The Alpha's Filthy Secret.

- CHAPTER EIGHT -

Sloane.

The apartment was quiet when I unlocked the front door. I slipped my heels off at the entryway and walked down the hallway. In the kitchen, Sarah was standing by the stove, stirring a small pot.

"He fell asleep about an hour ago," Sarah whispered, turning around. "I made some tomato basil soup if you're hungry,"

"I didn't ask you to stay up and cook, Sarah," I said, my voice coming out sharper than I intended.

Sarah flinched, setting the wooden spoon down. "I'm sorry, Eva. I just thought-"

I let out a slow breath, pinching the bridge of my nose. "No. I'm sorry. It was a long night. Thank you for making the soup," I looked at the digital clock on the oven. It was past eleven. "It's late. Don't drive back to your apartment tonight. Take the guest room."

Sarah nodded, her face relaxing. "Thanks, Eva. Goodnight. Sleep tight."

"Yeah, you too."

Before heading to my room, I pushed open the door to Zane's bedroom. He was fast asleep, sprawling across his bed with his arms wrapped around a plush wolf toy. His dark curls were messy against the pillow. I stepped inside, pulled the duvet up over his shoulders and pressed a kiss to his cheek before slipping back out.

The moment I went into my bedroom, I went straight to the bathroom. I locked the door and stood in front of the mirror. I slowly undid my zip, pulling the dress aside to expose my neck. The curved bite mark on the side of my neck was red and warm to the touch. I raised my hand and pressed two fingers against the scar causing a sudden wave of heat to pulse beneath my skin, shooting straight down to my stomach and making my breath catch in my throat.

Five years of nothing but cold and quiet control. And one dinner with Raul had woken my body up like a live wire.

My hand drifted lower, slipping past my waist, my hips moving on their own. But the moment his face flashed in my head causing me to freeze.

No.

I yanked my hand back, my chest heaving. I wasn't going to lie there thinking about the man who let my mother die.

I turned the faucets, filling the large bathtub with hot water. I stripped off my clothes, stepped in, and let the water cover me up to my collarbone. My eyelids grew heavy within minutes, and as I closed my eyes drifting off into a deep slumber, all I could think of was his green eyes.

_

"Mommy!"

A pair of small hands tugged on my forearm causing me to open my eyes. I yawned, stretching out my limbs. I was on my bed, and the last thing I remembered was the bathtub. Sarah probably must have helped me get into bed at some point, because I was under my duvet.

Zane was leaning over the mattress, his bright green eyes staring into mine. In times like this, he looked so much like his father that made it hurt.

"Miss Clara is here," Cane said, waving a plastic toy car in front of my face. "Can we build the race track after my numbers?"

I sat up, pulling him into a tight hug and buried my face in his neck. "If you do everything Miss Clara asks, we can build the track all the way through the hallway."

"Deal!" He giggled, squirming out of my arms and sprinting toward the living room.

I groaned as my phone lit up with multiple notifications. I didn't want to leave, but I had to.

I got dressed in a tailored cream suit, pulling my hair into a sleek ponytail, and walked out to the kitchen.

Clara, Zane's private tutor, was setting up workbooks at the dining table while Sarah poured fresh orange juice for Zane.

"I should be back around four, Sarah," I said, grabbing a sandwich from the food tray. "This is good," I say as I grab another piece of sandwich and drown it down with a glass of orange juice. "Call me if anything comes up,"

"Will do. Good luck with the board." Sarah replied.

I leaned down to kiss the top of Zane's head who was busy munching on his breakfast. "Be good for Miss Clara."

"I will! Bye, Mommy! Take care."

Downstairs, my driver opened the rear door of the black sedan. I slid into the leather interior, resting my head against the window as we pulled out into the morning Los Angeles traffic.

My thoughts wouldn't stop racing. Fifty one percent. Raul was using his wealth to buy his way into my life legally in the human realm. He didn't need pack laws here, money worked just as well. If he took control of the agency, he'd be my boss. He'd control my schedule, my travel, my publicity and eventually he'd follow me back to my apartment.

He'd see Zane.

My stomach twisted into a tight knot at the thought.

We arrived at the agency's downtown high rise twenty minutes later. A dozen photographers were already waiting near the glass entrance, their camera lenses flashing as the car stopped.

I put on my sunglasses, stepped out, and walked past them without looking back, ignoring the shouts of "Eva! Over here!"

Julian was standing near the front security desk inside, holding two paper coffee cups with a massive grin on his face.

"Look at you," Julian laughed, handling me a cup as I reached him. "We are going to have to change our base to a building with a private garage if you keep drawing this much media attention."

I rolled my eyes, taking a sip of the black coffee. "Can we just get this board meeting started? I want to read his revised contract term myself."

"Right this way, star." Julian said cheerfully, gesturing toward the elevators.

We walked over to the bank of elevators and pressed the call button. The bell chimed, and the brushed metal doors slid open. We stepped inside, and Julian pressed the button for the fourteenth floor.

The doors began to slide shut.

Just before they met in the middle, a large hand wearing a dark signet ring shot between them.

The safety sensors tripped, and the doors slowly glided back open.

Standing in the lobby frame, wearing a dark suit, was Raul.

His green eyes locked onto mine, a faint cold smirk touching his lips.

"Going up?"