Chapter 2

Diego

I answered my phone with a growl, my eyes narrowing as I glared at the man writhing on the floor before me. "What?" I snapped, my voice like the crack of a whip. I didn't have time for this. I had something important to do; money to collect. Whatever he wanted to talk about, it better be something important.

"Boss, we have a situation," one of my enforcers, Marcus, said, his voice tight with tension. He knew I didn't want to be disturbed, but whatever he had to say to me, it couldn't be delayed. "That guy we've been after for months, Rowan Whisperwind, just contacted us. He wants to talk about his debt. And, I'm sure, you want to be the one to collect."

I snarled, my fist clenching tighter around a handful of the collar of the man on the floor. I remembered Rowan. He thought he could get away with it. He thought he didn't have to pay. Some mess happened in the past, which led to the Nightshade Wolves not going after the money he owed. The only regret I had about that was that I wished I had done more at the time.

"You're telling me that now? I'm a little busy here, Marcus." I yanked the man up by his collar, my eyes flashing with dangerous intent. He knew what awaited him. "This piece of trash thinks he can hide from us, but he's about to learn a very painful lesson. I'm going to make sure he never tries the same shit again."

"I know, Boss," Marcus replied, his voice hesitant. "But Whisperwind insisted on speaking to someone directly and in person. He said it's important. I think he may finally be ready to pay."

I scowled, my gaze flicking to the man in my grasp. He was a sniveling rat, begging for mercy as I tightened my grip on his collar. I was doing everything in my power not to end his life. If there was something I hated, it was weakness.

"Fine," I bit out, clenching my right hand. "Send me the location. I'll deal with Whisperwind myself and I'm going to enjoy it."

"Yes, Boss," Marcus replied, relief evident in his voice. "He suggested an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. Seems he wants to keep this discreet. After everything he's done, he's afraid of a little exposure."

I grunted in acknowledgment and ended the call, my attention returning to the pathetic creature before me. I clenched my right hand again. I got my point across. He understood the threat he was facing. From now on, he was going to try to do better and pay his debt.

With a vicious snarl, I backhanded him across the face, the force of my blow sending him crashing to the floor. He grunted, coughing out blood.

"You think you can hide from the Nightshade Wolves?" I sneered, towering over him. I took a few steps forward, making sure he understood I could always come back and find him. "You're about to learn just how wrong you are. It's easy for me to find anyone I want."

Leaving the man whimpering and bleeding on the floor, I stormed out of the room, my anger a living, breathing entity within me. I hated being interrupted, especially when I was teaching someone a lesson. But this Rowan Whisperwind had just landed himself at the top of my list, and I intended to make him pay for that interruption tenfold.

He was going to realize that even when we weren't actively seeking to be paid, he still had to pay.

Sliding into the driver's seat of my sleek black sports car, I gunned the engine and sped toward the outskirts of town, the warehouse looming large in my mind. I could only think about it and Rowan. He had a lot to say, to say the least.

As I drove, my anger simmered, my fingers tapping restlessly on the steering wheel. I was so furious that I could barely control it.

I hated debtors, hated the way they thought they could just ignore their obligations to the cartel. We were the Nightshade Wolves and we always collected what was owed. We never forgot and Rowan was about to learn that.

As I pulled up to the warehouse, my eyes narrowed at the sight of a lone figure standing in the shadows. Of course he was in the shadows. He was afraid.

He was slender, his shoulders hunched as if expecting a blow, and his hair shone like silver moonlight. It was beautiful, no denying it. He took care of it — with our money.

There was something about him that piqued my interest, something that made my wolf sit up and take notice. Odd. It was the first time I was feeling something like that and couldn't quite put a finger on what it was.

Stepping out of my car, I stalked toward him, my presence filling the warehouse. He took a few steps backward. Even though he had probably been preparing himself to meet me, it hadn't been enough.

"Rowan Whisperwind ," I growled, my voice echoing off the walls. "You have some nerve calling me here. Are you finally going to pay what you owe us?"

He flinched at the sound of my voice, his gray eyes wide and filled with fear. "P-please, just hear me out," he stammered, his voice shaking. "I know I owe you money, and I intend to pay it back. I'm doing everything I can."

I smirked, crossing my arms over my chest. "Oh, you intend to pay, do you? And what makes you think I'll just let you walk away without repercussions? Why do you think I'm not just going to kill you right now?"

