Wendy's POV

I was trembling with fury, every nerve in my body taut with indignation. It was no wonder I thought him an ill-mannered man.

And yet, I still got into his car.

The engine roared as we sped deeper into his domain. His hand reached for mine, a possessive gesture I refused to tolerate.

I immediately pulled away.

He arched a brow, his tone laced with condescension. "Tell me, why are you here?"

I couldn't contain the tremor in my voice, nor the wave of disbelief that washed over me. I couldn’t accept my mate was the Alpha of the Moonlake Pack, the one responsible for capturing my brother. Worse still, he had violated the sacred code of our kind, interfering in the lives of humans, and even laying hands on Melina and Nelly.

“Stop the car and let me out!” I shouted.

I could feel my restraint crumbling, the edges of my control fraying.

The vehicle came to a halt. His face turned grim.

“Disobedient, are you?” he asked. “Do you really hate me that much?”

The fury in his amber eyes was unmistakable, but I met it head-on, unflinching. "Yes," I declared with conviction. "I hate you."

He let out a low laugh, though there was no real humor in it. "Perfect. So, I take it those two humans mean nothing to you, then?"

My face went pale. “You bastard. What are you trying to do? Aren’t you afraid I’ll report your actions to the Werewolf Council for violating the rule about staying out of human affairs?”

“The Council?” He sneered. “Do you really think I’m afraid of them?”

I didn’t answer. Even though I didn’t live in a pack, I knew the Moonlake Pack was powerful. Henry owned major assets in the human world, and I knew that from my brother.

In today’s fast-paced world, most werewolves still lived in packs, but many had integrated into human society, united in the unspoken rule of keeping our existence secret.

Henry, however, was a ruthless exception. He had seized power at the age of twenty by killing the previous Alpha and rapidly expanded his wealth and influence.

He had every reason to ignore the Council.

And I had no right to report him anyway. I had never registered my werewolf identity with the Council.

Henry stopped the car outside a large villa. Without warning, he carried me inside over his shoulder, ignoring my fists pounding against his back.

“You bastard! Put me down!” I shouted, kicking and struggling.

He didn’t stop until he tossed me onto a bed. Standing by the window, he loosened his tie, his gaze calm and assessing.

“Relax,” he said. “This is my house in the human world. If you like it, you’re welcome to visit anytime. I’ve already given you the access card.”

"As if I’d ever want to set foot here again!" I snapped.

I tried to rise, but he closed the distance in two strides, shoving me back onto the mattress.

"You know," he murmured, his voice low, "your resistance just excites me more."

His domineering presence made me seethe, my rage ignited anew by the audacity of his words. I had never encountered a man as shameless as Henry.

I resisted, struggling against his grip, but he pinned my wrists above my head, his mouth a breath away from mine. Though I fought desperately, he easily overpowered me.

"Think of your human family, Wendy," he whispered into the charged stillness.

His words made me freeze. My struggle slowed. I looked at him, biting back the urge to scream, and switched to pleading instead.

"Please. Just leave us alone.” I begged, though inside, my fury grew unchecked. I swore in that moment I would find my chance to exact revenge, to make him regret crossing me.

"Is this how you beg an Alpha?" His voice carried the weight of cruel amusement.

He grabbed my jaw, forcing me to meet his intense golden gaze. Beneath the smooth planes of his face and the sharp contours of his muscles lay a beauty that was undeniable, but it did little to mask the darkness within. He was mesmerizing in the way an abyss could pull you into its depths.

With one hand, he unbuttoned the top two buttons of my shirt. My arms were still restrained, and the movement caused my chest to press forward, creating an indecent line of cleavage.

“Now,” he said with a smirk, “I’ll teach you how to properly beg an Alpha.”

Horrified, I hurled curses at his shamelessness. And yet, no words could shield me from his insistent kisses. He held my chin firm, his command unyielding, as my struggles met the futility of his strength. His hands continued their conquest, undoing the rest of my shirt and running along my spine.

