The air feels heavy, charged with tension as his lips hover just above my neck.

"We shouldn't be doing this," he mutters, his voice thick with restraint.

My lips curl into a small, teasing smile as I meet his gaze, my fingers already working their way over his chest.

"Don't you want to know what it feels like to ruin a virgin?" I whisper, my words bold and unashamed.

Something in his eyes shifts. The hesitation fades, replaced by raw desire.

In a single move, he pushes me down. The thin straps of my flimsy cotton dress falls away as he tears the fabric from my body, leaving me bare under him. His hands cup my breasts, kneading one as his mouth finds the other.

His tongue circles my nipple before sucking deeply, sending shivers down my spine. I gasp, my hands gripping the sheets as he trails kisses lower and lower.

By the time his mouth reaches my core, my breathing is shallow, my body trembling. He spreads my thighs, lowering his head, and the first swipe of his tongue over my clitoris makes me cry out. The room is quiet save for the wet sounds of his mouth and my moans echoing into the dead of night.

He works me with precision, alternating between sucking and flicking his tongue until I’m writhing beneath him, my hands clutching at his hair.

He finally pulls away and climbs back over me.

My chest rises and falls with every ragged breath, but I don't hesitate. My hands move to his pants, pulling them down. His thick length springs free, and my eyes widen slightly as I glance up at him.

He positions himself between my legs, guiding himself into me. Slowly, he pushes inside, and I moan as I stretch to accommodate him.

As his movements begin, my hand slides under the bedcover. My fingers wrap around the hilt of the knife hidden there.

My eyes darken, but my face remains soft, even as I tightens my grip. Just as he thrusts deep, my arm shoots out.

The blade sinks into his chest, his body jerks, his eyes widen as he looks down at me in disbelief. A strangled gasp escapes his lips, blood spilling from the wound, hot and sticky, pooling over my hand and staining the sheets.

I stare at him, my breath shallow, my heart hammering in my chest.

And then it's gone. The blood, the knife, his body, it all vanishes, like smoke dissipating into the air.

"Hello? Earth to Nadeleine?"

I jerk out of the vivid daydream, blinking as Kareem waves a hand in front of my face, his brow furrowed with concern.

"You okay? We're almost there," he says, nodding toward the mansion looming in the distance, its shadow cutting against the moonlit sky like a jagged promise.

My lips press into a thin line. My pulse is racing, but I mask it with a smirk.

"I'm fine," I say, adjusting the strap of my dress and stepping out of the car with a measured grace. "I hope you're ready."

Kareem raises a skeptical brow. "Me? Ready?

You're the one who-"

"I'm always ready," I cut him off, my voice firm, unwavering.

As we approach the grand estate, I can’t help but think to myself, this is it. The beginning of the end.

My fingers curl into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms.

Nothing will stand in the way of my revenge.

I nod at Kareem, a wordless signal that I’m good from here. He understands, silently gets into his car and drives off. I’m now left alone.

The mansion is lit only by the moon. There are no lights on, I’d take that as an indication that he’s asleep since he’s all alone in that huge house, but nothing is ever predictable with this man.

I take in a deep breath as slip through the iron gates, my steps careful and deliberate. It’s almost too easy, like he’s daring me to attempt another step.

This isn’t just any mansion, I could die on these grounds. It belongs to the Alpha of the Blood Moon pack a man who’s whispered about with reverence and fear, it’s almost a sin to say his name out loud.

My mission’s simple in concept but not really in execution; I have to seduce him.

It’s the only way to get close enough to uncover the secrets buried within these walls.

I’d overheard the Beta's message. A woman is to be sent to the Alpha, chosen for one purpose: to serve him, body and soul. The Alpha hasn't found his mate, and his Beta, convinced he needs someone to ease his burdens, has made the arrangement without his knowledge.

The instructions were clear: the woman is to stay by the Alpha's side, no matter what. If she dares to leave, she would pay with her life, courtesy of the Beta himself.

My fingers tighten around the stolen key as I replay the Beta's chilling words in my mind.

I didn't kill the intended girl, I’m not that far gone. But I’ve locked her away, making sure no one will find her. This is my chance, my way in. And if everything goes according to plan, I will be the one to destroy them from within.

The house is quiet, unnervingly so, as I slip inside. The hallways are cavernous, my footsteps are soft against the polished floor, my breathing controlled.

I’m here for one man, and I know exactly where to find him.

My fingers brush along the wall, searching for my way in the dark, when an iron grip latches onto my waist. I barely have time to gasp before I’m slammed against the wall with enough force to rattle my bones.