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Mask and moonrise - Chapter 19



Chapter 19

Sion carefully tiptoed to the door and opened it cautiously pushing Safia behind him.

 

Thankfully it was nobody that he expected. The maid walked in with a glass of milk on the tray. “Ma'am wanted to have milk before going to bed. Have a great night.” She wished both of them and closed the door behind her.

 

Sion released the breath that he didn't know he was holding till then. He stared back at Safia for a few more seconds with anger and walked out of the room.

The door closed with a thud. Sion didn't know Safia was still on the call. 

 

“It was not a mistake, Levis, but a blunder. What you were about to do to me can be forgiven but not forgotten. Since you are my childhood friend, for the sake of our long friendship, I will pardon you.” Safia would not have given Levis a second chance in a normal situation, but she put herself in his shoes for a moment. If what he did was wrong, then what she did to Sion by giving unwarranted information to the bartender was also wrong. However, he had forgiven her and accepted her back.

 

“We all make slips when we are not in our right state of mind. But I hope you will not repeat this mistake again in the future.” She took a long, deep breath to pacify her chaotic thoughts.

 

“Regarding marriage, I can't develop any feelings for you. You have always and only been my friend. It has been seven years. I know it is foolish, but I didn't move on after Guild. I agreed to this wedding with Sion because it has no psychological involvement. It is only on paper to save my company.” Safia clarified everything to Levis, but was he satisfied with the information she gave him?

 

“I don't think Sion is as green as grass. He has feelings for you, and that is why he helped you by investing in your company. But on the other hand, if he really loves you why did he torture you to hell. There is something more which we do not know.” Levis tightened his hands into fists in anger, providing Safia with vital information about Sion.

 

For a moment, Safia didn't know whether to cry or laugh. If Sion really had feelings for her, he would not call her names like "whore" and a woman coming from "rags." He had left no chance to verbally and physically abuse her. He had clearly mentioned on the first day of their marriage that he married her purely out of revenge, the reason for which was still unknown to her. Levis was right. There is something more mystical regarding this marriage. 

 

However, Levis didn't need to know all that. It was something between her and Sion. “Everything that we see is not what it looks like.” Safia simply added.

 

“Is it? Sion told me even if you pay him, he will not divorce you unless he is done with you. Do you still say he has no feelings for you?” Levis questioned, with an irk in his voice.

 

“What?” Safia lost her balance and fell onto a chair behind her in shock. The words Levis spoke were something she never expected.

 

“Yes, you heard it right. He doesn't want to set you free even if you clear all his dues. He asked me to stay away from you. I promise you, unless I eliminate this fucker from your life, I'm not going to sleep peacefully.”

 

Safia stood in silence, speechless. She ignored Levis's words but dwelled on the thought of staying married to Sion. It was the last thing she wanted. All this while, she had satisfied herself with the pep talk that one day she would clear his loan and be out of his life. But it seemed like that day would never happen.

 

After a lot of thought, she called her lawyer and sent him the contract she signed with Sion.

 

A few minutes later, after analyzing the terms in detail, he called Safia back. “Good afternoon, Ma'am. I studied the contract. On the face of it, once you clear the dues of Mr. Sion Canes, you can file for a divorce. Nevertheless, if he doesn't want to divorce you, you will continue to be his legally wedded wife, because divorce happens on mutual acceptance. At the end, a piece of advice as your well-wisher: Winning against Sion Canes is not easy in court because of the reputation and power he holds in the country. When you can’t win over a person, you have to let things happen with peace and harmony. This is the only thing that I can suggest to you.”

Sophia’s toes curled in worry as she finished the call and walked back to Sion’s office. “Where were you? I called twice to your intercom, but you wouldn't lift the call. Find out where you have placed the file containing Enrique's deal with us. I need it immediately.”

 

“I got a call from my father. It was an emergency. So I had to take it. I'm sorry,” Safia lied, speaking absentmindedly.

“Is everything okay?” Sion immediately took his eyes away from the computer and asked her with concern.