I trembled involuntarily, a traitorous sound escaping from deep within me, one of betrayal and shame.

"Seems you enjoy it," he observed smugly, his words cutting deeper than his hands ever could.

I fought to twist free to no avail, his weight anchoring me to the bed. His voice dropped to a low growl, so guttural it sent ripples through my body.

"My wolf tells me you liked it when I kissed your neck that night."

Grinding my teeth, I asked through clenched jaws, “What do you want, Henry? What will it take for you to let my family go, you bastard?”

Henry cocked his head, his smirk widening. "That depends on you, Wendy. On how well you perform."

He was far from the perfect lover.

While he was relentless in his efforts, pushing my body to its limits and eliciting an unbidden crescendo of sensations, his technique flawless in its cruelty, my hatred of him never wavered. There was no denying that my body surrendered to him, but my soul shunned every moment.

The Moon Goddess had forsaken me. She had cursed me with a mate I could neither love nor trust. One day, I vowed, I would sever the bond between us.

And yet, my traitorous self couldn’t fully resist him.

"His scent is maddening," Cassie murmured languidly, her submission thick with longing.

The hours dragged until he carried me to the massive bathing pool. The marble tub was vast enough for ten, but I kept my distance, folding my arms around myself protectively.

"Come here." His command brooked no argument.

Reluctantly, I edged closer, catching him mid-conversation with Nelly’s school principal.

My glare could’ve cut glass. I leaned toward him, hatred dripping from my voice. “You’ll pay for this, Henry.”

He didn’t even blink. His amber eyes glinted with amusement, completely unfazed by my threat.

He saw me as nothing but a plaything. I was certain of it.

The only relief was that Nelly’s predicament was resolved. I also reminded him that Melina, my foster mother, had been fired because of him.

“I’ll offer her a job,” he said. “If you behave.”

I burned with fury at his coercion. If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t have lost her job in the first place. How had I ended up tied to this monster?

I replayed every decision that had led me to him, and regret gnawed at my insides.

"It was a terrible mistake," I told my wolf.

Cassie whimpered softly, the sound a fragile mirror to my own heartache. We were both acutely aware that our mate was none other than the ruthless Alpha of Moonlake, a man utterly willing to exploit my human connections to exert control over me.

If I had known, I would have run, fought tooth and claw to escape his grasp.

Even as the night faded and I dressed, his gaze burned into me. "Strip," he ordered, his voice heavy with authority.

I ignored him and continued putting on my clothes.

He would die in a woman’s bed one day. I was sure of it.

I reminded him coldly, “Don’t forget, our deal is done.”

He froze. His expression darkened.

“You’re calling that a deal?” he asked.

Pausing, I turned to him, meeting his gaze without flinching. “Wasn’t it? Did you think what we just did was anything more than a deal? Or do you want to convince yourself it was display of affection?"

Henry was furious now. I could see it in his eyes, and it gave me a twisted sense of satisfaction.

But that satisfaction came at a cost.

He strode over and slammed me against the wall.

"A deal, is it? Then let me remind you, Wendy, you’ve only paid for part of the deal. One round, and I’ve done far more for you in return. Solving Nelly’s situation, arranging work for Melina. That means you still owe me."

I lifted a fisted hand, intending to strike him, but he caught my blow effortlessly.

"Henry," I vowed, my voice trembling with rage, "I swear I’ll make you pay for this!"

He ignored my words and lifted me again, throwing me back onto the bed.

Only when everything had ended once more did he finally release me.

Before I left, he said in a low voice, “Come again the night after tomorrow.”

I cast one last glance at him, he sprawled across the bed like a god carved from sin. His amber gaze gleamed with dark amusement, his sculpted muscles speaking of restrained power.

If it was a deal, then I would see it through to the end.

"Bring me news of Bruce," I demanded.

Bruce, my brother. Not a single day in these past three years had passed without my missing him. He was the best brother anyone could have had.

For him, I would endure anything.