Chapter 148: Bold Moves

Amelia's POV

The conference room fell silent as Alexander's demand hung in the air. Every pair of eyes turned toward me, making me wish I could melt into the expensive carpet beneath my feet. I stood awkwardly behind the main conference table, clutching my tablet and trying to look professional despite feeling like a complete outsider.

"Alpha Joseph, I believe Ms. Throne would be more comfortable in your seat," Alexander repeated, his voice carrying that unmistakable alpha command that sent shivers down my spine.

Wait, what? Was he seriously asking another Alpha to give up his seat for me? For an assistant?

The middle-aged man sitting to Alexander's right looked as shocked as I felt. His face flushed with embarrassment as he slowly rose from his chair, eyes darting between Alexander and me.

"Of course, Alpha Westbrook," he muttered, gathering his papers before moving to an empty chair across the table.

Alexander turned to me, his expression completely neutral as if he hadn't just broken every protocol in the werewolf hierarchy. "Sit," he commanded.

I slid into the vacated seat, feeling the lingering warmth from its previous occupant and the weight of everyone's stares. The leather chair was still warm, making me uncomfortably aware that I'd just displaced an actual Alpha.

"I—" I started to whisper, but Alexander silenced me with a subtle shake of his head.

Alpha Diler, the salt-and-pepper haired leader of Azure Lake Pack, was watching me with undisguised curiosity. His nostrils flared slightly – he was scenting me, trying to figure out exactly what I was to the Westbrook Alpha.

The meeting proceeded smoothly despite the awkward beginning. Alexander was in his element, negotiating territory agreements and resource sharing with practiced ease. I took diligent notes, occasionally handing Alexander documents when he requested them. Every time our fingers brushed, I felt that familiar electric current run through me.

Three hours later, Alexander and Diler signed the final agreement. By the time we were saying our goodbyes, darkness had fallen outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Throne," Alpha Diler said as he shook my hand, his grip firm but not threatening. "You must be quite... valuable to Alpha Westbrook."

The way he emphasized "valuable" made my cheeks heat up. I mumbled something about being grateful for the opportunity as Alexander placed his hand on the small of my back, guiding me toward the exit.

Outside, the night air was cool against my flushed skin. My stomach chose that moment to emit an embarrassingly loud growl. I hadn't eaten since breakfast, too nervous about the meeting to think about food.

Alexander's lips quirked up in amusement. "Hungry?"

"No," I lied, just as my stomach betrayed me with another growl.

"Don't worry," he said, his hand still resting possessively on my lower back. "We're heading back to the hotel. We'll have dinner there."

I huffed, still annoyed about his bathroom stunt this morning. "Whatever."

The ride back to the hotel was silent, with Alexander answering emails on his phone while I stared out the window, trying to ignore how good he smelled in the confined space of the car.

Once we reached our suite, I kicked off my heels and made a beeline for the sofa, collapsing onto it with a grateful sigh.

"God, I love this couch," I moaned, closing my eyes and sinking into the plush cushions. My feet were killing me after standing for so long.

"You could buy one," Alexander suggested, loosening his tie as he watched me sprawl across the furniture.

I snorted. "Yeah, right. How much does this thing cost?"

"About fifteen thousand."

My eyes flew open. "Fifteen thousand dollars? For a couch?" I quickly sat up straighter, suddenly afraid I might accidentally damage something worth more than my car.

Alexander chuckled at my reaction. "You work so hard to appear unimpressed by wealth, yet your face gives you away every time."

He settled beside me on the sofa, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from his body. "Are you tired?"

"Just a little," I admitted, trying to ignore how my body instinctively leaned toward his. "Thank you, by the way."

"For?"

"For letting me sit down during the meeting." I rubbed my calves, remembering previous meetings where I'd stood behind him for hours. "The last time, my legs were killing me afterward."

His hand landed on my thigh, and I froze. "If you're so grateful," he said, his voice dropping to that deep, velvety tone that made my insides melt, "what do I get in return?"

I stared at his hand on my leg, watching as his fingers traced small circles on the fabric of my pants. My heart rate accelerated as he leaned closer, his breath warm against my neck.

"You're not very good at showing gratitude, little wolf," he murmured, his lips nearly brushing my ear.

The memory of this morning's bathroom incident flashed through my mind – how he'd left me trembling with anticipation, only to walk away. Anger and desire warred within me.

Before I could overthink it, I lunged forward, pressing my lips against his in a sudden, impulsive kiss. I felt him stiffen in surprise – clearly, he hadn't expected me to be so bold.

For a terrifying second, I wondered if I'd overstepped. Would he push me away? Reprimand me for my presumption?

Instead, his arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer until I was practically in his lap. My legs straddled his thighs of their own accord, and I could feel his hardness pressing against me through our clothes. I tried to ignore it, still clinging to my irritation from earlier.

"Trying to be brave, hmm?" he growled against my lips, his voice rough with desire.

His hand gripped the back of my neck, fingers tangling in my hair as he reclaimed control of the kiss. His mouth moved against mine with practiced skill, demanding and possessive.

I kissed him back with equal fervor, my body responding to his touch like it was made for him alone. My hands clutched at his shoulders, feeling the hard muscle beneath his expensive shirt.

The rational part of my brain was screaming at me to stop, reminding me of all the reasons this was a terrible idea. But with Alexander's hands on my body and his scent surrounding me, rationality didn't stand a chance.

My wolf was fully awakened now, pacing excitedly beneath my skin, urging me to surrender completely to our mate. I felt a low growl vibrate in my chest as Alexander's hands slid down to grip my hips, pulling me more firmly against him.

"Do you know what you're starting?" he whispered against my throat, his teeth grazing the sensitive spot where my neck met my shoulder – dangerously close to where a mating mark would go.

The thought sent a shiver of both fear and anticipation down my spine. I was playing with fire, and I knew it. Here, in another pack's territory, with only Alexander as my protection, I was even more vulnerable to his power. Yet somehow, that only heightened the thrill coursing through me.

"Maybe I do," I challenged, surprising myself with my boldness. My fingers moved to his tie, tugging it loose with trembling hands. "Or maybe I'm just returning the favor from this morning."

His eyes darkened at my words, pupils dilating until only a thin ring of blue remained. The hunger I saw there was primal, possessive – a look that said he wanted to claim every inch of me.

"Careful," he warned, his voice a dangerous rumble. "I'm not known for my restraint, Amelia."

"Neither am I," I whispered against his lips, my heart pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it. "Not anymore."