Chapter 4 - Cyrus

“Who the fuck does she think she is…?” I grate through gritted teeth, my pulse quickening and powering the strength of my fingers as I grip the glass in hand. The rage is too strong, eventually shattering the glass between my fingers.

“Fuck…” I mutter, lifting my hand to inspect the damage. The cut on my palm doesn't matter. On the contrary, seeing bright red blood trickling down my wrist only serves to fan the flames of my anger.

This is because of her.

It's all her fault.

Flicking my wrist through the air, I lean over the balcony rails and glare out ahead where Cassandra's cottage can be seen on the horizon. Huffing angrily, I let my mind wander to what happened earlier tonight.

When did Cassandra Chikara become so unruly and determined to fight against everything I say?

She's changed so much in these nine years. It's like I don't even know her anymore. The young she-wolf I knew was long gone.

The only thing that hasn't changed is that nonsensical need to always be around her. That pull, as if she's a magnet that I'm attracted to, despite how absurd it would be to ever consider her as more than just a pack member.

Cassandra Chikara is no ordinary werewolf. Though Agatha was born to the Moon Shine Pack, she'd found her mate amongst on her travels overseas, and he'd followed her like a drooling pup. It was unheard of to have a foreigner join the pack, but my father agreed for Ren Chikara to join the pack when Agatha refused to leave the small town.

Cassandra, on the other hand, was determined to leave. For reasons unknown, she abandoned her mother.

Abandoned the pack.

Abandoned me.

“Pfft!” I blow out at the ludicrous thought, rolling my eyes. It's not like her leaving affected me in any way.

It's not like she affects me in any way, with those luscious, feminine curves that make my fingers tingle with the urge to grab her and sink—

“Cyrus, there you are!”

Mother's cheerful voice behind me is like a punch to the gut to warn me that I'm crossing into dangerous territory with my thoughts.

Sighing with relief at being snapped out of my daze, I turn and force a smile to hide my vulgar mind.

“Hello, Mother,” I cleared my throat. “I'm sorry I missed dinner, I was—”

Mother snorts dismissively as she steps onto the balcony and comes over to press a kiss on my cheek.

“You were busy, I know,” she relents, patting my shoulder and joining me at the rails. When she leans over, she inhales with her eyes closed. “Beautiful night, isn't it?”

I hum in agreement, following her gaze when her eyes open, only to find that she's smiling at Cassandra's cottage. My cheeks heat up as I wonder if she was able to hear my thoughts just now.

Probably not. It's just guilt that has me wringing my hands together as if expecting a gentle scolding.

“What happened to your hand?” Mother inquires with a skeptical brow.

I fold my hand into the other to hide the ghastly slash. “It's nothing. It'll heal,” I assure her. Luckily, there's truth in that statement since the Alpha blood running through my veins speeds up my healing.

Mother nods as she turns back to the aerial view of the small town. “Today was a sad day, was it not?” Mother sighs. “Agatha Chikara was a dear friend of mine in this pack.”

Another hum in response because I have no idea where she's going with this.

“But soon, we're all bound to wither away and rest eternally.”

“Death, Mother. You're allowed to say the word.”

“You make it sound so… bland,” Mother sniffs, prompting me to turn my face. “Can you imagine what a ball of a time your Father's having up there, in the Moon Goddess's playground?” She nods toward the moon. “Once I get there, he's gonna get a piece of my mind.”

“Mother!”

“What?” she scoffs. “He knows I'm coming for him. The only reason I'm still around is ‘cause you're still single.”

I chuckle lowly. “Even more reason for me to stay single. You're not leaving me any time soon.”

“I didn't raise a Mama's boy, Cyrus.”

“Neither did you raise a weak man. I'm quite capable of leading this pack on my own,” I huff determinedly.

“What about a successor for when you want to retire? Or—”

When Mother's voice falters, I chuckle. “Or when I die?” I ask with a raised brow. “Not so appealing now, is it?”

“Shut your big mouth, Cyrus Rudolph!” Mother slaps my arm. “That name's gonna die out along with you.”

“Maybe I'll have a kid in the city, a hybrid,” I jest.

It's not a joke that Mother takes lightly, going on to scold me about the dangers of exposing our identity to humans and how a human woman wouldn't be able to carry a werewolf pup to full term.

I sigh when she's done giving me a lecture. “I don’t need a mate, Mother,” I contend. “She-wolves are too complicated for my liking.”

“That's only because you think everyone needs to be subservient to you,” Mother scoffs, shaking her head. “You think your father ever considered me as anything but his equal?”

“He was different,” I defended.

“Yes, he was different. He gave this pack a son, at least,” Mother sneers as she turns on her heel. I notice the disappointment flashing in her eyes when she says, “You should do the same or kiss the Rudolph legacy goodbye.”