 

“Yes, everything is fine. Did you finish the deal with the Stans?” Safia handed him Enrique's document after placing all the files neatly in one of the shelves in his office.

 

“No, I couldn't. You were drunk yesterday and sick. I did not want to leave you until you were normal.” Sion spoke, studying the file in his hands.

 

Safia only nodded. “Thank you for staying back and looking after me.”

 

“You don’t have to be so formal. We have long crossed that line,” Sion said, turning the pages of the file he was reading.

 

“I ordered dinner. Let's eat together,” Sion spoke from behind when Safia took her purse to buy something to eat.

 

“I'm not feeling too hungry. I would buy something light,” Safia spoke, her eyes glistening from the earlier conversation she had with the lawyer.

 

Sion went around his large work desk to reach her. He was about to hold her hand for comfort, but she shivered with fear, taking two steps back before he could reach her.

 

Sion was heartbroken. The last thing he wanted was for Safia to fear him. “You have not had your breakfast in the morning and you say you will eat something light for dinner. If you eat like this, you are surely going to fall sick. I ordered dinner for both of us. Eat as much as you can.”

Safia knew he wouldn’t take a negative from her. The dinner in the night went on in silence. Sion was observing her features, which were glum. She refused to return his gaze. Sion was filled with questions and concerns. “What's bothering you, Safia? Can you talk to me?”

 

She didn't answer. She simply ate, her eyes downcast. Sion’s gut told him something was terribly wrong, something that went beyond their usual bickering. His werewolf instincts were screaming that his mate was in distress, a deep, soul-shattering distress. He was a werewolf, an alpha, and he could feel her pain as if it were his own.

 

He pushed his plate away, a low growl rumbling in his chest. “Did you talk to someone about us?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

 

Safia's head snapped up. Her eyes, filled with tears, met his. She didn’t have to answer. Her expression was all the confirmation he needed. The wolf in him was rising, a protective, possessive rage that was hard to contain.

 

"Who?" he snarled, standing up, his large frame casting a shadow over her. "Who did you talk to, Safia? Levis? Was it that rogue who is trying to turn my pack mate against me?"

 

"He's not a rogue! He's just Levis, my old time friend!" she screamed, her own wolf howling in response to his rising fury.

“He is a rogue, and he’s after you!” Sion roared, his eyes flashing to a ferocious gold. “He is not trying to clear your debts. He is trying to claim my mate!"

 

He grabbed her, his hands on her upper arms, pulling her to him. She didn't struggle. She was terrified, but her wolf was also responding to his dominance, to his raw, animalistic need to protect her.

“I’m not a monster, Safia. I'm not a beast. I'm your mate. We are bound to each other, whether you like it or not. I'm going to prove to you that he is a rogue, and when I do, you will never see him again.” He released her, his eyes still burning with a dangerous gold. He looked at her, his voice softening, a plea in his eyes. “Please trust me. Just this once, trust me.”

 

He was her mate. Her true mate. But he had been a monster to her. He had hurt her with his words. And now, he wanted her to trust him? Safia didn't know what to do. The choice was between the man who had hurt her but was her mate, and the man who was her childhood friend, her only hope for a better life. She had to choose. But she was in an impossible situation.

 

And then, she heard the sound. Not a voice. But a telephone ring. Who was it?







Chapter 20


Before Safia could ask anything, both of them heard his telephone ring. “Yeah, I will be coming.” Sion replied to the speaker. After finishing the call, he seemed excited. “Ms. Stan invited us to her house. They are hosting a Christmas party tonight where she will give us the signed documents for the ranch.” he said with triumph.



 



Safi simply nodded, her expression still sad. “You may go. I'm not feeling well.” Her eyes were trained on her fork and knife, which were playing with one another.







It was confirmed. Something was not right. Sion slowly walked to Safia so that she didn't freeze with his proximity. He held her lower arm with one hand and lifted her head with the other, his fingers on her chin. “What is wrong with you? You know, finding out is not difficult for me. But I want you to tell me everything yourself.”







