In my line of work, showing a single second of weakness is the same thing as begging your enemies to slit your throat.

I stood in the center of the grand ballroom, swirling the dark amber liquid in my crystal glass. Surrounding me were the most powerful businessmen, politicians, and pack leaders in the entire city. Soft violin music played from the balcony, but every eyes in the room was locked onto me.

"Mr. Cole, you are looking as formidable as ever," Madison said, stepping into my personal space with a slick, practiced smile.

Madison was a corrupt government official who controlled the species integration board, and I hated every bone in his body.

"Get straight to the point, Madison," I said, my voice low and flat. "I do not come to these galas to waste time on small talk."

"Always so direct, James," Madison laughed softly, taking a slow sip from his own champagne flute. "I was simply wondering how Apex Enterprises plans to handle the new government integration quotas. The board expects full compliance from your pack."

"Apex Enterprises operates strictly within the law," I replied, staring down at him with cold eyes. "The board receives its reports every month. You have no reason to question my pack."

"Of course, of course," Madison said, raising a hand in defense. "No offense intended. But rumors say you are personally resisting the automatic pairing system. Turning twenty eight without a partner sets a bad example for the younger wolves, would you not agree?"

"My personal life is none of your concern, Madison," I warned him, my jaw tightening. "Step out of line, and I will freeze your department funding before midnight."

"Is that a threat, Cole?" Liam's arrogant voice cut in from my right side.

I turned my head slightly to glare at Liam. He was my primary corporate rival, a snake who spent every waking hour trying to find a crack in my armor so he could steal control of Apex Enterprises.

"It is a promise, Liam," I said, turning my full attention toward him. "Did your board finally give you permission to speak directly to me, or are you still running errands for smaller packs?"

Liam laughed, though his eyes flashed with pure hatred. He held a small silver tray with two fresh glasses of high end whiskey.

"Always the arrogant alpha," Liam sneered, stepping closer. "I came to offer a truce, James. We have been at each other's throats for five years. Why not toast to a profitable new quarter?"

"I do not drink with snakes," I snapped.

"Come now, Cole," Madison urged, stepping between us with an annoying grin. "We are all businessmen here. Refusing a simple toast in front of the entire press core will make you look petty. Look at the cameras over there."

I glanced toward the far corner of the hall. Flashbulbs were going off as reporters watched our every move. Showing hostility right now would ruin weeks of public relations work.

"Fine," I said coldly.

Liam handed me a heavy glass filled with aged whiskey, taking the other glass for himself. He raised his drink in the air.

"To the future of Apex Enterprises," Liam said, his smile looking entirely too fake. "May you get exactly what you deserve tonight."

I raised my glass, took a deep drink, and swallowed the smooth liquid in one gulp.

"Satisfied?" I asked, setting the empty glass down on a passing waiter's tray.

"More than satisfied, Cole," Liam murmured, his smile turning wicked as he backed away into the crowd.

Madison let out a dry chuckle and stepped back as well. "Enjoy the rest of the evening, Mr. Cole."

I frowned, watching the two of them vanish into the sea of guests. A strange, metallic taste lingered on the back of my tongue.

Within ten seconds, a sudden spark of intense heat flared up in the pit of my stomach.

My heart skipped a violent beat. My throat felt like someone had poured liquid fire directly down my windpipe. A harsh wave of dizzy paralysis rushed through my veins, making my knees buckle slightly.

"What..." I gasped out, clutching the edge of a high table to steady myself.

My blood was suddenly boiling. The room began to spin in dizzy circles. The cheerful chatter of the ballroom distorted into a deafening, painful roar.

I looked across the room. Liam stood near the entrance, holding a dark glass bottle, watching me with a triumph smile.

They had poisoned my drink. It was not a normal assassin drug. It was a dark, synthetic wolf potion, a heavy toxin designed to strip away an alpha's sanity and force his body straight into an uncontrollable, violent rut.

If I lost control here, in front of two hundred wealthy investors and fifty news cameras, my reputation would be ruined forever. The government would declare me unfit to rule my pack, and Apex Enterprises would fall right into Liam's hands.

"No," I growled through clenched teeth.

"Mr. Cole?" a young female reporter asked, stepping toward me with a microphone. "Are you feeling alright? You look very pale."

"Get away from me," I choked out, my voice sounding rough and metallic as my inner wolf clawed at the walls of my mind.

My vision flared a brilliant, blood red color. My body temperature soared past normal human limits, burning my skin from the inside out. Sweat broke out across my forehead as my claws tried to tear through the tips of my fingers.

