Chapter 4

Danielle's POV

I'm about to go insane. 

For two days, I've been thinking about that night in the woods at every gooddamn waking hour. My thoughts keep going back to the amazing and unbelievable kiss that I shared with that stranger. I have managed to half convince myself that I must have imagined how out-of-this-world that kiss was. There is absolutely no way it's as good as my head keeps replaying. I mean, the alcohol must have been playing tricks on my mind. 

But then I recall the tingling I felt deep in my stomach. I remember the way I had moaned and begged for me and I recall how I had welcomed every lash of his tongue on mine.

Aside from the kiss, I haven't been able to stop thinking about who that stranger could be. I never got a name from him or a clear view of his face. I know that he isn't from my pack, so where could he have come from? 

I've had to stop myself from moving around the pack and asking around for a freakishly tall man who gives kisses that curl toes. Everyone will think that I've gone mad and I don't think my cheating husband will find the situation funny at all. So I have just been stewing alone in my room. 

A knock on my door pulls me out of my thoughts and I stand up from my bed to answer the door. I pull it open to find a maid on the other side. 

"The Alpha has requested that you join the meeting with the Alpha King," she informs and even she can't keep the surprise out of her voice.

George has never wanted me by his side at any Pack meeting that has been held in the three years that I have been Luna for this pack. So why would he want me now? What could be going on?

"Let him know that I'll be there soon," I tell her, thank her for passing the message to me, and quickly hurl ass into my room to find something presentable to wear. The meeting that is being held right now has to be the one where the Alpha King is going to give us his proposition for helping us. I don't want George to say I embarrassed him.

I spent up to five minutes picking out an outfit and by the time I'm standing in front of the huge door leading into the meeting room, I almost have sweat dripping down my temple. 

I calm down my breathing and knock softly on the door. I wait to hear a confirmation from George to come in before doing so.

Not looking at the other occupant of the room, I immediately head over to George's side and take a seat at the empty chair by his side. George barely spares a glance at me when I sit my ass on that chair. I try not to let it get to me. 

Finally, I look towards the second occupant of the room. The Alpha King is someone that I have never met in person, but I have heard a lot of hushed whispers and murmurs about him, and all I can see is that those whispers and murmurs weren't lies. 

The man sitting opposite George and me eludes danger and power. He's sitting straight in his chair that he dwarfs with his eyes fixed directly on me, but they're expressionless, having no emotions behind them. Goosebumps break out across my skin, not just because of the dead stare that he has on me, but because the Alpha King also happens to be a very handsome man. 

I feel myself flush at that thought, and the Alpha King's eyes narrow like he can hear my thoughts.

The more we keep holding each other's eyes, the more I can't shake off the feeling that I've met him before. I furrow my brows, trying and failing to remember how or why I feel like I know him.

George clears his throat, bringing my attention back to the matter at hand. 

"I have brought my Luna just like you requested," he says to the Alpha King, an air of submission that I've never heard in his voice. "Shall we proceed with the meeting now?"

His words make me pause. The Alpha King requested that I be here? Why?

The Alpha King pulls his gaze away from me towards George. 

"Won't you introduce her to me?" He asks George, and George looks like it's the very last thing that he wants to do. 

Eventually, he smiles at the Alpha King. "Alpha King, please meet Danielle. Danielle, this is the Alpha King."

I immediately noticed that he didn't introduce me as his Luna and even though it stings a bit, I shrug it off. 

"I'm Rhett," the Alpha King reintroduces himself. His voice is deep and oddly seems familiar though I can't put my fingers on where I've heard it before. 

"It's nice to meet you," I tell him with a soft smile on my face. 

George clears his throat again. "So, what is your request going to be?" He asks Rhett, tension rolling off him in waves. 

His question makes my spine stiffen. Just as I suspected, Rhett is here to take his pound of flesh. But if that's why he's here, then why did he request that I be present in the meeting?

Rhett smirked, looking every bit like the grim reaper about to take a thousand souls, and I fear that might be what he will ask for. 

His gaze snaps to mine and I flinch at the predatory look in his eyes. 

"I want her," he says, looking right at me, his words unable to be misunderstood. 

My heart drops and my breath seizes.