For the first time, Safi saw affection in Sion's eyes. For the first time, she heard him speak softly to her. For the first time, she felt they were something more than a couple on paper.



 



“Levis said you will not divorce me even if I pay you back my company’s dues. Did I hear that right?” Safi asked, her innocence showing.



 



The passion in Sion's eyes was replaced by a cold stoicism. “Did you talk to him again? Didn't I tell you to stay away from him?”



 



There was a hint of warning in his words, but Safi was no scapegoat. She was a spitfire who wouldn't succumb to challenging circumstances. 







“Who are you to tell me whom to speak to and whom not? I had a life before I met you, and I have friends and well-wishers in it. You can't stop me from speaking to people just because you don't like them. Levis is my friend, and he will stay my friend.”







“A friend who tries to exploit you with every opportunity he gets and blames it on alcohol. Am I right?” Sion cleaned his hands with a napkin, his eyes fixed on hers.



 



“Your contract says I can't have a boyfriend and I can't date. But it doesn't prohibit me from talking to a man. Your statement sounds like you're abandoning me from society as if I am an alien who has no right to live here.” Safi lifted her hands in the air, going hyper.



 



“Stop talking about the fucking contract every time you get an opportunity.” He pulled out a drawer from his desk, showed her a document, and tore it to bits.







“Happy? Now you and I are not in a contract marriage. You are mine forever, and you don't have to pay me anything for your company. I don't make deals with my family.” His words were placid on the surface, but there was a storm raging within them.



 



Safia stared at him, flabbergasted. Her skin turned pale with shock. Words were locked in her throat. Did he just tear their marriage contract? What is she going to do now?



 



Sion knew he wasn't a man of many words, but he hoped his actions would speak loudly. Can't she see the affection hidden in his eyes? She's a stupid girl chasing a jackal when the lion is behind her, ready to bring the world to her feet. Little did she know she had him wrapped around her finger for the last eight years. "I thought..."



 



“What did you think? Stop talking nonsense. Is living with me so painful to you?” He yelled, but there was a sorrow etched behind his voice. “You want to know what I said to Levis ? I will not divorce you even if you pay me back my dues. You will stay with me as my wife until our hair turns gray. You want to go to court, prove this is a contract wedding, and divorce me? Go on. I'm ready for it. But like a soothsayer, I will tell you the result beforehand. You will lose the case because the lawyers, the court, and the judiciary of this country feed on the biscuits I throw for them every month.”







Safia burst into a loud cry. “Then why don't you start fucking me? Isn't that why you married me? I'm a whore, right? And I slept with hundreds of men in the past. Go on. Use me. I surrender.” She started undoing the buttons of her blouse while wailing.



 



“Silly girl, you get me out of my wits at the drop of a hat,” he muttered, and stopped her fingers from working on her buttons. Holding her upper arms, he pulled her to his chest and hugged her.



 



“I'm not going to fuck you. I will only make love to you, and I will wait until the day you're ready for it.” He released her from his embrace, held her chin between his fingers, and kissed her lips.



 



Safia’s loud cries turned to soft whimpers as she leaned back into his chest, wetting his shirt with her tears, while Sion continued to run his hands on her back.







True to her word, Safia did not go to the Stans' house. She couldn't watch Tisra flirt with Sion right before her eyes.



 



Sion arrived at the Stans’ house a little late, because he was not interested in going anywhere without Safia but for the sake of the deal. By that time, all the guests had already left. “I'm sorry for being late. My car broke,” he lied.



 



“It is okay. Unexpected situations happen sometimes. We are glad you made it despite the problem,” Cara spoke spiritedly.



 



Just then, there was a huge, painful shout followed by a cry. Cara rushed inside the kitchen, from where she could hear Tisra. Sion closely followed her. “Mom, the water jug dropped from my hands and I slipped on the water.”



 



Sion lifted her into his arms to carry her to the bed. Tisra bit her lip and held his collar, her eyes filled with lust.



 



"I need some bandages," Tisra said, her voice a seductive whisper, as she deliberately leaned her head against his chest.



