020 I'm In Your Debt

Ava found Raymond in the garden, leaning against the stone arch with his hands in his pocket and his head low, his swan-like neck showing a pretty curve under the moon.

Ava let out a longing sigh at the desire burning in her chest, and Raymond looked up instantly.

"Miss Ava," Raymond said, walking toward her, graceful as a prince. Ava was lost staring at him, with a smitten face until he was towering over her.

"Sorry I kept you waiting, Alpha..." Ava snapped out of it and lowered her eyelashes, her cheeks blushing.

"It's no problem..." Raymond suddenly frowned lightly and tapped her chin up a little with those beautiful dark eyes gazing into hers, "...did you cry?"

His voice was so gentle and soft that Evelyn's heart melted.

"I'm fine," Ava murmured, putting on her timid act that would always get Sarah's affection, "thanks, Alpha."

"What is it, you can tell me." Raymond softened his voice, but Ava just shook her head tamely.

Raymond watched Ava carefully. He couldn't say she wasn't pretty. Even without the thick makeup, she was an attention attracter. But there was just something lacking, and that made her less lively and luring than Evelyn...

 

With a frown, Raymond stopped himself from that trend of thoughts. Enough with that evil kitten! He might be looking at his real mate right now!

 

"How old are you?" Raymond asked, using the softest tone he could manage.

 

"Five months passed 18, Alpha." Ava's heart leaped in her chest. Out of nowhere, the Alpha asked about her age?! He definitely was interested in her! Pity that her wolf was not recognizing him as her mate, but that won't be a problem--

She just needed to reject her mate when he appears in front of her and then she can be with Raymond!

 

But the fire in Raymond's eyes dimmed--

 

He knew, she would have recognized him as her mate if she was, but it was obvious that she didn't feel anything. Not that his wolf had any reaction to her, but it was possible that his wolf might not be able to love at all.

 

He needed his mate to find HIM.

 

"The reason why I want to talk to you," Raymond backed away a little, keeping his distance, "is about you attending the party last Friday at Bombay Sapphire."

 

It was the largest and most luxurious club in town. Words had it that they bought that name from the brand, and the owner is that brand's exclusive sponsor now.

 

But Ava's face turned pale white and the timid smile froze.

He knew!

 

"A woman did me a favor, but then she escaped from me," Raymond turned, gazing into Ava's eyes, trying to see the mysterious girl in there. That night her eyes sparkled fire when he came inside her, but Ava's dull blue eyes looked less lively.

There was no depth behind Ava's eyes.

 

Ava covered her mouth with her hand, speechless.

 

Even in her wildest dream, she wouldn't dare imagine that Raymond was drugged so severely that he couldn't remember who that woman was!

 

How lucky was she?!

 

"Was that you?" Raymond asked in a rough voice. Nothing about Ava reminded Raymond of that night. The woman in his bed was innocent, genuine yet fierce...

 

Like Evelyn.

 

There were many moments when Raymond felt like the girl he slept with was actually Evelyn. Something about her itched him deep inside. Yesterday when he had Evelyn in his arms, he almost felt disappointed that it wasn't Evelyn who he slept with--

 

But it couldn't have been Evelyn. Evelyn was wolfless, and Raymond definitely tasted a wolf in that girl.

 

"It was," Ava took a deep breath and went against Sarah's instruction, "I'm sorry I didn't say anything, but it's only because I was afraid you might misunderstand my intention. I only wanted to help you."

 

"What was the room number?" Asked Raymond, his dark eyes looked into hers, sharp like daggers.

 

Ava answered with her heart pounding in her chest, screaming how lucky she was to sneak in there: "...Room 207."

 

Raymond let out a light sigh, not noticing his own disappointment. It WAS her after all. No one else was supposed to know where he was that night, no one except Theo and the mysterious girl.

[I guess I don't need to ask you this but...] Raymond sighed in his mind to his wolf, [is she our mate?]

 

Sisyphus only let out a scornful huff, not even lifting his eyelid. He was like that to EVERY woman, Raymond was hardly surprised by now, but still, he couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"I promised to grant your biggest wish," Raymond let out a light laugh when he heard himself, adding, "though I suppose I already gave you what you asked for, but still."

 

Give me a kiss and I'm yours. That was what she said, right? He was pretty sure he planted countless strawberries on her that night.