I pushed past the reporter, shoving through a cluster of rich executives who gasped in surprise.

"Hey! Watch where you are going, Cole!" a man shouted.

I ignored him completely, my vision darkening around the edges as I forced my paralyzed legs to move. Every step felt like walking through wet cement while lit matches burned under my skin.

"Stop him!" I heard Liam's voice yell from behind me, far away. "Mr. Cole is having a medical emergency! Someone call the guards!"

He wanted to trap me. He wanted security to restrain me so the media could watch me transform into a wild, raving beast.

"Out of my way!" I roared, throwing open the heavy glass exit doors with enough force to shatter the frame.

Cold night rain hit my face, bringing a brief second of relief, but the poison inside my blood was spreading too fast. My wolf was screaming for a mate, demanding raw, wild release to burn away the fever.

I stumbled down the concrete stairs toward my dark sports car. I pulled the driver door open, threw myself inside, and slammed the engine start button.

The engine roared to life. I threw the car into gear and slammed my foot onto the gas pedal, tearing out of the parking lot just as two security guards ran out into the rain shouting my name.

The sports car shot down the highway like an arrow. Rain slammed against the windshield, but my eyes could barely focus on the road. The red glow in my vision was growing thicker by the second.

"Focus, damn it!" I screamed at myself, slamming my fist against the leather steering wheel. "Control it!"

My inner wolf growled back, snapping at my mind. The drug was overriding my brain, erasing my human logic, replacing every thought with a desperate, primal drive to mate.

I could not go home to Cole Manor. Liam's spies were probably already watching my estate, waiting for me to arrive in a helpless state. I needed an isolated place, somewhere off the grid where I could lock myself in a dark room until the toxin burned out of my system.

I yanked the steering wheel to the right, taking the exit toward Sector Four.

My hands gripped the wheel so hard the leather began to rip under my fingers. My breath came in hot, ragged gasps. Sweat soaked through my expensive tailored suit. The burning fire in my blood was becoming unbearable, eating away at my willpower.

Ten minutes later, I slammed the brakes in front of a rundown, dark motel tucked deep behind a wall of tall pine trees. The sign outside flickered faintly in the storm: Starlight Inn.

I killed the engine, tore off my tie, and stumbled out of the car into the mud.

The rain did nothing to cool the burning fire in my veins. My chest heaved as I staggered into the dark side door of the building, avoiding the front office completely.

The carpeted corridor smelled of old dust and damp wood, but as I took five heavy steps down the hallway, a sudden shockwave hit my senses.

I stopped dead in my tracks.

My inner wolf went completely silent, dropping its wild rage in a single instant.

A scent drifted through the dark hallway. It was an intoxicating, heavenly smell of sweet rain, fresh vanilla, and warm, pure human flesh.

It cut straight through the poison in my blood. It called to every deep, primal instinct hidden inside my soul.

My head snapped toward the end of the corridor. My feet moved on their own, completely out of my control. I staggered forward, drawn like a powerful magnet toward the door at the end of the hall.

Room 114.

I stood directly outside the wooden frame, my heart hammering like a war drum against my ribs. The sweet, irresistible scent was pouring through the cracks beneath the wood, driving my wolf into a complete frenzy.

She was inside. The woman my soul had been waiting for my entire life was sitting right behind that door.

When a dangerous monster breaks down your door, you quickly realize that screaming will not save you.

I pressed my back hard against the wall of the small motel room, my heart hammering like a wild bird inside my ribs. The floorboards in the hallway stopped creaking, but the heavy weight outside remained. Through the crack beneath the door, a thick, dark shadow blocked the light.

"Who is out there?" I yelled, trying to make my voice sound steady, but it shook uncontrollably. "I am calling the front desk!"

No voice answered me. Instead, a sharp crack echoed through the quiet corridor.

The heavy wooden door frame shuddered violently. I gasped, dropping my phone onto the thin carpet.

"Stop!" I screamed, taking a step backward toward the small nightstand. "Go away!"

With a loud, horrifying crunch of splitting wood, the deadbolt sheared right off the frame. The heavy door slammed inward, banging against the drywall with tremendous force.

I covered my mouth to keep from screaming.

A tall, massive man stepped over the broken threshold. He filled the entire doorway, his broad shoulders practically touching both sides of the frame. Rain soaked his dark hair, dripping down his strong jawline and onto his expensive, ruined suit jacket. But it was his eyes that made my blood freeze instantly.

They were not human eyes. They glowed a bright, lethal gold in the dim light of the room.