 



Sion's nostrils flared. His werewolf senses, heightened by the presence of another female, picked up on the scent of her fear and her desire, a potent, dizzying mix. The girl was clearly feigning the injury, but the real, acrid scent of a werewolf was thick in the air. He knew that scent. He had smelled it on her mother. But it was stronger now, closer.



 



"I can call a doctor for you," he said, his voice clipped, trying to maintain his composure. His wolf was on high alert, his instincts screaming at him. He set her down on the bed and turned to leave, but Tisra grabbed his arm, her nails digging into his skin.



 



"Don't go, Sion. I need you," she pleaded, her eyes fixed on him.



 



Just then, a figure stepped out of the shadows, a powerful, dark silhouette that made the air feel thick with a primal energy. It was a man, tall and muscular, with eyes that glowed a fiery red. He was an alpha, a rogue alpha, and the scent of him was pure, unadulterated danger.



Tisra and Cara froze, their faces a mask of fear.



 



“Why are you here? You always come at the wrong timing and unwanted call.



The air crackled with a powerful, dangerous energy. The stage was set for a battle of blood and dominance






Chapter 21


“I won't let you mate with another Alpha. You are mine.” The wolf growled.

“I was never in love with you. Why do you keep chasing me?” Tisra yelled at him.

Before Alpha Sedan could reply, there was a scent communication between both the Alphas that nobody there could receive.

"You've been a busy wolf, haven't you, Sion?" the rogue alpha snarled, his eyes fixed on Sion. "First you come onto my territory, then you try to take my mate. You have a lot to answer for."

Sion's wolf took over, a low, dangerous growl tearing from his throat. He had no idea who this alpha was, but he had just challenged him, and there was only one way to respond to a challenge.

“I told you I am not here for her. This is only a business deal. If she has feelings, she will soon realise I am not for her. I am not here for a war and I am already a married man.” Alpha Sion’s eyes turned red in communication.

“Then why don't I see that promise in your mate’s eyes? I smell trouble.”

The seriousness in the tone of Sion got naughty. “That's just a tease between the two mates. Ignore it.”

Alpha Sedan was satisfied with the reply of Sion. He gave a strict glance towards Tisra. “I see you flirting again with another male, you are in for a lot of trouble “ He warned and left in a whoosh before Tisra could reply.

Cara beamed at Tisra with a knowing smile, but Sion was oblivious to their silent conversation. He still felt bad about Tisra's "accidental" fall in the kitchen—a clumsy slip she'd orchestrated to get closer to him. Sion, in his naivete, genuinely believed she had sprained her ankle.

"You should've watched the floor," he said, feigning concern. "How did you even manage to knock over the water jug?"

"I was just trying to get the fish fingers out of the pan," Tisra explained, her voice syrupy sweet. "My hand slipped, and I hit the jug."

"Oh, my baby, you didn't need to hurry," Cara cooed, stroking Tisra's hair. "Sion would've stayed longer. He's a good man, and he likes you."

"Tisra is absolutely smitten with you, Sion," Cara continued, a manic gleam in her eyes. "She's an innocent girl, not like the others. She's been so excited ever since we invited you. I'm just so glad my daughter has finally found a kind and understanding man to be her better half."

Sion bit his tongue, suppressing a sarcastic remark about her "innocence." He had dealt with clingy women his entire life, but Tisra's blatant flirtation, even in front of her mother and Sedan, her mate, was a new low. His respect for his father was the only thing keeping him here, a man who believed in doing business face-to-face. He just wanted to get the contract signed and leave.

He had already done his homework on the Stans. He knew Cara had a heart condition and not long to live, and he'd pegged her daughter as pretty but dim-witted. His plan was working perfectly. By pretending to want the ranch, he was now being handed the vineyards as well—a surprise "gift" from Cara, who wanted to secure a future for her daughter before she was gone.

The papers were signed, and Tisra, thinking she had finally gotten her man, lunged at Sion whispering, "Congratulations, honey. You get the vineyard along with Rancho. My gift."

