MATED BY DECEPTION

I want him

The bodyguard understood what she was trying to do and grabbed her arm. "Boss, this is dangerous—"

Ruelle shrugged him off. "Shut up," she hissed as the cars approached.

Nico wisely zipped his mouth and took a step back.

The first car stopped and the rest followed. Ruelle gave a triumphant grin and walked up to the window, waving her hand.

The Cadillac's window was rolled down, revealing a man dressed in a black suit. His hair was pushed back, revealing his forehead and stern expression.

He raised a brow. "Is there a problem?"

Ruelle's eyes immediately welled with tears. "I was coming back from a party when I was robbed!" she exclaimed, a tear sliding down her cheek.

"I've lost everything and I don't know what to do!"

She began sniffing, covering her face with both hands.

The man's face softened with sympathy at her tears and he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Do y-you live around here?"

Hearing him stutter, she smirked behind her hands and lifted her head with a sad expression. "I-I don't...know how far I am from home!"

The other's brows furrowed before his gaze slid to the man standing behind her. "Who is your companion?"

"That's my brother," Ruelle lied smoothly.

"Do you know where you live?" the man asked Nico.

He nodded. "I can give the directions."

"My name is Matteo," the other said. "I'd like to know the names of the people I've met tonight."

"I'm Ruelle," she responded. "This is Nico."

Matteo grinned. "Get in then."

Ruelle immediately opened the door to the passenger's seat and slid in as Nico got in the backseat. "Thank you... for helping us."

The inside smelled purely of leather with no scent that she could use to identify his sub gender. It made her slightly uneasy.

"I'll give your thanks to my boss," Matteo responded as the vehicle began moving.

Ruelle glanced at him, brows furrowed. "Y-Your boss?"

"Yeah." The other glanced at her, a smirk on his lips. "You didn't think I owned all this, did you?"

Ruelle didn't but she frowned even more, a perplexed look on her face. "W-Why would your boss want to... help us?" she asked in a small voice.

Matteo glanced at the pitiful woman in the seat and chuckled. "I don't know what goes on in his mind."

"Maybe he's just—"

"Turn left," Nico interrupted.

Matteo eyes widened a fraction at the voice. He had totally forgotten that they had another person with them. "Ah... yes."

He turned left, recognizing the street. "Belladonna district, huh?"

"You must be from one of the elite families."

Ruelle gave a shy smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her hair. "Yeah. We are."

"And you?"

"I work for one of them," Matteo answered.

Her gaze caught his earpiece and she discreetly looked around, trying to spot anything that could help her identify who he was working for.

There was nothing so she crossed her rams and stared out the window instead.

Oblivious to her wandering gaze, Matteo glanced at Nico through the rearview mirror. His lips curled at the other's blank expression.

"You don't talk much, do you?"

"Mn."

Ruelle stifled a giggle at the other's response. "Please, don't be angry. My brother... is a quiet person."

Matteo chuckled. "It's not a problem. I have been around people who are far more—"

"Stop the car," Nico said. "Now."

The vehicle jerked to an abrupt stop as Matteo slammed the brakes, making them lurch forward, held back by their seatbelts. "What?"

"Why would you—"

"We're already home," Nico cut him off and Matteo followed his gaze.

Sure enough, they had reached a large black gate. Inside was a huge mansion that spoke of wealth and status.

Matteo whistled. "That is one hell of a—"

"Thank you for your help," Nico said, once again cutting him off. Without waiting for a response, he got out of the car.

Ruelle unbuckled her seatbelt, an awkward look on her face. "I'm sorry about my brother. He doesn't do well with strangers."

Matteo chuckled, unbothered. "That's okay."

"But we're not strangers, are we?" He threw her a smile.

Ruelle smiled back. "Anyone who helps me is a friend." She patted his arm. "Thank you, Matteo."

With that, she stepped out of the car.

"Where are your shoes?" Matteo asked and she turned back.

"My brother has it," Ruelle replied, glancing at her feet.

The other's gaze slid to Nico who was standing by the gate, holding a pair of heels. He chuckled. "Goodnight then."

Ruelle wordlessly waved and watched them drive away. She briefly wondered who the boss was and why he helped her.

As the convoy was further away, Ruelle turned to Nico. The once polite, meek persona had dropped leaving a cold, fierce expression. All traces of warmth were gone from her face.

"Track those fools," she ordered. "I want them in front of me by tomorrow."

With that, Ruelle walked into the mansion.

**************

The posh looking restaurant was bathed in the golden glow of the chandeliers that hung from the ceiling, giving it a warm, romantic vibe.

The air smelled faintly of roses and steak, further solidifying the elegant aesthetic.

But this had nothing to do with the man calmly chewing the beef on his plate. His midnight black eyes were fixed on the food, his thin lips parting occasionally as he ate.

His jet-black hair was neatly swept back, exposing his perfectly arched brows, a straight nose and sharp jaw.

The black suit he wore only emphasized his muscular physique. He was the picture of the perfect man.

That wasn't the case for the beautiful woman sitting across him. She coughed, trying to get his attention but the man didn't even look at her.

"When are you going to stop treating me like a w***e, Dante?"

