Chapter 1: The Dares
Damon and Valerie Dare were far from the typical Alpha family. They were the power couple that everyone wanted to be. Damon had risen through the pack to become Alpha even though he had uncles and cousins who were older than him. He gave the appearance of absolute authority, and he held himself to the same lifestyle. He was often featured in magazines and was one of the best looking Ceo's in the territory. His bright blue eyes, which could either make him appear incredibly loving or ice cold, drew attention from every woman around him. He was incredibly wealthy due to being the head of the Familia.
Vivian was also a force to be recognized with, and her dark eyes, which either made her look innocent or gave off such indifference often mistaken for hatred, caused many people to back off. She had been groomed in the lifestyle as the daughter of an Alpha. She knew well her place, but that did not mean she was meek, like little Luna, so many of them were, and so many Alphas wanted. Having Alpha blood run through her made her unafraid to stand up to Alphas and fight for her rights and those of those around her. It was both a blessing and a curse to her father when she decided to become a lawyer instead of a housewife. She joined her father's firm and, within five years, was seen as valuable enough to be made a name partner in Black and Dare Associates.
It was her job as a lawyer that she first crossed paths with the youngest Alpha in the territory. Damon Dare had waltzed into her office like she was beneath him, and was completely thrown off guard when she refused to bow to his wishes. He sized her up immediately and tried to intimidate her, but it backfired. She had long since learned to take no crap from Alphas.
Chaos followed as Damon faced murder charges of the Alpha Demetery Dare, who was the head of the Midnight Strike Pack. The Midnight Strike Pack was known for its illegal activity. It was long suspected in the territory that Demetery Dare had taken a hit out on his own son Daminion and his wife after Davius' birth. There was never enough evidence, but it was odd to all that Demetery refused to take in Damon or Davius and instead left them to be raised by omegas in their family home. His only support in youth had been the other black sheep of the family, his cousin Donivan. The suspected revenge killing was the only evidence the prosecution really had. They knew it was circumstantial, but hoped they could get the young man to flip on the older members of the Familia. She instructed her client in the most professional and almost ruthless manner when she informed him of the prosecution's case and how he could evade facing any actual charges if he followed her exact instructions. To her surprise, he followed directions, and he followed them well.
Damon felt the attraction from the first day. He knew he would do everything in his power to win this woman. She and only she had the fortitude to do what it took to be the Boss's wife. He started bringing her coffee every day with the preface of finding out how the case was going. He sent her gifts, which she refused and returned. Insisting it was not proper for her to appear to be dating a client. He could tell her resolve was fading. She needed him as much as he needed her, of that he was certain. After four months of waiting, the trial finally came. Each day, he wore a different beige suit with a white tie, which he had been instructed would make him appear more approachable and honest. He noticed that Valerie would occasionally lose focus during the trial, staring at him. He took that as a success and took excellent notes just in case something of importance was said, but she never seemed to miss a step. Almost like the whole preceding was below her and did not require much of her focus. She had told him on more than one occasion that she could win this case in her sleep, and he was starting to believe her.
On the last day of the trial, they stood as a perfect power couple and heard the jury bring back a verdict of not guilty. She did not even flinch when he pulled her out of the courthouse and into his town car with the tinted windows she had insisted he drive to court. No need to show up in one of your flashy sports cars and look unremorseful about the death of his grandfather, whom he was being accused of murdering, she had told him. Once inside, his mouth was on hers, and her hands grabbed his shoulders, pulling him closer. A knock on the window stopped them instantly as she quickly fixed her clothing, and he rolled down the window to her father's face. His eyes were dark and warning as he said he needed a minute with his daughter.
Alpha Black was not one to be trifled with either, and Damon showed him the respect that was due. The strength of Valentine's Resurrection Pack was that he and his twin sister ruled it together. It was a pack of former rogue wolves who had been abandoned as children, and they were fiercely loyal to their Alphas. Valerie, like them, had been abandoned and adopted as a baby. To make matters worse was the fact that this two-generational pack had the full support of the Black Mountain Pack and the Black Wolf Pack. These three packs together were not to be messed with.
It was not enough to have Damon back off and not provoke the Alpha. Valerie had excused herself from the car with the promise to visit him at his office the next day.
However, when returning home, Valentine Black had no time to hear her reasons for seeing Damon. He forbade her from meeting him. He reminded her of the fact that she was a lawyer. What could she possibly see in a crime boss? Would she throw away her reputation for that of this man, who would no doubt use her and throw her away? He was not gentle in his words, and she left him standing in his office.
The next day, she indeed showed up at his office. She was unimpressed to see some bond sitting on the edge of his desk with a skirt riding up higher than what was professionally acceptable in the office. The two were laughing and did not hear her come in. Valarie slammed the door shut and left. Damon looked up and saw her practically running from his office by the windows. He jumped out of his chair and followed her, begging her to stop. When he finally caught up to her, he did his best to explain that nothing was going on and she was only his assistant, Elena. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, she followed him back to his office. Elena's eyes followed her as she entered his office while she sat at her desk typing away. Valerie was glad for that at least. In the privacy of the office, Damon hit a button that frosted the windows.
For three months, the couple sneaked around in secret. Avoiding all places where people could be, except for the occasional visit to his office. There were many more run-ins with Elena, which Valerie came to terms with. After all, she had her own assistant, Preston, whom Damon disagreed with. He hated that his cousin spent more time with her in public than he did. Valerie's mother caught on and warned her to be careful. Valerie, though, was a young, inexperienced woman in love. She was reckless, and when Damon asked her to marry him one night at dinner, she accepted and boldly told her father.
Valentine was furious and wanted better for his daughter. He had heard the rumors, and he knew it was only a matter of time before she would be at home agian. He allowed her to stay at the firm to keep tabs on her.
