Claimed By The Enemy Alpha

Two Days

For the longest time after William left, I remained clued to the spot he left me in. I wanted to laugh and scream at the same time.

How could a man, a wolf no less, be so infuriating and so damn strong.

It made me realize that it affected him, in some way his wolf ego was hurt, hurt that I had another man in my bed.

The realization finally brought a smile to my face and I chuckled. Good. If this was enough to throw him off, then he was in for a whole lot.

I decided to stay in today and prepare for my engagement party. It was the last thing I wanted to do, but I still needed to look good and assert my dominance.

I left the red dress he sent over on my counter and chose a black one instead. It was a tight fit, sleeveless, with a low back and a slit that stopped mid-thigh.

After a long shower, I dried my hair into loose waves and did my makeup. When I slipped into the dress and looked in the mirror, I was pleased with the woman staring back at me.

I grabbed my clutch and walked into the living area, my heels clicking against the hardwood when my front door clicked open and Julien walked in.

He tossed his jacket onto my lounge chair with the casual ease of someone who lived here. And looked up, his eyes softening and his posture relaxing the moment he saw me.

"Oh," Julien said, his voice dropping into that low, breathy tone he used when he wanted my attention. "You’re leaving?"

I felt a surge of pure, unfiltered irritation. I had used Julien for months, he was quiet, and he never asked for more than I was willing to give. But now, seeing him stand there with that look of puppy-like devotion made my stomach turn.

"I have an event," I said. Keeping my distance, my body angled toward the door.

He leaned against the chair, watching me with those earnest brown eyes. I could see the puncture mark on his neck from a week ago, which he proudly wore like jewelry, already scabbing over.

“You seem tense, maybe I could…” he gestured vaguely. But the offer was clear. His blood and body to help take the edge off.

I considered it, a quick snack before this engagement party would smooth my nerves, and fill me with enough patience to go through it, but my appetite, which should have been stirring at the sight of those marks on his neck, was quiet.

I was not interested.

“Not tonight,” I said with a sigh. “But leave the key on the counter when you leave.”

Hurt passed across his face, but Julien was above all things, obedient. It was what made him useful and it was what would eventually make him boring.

“Of course,” he said softly. I didn't wait for another word, I walked past him and out the door.

The elevator ride down was silent and I got off to a limousine that was already waiting for me. I climbed into the back, the tinted glass sealing me away from the world.

As we pulled up to the venue twenty minutes later, dozens of cameras flashed against the windows. I sat in silence for a while just staring into space.

Until the back door opened, and the noise of the crowd doubled in volume. William stood there, his hand extended for me. He wore a black tuxedo that made his frame look even broader.

I didn't take his hand immediately. I waited until his eyes narrowed, a silent warning for me to move. Then I stepped out, and he immediately pulled me against his side and pressed a kiss to my cheek. His lips were warm on my skin.

I forced a smile for the press, my hand coming up to rest on his shoulder. I leaned into him, playing the role of the smitten bride-to-be while I counted the seconds until I could pull away.

"The dress is perfect," William said into my ear, his voice low enough that only I could hear. "It matches your heart."

I hummed, and kept my face turned toward the cameras until he began to guide me toward the heavy gold doors of the venue. The guests were almost exclusively wolves. I felt their predator eyes on me the moment we walked in.

"I need a drink," I said. If I really intend to survive this night, I need to have as much alcohol as I can handle right now.

With that thought in mind, I started to move toward the long bar at the back of the hall. But William’s hand tightened on my hip, halting me. "Not yet. There are people you need to acknowledge. My people."

He led me toward a cluster of older men standing near the center of the room. They wore dark, heavy suits and carried themselves with authority and dominance you would only find on an arrogant mutt like William. As we approached, they stopped talking and their eyes fell on me.

"Ms. Lancetii," the man in the center said. He had gray hair and a scar that ran from his temple to his jaw. "We have waited a long time to see a Winchester back in this circle."

His words confused me, but I didn't show it, rather keeping my face blank.

“Wesley Sky,” William introduced, gesturing to the man who had just spoken. Then he gestured to the man by the left who had blond hair and blue eyes. “Allaston,” William briefly stated, not providing a last name and moved to the last by the right. “And this is Robert Rolland. They all hold high positions in my pack and Winchester Holdings.”

I blink blankly at them, not bothering to offer a greeting. I just stood there, staring through them as if they were made of glass. The silence between us stretched out, becoming heavy and pointed. I saw the man with the scar, Wesley, clench his jaw, his eyes flashing a dull amber.

It made me almost smile, wolves and their fragile ego. It was so easy to get under their skin.

William didn't seem bothered by the tension. He began to converse with them, taking on that professional tone I heard him used so many times now.

They talked about market shares, the legalities of the merger, and the future of the Winchester Holdings for ten minutes while I remained silent, by his side.

"It is an ambitious timeline," Wesley said, looking from William to me. "When exactly do you intend to finalize the union? The Council requires a date."

"In two days," William answered in a heartbeat.

The words hit me like a physical blow. My breath caught in my throat and I slowly turned my head to look at William, eyes wide. My hand was still resting on his lower stomach, so I drove my nails through the fabric of his shirt, digging deep into the muscle beneath.

William didn't seem phased by it. He smiled and glanced at me for a second, shifting his hand so it was firmly on my waist, his nails also pressing hard into the soft flesh above my pelvic bone. "Isn't that right, Astrid?" he asked.

I felt blood rush to my face, a heat that had nothing to do with embarrassment and everything to do with the urge to kill him. I looked at Wesley and the rest of the group.

"You will have to excuse me and my…fiancé," I said, the word fiancé sounded strange on my lips. "We have details to discuss." I grabbed William’s forearm and hauled him away from the group, dragging him to one of the many side doors that led outside.