Valen stared around my office, it used to be Valarie’s apartment, but we converted it into office space. I found it challenging to come here before. Memories always brought back heartache, so we revamped it, and now the place didn’t haunt me.

Yet, seeing Valen standing here in what used to be her home filled me with sadness. She loved her son, and here he stood unaware that this place, the Hotel, used to belong to the woman who had given birth to him. What kind of man would he be if she was given a chance to raise him, I wondered.

I watch him for a few seconds, and he stops at the shelving before rearranging it. My brows furrow as I watch him straighten the ornaments making them line up; it was one thing seeing my son do odd things like that, but a grown man? His movement was strange as he rearranged the books in alphabetical order on the shelf below. However, OCD wasn’t a genetic probability, so it had to be a coincidence.

“Why are you here? I wasn’t expecting you to stop by,” I tell him remembering his threat to come back tomorrow, yet here he stood.

“I don’t need a reason. I own the City, or did you forget?” I roll my eyes at him. Typical Alpha, thinking the world owes them for us being allowed in their presence.

He stops looking around, and I notice the picture of Valarian on my desk and quickly swipe it off, placing it in the drawer just as he turns to face me. My door opens up, and the night secretary walks in.

“Coffee?” Emily asks, her brown eyes sparkling. She was a cheerful woman though ordinarily shy. Despite that, Emily has lasted the longest on the night shift in the foyer. Her son was seven, and she lived in the Rogue commune, working here of a night to provide for her child. However, she makes her coffee from scratch, and it is terrible, she grows the beans herself, and after stopping by her place when I met her and offered her the job, I refused to drink a single cup—always bringing my own. “No, this won’t take, “

“Yes, Please, ” Valen cuts me off, and I glare at him. Emily lingers for a second, and I nod to her. Valen smiles triumphantly when I give in, yet the joke was on him if he thought he would enjoy what she would prepare for him.

“Now, if only you would give in that easily to the mate bond, “

“Not happening, I don’t need or want a mate, ” I tell him, and he huffs before pulling out the chair on the other side of my desk. He leans back, folding his arms across his chest, and watches me. I fought back a shiver as my eyes roamed over his muscular frame.

“And why is that? What have you got against me? I am your mate, Everly. There is no escaping me, but why would you want to? I am an Alpha. What sort of rogue are you? Most rogues would be begging me to be their mate, ” he says, and I scoff.

“Not when you keep coming around. No, there isn’t any way of escaping you. Do I need to get the authorities involved, tell them I have a stalker,”

“Tell them what you want. As an Alpha, and the most influential one in the City, I have every right to force you to complete the bond, and there is nothing I can’t buy my way out of even if there was an issue, “

“And here I was thinking; I have every right to reject you,” I retort. Valen growls, and the door opens.

Emily walks back in, unaware of the argument she walked in on, utterly oblivious to the tension in the room. She places the coffee’s on my desk quietly while Valen and I glare at each other.

slips back out, and Valen grits his teeth before looking

out of his seat. He looks around again. His jaw clenched tight before turning to glare at the mugs on my desk. I roll my

I pull two coasters out that I kept

I hand him one. He quickly places his mug on it

what reasons are those?” He asks like he didn’t just

” I ask, looking up at him, distracted by his mere presence. I was not too fond of the way I

reasons, surely you wouldn’t judge someone on just what is in the media?” He repeats,

my reasons won’t change my decision, ” “Nor

great chat,” I tell him getting to my feet when I feel his

won’t dismiss me so easily,” He says firmly, and my butt hits the chair hard. Valen bites the inside of his cheek, and

makes no sense, you should be able to resist me, yet you put up no fight at all,” He

“I am rogue, “

me, ” he says more to himself than me. He was pondering his words. I add nothing; I have no resistance because my wolf is weak, thanks to the man

have been nice,

and I will hate you forever,” I sneer at him,

“Do what?” he asks.

right, you make me, and I will make you regret it,” Valen reaches for his coffee, and I stifle a laugh by biting down on my tongue as I stare at the mug in his hand. He wants to act like an annoying shit; he can drink

the Alpha, who

will do it. I am not a monster, but I also won’t wait around forever. A man of my status doesn’t get to wait for a rogue to make up her mind, ” he says

that? It tastes ghastly,” he says. I chuckle at the look on his face, and he raises an eyebrow at

give that crap

and glance at my untouched cup. Another fit of giggles leaves

cocky Alphas only,” I snorted, choking on my laugh. Valen

“What?”

the beans

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255