Sion's demeanor changed instantly. He knew what was coming all the way and sneered, a deep growl rumbling in his chest.

The polite facade he'd been wearing for days melted away, replaced by something dark and menacing. His polite blue eyes hardened into a sinister, predatory gaze, and his fingernails began to elongate, becoming razor-sharp claws.

"I have tolerated enough of you buzzing around me like a lazy mosquito," he snarled, the sound now more growling than a human voice. "I am a married man. Safia is my wife. Now get the hell out of here!"

Tisra froze, her eyes widening in terror as she saw the true face of the man she thought she had snared. The man standing before her wasn't a man at all. He was a creature of the night, a beast with a bloodlust she had no hope of escaping. She stumbled backward, bumping into her mother, who stood frozen in place, a look of pure horror on her face.

“So you're just like Sedan, a werewolf. We have been cheated.” Cara cried. The room fell silent, the cheerful atmosphere of a signed contract instantly replaced by the oppressive weight of a predator’s snarl. The air crackled with a primal energy that had Tisra and Cara clutching each other in a silent, petrified huddle.

Sion’s transformation was not a full shift, but a controlled display of power—a chilling promise of what was to come if they didn't heed his words. His knuckles, once smooth, were now ridged with bone and covered in a fine layer of dark hair. His teeth elongated into canines that glistened in the dim light of the living room.

“Who played with whom, both of us know. I was here only for a business deal.” He took a menacing step forward, and the two women scrambled backward, overturning a small table with a vase of wilting flowers. The delicate porcelain shattered on the hardwood floor, the sound a stark contrast to the guttural growl that escaped Saul's throat.

"You thought you were so clever," he said, his voice a low, gravelly rasp. "A couple of hungry jackals trying to trap a lion. But I wasn't just here for the vineyards. This was a message."

He lifted his hand, the long claws now fully extended, and pointed a single digit at the contract on the table. "You believe I'm a mere businessman. You believe my power comes from money and influence. Those are only tools." He paused, a cruel smile stretching his lips, revealing the point of a fang. "My power comes from this."

A tremor of fear shot through Cara's frail body. "Wha-what are you?" she stammered, her voice a thin, reedy whisper.

"I'm a lot of things," Sion chuckled, the sound devoid of humor. "A husband. A businessman. A crime lord. And yes, a werewolf."

Tisra, finding a shred of courage, spoke up. "You... you're one of the Blackbloods." Her voice trembled with a strange mix of fear and recognition. She had heard the stories, the hushed whispers of the true rulers of the underworld. Not men with guns and gangs, but monstrous creatures who moved in the shadows, their empires built on a foundation of fear and sheer brute force. The Blackbloods were a legend, a myth to keep lesser criminals in line.

Sionl’s smile widened. “Bingo, little dove.”

"This was solely about the land," Tisra said, her mind racing to connect the pieces

Sion stopped smiling. The word "land" hung in the air, a bell telling a dark truth. His predatory eyes scanned the room, no longer focused on the women. He wasn’t looking at them, but through them. His senses, now heightened by his partial shift, were reaching out beyond the walls of the ranch, tasting the night air.

The contract he had just signed was not the end of his deal, but the beginning. The Stans had been a means to an end. Their land was strategically located, a perfect staging ground for his next move.

Sion turned toward the sound, a feral grin spreading across his face. "The game is on," he whispered to the women, his voice a chilling blend of excitement and menace







Chapter 22

The complete atmosphere fell in silence after the ladies heard Sion’s paroxysm. It wasn't human. It was the low, dangerous growl of a predator. A wolf's snarl, raw and untamed. Cara stared at him, her face a mask of shock.

"All that 'hunky-funky' business with Tisra was just for a contract?" Her voice, normally as gentle as a summer breeze, was a low growl.

