All Chapters of Running Wild : The Cruel Alpha Kings: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The morning light slanted through the windows, catching the specks of dust floating lazily in the air. I adjusted my grip on my green tea matcha latte and glanced around the foyer, already mentally checking off my list of things to do for the day. A little caffeine, a little fresh air, and maybe a moment of peace—just one damn moment where I wasn’t hounded by chaos or them.But, as always, this house couldn’t let me breathe.Jace was sprawled across the entryway table in his wolf form, completely unconscious. His massive body took up the entire surface, his tail dangling off the edge. The sharp tang of alcohol clung to the air around him, and judging by the broken glass on the floor and the uneven rise and fall of his chest, he’d clearly had one hell of a night. Whiskey, I guessed. It reeked.I rolled my eyes, careful not to make a sound as I tiptoed past him. The last thing I needed was for the wolf to wake up, groggy—also hopefully dying of a migraine—and ruin my morning. I was half

Darius.Breaking into the office of a man like Charles Cartwright was the kind of shit that got you killed—or worse. Lucky for me, I wasn’t the type to care about consequences when there were answers to be found. Answers I would trade my life for—few times over.Not that I would get caught.The hallway leading to his office was quiet, too quiet. Even the usual hum of voices or the faint sound of footsteps on the marble floor were absent, which suited me just fine. Hunter was keeping tabs on Elise—probably bitching about how he had to be the first one to babysit her—and Jace was off nursing a hangover that would put most men in a grave. That left me with a golden opportunity to do what needed to be done: slip in unnoticed, retrieve what I came for, and leave no trace behind.The massive double doors to the office loomed ahead, flanked by portraits of dead Cartwrights. They stared down at me like they knew exactly what I was about to do and didn’t like it one damn bit. I didn’t care. My

Elise.I stepped into the kitchen, my body still buzzing from the encounter with Darius. I told myself it was anger—pure, unfiltered rage—that made my skin burn where his hands had been. Not anything else. Certainly not the way his deep voice had rumbled in my ear, or the heat that radiated off him like he was made of molten steel. No. He was an asshole. A cocky, domineering, insufferable asshole who had no right to touch me like that.The air in the kitchen was heavy with the smell of freshly baked pastries, sugar, and something citrusy. Harris was at the counter, meticulously arranging desserts on a silver platter. He didn’t notice me at first, humming softly as he worked. But when I cleared my throat, his head snapped up like he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t.“Oh! Miss Cartwright,” he said, his voice a little too high-pitched. He shifted awkwardly, his hand moving behind his back in a way that screamed suspicious. “I didn’t hear you come in.”I crossed my arms and tilt

My laugh came out bitter. He has enough money to buy a damn country, I thought, glaring at my reflection in the vanity mirror. What’s a measly million to him?My eyes flicked to the pink pen resting on the corner of the vanity and a smirk began to spread across my lips.If he’s so unhappy with me and my efforts, I’ll make sure he has something real to complain about.The plan formed in my head so quickly it almost startled me. I wasn’t going to beg for his attention, his approval, or his money. I’d hit him where it hurt the most: his precious ego.Grabbing my purse, I strode out of the room with purpose. As I passed his office, the sound of Betty’s exaggerated moans seeped through the closed door. My stomach turned, but I didn’t slow my steps. Instead, I shouted over the noise of a mid-orgasm, “I’m going shopping! Don’t wait up!”No response, of course. The man was preoccupied. Good.Before I could second-guess myself, I was out the front door and in one of my dad’s precious cars. The

He chuckled under his breath, but for the next few minutes, he worked in silence, his fingers brushing against my scalp as he coated my hair evenly. I hated that it felt… oddly nice. Not just the attention, but the care in his movements. As much as I wanted to, I couldn’t deny that he was being gentle, almost meticulous.It was infuriating.“There,” he finally said, stepping back to admire his work. “Now we wait.”I grimaced, already feeling the burn settling in. “And if my hair starts falling out in clumps?”“Then I’ll personally shave your head and get you a nice collection of wigs,” he said, smirking. “An electrical pink one. To match the meltdown Darius is about to have.”I rolled my eyes but didn’t bother snapping back. I had the sinking suspicion he’d enjoy it too much.Instead, I exhaled, staring at our reflections in the mirror. His sharp blue eyes met mine, unreadable and piercing. For a moment, the air between us felt too heavy, too charged.I was the first to look away.Hun