Chapter 47 – A Deal with the Devil**

Morning arrived in a quiet hush, sunlight pouring through the expansive windows of Xavier’s mansion. The storm of the previous days had settled, but an underlying tension remained—unspoken, heavy, lingering like a predator in the shadows.

Raine stirred awake, stretching against the silk sheets. The events of yesterday flashed in her mind—the battle, the blood, the way everything had shifted. But today wasn’t about reflecting. Today was about moving forward.

A knock at her door pulled her from her thoughts.

“Get up, princess,” Ivy called. “We’ve got plans.”

Raine groaned but didn’t argue. She dragged herself from bed, heading for a quick shower. By the time she emerged, dressed in a sleek black dress that hugged her figure, Ivy was already in her room, scrolling through her phone.

“What plans?” Raine asked, slipping on her heels.

Ivy smirked. “Business, obviously. Xavier and Reed are downstairs, already making deals and playing power games.”

That piqued Raine’s interest. Xavier’s world fascinated her—wealth, strategy, and dominance. She followed Ivy downstairs, her curiosity sharpening.

\---

The mansion’s grand living area was bathed in morning light, the high ceilings and marble floors giving it a modern, powerful aesthetic. At the long dining table, Xavier sat with effortless authority, dressed in a crisp white button-down, the top few buttons undone, hinting at muscle and heat beneath. His golden eyes flicked to her as he sipped his black coffee, an amused smirk tugging at his lips.

“Ah, Sleeping Beauty joins us.”

Raine rolled her eyes but took a seat across from him. “What’s going on?”

Xavier leaned forward, setting his cup down. “A meeting with a very influential businessman today. Someone who’s been watching us closely.”

Reed, dressed in a sleek black suit, stood near the windows, speaking into his phone in a low, clipped tone. His usual easygoing demeanor had hardened.

Raine narrowed her eyes. “Who is it?”

Xavier’s smirk deepened. “Adrian Moreau.”

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Ivy inhaled sharply. “Moreau?”

Raine glanced between them. “Who is that?”

Ivy’s voice was clipped. “A billionaire investor. Ruthless. Dangerous. He doesn’t make deals unless there’s something in it for him.”

Xavier twirled a silver pen between his fingers. “Moreau wants a partnership with me. But I want to know his real angle.”

“Are we going with you?” Raine asked.

Xavier smirked. “Oh, you’re definitely coming, little wolf. Let’s see how he reacts to unexpected variables.”

\---

The high-rise building where the meeting was held exuded exclusivity—polished black floors, sleek decor, and a private lounge that overlooked the entire city skyline.

Adrian Moreau was already waiting when they arrived. He was a tall man, early forties, with slicked-back dark hair and ice-blue eyes that carried an unsettling calm. He wore an expensive charcoal-gray suit, the kind that screamed control.

Xavier took a seat across from him, radiating unbothered confidence. Raine sat beside him, while Ivy and Reed remained standing, their presence silent but commanding.

Moreau’s gaze flickered to Raine.

“So,” he mused, voice smooth, “this is the girl everyone’s whispering about.”

Raine tensed slightly but kept her expression unreadable.

Xavier’s smile was razor-sharp. “She’s none of your concern.”

Moreau chuckled, slow and knowing. “Relax, Xavier. I only meant that your circle has changed. Quite interesting, really.” His attention returned to Raine. “You must be special to earn his protection.”

Raine met his gaze evenly. “I don’t need protection.”

Moreau smirked. “Good answer.”

The conversation shifted to business. Moreau wanted to invest in Xavier’s growing empire, offering resources and connections that could make expansion easier. But there was something in his voice—something calculated, as if he were leading them into a trap.

Xavier played along, sharp as ever, but Raine could sense his caution.

Then Moreau leaned back, swirling his whiskey glass.

“There’s one condition,” he said smoothly.

Xavier raised a brow. “I don’t do conditions.”

Moreau smiled, slow and cold. “You will, for this one.” He set his glass down, locking eyes with Xavier. “I want to meet her.”

The air thickened.

Raine’s stomach tightened.

Xavier’s entire demeanor shifted—his relaxed arrogance vanishing, replaced with something lethal. “Not happening.”

Moreau’s smirk never wavered. “Oh, but I think it will. Because if you don’t let me meet her, Xavier, I’ll make sure every enemy you’ve ever had knows exactly where you are.”

Ivy moved closer to Raine, her body tense. Reed’s fingers twitched—ready for a fight.

Xavier’s expression darkened. “You don’t want to do that, Moreau.”

Moreau only chuckled. “But I do.”

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a sleek black phone, and slid it across the table.

A single name was displayed on the screen.

Raine’s blood ran cold.

Her vision blurred for a second as she read it.

**Lucien Wolfe.**

Kieran’s older brother.

A man who was supposed to be dead.

Her breath hitched.

Moreau smiled. “Shall we talk about him?”

\---

Raine couldn’t move, couldn’t think.

Lucien Wolfe was dead. Everyone knew that. His disappearance years ago had been one of the biggest scandals in werewolf politics. No one had seen or heard from him since.

And yet—his name was right there.

Xavier’s jaw tightened. “Where did you get that name?”

Moreau took a slow sip of his drink, eyes glinting with amusement. “Come now, Xavier. You don’t really think a man like Lucien just… vanishes, do you?”

Silence stretched.

Raine’s pulse pounded in her ears.

Moreau leaned forward, his voice smooth as silk. “He’s alive. And he’s been watching.”

Raine exhaled shakily. “That’s impossible.”

Moreau’s gaze flicked to her, assessing. “Oh, I assure you, my dear, nothing is impossible in our world.”

Xavier’s fingers curled around the armrest of his chair. “What do you want?”

Moreau smiled. “That’s the right question.” He lifted his glass in a mock toast. “I want access to your network, your businesses. And in return, I’ll give you something valuable.”

Xavier’s voice was ice. “Which is?”

Moreau’s smile sharpened. “The truth about Lucien Wolfe.”

Another long silence.

Moreau leaned back, looking utterly at ease. “Or, of course, you could refuse. But then I wonder… how long it’ll take before Kieran learns the same truth?”

Raine’s stomach twisted.

Kieran. If he found out that his older brother—the heir he had never been able to live up to—was alive… it would change everything.

Xavier exhaled slowly, gaze like fire.

“I’ll think about it.”

Moreau smirked. “Of course. Take your time.”

But everyone in the room knew—time was running out.