Chapter 17

Richard

I stared at the security monitors, fingers impatiently tapping on my desk, waiting for her to appear. When Isabella's slender figure finally walked through the front entrance of Erotic Paradise, an electric current shot through my entire body.

Fuck, she's even more beautiful than I remembered.

Her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, contrasting with her pale skin. The black dress clung to her curves, outlining her slender waist and full hips. My wolf roared inside me, its force so intense I had to grip the edge of the desk to maintain my composure.

She's so perfect. From the first moment I caught her scent, I knew she was different. It had been years since I'd felt this way about any woman.

I leaned closer to the screen, my palm leaving fog on the glass. Isabella approached the reception desk, and Diana's face flashed with contempt. That woman. I made a mental note to address Diana's attitude. No one could make Isabella feel uncomfortable in my club.

Allen greeted Isabella with professional courtesy, good. She deserved respect, especially after Diana's cold treatment last time. As they walked down the hallway toward his office, I leaned back in my leather chair, anticipation humming through my body.

I couldn't stop remembering our first meeting at the Howling Night Bar. I shouldn't have entered Kevin's territory—another Alpha's domain—but Isabella's pull was irresistible.

Kevin might get angry, but I had no choice. My desire for her overwhelmed reason. If necessary, I would challenge territorial rights for her. She was worth any price.

The Howling Night Bar was more casual than my club, less refined, yet filled with the energy of werewolf gatherings. The air mixed with Beta and Gamma scents, but her fragrance—sweet, unique, with a rare component—overpowered everything.

I spotted her behind the bar, her drink-mixing movements graceful and efficient. Even in that tight top and shorts, she maintained a quiet dignity, unlike other servers who seemed subservient, or typical Omegas who cowered. She had an indomitable quality, rare and captivating.

My wolf howled, urging me to claim her. Mine. The impulse shocked me. I struggled to control myself, preventing my fangs from extending or my eyes from glowing. For decades, I hadn't lost control like this. Now I was a mature Alpha, commanding everything, but she reduced me to my primal state.

I left a hundred-dollar bill, knowing the tip would ensure she remembered me. As I left, my wolf protested, unwilling to walk away. Soon, I reassured it. She would be ours.

The memory of that encounter heated my body. I adjusted my position, trying to focus on the documents before me, not the persistent desire.

Her influence was incomparable. I'd known countless women, but none had made me lose control like her. This wasn't merely sexual attraction, but the pull of destiny.

The file on my desk recorded her information: Isabella Hart, 18, only daughter of low-ranking Omega parents from Forest Domain. Working at the Howling Night Bar and Twilight Café, studying business management at Silver Moon University, living in New Moon Apartments—a rundown place.

Her appearance in my club, Kevin's bar, Michael's university wasn't coincidence. Fate delivered her to all three of us, waiting for us to discover her uniqueness.

I hadn't told Michael and Kevin all the details. They knew she worked and studied, but not how deeply connected she was to all three of us. This concealment was necessary. Too much information might trigger competition, even conflict. Golden Omegas were extremely rare, perhaps only one per generation.

The office door swung open, and Michael strode in, golden eyes flashing with excitement.

"Is she here?" he asked, heading straight for the whiskey bottle.

"She's finalizing paperwork with Allen," I answered, closing the file. "Where's Kevin?"

"Smoking outside," Michael poured himself a drink and offered it to me.

"No thanks, I want to stay clear-headed," I declined.

He chuckled, sitting down. "She works two jobs while studying? Impressive."

"Too demanding for her," I said, feeling protective. "If she becomes our mate, she won't have to work so hard."

I would give her a good life, free from financial worries, from enduring drunk customers' harassment. I would teach her to be our mate, worthy of our respect.

"What else do we know?" Michael asked, swirling his glass.

"An orphan, parents were low-ranking Omegas, from a remote village. Commutes forty minutes to school. Lives in a broken-down apartment in the East District, almost no social life."

She was lonely yet strong, this contradiction fascinated me. Her wildness and independence perfectly balanced. I'd never met a woman like her.

"You called her yourself?" Michael asked.

"Of course," I felt slightly annoyed. "This matter is too important."

She deserved my attention. She wasn't an ordinary member, but our future.

"Tonight's plan?" he asked.

"You approach her first," I said. "Your professor manner will relax her. She'll be nervous, you're the least intimidating."

Michael excelled at lowering Omega defenses. His gentleness masked his wildness. His eyes flashed with slight dissatisfaction, but he didn't argue. "And then?"

"Don't rush," I warned. "Build trust first, don't mention bonding or marking. She's just come of age, inexperienced. We must take it slowly."

Impatience would frighten her away. She needed time to adjust to our power, to this longing. We must be patient, despite my wolf wanting to possess her immediately.

The monitor showed Allen's office door opening. Isabella stepped out, slightly dazed but determined. Her dress revealed her neck and collarbone, making my wolf salivate, wanting to leave a mark there.

Her skin looks so soft. I imagined my teeth piercing her delicate flesh, marking her, hearing her moan beneath me. Control yourself, Richard.

"Your turn," I told Michael. He finished his whiskey and stood up. "Don't fuck this up. We can't make mistakes."

He smiled, showing fangs. "Don't worry, I want her just as much. My wolf has never desired anyone so intensely."

I understood. Since smelling her scent, my wolf had been obsessed. It had already recognized her—our perfect mate. This wasn't just physical attraction, but a resonance of souls.

"Good luck," I told him as he reached the door.

"Don't worry, I'll share." The door closed, leaving me with the monitors.

Michael excelled at first contact; Kevin would provide security when she was vulnerable. And I would guide her to become our mate. She was our bond.

I watched the screen, her black hair gleaming in the light, my eyes flashing red. My wolf paced impatiently, counting seconds.

Soon, little wolf, I silently promised, you'll understand what you mean to us.

Tonight was just the beginning.