This Wicked Sin

Chapter 3: Dane

I was balls-deep in a screaming omega when I got the summons. The omega was on his best behaviour, pliant and willing beneath me. I couldn’t remember his name at present, but he had approached me after class asking for help with his assignment with a certain gleam in his eyes. It was the perfect timing.

I had been sexually frustrated from weeks upon weeks of nothing but school and work. My mood had plummeted to the point everyone noticed. After snapping at a new recruit for a small mistake, my friend Rayan had given me a look that clearly said “You need to get laid right f*****g now.”

So here I was about to get off in what felt like forever. That was until the door to my room burst open with a bang. I looked at the intruder with murder in my eyes. It was Rayan.

“What the f**k!” The omega squeaked and grabbed at the sheets in an attempt at decency.

“Get the f**k out!” Aggression rolled off me in waves that made even Rayan wince. If he said he was here to borrow my headphones again, I wasn't sure I wouldn't kill him. He had no concept of boundaries on a normal day.

“Your alpha is on her way here,” he said while his eyes took in the scene curiously.

The words hit me like a truck. As they were meant to.

“f**k,” I said.

Fifteen minutes later, I was showered and dressed on my way out to meet her. The omega had left not long ago with a slap to my face for not finishing him off. Not like I had gotten off either.

Rayan and I stepped out of my house to find three sleek, black cars parked outside. The window of the one in the middle was lowered. My mother stared at me with an unreadable look.

“Get in,” she said.

We got into the spacious car and sat opposite her. Reda, my other friend, was already inside. He gave us a nod of acknowledgement. I wondered where she had picked him up from. He was always disappearing somewhere without telling anyone where he was.

“What’s happened?” I asked.

Though we didn’t have a bad relationship by any means, my mother rarely, if ever, came to my place for anything less than emergencies. Being an alpha herself, she knew to give me my space. I usually went to see them at the compound instead. It was much better for our relationship.

Her aura was extra formidable this evening. I feared for anyone unfortunate enough to earn her ire tonight.

“A meeting of the Syndicate has been called,” she said.

“It is as we feared, then?” I ask.

“It is as we feared,” she confirmed. Her lips were pressed thinly into a displeased scowl.

I sat back slowly for the ride to the Tower as my blood lust spiked. Tonight was going to be fun.

…

The Tower jutted out in the middle of the city like a fortress, which in truth it was. Every floor was reinforced and guarded to the teeth; no one could get in or out without considerable trouble. It was one of the few neutral spots where all clan heads could meet with no threat of violence or ambush.

My mother wasted no time getting out of the car when we arrived. Rayan, Reda and I followed behind her while the guards trailed behind us. Her jacket fluttered in her wake, letting us peek at the sword strapped to her hip in all its glory.

Rayan was dressed in his favourite outfit of black tactical gear, ready for anything. Reda, on the other hand, wore an elegant suit that was more his style. I wore something of a similar nature.

An usher at the entrance directed us to the elevators. We walked through an opulent entrance hall that spoke of untold wealth. Everything gleamed expensively. Armed security guards were dotted around the room watching everything with discerning eyes.

We entered the elevator, which was occupied by a bored-looking operator. She looked like your average person until I spied the guns strapped under her jacket when she shifted slightly. She gave us a short nod and pressed the button for the top floor. Only the best for the city’s worst.

Once we were at the top, we were met with more security and security clearance.

“I want all of you on your best behaviour tonight. Please don’t embarrass me,” she said.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” I drawled out while Rayan let out a ‘yes boss’. Reda said nothing, as was usual for him.

We reached the security point where we were told to surrender any and all weapons and set them in a designated tray.

Reda dropped a tiny dagger into the tray without a second thought before he was thoroughly searched for any hidden weapons. He was let through a moment later when they found nothing.

I did as I was instructed. I looked beside me at Rayan who I was sure was only halfway done, despite the fact that his pile was noticeably fuller than mine. I was right on the money. He removed weapon after weapon and didn’t seem to be anywhere close to being done. Even the guards looked nervous when he kept pulling s**t out of god knows where.

Most people thought he was a friendly giant who talked a little too much, but the dude was a monster in disguise. I let people see the monster within me because I had no patience for those kinds of games. But Rayan? He f*****g thrived on them.