Sion’s feral laughter stopped abruptly. His head snapped up, eyes glinting with a dangerous light that promised retribution. He was a purebred Alpha, and they were mere omegas in his pack's territory. "Hunky-funky? I never crossed the line with your daughter. I was always pulling back, trying to escape her. She was the one clinging to me like a vine, shamelessly flirting in front of you." He took a menacing step closer, the air crackling with his suppressed power. "Hasn't your daughter ever seen a man? It's time she finds one, if not for companionship, at least to quench that desperate thirst."

Tisra’s chin rose, her composure gone, replaced by a fierce rage. "Enough! I've tolerated your disrespect long enough. Who are you to tell me what to do with my life? I'm not dying for a man just because I'm not married! You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth—you have no idea what responsibility is! You bluff your way through everything. I have a sick mother to look after; I can't just abandon my ranch and our pack's heritage."

At Tisra's words, the men outside, who were standing guard for Sion, stormed the house. They leveled their guns at the women, their bodies, their scent a mix of human sweat and something else... something feral. Tisra's heart hammered against her ribs as she recognized the scent of another wolf pack, an unsettling mix of human and beast. Her own suppressed instincts screamed at her to flee, to shift, to defend herself and her mother.

Sion’s eyes held a cruel, mocking pity as he looked out the window. "I see. You're taking very good care of the ranch and winery." He said, his voice a low purr. With a subtle flick of his finger, the bodyguards lowered their guns, though their hostile gazes never left the women. "I don't bluff, Ms. Tisra Stan. Every moment is precious. I'm a busy man, and I only talk about business."

With a fluid, graceful movement, Sion reached into his expensive jacket and pulled out a fountain pen. "I've shown you respect all this time, but you have crossed a line. And yes, despite everything that happened here, I respect your mother for her age. That's the only reason you are still in one piece."

"Enough of your lectures!" Tisra snarled, tears of fury welling in her eyes. "Get out of my house!"

A conceited sneer twisted Sion’s lips. "This place now belongs to me. So I'm not the one who's leaving. You are."

"What are you talking about? We only leased the winery, not our home!" Tisra’s voice rose, a raw, angry octave.

"Ms. Tisra, I wonder if you read the entire contract before talking nonsense. Within a one-kilometer radius on all sides of the vineyard, every piece of land belongs to me, from today onwards. Your house is on that land. If you have any doubt, go get a tape measure. I’m open to any negotiations if the deal falls through otherwise." His words were firm, the cold logic of a werewolf businessman clashing with the primal rage simmering beneath his skin.

Sion took her silence as an opportunity to continue. "Normally, I don't give people much time to vacate a property. You should know that I'm being very liberal here because your mother is sick and you have no one to help." His tone was slick, his hands in his pockets, exuding a silent but powerful dominance that made Tisra's inner self tremble.

Cara couldn't meet his gaze, feeling the overwhelming pressure of his power. He was a true Alpha, a leader of his pack, and they were nothing but lowly omegas in his sight. "I'll give you a week to vacate this house. Here is the bank check for the lease my company decided to pay you." He scrawled his signature, the motion practiced and precise.

He gestured to one of his men, who handed a file to Ms. Stan. "The sale proceeds of the wine will be mentioned clearly in the legal document you will receive every month. We are a rational pack; we do fair business. The money will be deposited into your bank in the first week of every month. For any questions, you can consult my administration staff."

"Give her the manager’s card." Sion commanded, before walking out of the house with a powerful, confident stride. His eyes, a chillingly cold blue, held the absolute power of an Alpha.


***

"Good evening, dad. I've secured the deal with the Stans," Sion said nonchalantly into his phone as his car sped away from the ranch.

"That's great news. Why are you sharing it so dryly? It was almost an impossible task for our men, which is why I had to send you. But I always had the confidence that you would succeed. Well done, son," Karen replied, his voice filled with pride.

"I leased the winery for a hundred years, and the sale proceeds will be split 60:40. We will get 60%," Sion explained, lighting a cigarette.

"Why the lease? We could have just bought it," Karen asked, surprised.

