[Vivian's POV]

"Vivi..." he groaned against my mouth, thrusting deep into me. "Don't marry him. Stay with me."

The words were a bucket of cold water.

Reality crashed into me. I was cheating on the most powerful Alpha in the state.

If Kaelen found out, he wouldn't just kill Leo. He would cut off Sia's funding. He would throw us out.

I untangled my legs from his waist and pushed him away.

"No," I gasped, lips swollen. "No, Leo. I can't."

"We can't do this," I said, voice shaking. I jumped off the desk and smoothed down my scrubs. "I have a daughter. I have a duty. Sia is my life."

I couldn't look at the hurt in his puppy-dog eyes. I grabbed my bag and ran.

[Sia's POV]

The dining room was a cold marble tomb.

I sat at the long table, picking at my toast. My eyes burned from lack of sleep. Every time I closed them, I heard Kaelen's groans in the dark.

I felt dirty. Like a criminal.

"Alpha Kaelen," Mom's voice broke the silence. She sat opposite him, looking tired but determined to be the perfect fiancée. "About the engagement party... maybe keep it small? Just the Elders and family?"

Kaelen sat at the head of the table like a king. He wore a white dress shirt, sleeves rolled up, revealing the powerful arms I saw moving in the shadows last night.

He looked up from his coffee and gave Mom a gentle smile. "Whatever you prefer, Vivian. Theo will handle it."

His tone was polite but dismissive.

I should have felt relieved. Instead, a sick knot of jealousy tightened in my chest.

He doesn't want you, a dark voice whispered. He wants the girl on the video.

I shifted in my chair, trying to cross my legs to ease the ache between my thighs.

Suddenly, a heavy weight pressed against my calf under the table.

I froze.

I glanced up. Kaelen was reading his tablet, looking bored. But under the table, his long leg extended, trapping my ankle against the chair.

It wasn't an accident.

Slowly, his calf slid against mine. The friction of his dress pants against my bare skin sent electricity up my spine.

"The flowers..." Mom continued, oblivious. "Roses or lilies?"

"Lilies," Kaelen answered smoothly, sipping his coffee.

At the same time, his foot moved higher. His shoe nudged the inside of my knee, forcing my legs apart.

My breath hitched. My heart hammered against my ribs.

Stop, I begged silently.

But I didn't pull away. I couldn't.

The sensation triggered a flashback to last night. Me outside his door, legs pressed together, listening to him pleasure himself. Touching myself while he called my name.

Sia... you little torment...

My core clenched. I was wet. Again. Right here at the breakfast table.

Kaelen's foot pressed harder, sliding up my shin with possessive arrogance. He knew.

"Sia?" Mom asked. "Roses or lilies?"

I jumped. "I... I..."

Kaelen looked at me. His golden eyes locked onto mine, burning with dark mockery. He pressed his leg against mine, a silent command to submit.

My hand spasmed.

Crash!

My milk glass tipped over. White liquid splashed across the table and onto my lap.

"Oh no!" Mom stood up. "Sia, are you okay?"

"I'm sorry!" I scrambled back, face burning. "I'm clumsy..."

"Sit," Kaelen commanded. His voice was calm, authoritative.

He signaled a servant. "Clean this up."

Then, he stood and walked to me. He picked up a napkin. I shrank back, expecting a scolding. Instead, he leaned down.

"Careful, Sia," he murmured, voice low and raspy.

He dabbed a drop of milk from my hand. His fingers were hot. As he wiped it away, his thumb lingered, caressing my skin in a slow circle.

It was an intimate, dirty gesture disguised as help.

"You seem... distracted," he whispered, lips inches from my ear. "Did you have a restless night?"

I shivered. He was taunting me. He knew I was listening. He knew why I spilled the milk.

"I have to go," Mom interrupted, checking her watch. "I'm late. Sweetie, can you take the bus to campus?"

I opened my mouth to say yes. I needed to escape.

"No need," Kaelen said, dropping the napkin. "The University is next to my office. I'm heading there now. I'll drive her."

"Really?" Mom beamed. "Thank you, Kaelen! You're so good to her."

She grabbed her bag and kissed my cheek. "Bye sweetie, learn something."

"Bye, Mom."

I watched her leave. I was alone with him.

Kaelen turned to me, a cruel, satisfied smirk on his lips. He held out his hand.

"Shall we, daughter?" he drawled, the title dripping with irony. "We have a long ride ahead."

I looked at the open door, then at the Alpha waiting to eat me alive.

I had no choice. I stood up on shaky legs and walked into the trap.