He was an alpha as ruthless and as deadly as I was, but you’d never tell from his calm, easygoing demeanour. He had a special love for guns and swords that married well with his love for blood and pain.

And then there was Reda. He had never been an advocate for violence or fighting, but there was something unsettling lurking beneath his calm, logical exterior. People thought I was the beast to be wary of when, honestly, they should have been scared of him instead.

We had been friends from the time we were kids. I trusted these two with my life and would gladly walk into hell for them.

My mother had grown fond of using the three of us for most high-profile jobs and events over her other advisors and right-hand people. And that was because the three of us were good, better than good actually. I was her heir and set to inherit her throne, so it was a no-brainer that she involved me as much as she did. But the other two excelled in these matters to the point my mother had no choice but to take notice. Rayan with his tactical knowledge and extreme fighting talents, and Reda with his sly, calculating brain that was no doubt swimming in the genius territory; the two were a formidable force.

It rubbed some people the wrong way that she chose ones so young to stand by her side for most important endeavours but there was nothing they could do about it. Her words were law.

The main lounge on the other side was occupied by only a few people. Of course, no one expected people who hated each other to mingle, so we were all given private waiting areas.

I looked around, taking note of everyone. I saw the head of the Vultures walking off into a hallway with his entourage. Disgust filled me just looking at him.

I could see the Shahins and their people lounging about the room; the only ones taking advantage of its intended use. Of course, they would be the ones to do it.

Rayan joined us just as I was making note of the Corvins. My spine straightened. Our families used to be great allies once. That was most definitely a thing of the past.

I knew as soon as my mother saw them; her entire body tensed and she huffed in annoyance. She made haste, heading straight for the hallway that would lead us to our private room. The Corvins also walked to their room opposite ours. We would have to pass each other on the way.

Our two groups walked towards each other with palpable tension in the air while pretending the other didn’t exist.

Michael Corvin walked at the forefront with a firm walk. He was a tall and pale imposing figure of a man. He was dressed in an expensive tailored suit with slick salt and pepper hair styled perfectly. His cold blue eyes held nothing but disdain as they took note of our group. Three thin but deep scars ran from one side of his forehead, over his brow and down to his cheek. They were vicious-looking scars that added a certain menace to his character.

Those were clearly the scars from shifter claws. Only someone as powered by pure malice as him would survive such an incident with not more than scars.

Behind him were two of his sons; the oldest and the youngest. I was surprised they hadn’t brought the unhinged one, that they had actually let the youngest come here. That was unusual.

The older one, Rowan Corvin, was taller than his father; taller than most people really. His light brown eyes were focused unwaveringly forward. He always gave off an interesting aura that wrapped around him like a cloak and felt almost suffocating. He wore power like a weapon. He was certainly not someone most people wanted to cross.

I knew he was as calculating as he seemed with his cold stare and permanent scowl. We would have been friends in a different life, but in this one, he was one giant pain in my ass. We were too alike for our own good.

And then there was the youngest Corvin, Gabriel. He was the coddled youngest heir of Michael Corvin. Known never to get his hands dirty or involved with his family business. He had an easy, soft life of fun and privilege.

We went to the same university though he was two years behind me in a different school. He had made quite a name for himself around campus; mostly for his easy-going, friendly personality. Parties, drugs and s*x; that was the lifestyle he was known for.

He walked with a comfortable gait but looked like he’d rather be anywhere but here. Our eyes caught for a second before he quickly looked away.

Gabriel Corvin was a sight. Tall and lean with a face almost too pretty to believe. He had smooth caramel skin and huge brown eyes a shade darker than his brother’s. His face was both masculine and feminine with a pleasing combination of hard angles and smooth edges. His hair was shaved close to his scalp, giving his features a more severe appearance. His lips were pouty and looked soft as f**k.

My stomach tightened uncomfortably. I should have been ashamed of myself for finding the spawn of Michael Corvin fuckable but I was a shameless bastard who was the furthest thing from a saint. And Gabriel Corvin looked like sin and temptation came to life.

The moment of our tense non-exchange was over in a blink. We walked on like nothing had ever been amiss between our two clans.

“Motherfuckers!” my mother spat out when we were past them.

Rayan sidled up to me and said quietly so only I would hear, “I’d say I’m surprised, but honestly, you have a f*****g type,”

My face remained blank as I replied, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”