Too Late, Alpha: I Choose Your Rival

Ch 14: 'Down Payment' Received!

Elisa’s POV:

What on earth did I just do?

I could still vividly feel the heat of Kael’s lips burning on mine…which sent a sharp, electric shock racing through my pulse.

Pulling the future Lycan King down by his collar and kissing him was a moment of my reckless bravado.

Or, to be honest…it was the down payment, a testament to my determination.

But the second I pressed my lips against him, my entire body tensed up.

As if a short circuit ran through my mind, before I could catch my breath, Kael’s emerald eyes darkened with a predatory gaze.

His hand rapidly cupped the back of my neck, his thumb brushing my jaw as he leaned in closer to reclaim the kiss that I had barely broken a second ago…demanding total control.

However, a surge of panic broke through my haze when the reality finally hit me.

I slammed my palm over his mouth, stopping him an inch from my face.

"Wait!" My breath hitched as my voice almost shook. "We need to set some rules in this deal first!"

Kael didn't back off, instead, towering over me with his massive figure, he further pinned me against the cold wall.

I could see his emerald eyes darkened with disappointment at my sudden command. However, he wrapped his fingers around my wrist and pulled my palm away, but he didn't let go.

"Rules?" His low rumble sounded a bit curious. "Fine…enlighten me. But remember…You started this fire first!”

I swallowed hard at his thick voice, leading shivers to curl down my spine. This time, I was playing a dangerous game with a monster to destroy a demon, so of course…I couldn't afford to get burned.

Almost forcing my flustered expression into a stoic mask, I proceeded, "Rule one…We are a public fling. Nothing more.

“No sleeping together, no feelings, and the second the Ice Hockey Tournament ends, we will go our separate ways. We’ll be over…permanently.”

Kael arched an eyebrow hearing my answer, but I saw his smirk widen a little.

"Rule two," I continued. "No lingering attachments between us. I am just going to help you win that championship title…and make sure Ethan doesn't sabotage you…but behind closed doors, we will be strangers. We won’t meddle in another one’s private life."

As the words left my mouth, my mind flashed to the real war I had to fight ahead of me.

To break the blood curse Maria had imposed on me and awaken my wolf, I would never let her touch another drop of my blood.

And I could never let this secret get exposed before the heir of my enemy race. So, my isolation would be vital for my survival.

"If you can't accept these two rules," I whispered, looking straight into his eyes, "then the deal's off."

The moment I said those words, I averted my eyes while my face burned under the heat of his intense gaze.

Looking away, I cleared my throat. "Though... public displays…I mean stuff like kissing, making out…might be an exception sometimes. Just to make the fling look believable to the academy."

“Pfft!”

A low, intrigued chuckle vibrated through Kael's chest, making me fluster a little when I desperately tried to avoid his burning gaze.

But he moved even closer, blocking out the bare minimum street light with his broad shoulders and tightening the air between us.

"I see…you have prepared a thorough contract.” He murmured, yet I could sense his eyes dropping to my lips before meeting my gaze. "But…now, I would like to add my condition here.”

“Huh?”

“You can’t and won’t let that Ice Moon dog touch you."

My heart raced anxiously from his unexpected demand, yet I frowned, my defensive guard snapping up.

"I think you didn’t forget that Ethan is part of our plan, Blackthorn.”

I gulped, my throat feeling a little parched from how nervous I was. “To ruin him completely, I have to stay close enough to make him let his guard down. Well, of course, I won’t be getting intimate with him, but—"

"I don't care about your execution," Kael cut in, but this time, his tone turned icy cold from sheer dominance.

"But let me tell you something, Ashford. I don't share my things with anyone. Especially not with him.

“Though our fling will be fake or not, the moment you drew me into your little game, you belong to the Lycan side now."

All of a sudden, hearing his command made my temper flare up.

I couldn’t help but think of the memories of all those years of my life I had spent under an arrogant, overbearing Alpha like Ethan, rushing back to my mind.

And this time, I refused to let history repeat itself with this Lycan prince.

"You don't own me, Kael," I snapped aloud, placing my hands against his chest and shoving him back from me. "Neither does Ethan. So…hear me out, if you can't play by the rules, I'll just have to find someone else who will."

To be honest, it was just a bluff aimed straight at his massive pride.

When I sensed he really took a step back, I turned around, grabbing my suitcase handle, before I was about to rush off from there as if nothing happened between us in the first place.

But deep in my mind, I was already calculating seconds.

One. Two. Three...

On the fourth second, a hand snagged my waist from behind.

The sudden yank sent a jolt straight to my brain, making my heart hammer wildly against my ribs like a trapped bird, robbing me of oxygen until my lungs were struggling to breathe.

But in one smooth motion, Kael spun me around and pulled me flush against his hard chest.

Before I could even blink, he tilted my chin up and captured my mouth.

His tongue sneakily slipped past my slightly parted lips in a dominant motion, completely stealing what little air I had left in me.

What started as a surprise kiss deepened into an intoxicating game of dominance between our tongues, while the possessiveness underneath sent a surge of heat straight to my toes before he finally tore himself away.

Before stepping back, Kael pressed his thumb slowly over my lower lip to wipe it gently, but from his clever smirk, it was clear he was leaving behind a lingering sensation, making it impossible for me to ignore what had just happened.

"Down payment received and contract locked," Kael whispered, making my heart skip a beat as his breath warmed against my mouth.

"I'll play your game, little kitten. I hope you’re ready for the chaos you have invited. But…”

He leaned a little closer, whispering in a husky low pitch, “Every time you would let that Ice Moon dog touch you before my eyes, be prepared for a penalty."

“What? Penalty!? When did I agree with that—”

Before I could finish my grunt, Kael pulled out his phone and dialed a number, holding it to his ear without taking his eyes off me.

"Clear out Room 9 on the 3rd floor of C dorm. Now.”

He ordered the receiver, though I could hear a faint, protesting voice buzz back from the other side.

However, Kael’s jaw clenched a little harder when his voice dropped into a hard, commanding tone.

"I don't care who's in there. Kick them out…you’ve 15 mins for that. Also, you do know very well that I hate to repeat my words, right?”

He ended the call without even hearing an answer.

As I stood frozen, he quickly snatched my phone out of my hoodie pocket before I could react and tapped the screen rapidly before handing it back.

"My number." Kael said with a lazy, sly smile before turning his back on me, “But…don't expect me to answer if you call me regarding pointless stuff. Sleep well, captain."

“Wait, what…?”

I stood alone in the alley, jaw clenched tight while slowly watching his massive figure disappear completely from my sight.

Slowly, my fingers rose to touch my mouth, where the sting of that surprise kiss still lingered like a mark.

"Arrogant, insufferable, proud jerk," I cussed him, while sensing my cheeks burned with embarrassment.

I grabbed my suitcase and headed towards the C dorm, which was a little far from where I stood. But my mind was still conquered by him…

I just wanted to use him as a spark to burn Ethan to the ground. But looking down at his number on my screen, I realized I hadn't just sparked a flame…

I had unleashed a wildfire.