“Who do you work for?” Ashford demanded to know. “Do you know who I am? I’m the heir of Pack Blizzard,” he announced, having quickly regained his composure from the sucker punch, like it was going to save him.
The man in front of me laughed.
“That won’t impress her,” he warned.
“Her?” Ashford asked.
The lift opened, and a rough hand on my back pushed me, and I stumbled forward on uneven heels as Ashford was dragged out behind me, into a dimly lit foyer.
The décor was cream and gold, and directly in front of us, a woman leaned against a large glass dining table. It was still black night outside, and the city lights illuminated her from behind, amber-yellow light splashing against the glass tabletop.
She wore a burgundy suit with a black silk shirt; the first few buttons were undone. Her black hair fell in defined curls, the kind that looked effortlessly perfect. Her skin was clear, light-brown with warm undertones. The lack of light framed her as an imposing figure, confident in the dark. She was beautiful in a way that amplified her dominance. She didn’t smile; only stared at me with dark eyes.
I instinctively knew I was in the presence of an alpha. Her eyes travelled down to my shoe’s broken heel, and I fought the urge to tug the hem of my dress, feeling vulnerable under her gaze. I wished my dress were longer.
She stepped forward, pausing at my side. I didn’t turn to look at her, but I could feel her eyes on me.
Ashford growled behind me in warning.
She chuckled low in an amused sort of way.
“I don’t believe we’ve met,” she said, her voice sultry and smooth, and it quieted the room. Ashford ceased his growl. I forgot to breathe, like she had called us all to attention.
“I know who you are,” Ashford answered after a beat of silence.
“Then you understand the situation you find yourself in. I’ve purchased your debt. You’ve managed to rack up quite a sum given your means. I was surprised to learn that Gael had continued your line for quite so long,” she said.
“I can pay it back. I just need one win,” he insisted.
“Your debt currently sits just shy of $2.5 million. I doubt you could win it back. I know your stats; I do due diligence on all my purchases,” she told him.
Ashford made a mocking sound at the back of his throat.
“If you do due diligence, then you know who I am and that I’m good for it,” he insisted.
“I know who you are. Son of Julian, Alpha to Pack Blizzard—a once inconsequential pack now attempting to make ripples.I understand Blizzard recently won the tender to build the extension for City General Hospital. A big win for some. It could open many doors. What a shame it would be if it were to become public knowledge that the heir of Pack Blizzard had accumulated such a large gambling debt,” she said.
“You wouldn’t have bought the debt if you didn’t think I was good for it,” he answered, and I could hear the sneer in his voice.
“I believe your father is good for it,” she replied, her words light, teasing.
“You don’t need to involve him,” Ashford responded quickly. Displeasing his father was the only thing that ever seemed to truly scare him. “I’m good for it,” he insisted.
She laughed, that same low-effort, smooth chuckle, and it took everything in me not to look up at her.
“You are a fool, throwing around your newly acquired status like some pubescent, unneutered mutt,” she told him.
“What did you just say to me?” he asked, and I did turn then, to see Ashford step forward menacingly. The woman looked at him like something dirty she had stepped in.
The muscle that had brought us to her stepped forward, too, until she raised her hand calmly to stop them from intervening.
“Don’t,” I said quietly, begging Ashford not to make this worse, just to take the insult, anything, so we could walk out unharmed. I’d beg Alpha Julian for help myself if he were too proud or scared to face his father. I had the distinct feeling that the woman beside me was dangerous but not unfair; we could still walk out of here and go home.
“Shut your mouth,” he warned, his furious eyes landing on me.
“You should listen to the girl,” the alpha woman suggested.
“Please, Ashford,” I begged again and flinched as he raised his hand without warning and swung towards me.