Rowan took a hesitant step forward, his hands clasped in front of him. "I can make enough money to pay off my debt, but it will take time. If you give me a chance, I can—"

"Time?" I cut him off, not at all sounding patient. If there was something I didn't have, it was patience, especially for people like them. "You think the Nightshade Wolves operate on your pathetic timeline? We don't wait for anyone, especially not some lowly debtor." I took a deep breath. "Now, you told us you are going to pay, so you better pay. I didn't come here to waste my time."

As I advanced on him, I saw him shrink back, his fear a tangible thing between us. Good. Let him be afraid. It would make what came next all the more satisfying. I reveled in doing this part. It was actually one of the biggest reasons why I was with the Nightshade Wolves. I didn't want to be doing anything else.

"Please," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I'm begging you. I just need a little more time. That's why I came here — to tell you this. I also don't want to die."

Something twisted inside me at the desperation in his voice, but I quickly stomped it down. I was Diego Bloodmoon, second-in-command of the Nightshade Wolves, and I did not show mercy. Not ever. Why would I, anyway? It was just a weakness.

"You want mercy?" I snarled, grabbing a handful of his shirt and pulling him close, our faces mere inches apart. He smelled of… Something. I liked it, but would never say that. "You don't deserve it. But I suppose I can make you a deal, omega." The word slipped out before I could catch it, and something in Rowan's eyes sparked at the word. That was the most he was expecting from this encounter.

"Wh-what kind of deal?" He stammered, his breath coming in short gasps as he struggled against my grip. He didn't try to push me away from him, of course. It would be a mistake.

I leaned in closer, my lips brushing his ear as I whispered, "You will pay us every cent you owe, with interest, of course. And in return, I won't have my men tear you limb from limb." I chuckled. "There's nothing special about my deal, I suppose. I just want you to know that I can do some things most people think I can't."

He whimpered, his body trembling violently. "I-I can't pay it all at once," he choked out. I grunted, my anger simmering. "But I can make you more money than you've ever seen. Just... please, give me a chance. You know I can do it because you know how successful my startup has been."

There was something about his desperation, the way he clung to hope even in the face of my threats, that got to me. He could also do some things most people thought he couldn't.

It was as if some invisible force was drawing me to him, making me want to protect him. But that was ridiculous. I was an alpha, a ruthless one at that, and this omega was nothing more than a debtor.

Even if he was cute — and he was, in a way — I didn't want to do anything of the sort with him. That would be crazy. He was just someone that owed money to us.

With a snarl, I shoved him back, my eyes flashing with anger. "You have one month, omega," I bit out. I wasn't going to give more time than that. It was a miracle I was already being that patient with him. "If you don't pay every cent by then, I'll come for you myself, and you won't like what I do to collect what's owed," I smirked. "You should ask the last guy what happened. I'm sure there's a lot he would like to tell you."

Rowan stumbled back, his eyes wide and fearful. "O-one month?" He sputtered, his voice shaking. "B-but that's not enough time. Please, I just need a little more—"

"One month," I repeated, my voice brooking no argument. Again, I didn't want to wait more time. "And if you try to run, if you so much as breathe a word of this to anyone, I will find you and the consequences will be far worse than you can imagine. The police can't protect you from me."

He swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing as he nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "O-one month," he whispered, telling that more to himself than to me. He was trying to convince himself he could do it and, with some luck, he could. I believed in him.

"And by the way, just so you know, my name is Diego."

I turned on my heel, striding toward the door, my anger a living, breathing thing within me. I had given him a chance, a slim one, but a chance nonetheless. Most debtors didn't get that luxury, and yet, I found myself granting this omega one. I almost didn't believe I did that. In other circumstances, I wouldn't have done it.

Something about him had gotten under my skin, and I couldn't shake the feeling that our paths were destined to cross again. I mean, whether he paid or not, we would see each other again, and I would enjoy the moment no matter what it was about.

As I slid into my car and sped away, my mind raced, thoughts of Rowan lingering in a way that irritated me. Why was I still thinking about him? It didn't make sense. I shouldn't be thinking about someone so irrelevant. And yet, the thought still lingered with me. What a fucking nuisance.

I told myself it was because he owed me money, that it was simply business. But deep down, I knew there was something more, something I couldn't quite put my finger on. It couldn't be that, right? It really couldn't be.

One thing was certain: Rowan would either pay what he owed, or he would see what I was capable of, and he didn't want to see the last thing. If and when he paid, I would be the one to collect.