Dante clicked his tongue, setting his cutlery down. "I don't take my whores on date, Elena."

The woman's face flushed with anger. "How dare you talk to me like that?!"

Her voice drew the attention of a few customers nearby and they glanced over.

Elena didn't care. Her eyes were glassy with tears, body trembling from rage. "I've done everything, Dante!"

"Why can't you just see me?"

"You're causing a scene," Dante calmly told her. "It's unbecoming of you."

Elena scoffed in disbelief. "Is that all you have to say?"

"After—"

"I don't like talking when I'm eating," the man said. "You've ruined my appetite."

He stood up. "Goodnight, Elena."

"Don't you dare walk out on me, Dante!" Elena leapt up from her seat, eyes flashing blue. Her lilac scent, bitter with distress had spread all over the restaurant. "I'm not some miserable tramp that you can treat like that."

"I'm your—"

"Fiancé," Dante finished for her. "You wear that title like a badge and I'm sure everyone knows."

"This is just a business transaction between our parents," he said. "Don't cross the line."

With that, he walked out of the restaurant, leaving Elena gaping after him, tears slipping from her eyes.

As his car drove away from the restaurant, Dante ripped off his scent patch and the scent of peppermint slowly filled the vehicle.

His driver glanced at him. "Is everything—"

"Don't ask," the alpha cut him off, taking out a cigarette. He lit it and placed the stick between his lips, taking a deep inhale.

Dante exhaled a slow stream of smoke, letting it veil his face. "I want information on Ruelle."

"What do you want to do with it?" the other asked before he could stop himself. "I didn't mean—" he cut himself off, catching the other's cold gaze.

"I'm sorry, Boss."

"Are you questioning my decisions, Matteo?" Dante asked, taking another drag of the cigarette.

Matteo shook his head, forcing his gaze on the road. "It won't happen again, Boss."

The alpha hummed. "I want her file sitting on my desk tomorrow."

Matteo nodded. "Yes, Boss."

Dante tapped his finger on the car window, eyes on the starry sky. "I find her..." He paused, eyes glinting.

"Intriguing."

******************

Orchestra gently flowed through the hall, soothing to the ears. Ruelle stood at a table, her eyes sweeping over the crowd of elegantly dressed men and women with disinterest.

She downed her glass of wine, humming as the sweetness filled her throat. "This doesn't taste bad."

"Sister!" a voice called cheerfully and Ruelle's face hardened, lips pressed in annoyance. "I've been looking for you everywhere!"

A man sidled up to her, their shoulders nearly touching. "You've been avoiding me, little sister."

Ruelle set her empty glass on the table before looking at him. "It's for a good reason, Lorenzo."

"This party is such a bore."

The other exhaled, sipping his wine. "Tell me about it."

"It's to socialize and form relationships based on mutual benefits," he added. "It would help to be acquainted with elites like us."

"You mean people who wear fake smiles on their faces while plotting to betray us?" Ruelle asked and her brother chuckled at the reply.

She snatched a glass of wine from a nearby waiter and took a small sip. "I despise people."

Lorenzo's gaze fell on a man standing a few tables away. "That's Mr. Santoro." He patted her shoulder. "Try to socialize, little sister."

"The night is still young."

With that, he walked away.

Ruelle tugged slightly at the tight black dress she was wearing, a sigh escaping her lips. The material hugged her body, showing off her curvy hips and ass.

"f**k you, Cecilia."

She flipped her hair to the side, exposing her unmarked neck that was covered with a scent patch. Her fingers itched to get it off.

The smell of peppermint hit Ruelle's nose and she raised her head, gaze immediately landing on the source.

A man stood two tables away from her, twirling his wine glass with a hand. He was breathtakingly gorgeous, every facial feature perfect.

His scent clung to her nose and she shifted on her feet, eyes glued to his face. He screamed alpha and every cell in her body wanted to submit.

Still dazed, Ruelle's gaze slid to the woman attached to his arm and her fists clenched. She briefly wondered if he was married and her chest tightened at the thought.

That couldn't be—

As if sensing her gaze, the mysterious alpha lifted his head and their eyes met.

Ruelle's breath hitched as she stared into his beautiful black eyes. She swallowed, fingers tightening around her glass.

The other seemed highly entertained by her reaction and raised a brow at her in challenge. He slowly took a sip of his wine, not once looking away.

Not one to give up, Ruelle held his gaze despite how her palms were beginning to sweat.

The air was charged with tension, the world around them blurring as they stared into each other's eyes.

Their staring contest was broken when the woman beside the alpha tugged his arm and he looked at her.

Ruelle's heart squeezed with an unfamiliar emotion as she watched him pay attention to what the other woman was saying.

Then they both left the table and she clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"You look like you found a prey," a voice said beside her and Ruelle hummed turning to see Cecilia, her cousin, beside her.

"I didn't think you were hunting tonight."

Ruelle raised a finger, pointing at the alpha walking away. "I want him."

Cecilia rubbed her forehead, biting her cheek in worry. "This is going to end badly, isn't it?"

"Not if I get what I want," Ruelle replied. Then, she calmly began sipping her wine like nothing happened.