Chapter 87

The idea of seducing the Alpha just to get under Erin's skin excites me far more than it should. For a long time, I have been trying to suppress my attraction to the Alpha. Does she even have the slightest idea how difficult it is to ignore my mate? I smirk at the thought of pissing that woman even more.

“Dara? Are you still awake?” I ask when she suddenly goes quiet.

There’s no answer, so I believe she is already sleeping. Taking a deep breath, I decide to call it a night as well. But then, I can’t sleep with so much overthinking about my plan.

Later that night, after the entire packhouse falls silent, I quietly slip out of my room. I know exactly where to find him.

Alpha Cassian always leaves his late-night meetings through the west corridor just before midnight. He's painfully predictable when it comes to his routine. Tonight, however, his routine is about to include me.

If I can't become his Luna, then I can certainly make life difficult for the woman who believes she already owns that title.

The corridor is deserted when I arrive. Moonlight streams through the stained-glass windows, painting the stone floor with silver and blue. I position myself against the wall and wait patiently.

I don't wear anything scandalous. Just a thin nightdress that drapes softly over my body, modest enough to pass as sleepwear but fitted enough to catch the moonlight in all the right places. The slit along one side brushes against my thigh whenever I shift my weight, and the fabric clings just enough to leave very little to the imagination.

Now...

All I have to do is wait.

A few minutes later, steady footsteps echo through the corridor.

Right on time.

My heartbeat quickens despite myself. I know this is reckless. I know I'm deliberately provoking a man who has every reason to punish me.

Still...

I don't move.

Cassian rounds the corner, and the instant his eyes land on me, he stops. His jaw visibly tightens. "Vivienne,” he says.

I smile as though we've simply run into each other by chance. "Good evening, Alpha."

His gaze flickers over me in one swift glance before returning to my face. The look is brief, almost disciplined, but not brief enough to hide the tension that flashes across his expression. "Shouldn't you be in your quarters at this hour?" he asks, glancing at the watch on his wrist.

I push myself away from the wall. "I could ask you the same thing," I reply with a small smile. "Long meeting?"

He doesn't answer. The silence tells me everything. He's already annoyed. Isn’t it perfect for my plan? I close the distance between us one slow step at a time.

"You look tense, Alpha Cassian."

"Vivienne," he warns.

I just ignore the warning and when I finally reach him, I lift a hand toward the collar of his shirt as though I'm brushing away an invisible speck of dust. It's an innocent gesture. Harmless.

At least…it starts that way.

My fingertips trail lightly down the front of his shirt before I let my hand linger for just a heartbeat too long. His reaction is instantaneous.

One moment I'm standing in front of him. Next, my back is pressed firmly against the stone wall.

A startled breath escapes me as his hand closes around my waist, holding me in place while the other braces against the wall beside my head, trapping me without hurting me. His face is only inches from mine.

"You think this is a game, Vivienne?" he says, his voice low and dangerous.

I lift my chin and meet his eyes without looking away. "No," I answer quietly. "But I do know who's losing."

His expression hardens. "You're playing with fire."

A faint smile tugs at my lips. "You really think so?”

His jaw flexes. His eyes search mine with an intensity that steals the air from my lungs, and for the briefest second, I wonder if his control is finally going to snap. Instead, he abruptly releases me. I stumble a single step forward before regaining my balance.

"Stay away from me, Vivienne," he says sharply, his voice rough with restrained emotion. He turns and starts walking away. "Or else–”

I fold my arms across my chest. "Or else what, Alpha?"

He doesn't answer. He keeps walking without looking back. I watch him disappear around the corner, and a slow smile spreads across my face. There’s no way he is leaving just like that.  I'm not done yet. Not even close. However, I must not be so careless in executing my plan so I just let him go.

For now.

“Good night, Alpha,” I whisper into the wind before going back to my room.

The next morning, I wake up with a clear goal in mind. My plan is already in motion, and I'm determined to see it through.

The memory of Cassian pinning me against the wall last night still lingers vividly in my mind. Every time I replay it, my pulse quickens. For all his Alpha authority, icy commands, and infuriating self-control, his body betrays him for a split second.

And that…that is exactly the point. I'm not chasing love. I'm not dreaming of becoming his Luna. I'm chasing results and last night, I got one.

Sooner or later, Erin is going to notice. When she does, she'll be furious enough to realize that making an enemy out of me comes with consequences, and the thought alone is enough to make me smile.

“It seems you had a very good night sleep last night,” Dara mumbles while she is fixing her blanket.

“Good morning, Dara.”

Her eyes are full of suspicion when she looks at me. “Did something happen last night, Vivienne?” she asks.

I pout. “Why do you ask some weird questions this morning?”

"You're... glowing," she says, one eyebrow arching.

I grin. "Hmmm…Dara, do you happen to have a dress I can borrow? Something you don't wear anymore?"

"A dress?" She blinks several times before walking toward her cabinet. "I think I do."

She rummages through a stack of neatly folded clothes before pulling out a garment wrapped in cloth. "My ex-boyfriend gave this to me," she explains. "I never wore it because it was far too daring for my taste. Do you want to see it?"

I nod eagerly. She unfolds the dress, and my lips immediately curl into a satisfied smile. It isn't overly revealing. Delicate lace frames the neckline, while the fitted silhouette hugs the body just enough to draw a second glance. The hem falls well above the knees, making it bolder.

"It's perfect," I say almost immediately.

Dara stares at me like I've completely lost my mind.

"Vivienne... are you sure?" She holds the dress against me before shaking her head. "It's really short."

I take it from her hands and admire it against the light. "It's really perfect, Dara!"

She lets out a weary sigh. "For the hundredth time," she says, "don't play games with Alpha Cassian unless you're prepared to get burned."

I chuckle and carefully fold the dress over my arm. "Dara," I reply, turning toward her, "I know exactly what I'm doing. You don't have to worry about me."

"How can I not worry?" she asks, exasperated. "You're provoking the Alpha... and Erin!"

I shrug. "Are you really that afraid of her?"

She looks at me as though I've asked the most ridiculous question imaginable. "Aren't you?"

"No."

The answer comes so easily that it surprises even me. Dara's expression only grows more troubled. "You still need to be careful though," she says quietly. "When it comes to Alpha Cassian, Erin is unbelievably territorial."

I frown. “I got that, alright?”

She hesitates before continuing. "Several maids have disappeared over the years."

I look up sharply. "What?"

"They weren't accused of stealing. They didn't break any rules." Dara lowers her voice until it's barely above a whisper. "Their only mistake was smiling at the Alpha... or catching his attention for a little too long."

The teasing smile slowly fades from my face and for the first time since hatching this ridiculous plan… I wonder just how far Erin is willing to go.