moon Goddess I caught you!” Cassian strode in, exaggerated relief plastered on his face. 

I closed my eyes. “Please.” I sighed. “Disappear.” 

“I literally just got here.”

 “I noticed.” I tried to walk past him. Naturally, he stepped directly into my path. 

“Cassian.”

 “Alpha Darius.” 

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Move.” 

“Not until you answer one tiny little question.”

 “No.” 

“You don't even know the question.” 

“I don't need to.” He grinned shamelessly.

“Who's the woman?” I blinked. 

“What woman?” 

“The woman you're hiding behind your back.” I looked down. 

The photograph. I had forgotten I was still holding it. Cassian's eyes widened dramatically. “No...” He pointed.

“Is that... a photograph?” I stared at him. 

“Yes.” 

“A woman's photograph?”

 “Yes.” 

He gasped so loudly that several guards looked over. 

“The great Alpha Darius Draven... carrying around a woman's picture” 

He clutched his chest. “Someone call the royal physician.” I rolled my eyes.

 “Have you suddenly developed feelings for men?” He frowned. “What?” 

“You seem awfully disappointed it's a woman's photograph.” 

A few guards struggled to hold back smiles. Cassian scoffed. “You know exactly what I mean.” 

“No.” 

“I've seen you with countless women.” He folded his arms. “But never, not once, have I seen you keep a picture of any of them.” 

He narrowed his eyes at me.

“So cousin Darius,  she's either very important...” He leaned in, lowering his voice dramatically. “...or she's your enemy.”

Before I could stop him, he snatched the photograph from my hand.

He studied it for a few seconds, tilting it from side to side.

“Well...” He let out a low whistle. “She certainly doesn't look like someone capable of starting a war.”

“She isn't an enemy, Beta,” one of my men spoke up. “Alpha Darius asked us to investigate her.”

Cassian slowly turned from the guard back to me.

“Oh...”

A grin slowly spread across his face.

“So that's how it is.”

I plucked the photograph from his hand before he could stare any longer.

“You're smiling too much.”

“Oh, relax.” He waved a dismissive hand. “It's not like she'll last anyway.”

I slowly raised an eyebrow.

“Excuse me?”

He shrugged.

“What happened to Martha?”

“She left.”

Cassian barked out a laugh.

“She didn't leave.”

“She did.”

“You got bored after four days.”

“It was three.”

He blinked at me.

“You remember?”

“I remember because she was unbearable.”

“My point exactly!” He laughed even harder, pointing at the photograph in my hand. “And now look at this one.”

His expression softened slightly.

“This girl is far too pretty to become another three-day memory.”

I slipped the photograph back inside the folder on my desk.

“You're making assumptions.”

“Oh?” Cassian folded his arms across his chest. “Then tell me I'm wrong.”

I said nothing.

His grin widened.

“Exactly.”

He began counting on his fingers.

“You've never kept a photograph of any woman.”

Silence.

“You've never ordered an investigation on a random woman.”

Silence.

“You've never spent half an hour staring at a picture instead of your paperwork.”

I finally looked at him.

“You've become incredibly observant.”

“I've had years of studying you.” He smiled proudly.

He lifted one finger.

“Everyone in the region knows Alpha Darius Draven has one rule, you never spend the night with the same woman twice.”

A second finger.

“You don't date.”

A third.

“You don't do relationships.”

His eyes drifted toward the folder on my desk.

“So if you're planning on treating this beautiful woman the same way you treated the others...” He sighed dramatically. “Do the poor girl a favor and leave her alone.”

I stared at him for a long moment.

Then I smiled.

It wasn't a pleasant smile.

“You finished?”

“I believe so.”

“Good.”

I stepped forward and shoved him aside with one hand.

“Now get out of my way before I have my guards carry you out.”

Cassian stumbled sideways before breaking into laughter.

“There he is.” He pointed at me with a grin. “The grumpy Lycan King I know.”

I didn't even bother looking back.

“You have exactly ten seconds to disappear from my study.”

Cassian casually walked toward the door.

“Nine... eight... seven...” he counted aloud with a laugh as he stepped outside.

The heavy doors shut behind him.

The room fell silent once more.

The amusement disappeared from my face.

My gaze slowly returned to the folder resting on the desk.

I opened it again.

There she was.

Aveline Hale.

For reasons I couldn't explain... the image of that woman simply refused to leave my mind.