Chapter 1: Predator & Prey

On a scale of one to ten of how I envisioned my night being spent, this was moving further into the negative.

This expensive gala thrown by bigotry men was the last place I wanted to be.

I could think of so many lucrative and explicit ways to spend my night, but alas, business was important and showing face, even in a room filled with leaches that wouldn’t think twice before stepping over you was also important.

Especially if you were the CEO of said enterprise.

The conversation was worse. Having to force conversation with anyone here was the last thing I would do.

I sighed, taking a sip of champagne that tasted numb on my tongue. While vampires didn’t need to eat to survive, it was a necessary skill that we learned in order to blend in with the humans.

I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window that looked down the wet streets of London. The glass blurred through the rain. 

I wished I was down there, really, I wish I was anywhere but here. Instead, I was trapped in a room full of men who falsely believed they were at the top of the food chain.

"Fascinating quarterly projections, Ms. Lancetii." Aris wheezed the words through a thick haze of cigar breath, leaning in much closer than necessary. His watery eyes dropped immediately to my chest. 

He smelled of dry gin, expensive cologne, and stagnant blood. A very unappetizing stench.

I took a deliberate step back, my stiletto clicked against the polished floor. I reached up and adjusted the heavy emerald choker at my throat, my fingers lingering over my own jugular. "Indeed, Aris. Market volatility is thrilling."

"We should discuss it over dinner. Privately," he said, having the nerve to reach out and let his sweaty hand brush the bare skin of my shoulder.

My gums instantly ached with an urge to tear through his throat, not to drink from him but to watch his life force drain from his eyes. To break his hands that dare to touch me and set his body on fire.

But he was also a very valuable business associate. 

"Ms. Lancetii is fully booked." Yui materialized between us. "Excuse us." She said and grabbed my elbow. 

She steered me toward the oversized ice sculpture in the center of the room.

"Control yourselves Astrid, I could feel your intention to kill from across the room."

"He touched me." I stated plainly, keeping my voice flat.

"I saw," Yui whispered. "But you can’t afford to make a scene tonight. The A.S.A. has three undercover agents disguised as catering staff. Keep your fangs in your mouth, Astrid. I mean it."

I exhaled slowly and dropped my hand from my neck. "I hate these people, Yui. Let's leave."

"You have to stay for the charity auction.” Yui just had to remind me. 

“That part is non-negotiable, twenty minutes minimum." Yui finally met my gaze. 

In a world where supernatural creatures were hunted by the government and killed, Yui was a human and the closest thing I have to the word humans called friend.

“Who is that?” she asked, stopping in her tracks.

I followed her line of sight to a man who stood near the east exit. He wore a tailored black shirt, looking entirely out of place in a room filled with billionaires. He stood perfectly still. His hands were loose at his sides, completely at ease.

Then he turned his head and his eyes, the brightest blue I had seen, locked directly onto mine through the crowded ballroom.

I resisted the urge to smile, my next meal was right in front of me. Even from across the massive room, I could pick up 

his scent. 

"I don't know who he is," I said, handing Yui my full glass. "But, I’m sure about to find out."

"Astrid. No. We have a schedule. We need to be clean tonight." Yui stepped in front of me to block my path.

But I sidestepped her. "Schedules change." I replied, flashing her a faint smile that hid my fangs.

I smoothed the front of my dress and began to walk across the room. 

The man didn't look away as I walked toward him. If anything, he stared at me down. As if daring me to approach him.

Maybe tonight wouldn't be a total waste after all.

But just as I reached just within a few feet of him, he turned and walked through the doors leading toward the private executive wing.

I stopped. 

No one walked away from me. Especially not when I was looking at them like they were the last meal on earth.

And he seemed so sure I would follow.

"Astrid," Yui hissed behind me, catching up. "That's an Alpha wolf,” she said. Like I couldn't tell.

“I smell trouble, leave him be.” 

"Come find me in ten," I told her, totally letting all her worries fall on deaf ears. I was free to do as I pleased.

I bypassed her and followed after him.

I only intended to drink from him. It'd been an awfully long time since I had blood from an Alpha wolf.

This would be thrilling.

I saw the door to the private washroom click shut at the end of the hall.

So I followed, allowing the door to close behind me also.

He was staring at his own reflection and didn't look surprised to see me there.

"This is the ladies' room," I said. My voice sounded lower than usual.

"The sign said private." He turned around. He was taller than I thought. I had to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. "Why are you here, Ms. Lancetii."

I stepped into his space and could immediately feel the heat radiation off his body. 

The scent of him was so strong, it was almost overwhelming. It made my vision swim and a new type of hunger burned within me.

"You know my name," I said. Totally ignoring his question. I reached out, my fingers brushed the collar of his shirt. "And you?" I asked.

"William," he said. He didn't move away, and he also didn't reach for me either. He just watched me.

It was strange having to do the flirting, I always had men crawling at my feed just for my attention.

I smiled to myself when he moved closer to me, his hand finally wrapped firmly around my waist, pulling me flush against his hard chest. 

His other hand came up, and his thumb pressed firmly against the center of my throat, right where my emerald jewelry sat.

"I think it's time we skip the formalities and get to the reason why you followed me here."

My smile grew even more as I pulled his head down to mine in a hot kiss.