Chapter 161
+15 BONUS
Alexander’s POV
I woke up drenched in sweat, my cock hard as steel against my stomach, my heart hammering against my ribcage.
The dream had been so fucking real this time–her soft body writhing beneath mine, her wet heat gripping me like a vise as I thrust deep inside her.
Her nails had raked down my back, leaving trails of exquisite fire while her thighs squeezed my hips, urging me deeper, harder.
“Fuck me, Alex,” she’d begged, her voice a desperate whimper that drove my wolf wild. “Make me yours again.”
Her scent had filled my lungs–wildflowers and honey mixed with the intoxicating musk of her arousal I’d buried my face in the crook of her neck, teeth grazing the soft flesh there as she clenched around me, her climax triggering my own.
The sensation of completeness, of coming home after a long journey, had overwhelmed me as I emptied myself inside her.
But just as I was about to see her face clearly, to finally identify the woman who haunted my dreams
night after night, I jolted awake. As always.
“Fuck,” I muttered, running a hand through my damp hair. My wolf stirred restlessly beneath my skin, just as frustrated as I was by the phantom lover who tormented us both.
The digital clock on my nightstand read 4:37 AM. Too early to start the day, too late to hope for more meaningful sleep. I threw back the covers and padded to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face.
The man who stared back at me from the mirror looked tired. Alpha Alexander Blackwood, leader of one of the most powerful packs in North America, reduced to a sleep–deprived mess because of dreams I
couldn’t control and memories I couldn’t access.
Five years. It had been five years since the accident that had left parts of my memory fractured, five years of rebuilding my life and my pack around the hollow spaces in my mind.
Most days, I functioned well enough that no one suspected the extent of the damage. I handled pack business, attended Council meetings, made strategic alliances. I was, by all appearances, the same strong Alpha I’d always been.
But then the dreams would come, bringing with them echoes of something–someone–I’d lost.
With a sigh, I gave up on more sleep and headed to my home office. If I was going to be awake, I might as well get some work done before the day officially began.
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Chapter 161
$15 BONUS
By the time the morning sun streamed through the windows of my office at Blackwood Industries, I’d already reviewed three acquisition proposals, held a video conference with our European partners, and consumed enough coffee to fuel a small army.
“Alpha, the quarterly reports you requested,” my assistant said, placing a thick folder on my desk. “Thanks, Jeremy. Any word from the Council about the boundary dispute with the Silvercrest Pack?”
“Beta Ethan is handling that personally. He said he’d brief you this afternoon.”
I nodded, grateful as always for Ethan’s efficiency. As my Beta and best friend, he’d been invaluable during my recovery, filling in the blanks where he could without making me feel less than the Alpha I was supposed to be.
“Your fiancée called,” Jeremy added, his expression carefully neutral. “She wanted to confirm your dinner plans for tonight.”
“Right. Thanks.”
After he left, I leaned back in my chair, staring out at the forest that surrounded Blackwood territory. The engagement to Isabelle Laurent had been arranged four years ago, shortly after my accident–a strategic alliance with one of Europe’s oldest and most powerful wolf bloodlines.
On paper, it made perfect sense. The Blackwood Pack gained international allies and solidified our standing with the Council. The Laurents gained a foothold in North American territory and the prestige of connecting their lineage with mine.
There was just one problem: my wolf refused to accept her as our mate.
The intercom buzzed, interrupting my thoughts.
“Alpha, Ms. Laurent is here to see you.”
I straightened my tie and squared my shoulders. “Send her in.”
Isabelle glided into my office with the grace that came from centuries of aristocratic breeding. Tall, blonde, and impeccably dressed in a designer suit that probably cost more than most people’s monthly salary, she was objectively beautiful–and completely wrong for me in ways I couldn’t explain.
“Alexander,” she said, her accent making my name sound exotic. She crossed the room and placed a light kiss on my cheek. “Working hard as always, I see.”
“Isabelle. I wasn’t expecting you today.”
She perched on the edge of my desk, crossing her legs in a way that was meant to draw my attention. “I thought I’d surprise you. Besides, I need to discuss something with you.”
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Chapter 161
+15 BONUS
“What’s on your mind?” I asked, leaning back to put some distance between us. My wolf growled softly in disapproval at her proximity.
“David Mercer’s wedding is next month in Cedar Ridge,” she said, brushing an imaginary piece of lint from her skirt. “I’ve been invited, and I’d like you to accompany me.”
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