"What do you want?" I cried out, grabbing a glass lamp off the nightstand and holding it in front of me with trembling hands. "Stay away from me! Do not come any closer!"

The stranger did not answer with words. He let out a low, deep growl that vibrated straight through the floorboards under my feet, making the glass in my hands shake. He took a heavy step into the room, kicking the broken door shut behind him.

His nostrils flared as he breathed in the air, his golden eyes locking onto mine with an intensity so raw it made my knees want to give out.

"Mine," he rasped, his voice sounding like grinding stones.

"What?" I stammered, backing up until my spine hit the far wall. "I do not know you! Get out of my room before I scream!"

"You cannot run from me," he growled, closing the distance between us in two long, terrifying strides.

"Stay back!" I yelled, swinging the heavy lamp at his chest with all the strength left in my body.

He moved with frightening speed. His large hand shot out, catching the metal base of the lamp effortlessly in midair. He did not even flinch. With a simple twist of his wrist, he yanked the lamp out of my grip and tossed it onto the bed, ignoring the sound of it landing softly against the blanket.

"Please," I sobbed, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps as he cornered me against the wall. "Please do not hurt me."

"I am not going to hurt you," he muttered, his voice thick and laced with a strange, heavy hunger.

He leaned down, trapping me between his massive arms as his palms slammed against the wall on either side of my head. The sheer heat radiating off his body was staggering. It felt like standing next to a open furnace. Sweat soaked his white shirt, making the dark fabric stick to his broad chest and muscular arms.

"Who are you?" I whispered, staring up at his striking, rugged face. "What is wrong with you?"

"I was poisoned," he choked out, his jaw clenching tightly as if he was fighting a brutal war inside his own mind. "My wolf... it is taking over. I cannot stop it."

"Then go to a hospital!" I pleaded, pressing my hands flat against his iron chest to push him away. "Let me go!"

"I cannot leave," he growled, leaning his face down closer to my neck. He took a deep, shuddering breath, inhaling the scent of my skin. "Your scent... it is burning away the poison. I need you."

"You are insane!" I shouted, trying to wriggle sideways under his arm.

He shifted his weight instantly, blocking my escape route. He brought his large hand down, sliding his fingers gently up my forearm.

The moment his warm skin touched mine, a violent shockwave of electricity surged through my whole body.

I gasped loudly, my back arching off the wall as an unexplainable spark flared in the pit of my stomach. It was not fear. It was a hot, terrifying wave of pure, intense sensation that made my head spin.

His golden eyes flared brighter, his breathing turning ragged as he felt the exact same surge.

"You feel it too," he whispered, his voice dropping to a dangerous, silky rasp against my ear.

"No," I lied, my voice barely a whisper now, my heart beating frantically against my ribs. "This is wrong. You need to leave."

"I am not going anywhere," he growled low in his throat, his warm breath fanning across my neck, making every tiny hair on my body stand on end. "Not until I make you mine."

Surrendering to a complete stranger should feel wrong, but when his touch fires through your veins, your mind completely forgets how to resist.

I leaned back against the wall, my breath hitching in my throat as his massive body pressed closer against mine. The fiery heat coming off his skin was suffocating, yet every nerve in my body was suddenly screaming for him to touch me again.

"Look at me," he commanded softly, his voice low and raspy.

I lifted my gaze, my eyes meeting his glowing golden ones in the shadowed room. "This is crazy," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I do not even know your name."

"Names do not matter right now," he growled gently, sliding his large, warm hand up from my arm to cup the side of my neck. "You feel this spark between us, do you not?"

"I... I do," I admitted, a shiver running down my spine as his thumb brushed against my jaw line. "It makes no sense. I was terrified of you a minute ago."

"Do not be afraid of me," he murmured, leaning down until his lips brushed against my sensitive skin right below my ear. "I will not hurt you. I just need you."

A soft gasp escaped my lips as his hot mouth trailed down my neck. My hands, which had been pushed flat against his chest to keep him away, suddenly clutched the damp fabric of his shirt. I pulled him closer instead of shoving him back.

"Why are you doing this to me?" I asked, my head falling back against the wall as a wave of intense pleasure washed over me.

"Because my soul is claiming yours," he rasped out against my skin.

He did not wait another second. He captured my mouth in a deep, desperate kiss that completely shattered what was left of my self control. The kiss was wild, heavy, and full of raw hunger. I let out a soft moan, wrapping my arms around his broad neck and pressing my front tightly against his hard chest.

He lifted me effortlessly off my feet, carrying me three steps across the room before dropping us both onto the small motel bed. The mattress dipped low under his weight as he settled between my thighs, his golden eyes burning down into mine through the darkness.

