CHAPTER ONE –

All I had to do was pretend.. I had to fake that I was calm and collective, even when my stomach was twisting from the inside.

I walked into the club and went right to the bar, and I sat next to my target. I couldn't believe I was sitting beside the mighty Drake Harding. I swore revenge on his family for killing my father. I needed them to pay for their crime. I had nothing to lose, so I teamed up with the werewolf committee to find a way to suss him out. It is very hard to focus on vengeance since he is drop -dead gorgeous with the soul of a deadly monster.

 My heart was thumping in my chest as I gave him a sly, sexy smile and battered my eyes. I made it obvious that I wanted him by rubbing my body next to his. He swung around and gazed at me. "Can I buy you a drink?" He offered me. A flush of excitement washed over me as I watched him ogle over my body.

 I was taken by surprise that he got swayed in so quickly. I swallowed hard and extended my smile. "Yes, you may." I accepted his drink as I studied his deep, dark, mysterious handsome face.

"Do you have a name?" He wanted to know my name. That was a great start.

 "Anna Black," I answered.

"You look kind of familiar. Do I know you?" He questioned me suspiciously.

"Yes, you probably know me from the TV station K53." I told him. He gulped the rest of his drink, slamming his glass down with his tough alpha strength. "Sorry, honey, I don't watch the news, let alone TV," he sneered. "That's where I work. I'm an investigative journalist," I informed him. "I'm new there." I stammered. He seemed like he didn't care about my job. It was a pickup line!

 "It's good to know that you're not a hooker," he sniggered. He picked up his head as he pulled his cigar forcefully. My body temperature rose as the scent of his cologne and the smoke from the tobacco filled my nostrils. "So, tell me something about yourself, other than your job title," he demanded.

"Such as? What do you want to know?" I questioned him, noticing a smug smile appearing on his chizzled face. "I want to know your likes and dislikes, and what's a pretty lady like you, doing here for starters?" He narrowed his eyes and fixed it on me.

 "I just came out for a drink." I answered, praying that he would buy my story. "Alone?" he interrogated. "At this hour? A fragile woman like you shouldn't be here. I'm dead sure you've heard about the killings last month." He informed me as his eyes searched my face, waiting for my response. "I know. But I can take care of myself. I have pepper spray in my purse." I assured him. He rolled his head back and burst out into laughter when I mentioned 'pepper spray'. "Please!" He exclaimed. "Do you honestly think that would protect you?"

 He scolded me in a smug tone, and he gawked at me as if I were crazy. "Monsters aren't afraid of sprays. You should know that since you're a journalist and all," he said as his mocking laughter continued. "How do you know that the murders were done by monsters?"

I was stunned by myself for challenging him. He raised his eyebrows before his eyes fell on the curves of my breasts and licked his lips hungrily. "For a sexy lady, you have a mouth on you. I like that," he smirked as my long legs escaped my dress and caught his attention.

"I wanted to know, that's all that the murders were committed by monsters?" I re-iterated my question. "Well, for one thing, the victims were ripped to shreds." He filled me in. "You know something? We shouldn't be here talking about those damn murders. We should be up in my hotel suite, doing some investigations of our own." He suggested to me in a sultry tone.

 His mouth covered mine, drawing my lips into his mouth. I was deeply impacted by the kiss as I touched my swollen lips. It was incredible. "Sure," I uttered suddenly. My hands shivered as I touched his hard thighs. He was so manly. I managed to finish the rest of my drink and got hypnotized by his devious eyes. He took my hands and led me to his room, upstairs. It was a short walk.

He threw me onto his bed and ripped off my dress. "I want to leave you begging for more after I'm done with you tonight," he said.

Fortunately, it wasn't a full moon, so I didn't need to worry. We made love until the early hours of the morning. This was my first time with any man, and it was more than fantastic.

We both were finally out of breath as we lay on our backs .

"You are amazing," he whispered to me. "Thanks," I replied. "Have you done this a number of times?" He interviewed me. "Of course not," I retorted. "You could've fooled me." He turned and gave me a ridiculous smirk. "If you're implying that I sleep around with just anyone, then you got me all wrong. I don't normally do those types of things." I set him straight as I got out of bed.

"I'm not implying that. I don't judge. It's just that you were so good that I just wondered, that's all." He told me. It sounded like a compliment yet an insult at the same time. "You seem sweet and innocent, yet you're a whore in the bedroom."

 "I think I should leave now," I announced 'out of the blue' to hear his response. I pretended that his comment offended me.

 I didn't want to leave, not yet anyway. Not until I got what I came here for. I needed to be alert and most of all cautious. My life could be in danger if he finds out the real reason why I am here.

"I don't want you to go." He ordered me. "In fact, I want you to stay the weekend."

I was shocked. I had an effect on him. It was a good sign. He was reeled in without me breaking a sweat. "I like you. I noticed you when you came in yesterday."

"Oh!" I exclaimed. I pretended to seem like I didn't care that he was into me; although my heart flinched at his confession. I looked away from his gaze. He came toward me and ran his hands through my hair and cupped my chin. He carried me back to bed.

After another round of sensual pleasure, I was totally fulfilled. My body never experienced such ecstasy before. He looked at me as he stroked my face. "So will you make my weekend the best yet to come?" He grinned at me. "Yes, I will." I replied as I smiled at him innocently.

"That's good. At least you can be kept safe, and we can have some more fun," he winked at me. "I wouldn't have it any other way," I replied cheekily. He drew me closer to him. He was irresistible. We made love repeatedly until we got tired and fell asleep in each other's arms.

 I must admit his skills in the bedroom were the best I ever had experienced. I woke up at the crack of dawn. He was fast asleep. It was the perfect opportunity to enact my plan. It was a simple idea concocted by myself. I sneaked out of bed and peered at him sleeping innocently. I had to be sure that he was fast asleep.

It was a dangerous mission, and if I got caught, I would surely be killed by the alpha himself. I had to do this even though I started to fall for him after last night. I looked at him once more to be sure that he was still asleep before I rummaged through his drawers. I had no idea what I was looking for. The only thing I knew I needed to gather was any evidence that would be detrimental to him, possibly destroy him, or expose his family as werewolves.

The evidence had to be solid. I couldn't believe I was doing this. What was I to do? Sleeping with him was the only way I could think of to get close to him and let his guard down. I cursed under my breath. There was nothing in his cupboards or his drawers. He was sly. I didn't think that he would have important papers lying around, but it was worth a shot.

 The proof I needed must be somewhere, but where could it be? Perhaps in his office at the other end. He probably had his password somewhere around here. Time was running out. The sun was almost up, and I was in panic mode. I needed something hard and fast to take back to Colonel James Smith.

"What are you looking for?!" Drake growled at me. My heart jumped out of my chest. I swung around to find him glaring at me...