Chapter seven
791 Words
Neil lounged in the guest room of Alpha Rein’s house, scrolling through his phone without interest. A handful of messages blinked from she-wolves offering to meet, but he dismissed them all. His thoughts kept circling back to last night—Casey, half-naked at the window, then running through the forest like a blaze of light.
She wasn’t his. She wasn’t even from his pack. She belonged to the Full Moon, rivals of Red Moon. But that never stopped him before. Every wolf knew the rule: until a she-wolf was mated, she could be claimed. And he intended to claim her.
His lips curved into a dark smile as he raked a hand through his hair. He could still taste her from years ago, that stolen kiss she probably didn’t even remember. He remembered every detail.
The door swung open. His aunt Poly sauntered in, her swimsuit clinging to her, fake blonde hair tangled, bare feet padding against the floor.
“Rough morning?” Neil teased, smirking.
She glared, but without heat. “How dare you?”
“As usual.” He shrugged.
Poly sank onto the sofa with a sigh, massaging faint bruises at her wrists. “Keaton is more and more picky these days.”
Neil tilted his head, studying her. “And how’s the mighty Alpha Rein’s mood?”
Her laugh was bitter. “How do you think? I’m supposed to convince him of your brilliant future while he—” She gestured to her bruises. “What should I say? Darling, my nephew is worthy of promotion, now please, take me roughly against the desk again?”
Neil leaned forward, unblinking. “Brilliant idea.”
“You’re a real pain in the ass,” Poly muttered, but there was a ghost of a smile.
“I gave you this chance, remember?” he said coolly. “You wanted to be his wife. I put you in his bed. Don’t complain now.”
Her eyes flashed. “I wanted more than to be his side piece.”
“His wife is strong,” Neil countered. “Why should she die for your appetites?”
Poly flinched but covered it quickly, pressing her hands to her face. For a moment she looked less like a schemer and more like a broken woman. She had wanted status, respect. Instead, she felt cheap.
“You remind me of my brother too much,” she muttered from behind her hands.
Neil’s jaw tightened. “Not bothered.”
She dropped her hands, bitterness returning. “Then give me a reason to continue this farce. Keaton doesn’t value warm bodies. He values information. If you want me to whisper your name into his ear, bring me something on Satton. On the Full Moon pack. Otherwise I can’t help you.”
Neil crouched in front of her, eyes cold. “You want to crash Satton’s wife just to keep your spot in his bed? That’s your grand plan?”
Poly snapped, her fury rising. “If I can’t destroy his wife, then I’ll help him destroy Elijah Satton’s pack. Either way, he must see I am useful.”
“Useful,” Neil repeated with a smirk. “And here I thought men only think with their cocks.”
“Not Keaton Rein, you stupid boy!” she hissed. “He’s ruthless. He wants leverage. You brought him nothing. I can’t walk into his bed with half-truths and expect to keep my place.”
“I told you—there will be an engagement soon.”
“With whom?” Poly’s voice cracked. She was unraveling. “If I can’t answer his questions, I lose everything.”
Neil rubbed his temple as if her voice gave him a headache. “I said I’ll have the answer soon. My girl will know before anyone else.”
A child’s voice called from the hall. “Miss Leyton? Are you there?”
“Yes, Nicole. One moment, I’ll be right in.” Poly hurried to fix her hair, dragging clothes over her swimsuit.
When the girl’s footsteps faded, Poly rounded back on him, eyes sharp. “Bring me something, Neil. Or I’ll never ask Keaton for your promotion.”
Neil straightened, a mocking smile curving his lips. “Careful, auntie. Plenty of other women would kill to be where you are. And most of them have better bodies.”
Her face flushed with fury, but before she could answer, he was already at the door.
As it closed behind him, Neil’s smile vanished. His mind sharpened.
Casey wasn’t just an obsession anymore. She was leverage. A path to power. A chance to outplay both Satton and Rein.
And he swore to himself—next time she wouldn’t escape his traps.
- Writer