"That vineyard is not just for business. It's a heritage for them. Their generations have poured their energy and time into it. We shouldn't just show them our money and take their land. It would be an injustice. Their sentiments are tied to it, and I didn't want to break them."

A tense silence fell over the line. "I hear your words, but the one speaking in your head is that girl. You married her to save her hereditary business, and now this deal... I see a lot of similarity between both. Don't let her rule your mind. She was a headache to us earlier, and she will be now, too. I was dead against you marrying her. Anyone would stay away from their enemy, but you put her right under your roof. I wonder what goes on in your mind."

Suddenly, Sion’s hand crushed the lit cigarette he was holding, the faint smell of tobacco replaced by the sharper scent of singed flesh. He ignored the pain. His father’s words had a more devastating sting than a thousand burns.

"I never married her," Sion’s voice was a low growl, laced with venom. He took a deep breath, fighting to keep his composure. He hadn't wanted this to come out, not like this. Not ever. "The woman I married was for a contract, a business deal. Nothing more and nothing less.”

“Oh, I see. You can't lie to your dad. But I trust you. Like always you will find victory in your personal life too along with the family business.” Karen had a double timing.

Sion didn't like his father looking at the wound he tried to conceal from the world. Was he so expressive? His knuckles went white as his grip tightened on the steering wheel. He slammed the phone shut, leaving Karen with a chilling silence.







Chapter 23


Sion's abrupt end of the call didn't give good vibes to Karen. He knew his son was not happy and he wanted to know about it.

His dad rang again. What does this old man want?

"Hope you're not going to give me a heart attack by making that contract marriage a permanent one.” Karen's voice was a low growl on the other end of the line, a sound that always made a knot tighten in Sion's gut.

Sion's heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic rhythm that matched his father's heavy breathing on the phone. The silence stretched, thick and suffocating.

"I never said 'no' to anything you wanted," Karen continued, his words sharp as claws. "That's why she's still breathing. Otherwise, she would have been buried six feet under for everything you suffered because of her. You were insistent on marrying Safia and—"

"How is mom?" Sion cut in, unwilling to rehash the same painful discussion. They'd had it countless times before his marriage, and his father's constant negativity about Safia was something he couldn't stand, even if he understood it. His family had been deeply affected by her betrayal. That was the primary reason for this marriage in the first place: revenge. If his parents hadn't been involved, maybe he could have forgiven her.

But the more Karen dug into her past, the more he had to hold back. There were too many inconsistencies, too much shadiness even from the little she'd revealed.

"She's fine, sleeping," Karen said, refusing to drop the subject. "You have no idea about the grief we suffered the day you were admitted to the hospital. The doctor gave us no hope. We almost thought we lost you. It must be the result of our past lives' good deeds that you came back to us."

"I know, Dad, what you and Mama went through is unimaginable," Sion said, massaging his temples. It was an uphill battle trying to convince his father. "You've been kind and understanding about my decisions, both in business and in my personal life, and I'm grateful for that. But sometimes, what we see isn't the whole truth. My intuition tells me we might be wrong about Safia."

"What do you mean?" Karen’s voice was laced with shock. "Don't tell me you've fallen in love with her again after she nearly sent you to the grave."

A strange calm settled over Sion. "I think she's innocent. She still loves Guild Wade. It's been seven years, but she can't bring herself to marry another man."

"What?" Karen was completely stunned.

"You heard me, Dad. I think she was kept in the dark about everything that happened in the past." Sion exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Then why don't you tell her everything?"

"Not yet. I need to know what she knows about Guild Wade first. He's the grey area of her past, and she refuses to talk about him. I'm waiting for the day she opens up to me."

Sion laid out his new plan, a slow-burn revelation that made his father's anxiety climb.

"How is your marriage with her? Are you happy? We're worried about you."

"Not as bad as I thought it would be, now that I know she still loves Guild. I think I can give this a chance."

Karen was silent for a long moment, a sudden headache splitting his temples. "Scan every detail about her with a fine-tooth comb before you come to a conclusion."


