278 Temptation and Threats

    Vander

    We had barely settled in when five women from Goldenpeak showed up at the door, bncing trays of sweets and desserts with forced smiles. But it was clear they weren’t just here to deliver food.

    They were dressed to audition.

    Short skirts, glossy heels, pantyhose held up by suspenders, the whole performance.

    They reminded me, ufortably, of the first time I met Martha. She’de to my hotel room, asking if I needed anything. She knew she was beautiful–and she used it. At the time, I’d checked into a different hotel without Natasha. I needed space. Katya and Natasha had been driving me to the edge, smothering me with guilt and judgment.

    I felt like s**t for leaving. But I was drowning.

    Then Martha knocked on my door.

    She didn’t flirt like the others. Not at first. There was desperation in her smile–like she was trying to y a role she hadn’t rehearsed. I saw through it. She didn’t belong in that world. And when she hinted that she’d sleep with me for money, I didn’t send her away. Not because I wanted what she offered, but because ! couldn’t shake the feeling that something was deeply wrong.

    I was right.

    When she finally opened up, told me why she was doing it, my heart broke. She was cornered. Trapped. And I helped her–no strings. Just the raw human instinct to protect someone who needed saving.

    God, I wish she had told me then what ric was doing to her. I would’ve ended him on the spot. No

    hesitation.

    “Do the Alphas need anything special?” one of the girls asked, pulling me back to the present.

    She was the prettiest of the group, and she knew it. Her voice dripped honey. Her eyes locked on mine. She was trying hard–too hard.

    “We’re all married,” I said tly, before Rowan could open his mouth. Didn’t matter if he agreed or not.

    Their faces faltered. One by one, the seductive charm cracked.

    But the lead girl didn’t back down. She stepped closer, tilting her head slightly.

    “Whatever happens in Neev stays in Neevi,/ii” /ishe said, voice low, eyes still on me.

    I didn’t blink.

    “Not this time,” I said. “Tell whoever sent you: we’re not interested.”

    Because this time, I had everything I wanted–and no interest in throwing it away.

    “It’ll be in your best interest to leave,” I told her, voice calm but hard. “Tell your pimp there’s no business here.”

    She blinked, mask slipping for just a second. I linked Lucian and told him to give them something–for their trouble. He didn’t question it. Quietly, he handed them an envelope with enough cash to match what they would’ve earned doing what they were sent to do.

    Their faces lit bup /binstantly–bexcept /bbfor /bbtwo /bbof /bthem bwho /blingered a beat too long, eres du

    bYeah/bb, /bbthey /bbhad /bbthat /beffect.

    bLucian /band bDan /bbdidn’t /beven have bto /bbtry/b. Girls their age–hell, even older–bgravitated /bbtoward /bthem. It reminded me bof /bmyself at their age. Back when every woman I crossed paths with looked at me like I was the bonly /bman in the room.

    Not much had changed, really. But I wasn’t avable–and I sure as hell wasn’t the type to keep a mistress.

    “Thank you, you may leave now,” Denis sald firmly, peeling one persistent hand off his arm. She pouted bbut /bbacked off, and the girls finally filed out, heels clicking down the hall.

    The air felt lighter once they were gone.

    Not long after, the Alpha of Neev arrived with his father. As they entered, I scanned the boy’s face–he didn’t look anything like the man beside him. Must’ve taken after his mother.

    I expected tension. Awkwardness. Maybe resentment. But the older Alpha greeted me with warmth I didn’t

    deserve.

    I stood and shook his hand, introducing my sons, Denis, and Rowan. He looked them over with a nod of

    approval.

    “It’s good to see this mystery finallying to an end,” he said. “ric brought shame to my territory. That kind of darkness festering under our noses… unforgivable.”

    His voice held steady fury. I respected that.

    He assured me that his son–the current Alpha–would give us whatever support we needed. The boy nodded, though he looked stiffb, /bunsure. Still too green to hide it.

    Then he spoke. “You haven’t funded our Military in three months. We’re dangerously under–equipped. And Lucian-” he nced at him-“you’ve blocked weapon shipments.”

    Lucian stayed calm. “I had my reasons. But once we clean up this ric mess, I’ll fix it. You’ll get everything

    you need.”

    Alpha Smirnov nodded, satisfied. But his son was still uneasy. I could see it in his eyes–the fear of a fight he wasn’t sure he could control.

    “No civilians will be harmed,” Lucian said, cutting through the tension. “You have my word.”

    That seemed to settle the younger Alpha, at least for now.

    They stayed a while longer–exchanged pleasantries, offered more support. Then they left, leaving us alone with the weight of what wasing.

    Lucian and I cleaned up, got dressed, and decided it was time to visit Katya. Darian asked toe along, and I didn’t object. Denis had been there when Katya told the truth–he deserved to see this through. And Rowan? Well, leaving him alone at the hotel with all those Goldenpeak girls eyeing him like candy was just asking for trouble. Whether he liked it or not, this was a family affair now.