Chapter Eleven

Ares

Tick tock, tick tock.

The ticking of the wall clock echoes through my office, a relentless reminder of the silence that fills the space. I swirl the whiskey in my glass, the ice cubes clinking against the sides as I savor the amber liquid.

The scent of oak and vanilla from the candle sitting in the corner of the office permeates through the air, a comforting aroma that eases the tension in my shoulders. I take a long sip, shutting my eyes, feeling the warmth spread through my chest, and letting the momentary peace wash over me.

"Drinking alone? That's not like you." Henry's voice cuts through the stillness, his tone laced with a hint of concern.

I open my eyes to find him leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. His gaze is fixed on me with an intensity that borders on scrutiny. His sharp jawline and piercing eyes seemed chiseled from granite, a testament to his unyielding nature.

I raise my glass in a silent toast, my black eyes locking onto his. "Care to join me, Henry? It's not every day I indulge," I offer, jutting my chin toward the half-empty bottle of whiskey.

Henry's expression remains impassive, his eyes never leaving mine. "No thanks. I think I'll pass."

"More for me then. Your loss," I shrug, pouring myself another glass. The whiskey glows like liquid gold in the dim light of my office. Henry takes a seat in the chair across from my desk, his gaze never wavering, his eyes boring into mine like a drill.

"Why the fuck are you trying to stare a hole into me, Henry?" I snap, feeling a spark of irritation ignite within me.

Henry's expression remains neutral, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Oh, I don't know, Ares. Maybe I want to know why my best friend is getting wasted at noon with a pile of work sitting on his desk that is about to bury him alive."

I raise an eyebrow, my eyes narrowing. "I wouldn't call it wasted, Henry. You, of all people, know my alcohol tolerance is off the charts."

Henry's gaze is unflinching. "Semantics. You're avoiding the issue."

I lean back in my chair, my eyes locked onto his, my mind racing with the weight of my responsibilities. The silence between us grows thick, a palpable tension vibrating through the air.

I avert my gaze to the window beside me. The setting sun casts a golden glow through the windows, illuminating the dust motes that dance in the air.

My office, with its dark wood paneling and leatherbound books, is always a sanctuary, a refuge from chaos.

But lately, even the familiar comforts of my domain can't ease the restlessness that has been growing inside me, along with a sense of discontent that threatens to consume me whole.

I take another sip of my whiskey, the liquid burning a path down my throat.

"Semantics," I repeat, a wry smile twisting my lips, which curve upwards in a devilish grin. Only Henry has the courage to call me out on my own bullshit. I exhale sharply, rubbing my face roughly with my hands, feeling the stubble on my chin.

Fuck! I can't stop thinking about her. The girl I met in the garden. I can still vividly remember all that transpired between us. Is this what it feels like when you meet your perfect bond but don't get to keep her? I have never felt the primal urge to possess someone.

And it wasn't just me—my wolf felt the same way. She had soft lips and curves that could drive any man crazy. Her scent was a heady mix of roses and sweet berries, and it still lingers in my nostrils, driving me wild, something that has never happened before. It took every ounce of my self-control not to fuck her that day. Actually, I probably would have if we weren't interrupted.

Those cherry lips of hers were just begging to be claimed. Teasing me. I could still feel the soft lines that accentuated her firm stomach, the sharpness of her hip bones, the delicate texture of her thighs, and the way she desperately ground on my knee, leaving behind a trail of wet stains.

I'm very certain she was starting her heat. That explained how good she fucking smelled. I grind my teeth hard, her moans flashing through my mind. Fucking hell.

That was the sexiest shit I had ever done in my life. It was spontaneous, sudden, intense, and unlike me .

I remember the flush on her cheeks and the way she hid her face in the crook of my neck, avoiding any sort of eye contact. Was that the first time she had engaged in that sort of activity with a man?

Shit. A feeling of possessiveness spreads through me. The thought of me being the only man to have seen her in that way is very appealing and dangerous. Because I wouldn't want to see her near anyone else.

I remember the gaze in her eyes when I grabbed her hair and forced her to look at me for a split second. Fear? Excitement? Anticipation? I couldn't tell. She didn't look at me long enough for me to figure it out.

I stand up abruptly and pace around my office, the dim light casting shadows on the walls. My eyes feel like they're burning, my mind racing with thoughts of her. I can still feel her warmth, her soft skin, her timid mouth.

My cock stirs beneath my pants, images of me thrusting deep into her flashing through my mind like a pornographic slideshow. Focus, Ares!

My office suddenly seems to close in around me. The dark wood paneling, the leatherbound books, the scent of old paper and smoke—all of it seems too stuffy as I relive that moment in the garden.

I can still feel the sun's warmth on my skin, and hear the soft breeze rustling the leaves. The memory of her body, soft and yielding, is etched in my mind like a tattoo.

I try to shake off the feeling, but it's no use. I'm trapped in this cycle of lust and desire, unable to escape. My possessiveness is a beast that's clawing its way out of my chest, threatening to consume me whole.

