Betrayed by my Mate, Accepted by his Father

Five

Chapter 5:

Reina’s POV

"Reina," he rasped, his voice low, strained, and utterly unlike his usual calm. "What... what is the meaning of this?"

His golden-brown eyes, usually so guarded, were now blazing with a raw intensity that made my wolf shiver. Not with fear, but with a dangerous, exhilarating triumph. The veins on his forearms were still popping, his hands gripping the desk like he was trying to hold himself together.

Finally, I had broken through his stone face.

I met his gaze, trying to keep my own expression innocent, a little wide-eyed. "Meaning, Alpha?"

I murmured, letting my voice be soft, almost fragile. "Lily tripped. I got wet. It was an accident." I even managed a small, trembling sigh. My wolf was practically high-fiving itself.

He didn't buy it. Not for a second. His eyes narrowed, sweeping over my drenched, transparent uniform again, lingering on my n*****s, then my dark areolae, clearly visible through the wet fabric. A muscle in his jaw twitched.

"An accident," he repeated, the words a low growl. "You expect me to believe that, Reina? After a week of…..attempts?"

My breath hitched. He knew. He had noticed every single one of my subtle (and not-so-subtle) provocations. He hadn't been oblivious; he had been ignoring me. The realization sent a jolt through me, a mix of fury and a strange, grudging respect. This man was far more dangerous than I'd given him credit for.

"I don't know what you mean, Alpha," I said, trying to sound confused, but my voice was a little too steady. My wolf was now fully alert, sensing the shift in the air. The game had changed.

He pushed back from his desk, slowly, deliberately. The chair scraped against the floor, a harsh sound in the sudden silence. He stood, towering over me, his presence overwhelming. The scent of his rich, powerful Alpha, mixed with the subtle musk of his arousal filled my senses, making my head spin.

"Don't play coy with me, Reina," he said, his voice deeper now, more commanding.

"I've seen every look. Every touch. Every...alteration to your uniform." His eyes dropped to my chest again, a possessive heat in their depths.

"You think I'm blind?" he said, his voice deeper now, more commanding. As he spoke, his hand moved, not towards me, but to a hidden panel on his desk. I heard a soft click.

A moment later, a distinct, heavy thud echoed from the door behind me. He had locked it. My heart hammered against my ribs. We were alone. Truly alone.

His eyes, those sharp, golden-brown eyes, swept over my drenched, transparent uniform again, lingering on my chest, on the undeniable evidence of my arousal. A muscle in his jaw twitched.

"With your n*****s this hard, little wolf," he murmured, his voice a low, dangerous rumble that vibrated through my very bones, "you're still trying to play innocent?"

Before I could even form a reply, his hand shot out. Not to my face, not to my waist. His fingers, long and strong, closed around my right n****e, pinching it. Hard.

A gasp tore from my throat. A low, involuntary moan escaped my lips, a sound I hadn't known I was capable of. The pain was sharp, exquisite, and shockingly, it sent a wave of heat through my entire body, making my core clench. My wolf let out a startled yelp, then a low, hungry growl.

He watched my reaction, his gaze burning into mine, a predatory satisfaction in his eyes. He didn't release me. His thumb began to rub, lightly, provocatively, over the now-aching peak.

"So," he rasped, his voice a silken threat, "I'll ask again. Why are you playing with fire, Reina? And why are you playing it with me?"

My mind was reeling, my body a traitor. The pleasure, the pain, the sheer audacity of his touch, it was all too much. But I had to stick to my plan. Or at least, a version of it.

"I... I just wanted to be noticed, Alpha," I confessed, letting a hint of genuine vulnerability creep into my voice. It wasn't entirely a lie. I did want to be noticed. Just for different reasons.

"After... after Mateo. I felt invisible. Worthless. I just wanted someone to... to see me."

His gaze softened, just a fraction. A flicker of something that looked like understanding, or perhaps even pity. "You are not worthless, Reina," he said, his voice surprisingly gentle, even as his thumb continued its slow, tormenting rub.

"And you are certainly not invisible." He took another step, closing the distance between us. Now he was right in front of me. I had to tilt my head back to look at him.