 

"Hmm?" A splash of confusion flashed through Ava's eyes before she bit her lips, "Yeah, I did say I only wanted to help, and I do mean it."

 

Raymond frowned lightly at her answer. She didn't remember what she said in the room? Guess that was a cliche line after all.

"Name your wish, young lady," Raymond said, forcing himself to suppress the disappointment in his chest. He enjoyed that night a lot, and it turned out that it was a one-sided feeling.

 

"I wouldn't dare ask anything from you, great Alpha," Ava lowered her eyes before looking up, and there was obvious worship this time, "I merely wish you can think of me if you ever want it...again."

Raymond cocked an eyebrow in surprise. He didn't really think about that.

It wasn't like he was against some casual sex, it was because he couldn't --

Sisyphus won't allow it.

Werewolves find their mate with a soul bond, a pull on your soul that will always exist, helping a werewolf travel out of their ordinary life circle to meet their mate, guided by only a faint intuition, and the humans would call that the six sense, or -- karma.

Raymond lost that.

It wasn't like he hadn't met his mate. It just might be that he had, only he couldn't recognize her even if she was right in front of him.

But because he once had it, his wolf wouldn't allow casual sex at all saying -- they needed to be true to their mate, who was definitely out there somewhere.

[Would you allow it if it was her?] Raymond asked Sisyphus. Not having sex had never been a problem to him, because it wasn't like any woman could light up his desire.

But not anymore.

Ever after that night, after having a taste of what true desire was like, Raymond felt like he was being roasted all day long when all he could think about was those firey eyes that blazed under him.

[...] For the very first time in ever, Sisyphus hesitated in the face of that question, instead of the usual angry growl.

Hope rose in Raymond's chest.

"Alpha..." Ava mumbled, touching Raymond's arm lightly with her fingers before they trailed up to his firm bicep. Raymond froze where he was, allowing the touch as he tried to match the luring flames from his vague memory from that night.

"Back off!" Sisyphus suddenly pressed to the surface even to Raymond's surprise before he growled at Ava, his Alpha Aura spouting.

Ava gasped in shock as she flinched back, and instantly tears of fear brimmed her eyes.

"I'm sorry!" Raymond blurted, backing away himself as he struggled with Sisyphus in his mind, [What got into you?!]

[I allowed that night because we didn't have a choice!] Sisyphus growled at Raymond, his paws gripping into Raymond's mind, giving his head a sharp pain, [She's not our mate, and I won't allow such a betrayal!]

[How would you know she's not our mate?!] Raymond shouted back, [You enjoyed that night as much as I did! You fucking tried to mark her!]

[A mistake,] Sisyphus huffed angrily, turning away slowly with a sullen look, [won't happen again.]

"Alpha, are you okay?" Ava watched Raymond's painful look with scared eyes, her hands clenched together in front of her chest as she said in a pitiful tone, "Did I offend you?"

"I'm fine. Sorry about my wolf..." Raymond shook his head with his eyebrows furrowed in pain, "Anyways, I promised a reward when I asked for your help. Any price you name."

"I only want to be yours--" Ava pressed closer to Raymond, but this time he backed away before she could touch him.

"I said price, little girl," Frowning deeply, Raymond was frustrated at that request.

Love was not a bargain, and Raymond didn't like Ava's greed when she obviously didn't love him for who he was when she barely knew him, but was only attracted to his possessions. Especially if she did have a mate that she had yet to meet, and it would be very irresponsible for her to sacrifice her mate bond like this.

Ava flinched at Raymond's cold look.

"I..." Ava remembered her mission, but she hesitated.

The Whites were rich, but they weren't powerful, not to mention Raymond was a hundred times richer. She would always live in the fear of Evelyn taking her place back with her parents, and that means she could never defy Noah and Sarah, but with Raymond...

She would truly be the queen of the world.

If she could have a chance of getting the mateless Alpha, why would she use her one wish like this?

"I don't want anything, Alpha," Ava bowed with a firm but wronged tone, "you are insulting me with your offer, and I--"

She halted her words and let her tears fall.

"That wasn't my intention," Bowing lightly, Raymond softened his tone at her tears. After all, she WAS the only woman Sisyphus ever allowed a touch!

She just might be his real mate.

"You can come to me with your wish whenever you make up your mind," Raymond gripped his temples to try to ease the throbbing pain he got from arguing with Sisyphus, "until then, I'm in your debt."