Apex's POV

I pace, trying hard not to smile. I'm waiting for my table in the posh Manhattan restaurant near my office. The host guides a couple to their table as another group enters. I’m on the phone with Kallisto. Yes, I know we talked earlier. However, I had a great thought about our potential date.

"Yes, Kallisto, it's me." I chuckle. "The thought just occurred to me. Do you like art? There's a gallery showing at MoMa on Friday—it's my favorite artist."

Kallisto sounds distracted, "MoMa?"

I frown.

The host steps before me, motioning for me to follow.

"Yes, the New York's Modern Art Museum," I answer, following the host to my table.

She laughs, sounding embarrassed. "Oh, it's been a tough day. Um, yes, sure. We can go there after dinner."

"Good." I'm excited about something other than a real estate deal for the first time in a long while. "Great. The driver will pick you up a quarter after six on Friday."

"Um," she quickly says. "What..."

I sit at my table, opening the wine menu. Frowning, I prod, "Kallisto?"

"Well, this is embarrassing, but is this gallery thing formal, casual, or both?"  

Gallery thing? I chuckle. I have only met a few women like Kallisto in my world. Most of my inner circle consists of women like Rowena who come from wealthy families or climbed the social ladder by dating wealthy bachelors.

"I'd say semi-formal, unless you're some superstar who arrives in a hoodie and sunglasses," I joke. "Does that help?"

"Yeah." She giggles. "I just didn't want to wear something inappropriate."

The waitress arrives, and I point to my wine of choice on the menu before closing it. She takes the menu from me, nodding her understanding on my order, and leaves.

Leaning back, I unbutton my suit jacket. "Trust me, darling, you probably make a burlap bag look sexy as hell."

"Sorry, I'm storing coffee beans in those bags," Kallisto tells me in an amusing tone, and I chuckle. "Well, Apex, thank you for the call. You elevated my mood significantly."

"Good, see you soon," I muse before hanging up.

"Are we gaining a side chick?" a male's voice says, approaching me from behind.

I place my phone on the table, tensing. Immediately, I resist the urge to fight.

Farran Fontaine, a boisterous man with light hair and green eyes, sits across from me, slumping in the chair and crossing his arms over his chest. He flashes a cocky grin at me, and I have to clench my fist under the table to control myself.

Farran runs a pack called Fontaine pack, but we attended the same elementary and secondary prep school. We've been rivals since first grade when he scored a buzzer-beating shot against me during a basketball game. And we've been frenemies ever since I punched him in the face for flirting with my girl a few years ago.  

The cocky son-of-bitch widens his smirk at me. "Side chicks are adorable in springtime. Just don't let Rowena hear about it."

The waitress comes back, and as soon as she pours my wine into the glass, Farran takes it. After a gulp, he makes a disgusted face.

"God, f*ck, man. You always preferred the girly shit," he mutters.

"Another glass, sir?" the waitress nervously asks, uncomfortable with the situation.

I shake my head. "Charge the wine to the Fontaine account–if it's not already overextended."

The waitress nods, rushing away.

Farran runs his fingers through his perfectly combed blonde hair before scratching his long, flat nose. "Look at you. How long have you been an Alpha—three, four, or five years? Not as long as I've been the Alpha of my pack."

"Your point?" I can feel the vein in my jaw twitching.

"That compact between the Lupo and Maldonado packs is getting pretty old," he says, chuckling. "We're playing war games to prepare for the battle over the Maldonado pack."

"F*ck off, Farran." I pinch the bridge of my nose. "The packs are merged."

"Then why is Throne, the Maldonado Beta, acting as a temporary Alpha?" Farran chuckles. “That’s not what I call a merged pack.”

I glare at Farran. "It's called a transition. You know that. Is this your way of telling me you’re attacking my pack soon?"

He laughs. “Come on, Apex, back to that again.”

I’m not amused. “You attacked my pack after Dad abdicated his duties to me. Test me again, and you won’t be so lucky.” 

Farran chuckles. "You know that was my way to welcome you to the council. Nah, I control Brooklyn, but I'd love to have Staten Island, too."

"The Maldonado pack gave control of Staten Island to us." I pause to grin. "If you were a savvy Alpha, maybe you would have made the same compact to make Rowena your Luna."

"And take Rowena from you." He laughs. "Here's a tip for you. Rowena gets very frisky when she waits too long."

I shrug. "Is that why Rowena is your ex?"

"The reason…" Farron starts, shaking his head. His expression changes to a serious one. "No, Rowena's a particular type of woman–too much for me."

"Meaning?" 

Farran leans forward, pushing the wine glass out of the way. "What can I say? She's an Alpha bottled in a woman's body."

"Not Luna material, huh?" I relax. "I know she's spoiled."

"I can deal with spoiled.” Farran points to himself. "But Rowena acts and thinks like an Alpha. She told me several times that she's intent on shaking up our world."

I chuckle, shaking my head. "You're telling me that Rowena wants to become a female Alpha, not a Luna? That's rich, even by your standards, Farran."

“There are female Alphas,” he contends.

I raise my eyebrow. “Yeah, well, but I don’t see Rowena being one.. She’s too…I don’t know, goofy to do such a thing.”

“Goofy, dimwit… I love how you see Rowena. No, I know how she acts around you.” He shrugs. "We all grew up together, Apex. One day, you'll be around to see the real Rowena."

"You act like I have a soft spot for her," I muse bitterly.

"I hope you don't, whoever she is," Rowena saunters past me, stopping before the table as if she was summoned by us.

How did she find me here?

Rowena grins, glancing from Farran to me, her expression changing to a flirty one. "Apex, I'm so glad to bump into you again. I'm meeting with a bridal consultant for dinner. Wanna join me?"

Farran laughs, then suddenly pretends to cough. "That's my exit."

Hurriedly, I stand from my seat. "I have a meeting now."

"Rowena," Farran says, kissing her cheek. "As usual, it's not a pleasure."

I wave at the waitress, who rushes towards me. “I’m leaving. Whoever sits at my table, put their dinner and the wine on my bill.” 

“Yes,” the waitress says, rushing away. 

I walk towards the exit.

"Apex," Farran calls me. I turn, frowning. "Have you ever experienced when the Moon Goddess lets it snow on a nice spring day? I call it springtime colliding with a bitter winter."

“Meaning?” Kallisto flashes in my mind as I watch Rowena studying me. “Are you threatening me?” I ask Farran.

He chuckles, looking smug. “I don't have to threaten when two women fight over a man, Apex. Rowena is as nice as a bitter, winter day. I wonder who your springtime is.”