Apex's POV

Before Kallisto can move away from me, I grab her hand, placing it against my lips. She bats her eyelashes at me, letting out a surprise giggle.

"I'll count the minutes to your return," I tell her, letting go of her hand.

Kallisto warmly smiles, glancing away. I stare at her sway as she walks away. I turn to Farran, struggling to keep my anger at bay. "What the f*ck are you up to this time, Farran?"

Farran shakes his head with a grin, still watching Kallisto move away. "Springtime is certainly magnificent."

"Stupid f*ck," I say, ignoring my urge to slug the motherf*cker. "Hands off. Kallisto isn't a game."

"Game?" Farran looks at me, confused. "This is business."

I step closer to him, studying him. His grin disappears, being replaced by a seriously sneaky expression. He stands straighter, his eyes narrowing.

I frown, watching him look more confident with each second. I've seen him act this way many times before. Unfortunately, I'm usually on the wrong side of whatever Farran's planning.

"Tell me what you’re talking about now, or I'll beat it out of you," I warn.

"Down, boy," Farran sounds amused. "You don’t sound too confident for an Alpha, you know?"

Before I can say anything else, we’re interrupted.

"I knew you'd be here." 

Rowena suddenly approaches us, and I wonder how she found me. Again. I never mentioned to anyone in the pack I was coming here. 

"How did you know I was so parched?"

I glance at Rowena, dismissing her presence. Instead, I carry on with Farran. "You have exactly three minutes to tell me what the f*ck you're up to, Farran."

Rowena quickly steps closer, leaning forward like she's seconds away from hearing a secret. "Is this pack news? Alpha talk? Oh, I love good gossip."

Frustration mounts within me each second that ticks past. "Well?" I angrily prod.

"Yes," Rowena presses. "Spill it, Farran."

I turn to Rowena, glaring at her. "Go, Rowena! This is a private conversation."

Rowena gasps, looking hurt. She steps back, folding her arms over her chest.

Farran flashes Rowena a warning look. "Bye, Rowena."

Although Rowena looks angry, her shoulders slump as she stares at me. "Fine," she adds, sauntering away, huffing.

"I can see how you think she's such a dimwit," Farran muses, grinning at me. "Unknowingly, you've trained her well. She’s stupid on demand," he adds.

"I don't give a f*ck about Rowena. What are you planning regarding Kallisto?"

A server walks past us, holding a tray full of champagne. Farran quickly grabs one, sipping it. "I was checking on a possible investment."

"Investment?" My mind races with questions, scenarios—none of them good.

"Come on, Apex." He pauses, tilting his half-full glass towards me. "You know Kallisto is a shifter.."

“I know she's a shifter, Farran. Don't be stupid. I can smell her as well as you.” I clench my teeth, tension creeping through my body. 

"So, you also know she potentially has some special powers," Farran adds.

I swallow hard. Scar delivered me the dossier on Kallisto, her parents and birth parents. The fact that Kallisto is a shifter with alleged special powers bothers me. If the rumors are true, that would also mean Kallisto could be in danger. 

Why hasn't she discovered her wolf yet? She's a beautiful woman without an understanding of her true identity. It doesn't make any sense. In fact, it seems like she doesn’t even know about the existence of the shifter world.

"What is your point?" I snarl.

"Well, I could use a wolf with special powers, don't you think?" Farran boasts cheerfully. "Kallisto can be that for me."

"Don't give me that bullsh*t," I retort, ignoring the bile threatening to rise up my throat. I don't like what he is implying. “What are you up to?”

He shrugs. "When I'm ready to give up my bachelor life, I will make her my Luna."

Rage races through my veins. I launch towards him, grabbing him by the collar, wanting to wipe his cocky grin from his face.

Farran flashes a sympathetic smile at me. "Come on, surely you didn't think you were the only one approached by Eclipse."

I frown, and my body goes cold with the implication. I stare at him until my mind can make sense of what he is saying.

Eclipse contacted him too? For what? Regarding Kallisto? What is this supposed to mean? What the hell is Eclipse planning?

I haven't had the chance to go over the contract I asked Valentino to work on, so Eclipse’s debt isn't forgiven yet. Which means, Kallisto also isn’t mine. At least not officially.

"You may receive a wire transfer from the Fontaine pack soon," Farran muses, raising his eyebrow at me. "On the Farkas' behalf, of course," he adds, sounding cocky.

So, Eclipse is bartering Kallisto to pay off his debt to my pack. How many packs has he approached so far? My rage shifts to worry.

Is Farran even telling the truth?

"Are you sh*tting me?" I ask.

"About?" He finishes his champagne with one last gulp. "Eclipse offering me Kallisto in return for paying off his debt to your pack? Come on, Apex. He has been itching to repay your pack for a while. Do I know why? Nope, but I don’t care. All I know is,” Farran nods. "One call, and that magnificent woman is mine."

I glance back, expecting to see Kallisto. However, when she doesn't show up, I turn back to Farran, studying him. Suddenly, I remember I haven’t told Valentino to forward the contract to Eclipse. 

He flashes me a cocky grin. "I might just give Eclipse an excellent tip for the swap."

I clench my teeth, taking a deep breath. I calm down as I settle on a reason why Eclipse may be bartering Kallisto to pay his debt. Since she hasn’t found her wolf yet, he may see her as not having those alleged special powers.

"I will decimate your pack if you buy her," I warn. "Do you hear me?" 

I push him, not caring who sees us.

Suddenly, Fontaine wolves separate from the mingling crowd, approaching us, ready for a fight.

I glance behind me, seeing Ian and other Lupo wolves coming out of the shadows too.

Farran seems to realize he is outnumbered, so he wisely raises his right hand, glancing back, and his men immediately stop on their tracks. Turning, I curtly nod at my wolves and they disappear into the crowd too.

"You have no idea what you're doing, Apex," Farran hisses. "I predict that I'll control Manhattan in addition to Brooklyn next year."

"Why? Do you think I’ll concede territory to you because of Kallisto?" I challenge him. "Not a chance."

"No." Farran shakes his head. "You're f*cked in the head, Apex. You can't be an Alpha in dad's shadow. Grow a pair, man. Look at you. You can't see danger in front of you."

I laugh. "You? Dangerous?"

Farran lets out a snarky laugh.

Where the hell is Kallisto anyway? Why is she taking so long?