Claimed By My Cheating Mate’s Rival Alpha Chapter 05

Claimed By My Cheating Mate’s Rival Alpha Chapter 05

SCARLETT

Silas called at dawn.

I was still in bed, still in yesterday’s clothes, my bandaged hand throbbing in time with my heartbeat. I’d barely slept.

“Little one, I’ve got something.” His voice had a hopeful edge to it. “I have news. A northern corporation reached out last night. They want to negotiate for the Blackwood mining shares.”

I sat up. “Who are they?”

“That’s the thing – they’re being secretive. Wouldn’t give me a name. All I know is they’re from the north, they’ve got deep pockets, and they have a hostile relationship with the Crowford Pack.” A pause. “Whoever they are, they’re not afraid of Crowford retaliation. This might be your best shot.”

A northern corporation that had been systematically dismantling Mason’s business empire. I didn’t know who

they were, but I already liked them.

“Set up a meeting. Today, if possible.”

“Sure. I’ll send in the details in an hour.”

I arrived at the meeting’s venue thirty minutes early. It was an expensive lounge. I’d dressed in black, my long hair pulled back into a bun to make me look professional. My wounded hand was wrapped in a silk scarf because it was taking time to heal.

The private room Silas booked wasn’t empty when I walked in. The person was already there.

I felt his presence before I saw him. A prickle at the base of my spine that climbed up my neck, and then the scent -pine, musk, dark cologne-and something underneath that made my wolf slam against my ribs so hard I nearly

stumbled.

The swivel chair turned and I gasped.

Cassian’s cold blue eyes locked onto mine.

No. Not him. Anyone but him.

He was leaning back like he’d been waiting hours. Black shirt open at the collar, tattoo crawling up his neck, dark curls pushed off his face. He looked hot, and I hate that that was the first thing my mind picked out.

“It’s you!” I bit out.

“Yes, It’s me,” He replied coyly with a smirk on his face. Goddess, I hated that smirk. “You look disappointed to see me, Scarlett.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I was expecting a businessman.”

“I am a businessman.” He tilted his head. “Who also happens to be the man who saved your life three days ago. Sit down, Scarlett.”

Every nerve in my body screamed to walk out. My wolf screamed louder to stay.

I sat across him, my spine straight, and my hands on the

table.

His gaze dropped to the scarf around my hand. The smirk vanished.

He took my hand before I could blink-warm fingers unwinding the silk-and when the cut was exposed, his thumb traced the edge of it so gently it made my breath

hitch.

“Who did this?” He asked, in a quiet, dangerous tone.

“It’s mone of your business.” I hissed, pulling my hand back. The places he’d touched burned. “We’re here to talk about my shares, Cassian. That’s it.” 2

He raised his hand to his mouth and licked the pad of his thumb where he’s touched my wound. I should have recoiled, instead I felt heat rush through me. My wolf purred, and I shut her down immediately.

He smiled and leaned back into his chair. But the air

had changed. It was thick now, charged with tension so intense that I could feel it in my lungs.

“Fine. Business.” He leaned back. “You want to sell your shares in Blackwood Mining company, and I want to buy

them. Simple enough, except for the part where this deal puts a knife in Mason Crowford’s expansion plans.” His eyes gleamed. “Last time we met, you were head over heels for your husband.”

I shifted uncomfortably at the mention of Mason.

“So tell me, Scarlett-is this about the money? Or are you trying to destroy your husband?”

“He’s not my husband,” I cut in sharply.

“Is that so?” he cooed.

The circuits in my brain were working. Mason never liked Cassian back when we were in high school. It was almost like he felt they were in competition with eachother. Mason always felt intimidated by Cassian because he was the big, bad wolf everyone feared. He was his rival. because Mason wanted to be like him.

Selling the shares to Cassian will drive Mason insane, and that’s what I wanted more than anything.

I tipped my chin upward.

“This isn’t about revenge,” I said. “It’s about survival, I need to get out of that Pack and I need money to-”

“Liar.”

I stopped.

Cassian leaned forward, forearms on the table, close enough now that I could see the silver flecks in his blue

eyes.

“You’re sitting across from your ex-husband’s worst enemy, trying to sell off the one asset that props up his entire empire, and you want me to believe this isn’t personal?” A slow, dark grin spread across his face.

I opened my mouth to deny it.

Nothing came out.

He stood. Walked around the table. Every step tightened the coil in my chest. I stood as well, to keep as much space away from him but he backed me to the wall instead.

He stopped in front of me, his lips dangerously close to:22

mine. I could feel my heartbeat racing faster.

“You know what I think?” His voice dropped low enough that I felt it in my stomach. “I think you’ve spent six years being the perfect wife, the perfect Luna, letting that man take everything your father built-and you’re finally done pretending it doesn’t make you want to rip his throat

out.”

His hand came up and cupped my chin. I should’ve slapped it away.

I didn’t.

“And I’ll love to join your little game.”

His lips suddenly smacked into mine. My eyes widened.

Cassian was kissing me.

It wasn’t gentle. It was hard and hungry and it cracked something open inside my chest. His hand slid from my chin to the back of my neck and he pulled me into him like he’d been starving for this—and for one devastating second, I kissed him back.

My wolf erupted, and the word echoed through my skull like a war drum.

Mate. Mate. Mate.

Then my brain caught up.

I bit him hard, and blood bloomed between our mouths. He pulled back, eyes dark, chest heaving. He was smiling.

I slapped him.

His head turned with the force of it, and when he looked back at me, there was blood on his lip and a mark blooming red across his cheekbone, and he was still smiling.

“Pervert,” I hissed. My whole body was trembling with fury and something else I refused to name. “Don’t ever touch me again.”

I turned and ran.