"Tell me to stop right now," he growled, his breathing heavy as his hands gripped my waist tightly. "Tell me to leave, and I will force myself out that door."

I looked up into his fierce face, feeling my heart pounding violently against my ribs. "Do not go," I whispered, surprised by my own words. "Stay with me."

A low, victorious purr vibrated deep inside his chest. He reached down, quickly tearing his damp shirt over his head and tossing it onto the floor. My eyes took in his broad shoulders, his dark muscular chest, and the sheer power radiating off him.

He leaned down, taking my mouth again while his large hands slid down the sides of my body. He pulled off my wet jacket, tossing it aside, and reached for the buttons of my top. His fingers were surprisingly gentle for a man so large, unbuttoning the front and exposing my bare skin to the cool night air.

"You are so beautiful," he murmured, his voice thick with desire as his eyes swept over me.

"You are moving too fast," I breathed out, my chest heaving as his warm hands cupped my waist, pulling me higher up on the mattress.

"Then slow me down," he growled softly, placing a line of hot, biting kisses down my collarbone, making my hips lift off the bed on pure instinct.

The dark room seemed to shrink until there was nothing left in the world except the two of us. Every touch of his rough palms against my soft skin sent electric jolts straight through my body. I reached out, my fingers digging into the firm muscles of his bare back as he moved over me with relentless power.

"Look at me while I take you," he demanded, his voice thick with command as he brought his hips forward, aligning his body with mine.

I held his gaze, my fingers gripping his back as a sharp, breathless gasp tore from my throat. The connection was immediate and overwhelming, filling me with a intense heat that made my head spin in dizzy circles.

"God," I cried out, my voice echoing in the small, dark room.

He groaned deeply, his forehead pressing against mine as he began a steady, heavy rhythm that drove all rational thought straight out of my mind. The heavy air was thick with the scent of pine, rain, and raw physical desire. I arched my back, holding onto his shoulders as the wild momentum built higher and higher between us.

"You are mine," he rasped out, his hands slipping under my thighs to hold me tight against his body. "Say it."

"I am yours," I sobbed out, completely lost in the wild storm of pleasure overtaking my senses.

He drove deeper, his pace turning fast and frantic as his inner wolf surrendered completely to the intense peak. I held onto him for dear life, crying out his title as a sudden, violent wave of pleasure crashed through my entire body, making every muscle snap tight before relaxing into deep bliss. He let out a loud, guttural roar into the quiet night, shuddering violently on top of me as he reached his own release.

In the heavy aftermath, he collapsed beside me on the mattress, pulling my soft body tight against his side. His breathing was heavy, and the intense golden glow in his eyes slowly faded back into a warm, dark color.

I lay there in the quiet shadows, listening to the soft rain tapping against the window pane. My body was completely exhausted, but my mind was spinning with a strange emotion I could not explain. I had spent three years with Daniel and never felt a tiny fraction of the wild, soul shaking connection I had just shared with this total stranger.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly after a long silence, his large hand gently stroking my hair.

"I think so," I whispered, resting my head against his bare chest. "It was... intense."

"I know," he murmured, his voice sounding tired and heavy. "Get some sleep. You are safe now."

I closed my eyes, letting the steady rhythm of his heartbeat lull me into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Hours passed in total peace.

When I finally woke up, the faint light of early morning was peeking through the dusty window blinds. The storm outside had passed, leaving behind a clear, pale sky.

I shifted slightly under the heavy white blanket, feeling the warm weight of the man's arm wrapped securely around my waist. He was still sleeping soundly beside me, his deep, steady breathing filling the quiet room.

I turned my head slowly, looking at his handsome, sleeping face. His features were calm now, devoid of the terrifying rage he had carried when he broke down my door. He was strikingly handsome, with a strong jawline and thick dark hair messily resting against the pillow.

"Who are you?" I whispered softly to myself, reaching out a hand to touch his bare shoulder.

As I pulled the sheet down slightly to cover him, my eyes caught a dark mark inked onto the skin of his left shoulder blade.

I froze instantly, my heart missing a heavy beat.

Inked deep into his muscular shoulder was a detailed, terrifying design. It was a massive, roaring dragon wrapped around a dark crown. It was the exclusive mark of Alpha Prime status, worn only by the leader of the most powerful pack in the city.

My blood ran cold as the reality hit me like a physical blow.

This was not a random runaway wolf. This was James Cole, the cold, ruthless CEO I was supposed to report to at eight o'clock this morning.