Chapter Seven
1519 Words
Prince Leonard.
“Let go of me, Leonard,” Ruby yelled, forcing her arm away from my grip. “What the hell is wrong with you? Are you trying to injure me?”
“You will heal,” I said, suddenly feeling a surge of anger rise inside of me.
Her eyebrows shot up, clearly surprised by my sudden shift in tone.
Hell, I did not know what was wrong with me either. Ever since my eyes met Kayla’s last night all I’ve wanted was to keep her close and now because of Ruby she’s out of my grasp.
You see, I had never desired any woman the way I desired Kayla. At first, I thought I was losing my mind—but then I discovered she was my mate. My wolf was practically going feral for her. She was an omega, which made our bond forbidden. I should’ve rejected her the moment I found out. But her scent….it was intoxicating. It pulled me in, made me crave her even more. And Kai, he hadn’t wanted anyone since Sophia but now he wouldn’t let me rest until I claim Kayla as mine.
When I found her crying, all Kai wanted to do was tear Aiden to pieces. It took everything in me to hold him back. I never interfered in other people’s drama, especially breakups. I had done my fair share of walking away after s*x. But seeing Kayla broken like that, it felt like someone had shattered Kai, and I never let anyone get away with hurting him.
“Seriously! Have you gone nuts? I know you’re cheap, but has it really gotten to the point of f*****g an omega? She’s not even your type.”
“Watch it, Ruby,” I growled.
“And if I don’t?” She scoffed. “Have you suddenly lost all senses of taste? That girl is an omega, and you slept with her.”
“I didn’t sleep with her. Stop making assumptions.”
“Assumptions?” She huffed. “Don’t flatter yourself, Leo. You’re a manwhore, everyone knows it. And your taste in women? Laughable. Honestly, it’s a miracle you haven’t dragged a rogue into your bed already. Might actually consider raising your standards for once.”
She folded her arms, gaze flat and unimpressed, her heel tapping against the floor. “But I guess it makes sense. It takes a certain kind of woman to sleep with someone like you.”
I took a deep breath. Dealing with Ruby is the last thing I want right now. I’m in no mood for one of her tantrums. I need to shut her down so I can have some space to think about how the hell I was going to get Kayla.
“Is that all you’ve got to say, or is there more?”
Kai was in a berserk state, practically roaring at the back of my mind for letting his mate walk away but I had no choice. Ruby was already spiraling, and the last thing I needed was to make things worse especially when Kayla didn’t even want me.
“Actually, yes,” She snapped, eyes narrowing. “The dress your little omega is wearing? It belonged to Mom. Care to explain how she got her hands on it?”
Exactly why I kept her away from my mate. If she found out the truth, it would be humiliating for Kayla, and I couldn't let that happen.
The dress had originally been a birthday gift for Mom, something I picked out myself, but Ruby ruined it, she spilled wine on it that same day I asked her to give it to mom. I gave it to Ethan to take into the dry cleaners and brought mom another one for her birthday. I had forgotten all about it until I saw Kayla wearing it last night.
And she looked… stunning. She wore it so effortlessly, like it belonged to her.
“I gave it to her,” I said flatly.
She gasped, dramatic as always. “You gave Mom’s clothes to an omega? Are you being serious right now?”
“Yes, I am. And remind me what exactly you are doing here again?”
“You’re unbelievable. You completely lose your mind the second there’s a bit of p***y involved.”
She huffed and stormed off, clearly pissed but I’d deal with her later. Right now, I have bigger things to handle. Letting out a sharp breath, I turned on my heel and headed back to the bar room where Ethan and Tyler were waiting.
They weren’t just my best friends, they were my brothers in everything but blood. The only ones I could truly talk to. Both of them were my Beta and Gamma, next in line when I ascended as Alpha King. Like my father always said, we were raised to lead, to fight, and to stand by each other and we always had.
The moment Tyler saw me, he started giggling and I knew exactly what that meant. I didn’t say a word. Instead, I grabbed a glass, poured myself some bourbon, and downed it in one long gulp.
“That girl is fire!” Ethan laughed, nudging Tyler. “But damn, she looks like a handful.”
The room buzzed with low music, but even through the soft beat, their snickering was loud and clear.
“I didn’t know you had a thing for omegas with no wolf. Sounds… exciting,” Tyler quipped, grinning like he had just uncovered my darkest secret.
I shot him a glare. “I don’t have a thing, Tyler. I have a mate. There's a difference.”
I leaned back, swirling the bourbon in my glass. “The Moon Goddess must’ve been drunk the day she paired us, because trust me, this wasn’t on my wish list.”
I caught Ethan’s amused glance and added, “And before either of you say something stupid—yes, Kai wants her. No, I don’t get a say. So unless you’re volunteering to babysit a feral wolf, kindly shut the hell up.”
An awkward silence hung in the air for a beat too long before Tyler finally spoke.
“That sounds messy, man. You know you can’t actually be with her, it’s not allowed. Unless you want to play with her.”
Ethan nodded in agreement, swirling the ice in his glass. “She doesn’t seem to like you much either. That look she gave you this morning? Pure disgust.”
I chuckled, slow and sharp, then tossed back the rest of my bourbon.
“She hates my lifestyle. She thinks I’m reckless, arrogant, and dangerous.” I smirked as I set the glass down. “But give it time, she will be the one begging for my cock.”
Tyler nearly choked on his drink, and Ethan leaned in with a crooked grin.
“Bold talk. Got a strategy to match? Because she looks like the type who won’t give in easily . Especially not for a guy she can’t even feel the bond, remember? No wolf.”
I rolled my eyes and stood, running a hand through my hair like I was already gearing up for battle.
“I don’t need her to feel the bond. She’ll feel me. And that’ll be enough.”
“I doubt that, man,” Ethan said.
I smirked. “You talk like you don’t know me. If I want something, I get it. And I’m getting that girl.”
Ethan raised his perfectly shaped eyebrow, grinning. “Wanna bet?”
Tyler perked up instantly. “Oh, now it’s getting good. What’s the wager?”
I sat down back in my seat, lips curled into a slow smirk. “Ethan hands over his Ducati for a week, and Tyler your vintage sports car.”
Ethan laughed, but it sounded nervous. “You’re dreaming.”
“I’m dead serious.”
“And if you lose?” Tyler asked, eyes gleaming with mischief.
I hesitated. I rarely lose. But I wasn’t stupid. I knew Kayla wouldn’t be easy. Hell, she might be the first real challenge I’ve had in years.
“If I lose…” I dragged my thumb across my bottom lip, smirking. “You both get my penthouse. Full access. No rules.”
Ethan burst out laughing. “You? Slumming it while we live like kings? Hell yes, I’m in.”
Tyler clapped his hands. “Deal. But we need a deadline. How long do you have to make her fall for you?”
I narrowed my eyes. “She won’t fall for me. She’ll crave me, there a difference.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Ethan said, waving a hand. “Put a time limit on it, Casanova.”
“A month,” I said without blinking. “Give me thirty days.”
Ethan and Tyler exchanged a look before Ethan extended his hand with a grin. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
We shook on it and as I pulled my hand back, one thought burned through my mind. I’m getting her.
- Writer