I know I need to snap out of it, but I can't help myself. I'm a slave to my own desires, a prisoner of my own making.

All I can do is ride it out and hope that I don't lose myself completely.

My eyes narrow, my gaze focusing on the horizon. I can feel my wolf rising, my instincts taking over. I need to find her, to claim her, to make her mine. And I will, no matter what it takes.

She's my Omega. That , I'm very sure of .

"Let's go for a run," Henry suggests, interrupting my train of thought.

"Why a run all of a sudden?"

Henry sighs deeply as he rises up to his full height. "Perhaps that would help ease the tension that's currently rolling off your body."

I grunt. "Sure. Let's go on this run."

We both head outside.

The grass feels cool beneath my feet, the cool air brushing against my skin. Henry stands a few feet away from me, taking his shirt off.

The setting sun casts long shadows across the tree-lined path. Suddenly the air shifts, thick with an intoxicating scent. My nose flares as I turn toward the source.

There, striding toward me, is Leila Kaye. Her gaze filled with rage, and her half-shifted form reveals her claws and sharp fangs. My wolf stirs within me, recognizing the threat, but confused as it is coming from an Omega.

"What the hell?" I mutter, glancing at Henry. He looks just as shocked as I am. We hear sounds of grunts and growls coming from the gate. Turning sideways, toward the other end of the lined of trees, I see my guards fighting each other. What the actual fuck?

My jaw clenches hard. Leila must have done this, manipulating her pheromones to affect my guard's instincts. Most of them are Alphas, so they would be helpless in the face of an Omega as powerful as her and would attack each other for the chance to mate with her.

Before I can contain my surprise, Leila lunges at me, snarling in mid-air, pissed and violent. My eyes widen, and I also half-shift, the skin on my forearm giving way as my fur sprouts. Her claws swipe at me while I quickly deflect. She is fast, fueled by rage.

"What is wrong with you?" I snarl. I have never seen an Omega so crazy as to attack an Alpha like this.

"How dare you humiliate my family like that?" she growls. "As if your insult to me was not enough, you used your pheromones to subdue my parents!"

My mind races. I remember the incident. She came here to wreak havoc because of that? Really?

"It was nothing personal!" I growl, avoiding another swipe of her claw. "Things just happened that way. It's not like I planned it."

I take in a deep breath and let out my pheromones against her. I need her to calm the fuck down.

"Nothing personal?" Leila's eyes glower, but she flinches a bit, her pheromones flaring to protect herself from my influence. "You think you can use your power like that with no consequences?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," I snarl, baring my fangs.

She bares hers back, her pheromones pushing against mine. I have to admit, she's strong. Only a handful of people can withstand my pheromones without breaking a sweat. It's impressive. It is because I'm impressed that I am not going full-force and overpowering her vindictively.

This much is enough to get her to calm down and go on the defensive, protecting herself with everything she's got.

"This is not over!" she says, stepping back from me as my pheromones begin to overpower hers. "I demand compensation for the humiliation you caused my family."

My natural instinct is to say no since I am upset, but Leila beats me to speaking. "I suggest you think very carefully before making a statement. You wouldn't want the other families to become aware of what you've done, right? I can imagine how furious they would be."

She's right. I might be the most powerful Alpha, but there are other powerful Alphas in our society. All the other powerful families would turn against me if they found out what happened. It is an unspoken rule to respect each other so we don't have problems. I don't want to create issues here… but I also don't appreciate my hand being forced.

I clench my jaw. "Fine. I'll make amends."

Leila glares at me again, but runs off quickly before my pheromones can fully break down her resistance.

A sharp exhale escapes my mouth when she runs back out of the estate gates, and I shift back to my full human form. I march to the other end of the road where the guards are brawling against each other. Pathetic!

Pushing out my pheromones, I command, "Stop!"

The effect is instantaneous. The guards break apart, their faces and fists all bruised. They look like a fucking mess. My lungs expand, my wolf itching to be let out. We're boiling with anger.

"You lot should be ashamed of yourselves," I say, my voice cold as ice. They all look embarrassed as they come to their senses and realize what happened.

"A hundred laps around the entire estate. Now!" I yell.

They bow and begin the laps. Perhaps this will make them understand the severity of the situation. They are my men . They should have been able to handle themselves better. I know she took them by surprise since they wouldn't expect a dainty, rich Omega like her to attack so crazily, but they should have expected the unexpected.

Henry walks up beside me, his eyes shining. "She's good," he says. "Leila. I mean, the way she fought with you."

"I wouldn't call that a fight per se..."

But he continues, with a tone of wonder in his voice, like he didn't hear a word of what I just said, "And putting the guards under her command? That was incredibly bold, even for her. And she managed to pull it off. I'm impressed."

I take a quick glance at Henry. He really does like her, doesn't he? He's also pretty powerful, and any Omega would be beyond lucky to have him.

"If you are that impressed, maybe you should take her yourself. Perhaps that would make her less angry."

Henry stops and narrows his eyes at me. When I show no signs of laughing, he slaps my shoulder. "You're an asshole, Ares."