[Sia's POV]

The black partition of the Rolls-Royce was raised, separating us completely from the driver Beta Theo.

It was just me and Kaelen. The air conditioner was running, but the air felt hot, thick, and suffocating.

I pressed my body as close to the car door as possible. I looked out the window, watching the trees blur by, trying to ignore the massive, predatory Alpha sitting less than a foot away from me.

But it was impossible. His scent, that mix of cedar and gunpowder, filled the small space. It made my head spin. It made my mouth water.

"Did you sleep well last night, Sia?"

His voice broke the silence. It was low and smooth, like velvet wrapped around a knife.

My heart skipped a beat. I didn't dare look at him. "V-very... well, thank you."

"Liar," he chuckled softly.

Suddenly, I heard the click of my seatbelt unbuckling.

I turned around, startled. "What are you..."

"It was twisted," Kaelen said casually. "Safety first, daughter."

He leaned over me.

His broad shoulders blocked out the light. His chest was so close it almost touched my nose. I sensed his cedar scent and was trapped between the leather seat and his hard, hot body.

He pulled the seatbelt across my body slowly. agonizingly slowly.

His forearm pressed firmly against my chest. He applied just enough pressure to make me gasp. The friction of his expensive suit fabric against my thin blouse was electric.

My body betrayed me instantly. My nipples hardened, pushing against the sheer lace of my bra, visibly peaking through my shirt.

Kaelen froze. He looked down, his golden eyes darkening as he stared at my reaction. He didn't pull away. Instead, he pressed his arm a little harder, grinding slightly against my sensitive peaks.

"Ah..." I let out a soft sound.

He smirked, satisfied. He finally clicked the buckle into place, but he didn't move back. He stayed there, hovering over me, his face inches from mine.

"You are very sensitive today," he whispered. His hot breath fanned across my cheek. "Is it because you didn't sleep? I thought you might have heard... strange noises last night."

My face burned.

"The walls in the estate are thin," he murmured, his eyes locking onto my lips. "I hope I didn't keep you up."

He absolutely knew.

I couldn't speak. I just shook my head, my eyes wide with shame and arousal.

Kaelen finally sat back, but he didn't return to his side of the car. He sat right next to me. His thigh pressed firmly against mine, hip to hip. The heat from his leg seeped through my jeans, making my skin tingle.

"So," he said, his tone shifting to casual conversation, though his hand rested possessively on his knee, inches from mine. "What will you study at the University?"

"Biology," I managed to whisper. "I... I want to be a pack doctor. Like Mom."

"A doctor," Kaelen mused. "Then you must know a lot about anatomy. About how the body works."

He reached out and grabbed my hand. His palm was rough, calloused, and scorching hot.

"Tell me, future doctor," he said, pulling my hand toward him. He placed my palm flat against the left side of his chest, right over his heart.

His heart was beating fast. It was powerful, heavy, and erratic. Just like mine.

"Why is my heart racing, Sia?" he asked softly. "Is it adrenaline? Or is it something else?"

I could feel the hard muscle of his pectoral beneath his dress shirt. My fingers trembled. My wolf whined inside me, desperate to touch him more.

"I... I don't know," I breathed.

"Check lower," he commanded.

He slid my hand down. He moved it over his rock-hard abs, letting me feel the tension in his muscles. Then, he moved my hand lower. Toward his belt buckle.

"Why does the Alpha's body react like this when you are near?" he rasped. "My wolf is restless. He wants to hunt."

My hand was dangerously close to the bulge in his trousers. I could feel the heat radiating from him. I was wet. So wet.

My jeans felt uncomfortable against my skin. My scent spiked, filling the car with the smell of vanilla and arousal.

Kaelen inhaled deeply, his eyes fluttering shut for a second. He was enjoying this. He was enjoying my corruption.

"Alpha Kaelen, please..." I tried to pull my hand away.

Suddenly... SCREECH!

The car braked hard.

My body was thrown forward by the momentum.

"Got you."

Kaelen's arm shot out like a steel band. He caught me around the waist before I could hit the partition. He pulled me back effortlessly and unbuckled my seatbelt.

But because of the angle, I didn't land back on the seat.

I landed squarely on his lap.

I was straddling him, my legs open on either side of his hips, facing him.

"Apologies, Alpha!" Theo's voice came through the intercom. "A deer ran onto the road."

"Keep driving," Kaelen growled, not looking away from me.

The car accelerated again, but I didn't move. I couldn't.

I was sitting right on top of him. And he was hard.