***

At the penthouse

Safia sighed, her fingers tapping impatiently on the phone. "Hi, Tyla, how's dad? He always says he's fine so I don't stress, but I want the truth. It's been two months now. I thought my work with this man would be over sooner, but it seems fate is not on my side."

Tyla's laugh echoed through the line. "What is this Sion Canes like, the man who made a sudden, remarkable entry into your life?"

Safia rolled her eyes. "Well, to start with, he's a minion from Hades who doesn't know how to smile. The guy who can fill a person with every intense emotion in one shot is a major prick."

Tyla howled with laughter. "Excellent explanation in two simple sentences. Is he not home that you're showering him with such affectionate words?"

"Thankfully, he's not," Safia said wryly. "He went to seal a deal, the reason we came here in the first place. Stan's daughter, Tisra, is head over heels for him, and he won't tell her he's married to me because the deal is more important to him than his wife's feelings. He's happy to give her what she wants because he's having fun in the process."

Safia fought back a sob. "I'm just a deal for him. Purely business, no feelings attached. He's probably already… you know." Her voice cracked. "He's the rudest, most reckless, meanest, most selfish, and disrespectful evil man I've ever come across."

"Hmm, is that so?" Tyla's tone was teasing. "You're afraid of the dark, but you don't mind living under the same roof with this stranger. You kept Levis, your friend since diapers, at a distance, saying you weren't over Guild. But you didn't hesitate to travel for 42 hours in a private chopper with this handsome alien. Three thousand feet above the ground, flying between clouds, with no one else around... Aren't you afraid he might harm you?"

Safia didn't have an answer. She wasn't afraid of him. Not like she should be. In fact, a flicker of something she couldn't name had started to stir within her.

"Tyla, I—"

"Don't lie to me, Saf. You're falling for him. You just haven't realized it yet."

Safia's heart sank. She was about to deny it when a new sound made her gasp. The unmistakable roar of a wolf, a guttural sound of rage and pain, tore through the air from the woods just beyond the house. It was close. Too close. The call was answered by another, and then another, a full-throated symphony of howls that made the hair on her arms stand on end.

Her gaze was drawn to the large window, where the moon was rising, a perfect, luminous orb in the sky. It was a full moon. She hadn't realized.

Suddenly, a massive, midnight-black wolf burst from the treeline, its eyes glowing with a terrifying amber light. It was heading straight for the house, its powerful legs eating up the ground. Right behind it, a second, smaller wolf, the color of rust, was in hot pursuit, snapping at its heels. The first wolf, the black one, was snarling, a sound that somehow seemed both animal and deeply human, as it slammed its body against the window. The glass held, but a web of cracks spread out from the point of impact.

Safia stumbled backward, the phone still clutched in her hand. The black wolf reared up on its hind legs, its front paws pounding against the glass, its amber eyes locked on her. A low growl rumbled deep in its throat, a sound that somehow felt familiar. Her mind raced, a frantic search for any logical explanation.

Then, the black wolf shifted its gaze from her to the full moon overhead. Its body relaxed, a deep vibration beginning within its massive frame.

Safia's breath hitched, her eyes wide with a mixture of terror and disbelief. The beautiful wolf with the amber eyes... Was it… changing? A final, guttural scream tore from the black wolf as its body contorted, twisting and elongating. She couldn't watch, but she couldn't look away either.

Just as the transformation seemed to reach its horrifying climax, a blinding flash of light erupted from the wolf's body. When the light faded, the black wolf was no more. In its place, standing in the moonlight, was a naked man.

And it was Sion.

“Who was the smaller wolf behind you? Why was he chasing you” Safia couldn't hold back but asked.

“He is my beta Albert.”

“Why was he chasing you?”

“He wasn't chasing me. He was providing me security when the other wolf got distracted with a female wolf around. That's how you heard the angry howls. This is very common in werewolves. Through the scent they recognise their mate. And when they find one, they can't control their instincts.” Sion was reminded of his own feelings for Safia.

On the other side Safia was in a turmoil of her own thoughts. Did he hear her friend through his werewolf instincts?

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