Betrayed, Not Broken

Temptation

~ Alaric's POV ~

The golden glow of the chandeliers reflected off the polished marble floors, casting an opulent sheen over the grand hall. The air was thick with fruity artificial perfumes, laughters, and whispered schemes—another night of indulgence disguised as diplomacy.

I am tired of all these parties and all these people.

The weight of expectation hung heavy, suffocating beneath the illusion of grandeur. I stood at the heart of it, a figure of quiet dominance. My presence commanded attention without effort, and the women surrounding me knew it.

They flocked close, brushing against me under the guise of conversation. One adjusted the neckline of her gown, ensuring more skin was exposed to my view. Another leaned in, her voice dipped in honeyed sweetness. "Alpha Alaric, you're awfully quiet tonight."

They don't even try to hide their greed.

I smiled, a calculated gesture that never reached my eyes. "Am I?" My deep voice sent a shiver through her, but my interest was nonexistent.

These women were all the same—desperate for status, willing to throw themselves at power for a taste of it. I despised their kind, the ones who took without earning, who believed beauty alone made them deserving.

“You are one of the few alphas who have yet to choose a mate.” The girl smiled at me.

“Is that so?” I replied to her coldly.

How far do I need to go to make them understand that their efforts are going to be vain?

Adjusting my cufflinks with slow precision, I turned slightly, catching my reflection in the towering glass windows. My fingers slid to my tie, loosening it just enough, then ran through my raven-black hair, leaving it effortlessly tousled. A bored king among pawns.

Beyond the glass, the moon hung high, casting its silver glow over the sprawling estate. The world outside felt distant, detached—so unlike the suffocating air within these walls. My hands itched for something real, something that didn't reek of manipulation and shallow desires.

Then, the atmosphere shifted.

Nathan, my Beta, moved through the crowd with purpose. His sharp gaze found mine across the room, and I knew instantly—something was wrong.

"It's Aris," Nathan murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "She's missing." We were not able to find her."

The world around me faded—no more whispers, no more false smiles, no more perfume-laced air. Just those two words, ringing in my ears.

How could they be so careless?

Can't they even look after a single child?

The glass in my hand cracked, whiskey dripping between my fingers. Pain bloomed where shards of crystal cut into my palm, but I barely felt it. The women near me instinctively stepped back. They knew. They all did.

One dared to reach for my arm. "Alaric..."

I leveled a glare at her. That was enough. She shivered and quickly stepped away, clearing my path as I strode forward, blood trailing from my clenched fist.

Time for a hunt.

The scent of blood thickened the night air.

Moonlight spilled through the trees, painting silver streaks over the battlefield. The forest loomed around me, ancient and unyielding, its shadows stretching like silent witnesses to the c*****e.

I moved like a phantom, my blade an extension of my will—swift, merciless. The rogues fell before me, their desperate attacks no match for calculated precision. They did their best to fight against me, but none of them stood against me for more than a minute.

The metallic scent of blood mixed with the damp earth, filling my lungs with the stench of death. Leaves rustled in the breeze, carrying the distant howl of a wolf. The night was alive with the echoes of battle, each clash of steel and snarl a symphony of violence.

Davon, my wolf, growled in my mind, ‘Do not use your power.’

My fingers twitched. I could feel it—the hunger of something darker within me, waiting, watching. The curse lurked beneath my skin, eager for release. It whispered promises of strength, of effortless destruction, but I wouldn’t let it win.

Not tonight.

A rogue, barely alive, gasped at my feet. Blood bubbled at his lips as he wheezed, "Y...you came faster than we expected. But… you won't be able to protect her."

I crouched, gripping his throat, squeezing just enough to make him choke. "Who sent you?" My voice was quiet, deadly.

He coughed, wheezing a laugh. "We knew… how much you… cherish the girl."

My grip tightened. "And?"

"Thought… you'd be desperate. Thought… you'd trade anything for her."

Fury lashed through me. "You thought wrong."

A quick twist, and his neck snapped. The silence that followed was deafening.

I should have maintained my distance… it's my mistake that I let them find out about my weakness. The child is still not strong enough to protect herself.

Nathan approached, breathless from the fight. "No sign of her."

I exhaled sharply, sheathing my blade that was covered with the blood of the rogues. My pulse was steady, but inside, fury coiled tight. Then I took a deep breath, and I smelled a familiar scent.

It was faint, but unmistakable.

My head snapped up. "She's close."

I found her.

I dashed deeper into the woods while my people silently followed me.

Aris was trembling, her small frame pressed against a woman. Her tiny fingers clutched the fabric, her tear-streaked face half-hidden in the folds. Relief slammed into me, sharp and unexpected. But my attention quickly shifted to the woman standing protectively in front of her.

She was battered, exhausted, yet standing. Her mysterious silver hair was tangled, her body tense, poised. Despite the exhaustion evident in her stance, there was no fear in her gaze. No desperate pleading. She looked fragile, yet there was steel beneath the surface.

She was too weak to fight. I could tell by her moves that she has not properly learned to fight, but she is still trying to protect a stranger’s child. In such a situation… people mostly think about their survival, so her actions are something that is kind of hard for me to understand.

I helped out the girl and my fight with the remaining rogues ended within a few minutes.

When I turned, my eyes met the girl.

Something in me stilled.

Recognition coiled in my gut. Not because I knew her—but because something about her made my instincts flare.

She spoke first, her voice hoarse but unwavering. "I never agreed to go with you."

I arched my brow. "You're injured. You have nowhere to go. And I don’t allow strangers to wander my land."

Her eyes narrowed. "And if I refuse? What are you going to do?"

I stepped closer, closing the distance between us. She refused to meet my gaze, so I gently grabbed her jaw, forcing her to look at me. Not only her hair, but also her eyes are unusual.

My smirk was slow, predatory. "Go ahead. Try."

I warned her.

She is nothing, but a stranger in my territory... Yet she dared to refuse my orders in my own land.

For the first time, hesitation flickered across her face. Yet, she didn’t cower. That alone intrigued me.

She clearly doesn't seem to have any other place, even then she was on guard against me.

She swallowed hard. The tension between us thickened—charged, electric. A silent battle of wills. Then, finally, she exhaled, her shoulders stiff but accepting.

Good. She wasn’t foolish.

I released her, stepping back. "Let’s go."

She hesitated only for a moment before falling behind me.

Yet, as I led her away, something in my chest tightened. I had faced countless battles, slain countless enemies, but this woman… something about her felt different. Dangerous, even.

And I didn’t know whether she was a threat or a temptation.

As I glanced at her one last time, I knew one thing for certain.

This wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.

She won’t escape me—not until I uncover the truth she’s so desperate to hide. That innocent mask of hers? A carefully crafted lie.

No one risks their lives without a reason. No one stumbles into my world without a purpose.

Did she seek out Aria, or was it just fate? Either way, I don’t believe in coincidences.

Let’s see how long she can keep up this act before I strip away every last secret she’s hiding from me.