Mother storms off, leaving me on the balcony to contemplate my life's decisions. There isn't much to deliberate since I'd already decided that having a mate isn't in the cards for me.

The human world is littered with enough females to quench my hunger for bodily pleasures.

I don't need a mate, even if that means that the Rudolph legacy ends with me. What's the point of having a son? One son? I scoff. Goddess knows that the life of a Moon Shine Alpha is too lonely when he has to do it all alone.

My retaliation for growing up as the only Rudolph child is to ensure that it doesn't happen to another poor, unsuspecting boy like me.

When I'm on my deathbed, I'll hand over the responsibilities to my Beta, Jarrod. As the closest thing to a brother I've ever had, he'll be the one to take over for this pack.

Until then, it's of utmost importance to secure the safety of the Moon Shine Pack.

That means I'll have to stop caring about measly, half-bred Moon Shine members like Cassandra.

***

Jarrod gathers his devices from his desk and rushes to me. “I have good news!” he beams. “Asuka has agreed to a meeting tonight.”

“Tonight?” I groan, briskly walking toward the elevator. I hit the key with annoyance, my lips curling sourly. I hoped I'd spend the night in a bar in Oklahoma City instead of returning home this evening.

After a grueling day spent in meetings and sealing deals with new investors, I need to unwind. Going home would only mean that I risk bumping into Cassandra.

The sole individual who incites such anger in me.Now, having to attend a meeting with the hacker, I won't be able to loosen my tie just yet.

“Well, not her, but her rep,” Jarrod explains.

“Geez. How many people does this woman have working for her?”

“She's pretty well connected,” Jarrod shrugs as he follows me into the elevator. “Definitely not an amateur.”

“I hope not,” I sniff. “We're paying good money for this deal.”

“That's why you'll have to go to this meeting. As per her assistant's instructions… Alone. ”

I frown at my best friend. “Why are you being so weird about this?”

Jarrod's eyes light up. “Doesn't it feel exciting? Thrilling? We've never had to go rogue before.”

I stare at him blandly. “That's not funny, Jay.”

“I'm sorry,” he pouts, dropping his head shamefully. “That was a tasteless pun.”

“Hey, I'm fucking with you!” I chuckle and slap him on the back. “Where is this meeting with Asuka's rep supposed to take place?” I lean back as the lift takes us down and fold my arms over my chest.

“I'll send the coordinates to your navigation system. But I'm sure you know where Shogun is.”

“How fitting…” I mumble dryly. The only thing we know about Asuka is that her name is of Japanese origin. It might just be made up, along with her ethnicity, since she wouldn't want us to know her real name.

It might get her into trouble if things went south with a deal. I admire her for her bravery, but I still have to remain cautious.

“A reservation has already been made. You'll be Mr. Joe Brown for tonight.”

“Joe Brown?” I chuckle. “So I have an alias too?”

Jarrod grins. “It's just a precaution.”

“I can live with that…” I muse, thinking about all the mischief I can get away with if I don't have to be Cyrus Rudolph for the night.

***

“Reservation for Mr. Brown,” I tell the hostess at the front desk, leaning over the counter and staring at her dipped neckline that shows off her cleavage.

“Mr. Brown…” the woman's voice is sultry as she lifts her eyes and notices where my gaze is. She blushes lightly and doesn't take her eyes off me when she speaks to her waitress.

“Thank you, sweetheart,” I wink, tapping light fingers on the counter as I smoothly follow the waitress. The hostess was practically salivating after me, and all I had to do was be unapologetically me.

Oh, I'm going to have so much fun tonight! I think with a bemused grin as the waitress shows me to the reserved table.

I purse my lips in contemplation, throwing a glance at the sushi bar on the left. It wouldn't hurt to wait for the hacker, Asuka, out there.

I'd received detailed instructions about our meeting tonight. I'm to be Mr. Joe Brown, while Asuka's rep will play Mrs. Brown, my wife.

It's only for the sake of keeping our identities hidden, and it's no reason for me to act like a doting husband.

I don't care if I appear like a douchebag. It's just a job, after all.

I spot a few apt ladies hanging at the bar, unchaperoned and too smartly dressed to be without men. While I wait, there's no harm in flirting and securing a takeaway for tonight.

So I turn to the waitress with a sly smirk. “If my wife…” I clear my throat when the word feels strange coming from my mouth. “... When she arrives, please call me from the sushi bar.”

The pretty, young brunette nods. “Yes, Sir.”

Straightening up and tugging the lapels of my suit jacket, I make my way toward the bar. It usually doesn't take much to have a human falling at my feet.

Tonight's meeting with the hacker's rep wasn't such a bad idea when I could kill two birds with one stone.