Chapter 7: Sweet Temptation

I had just finished handling some pack business, ensuring everything was in order before I could finally search for my little troublemaker of a mate. She had a way of finding herself in the most chaotic situations, and somehow, I wasn't even surprised anymore. My mate wasn't the type to quietly stand by, that was for sure.

As I stalked through the halls, following her scent, I felt my wolf stir with anticipation. Something was happening—something that piqued my curiosity. Then, rounding the corner, I found exactly what I expected: my mate in yet another confrontation. But this time, the scene that greeted me wasn't just any ordinary altercation. She was standing toe-to-toe with Latisha, the woman who had been assuming for far too long that I would make her Luna.

Latisha had this foolish idea that because I'd been with her, I'd choose her as my mate. She had been sent by her father under the guise of "benchmarking," but we all knew better. It was a political move to appease me because of the debt her father's pack owed mine after I'd helped them fend off a war. I tolerated her presence, but to think she actually believed she could be Luna? Laughable. Most of my pack didn't even like her—she was only tolerated because of the contract between our packs.

And now here she was, looking ready to snap at my mate, who stood across from her, confident and unyielding. I stopped in my tracks, staying in the shadows, watching the scene unfold. Latisha was glaring at her, frustration etched across her face.

"You got lucky," Latisha spat, her voice trembling with poorly concealed anger. "If I'd been ready for you, you wouldn't have stood a chance. Drake would never—"

"Drake would never what?" my mate interrupted smoothly, raising an eyebrow in challenge. She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head slightly, the picture of calm dominance. "Choose me? Because from where I'm standing, he's already made his choice."

I smirked, unable to hide my admiration for her boldness. She had a fire that couldn't be extinguished, and it only fueled my desire for her more.

Latisha's face paled, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. She was grasping for some sort of retort, some comeback that would give her control over the situation again. But it wasn't happening. My mate had already stripped that power from her the moment she spoke.

My mate took a step closer, narrowing the space between them, and I could feel the tension in the air grow thick. "Let me make something very clear," she said, her voice steady, calm, yet deadly serious. "Whatever game you think you're playing, it's over. Drake is mine, and you'd better get used to that fact. He's not interested in your little theatrics."

Latisha's face flushed a deep red, equal parts embarrassment and rage, but she didn't speak. She couldn't, not after that. She turned her gaze down, gripping the edges of the couch in front of her as if it were the only thing keeping her from collapsing.

I watched the entire scene play out with a sense of pride swelling in my chest. This was my mate. This strong, fearless woman who wouldn't back down, not even in the face of the pack's most persistent hanger-on. Latisha had never stood a chance, and now she was learning that the hard way.

My mate turned away from Latisha, her head held high. She didn't need to glance back to know she had won. As she walked toward me, I leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed over my chest, a smirk playing at the corner of my lips. "You handled that well," I chuckled, my voice low and amused.

She shrugged, brushing it off like it hadn't been a big deal. "She's not worth the effort."

I pushed off the wall and stepped forward, closing the distance between us in a few strides. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?" I teased, my voice dropping lower as I reached her. "First you knock her out, and now you walk in here like you own the place."

She met my gaze, her eyes gleaming with challenge. "Maybe I do," she replied with that same defiant tilt of her head. "After all, isn't that what being the Alpha's mate means?"

Her words sparked something darker in me, something primal. My wolf stirred at the edge of control as I stepped even closer, my hand brushing lightly against her arm. The familiar jolt of electricity that always came with touching her shot through me. "Careful," I warned, my voice husky and thick with desire. "You're playing with fire."

Her gaze didn't waver. I could see the battle she was waging, the tension between wanting to challenge me and holding back. She was playing a dangerous game, and she knew it—but that only made her more intoxicating.

"Well," she said, breaking the tension between us with a small step back, "I'll just have to make sure I don't get burned."

I chuckled, unable to hide the amusement in my eyes as I watched her—so fierce, so unyielding. That fire in her gaze always managed to spark something deep within me. She stepped closer with that same determined look, grabbing me by the collar of my shirt and yanking me forward with surprising strength. My breath caught for a moment, and I felt a rush of surprise—along with something darker, something more primal. Desire, maybe. But I wouldn't let her see that. Not yet.

Her voice was sharp and cutting as she spoke, "I better not have to deal with any more of your bimbo girlfriends," she said, her tone low and commanding. "And as for the one I've already dealt with? You're going to have to work hard to get back on my good side. She's ruined my opinion of you."

I raised an eyebrow at her boldness, but before I could respond, she released my collar with a shove and spun on her heel to leave. For a split second, I let her go, enjoying the sight of her fiery determination. But then, with a smirk, I reached out, my hand wrapping firmly around her arm and pulling her back to me. I wasn't ready for her to walk away—not like that.

Her eyes flashed when she turned to face me again, a challenge in her gaze. I could see the defiance burning there, the same defiance that made me want to push her, to test her limits. My smirk deepened as I leaned in close, my voice dropping to a husky whisper that I knew would send a shiver down her spine. "And what would it take to get back on your good side?" I asked, my breath warm against her skin. "Maybe a kiss?"

She arched an eyebrow, not breaking eye contact, and let the silence stretch just long enough to drive me crazy. She was playing her own game now, and I could see that she wasn't going to make this easy for me. Not that I expected her to.

"You'll have to earn it," she replied, her voice cool and measured. She pulled away from my grip, letting her hand trail lightly down my chest before stepping back, leaving me standing there—wanting more.

Her parting words were a challenge in themselves, delivered with a teasing wink. "Let's see if you're up for the challenge."

I watched her as she turned and walked away, her slow, deliberate strides telling me everything I needed to know. She knew exactly what she was doing—and she knew exactly how to leave me intrigued, frustrated, and craving more.

The game was on. And I was more than ready to play.