ELIJAH'S POV:-

　　I was sitting on the hammock chair in Artemis' balcony. And Artemis was sitting on my lap. She had her sketchbook in her hands. She was drawing something. One of my arms was wrapped around her waist. On the other hand, I was holding a book. I was busy reading while Artemis was painting instead of reading. She also loved reading but that day, she wanted to paint. It was almost time for the sun to set down. "Look, Eli! What do you think about this one?" Artemis asked me in an excited tone.?

　　I marked my book then looked at the canvas in her hands. She had created an abstract. No, actually she painted the city as abstract. "It looks beautiful, baby girl." I replied to her as I leaned towards her face and pecked her cheek.

　　I placed my book aside and wrapped both of my arms around her. She giggled shyly as I pulled her closer towards me. Her back was pressed with my chest. "I didn't know you could paint that well. Are you selling this canvas?" I whispered in her ear softly. She gasped as I placed a soft kiss on her bare shoulder.

　　"Depends upon who is buying it?" She replied to me in a low tone. It was lovely how easily she learned to flirt.?

　　"I am the one who is buying it." I replied to her in a seductive tone. A small whimper escaped her lips as soon as she heard my words.

　　She carefully placed the canvas on the ground that turned around. She bit her lower lip. And her cheeks were also red. I was watching her moves. She leaned over and placed her head on my chest. I couldn't help but chuckle as I wrapped my arms around her. "If it is you who wants to buy it, then it's free." I heard her whisper as she wrapped her arms around me.

　　"Really! Then I must pay you in some other way, baby girl. What do you think, my sweet?" I whispered in her ear then kissed the top of her head. She giggled as she heard me. She was shy but she could be playful around me. And it only happened whenever we were alone at the penthouse. Which hardly happened.

　　I was waiting for her response but a light knock pulled our attention. Artemis hopped off of my lap and straightened up her hair and clothes. I was angry at the person who disturbed us. But looking at her blushing face, I just forgot that too. I stood up and walked towards her bedroom door. "Ah! I am sorry for disturbing you, Elijah. We kind of have a problem. You better come out. But keep Artemis here. It's better for her to stay inside of her bedroom." As soon as I opened the door, Daniel started speaking without a break. It only happened whenever we had a situation in hand that needed serious attention from me.

　　I knew why he didn't give me any details. So I just nodded my head. I turned to look at Artemis who had a sad pout on her face. "You stay inside your bedroom, baby girl. I will be right back and discuss whatever we were discussing." I informed her with a smile on my face to calm her down. She smiled widely and nodded her head.

　　I stepped out of her bedroom and followed Daniel towards the elevator. He punched the button for the third floor. I raised a brow at him and he sighed. "Our suspicion was right. Alpha Marco is here along with his wife. They look pissed." Daniel informed me in a low tone. I gritted my teeth as I heard those names again.

　　"What do they want now? Is it not enough for them that we let them live after everything they had done to Artemis? She almost died because of that asshole and his bitch of a wife." Dean growled angrily as soon as he heard Daniel. To be honest, I felt the same way as Dean. I wanted to rip them apart for everything they did to my baby girl.

　　"Let's hear what they had to say. If it's Artemis they want, you will be welcome to do whatever you want to do to those bastards." I replied to Dean in that same annoyed tone. Dean and I were angry. At the beginning, there were many times when Artemis had nightmares because she was locked up into their dungeon.

　　I was not sure if Artemis knew about it. But I saw her suffering. I had to hold her close to my chest whenever it happened. Because that was the only way to calm her down. "It will be my pleasure, brother." Dean replied to me and I nodded my head.?

　　The elevator door opened and we stepped outside. We went straight towards the meeting hall. Marco and Marina were staring at the walls with their mouths wide open. I guess they never actually had any taste of luxury. "Why are you here? What is the meaning of all this? You didn't call before you brought your asses to my pack lands." I growled at Marco as soon as I entered the hall.

　　I looked at Marina's hand. I had to pinch myself from laughing out loud. Because Dean started laughing the moment my eyes caught the sight of Marina's hand. Tracy had eaten her hand up until her fist. "We came here to take what belongs to us. We heard one of our prisoners come running towards you. And that you have accepted our prisoner in your pack." Instead of Marco, his wife, Marina replied to the question I had asked her husband. As for her husband, he was standing behind his wife.

　　"What did she just say? She wants what's hers? Artemis belongs to us. She is ours." Dean growled angrily inside me. He was not the only one angry at that bitch for calling my baby girl as her prisoner.

　　I turned my head towards Marco who was standing like a statue behind his wife. "I fucking ask you a question. Why are you here? What do you want?" I roared at Marco angrily. I ignored Marina's response completely. I was an Alpha. And it was fucking disrespectful for a woman to butt in when I was talking to the Alpha.

　　"And I think I just told you why we are here. Give us our prisoner and we will get going." Instead of Marco, Marina replied to me again.?

　　I turned my head towards Marina. I took a step closer towards her while glaring into her eyes. "This was the very last time you disrespected me at my home. You will not be able to do that again. Do you know why? Because I will rip your throat out and stick it up your ass. If you ever try to butt in between two Alphas one more time, I will make sure you will not live to do it ever again." I growled angrily while glaring at Marina. I scrunch my nose in disgust as I smelled something. I gagged and turned away from that woman.