Aleksi lay down on the bed, staring at the moon through the window. The silvery light filtered through the curtains, gently illuminating his face, a softness that contrasted with the storm brewing inside him. For the first time in a long while, something other than anger or coldness consumed him: nerves, tension. His body, always firm and controlled, felt out of place, as if something were forcing him to feel what he usually never allowed.
Eris.
Just thinking about her stirred something deep in his chest. He couldn't fully understand what he was feeling, but he knew it was something intense, instinctive, as if his very being was awakening in her presence.
She was small, thin, almost ethereal, with more bones than flesh. Her hair, the color of the grapes, made him wonder what she would look like if she were healthy. But what truly struck him were her eyes. Those eyes that, even when filled with fear, never lose their determination. That gaze always challenged him, even though her voice and body trembled.
Eris.
A creator suspected of being confined by her own family, exploited to creating perfumes, and possibly the centerpiece of the fortune that had catapulted the Stella family to the top over the last decade. While Eris's parents were respected for their perfumes, they had never stood out among the greats. Moreover, unlike her, they simply followed recipes passed down through generations. They couldn't create new fragrances.
They did not possess the coveted ability to be "creators." More than just a talent, it was a gift that placed them at the pinnacle of honor and was the ambition for all perfumers.
A legend.
An aspiration.
But it was just as dangerous to their fame if there was no power to back them up and protect them. In the end, the respected "creators" would be no better than a tool.
And Eris... well, Aleksi smiled bitterly, thinking about how bad a negotiator she was.
He had to teach her well if he didn't want the world to take advantage of her. She was so desperate for freedom that she would've accepted any deal, no matter how unfair. Like the seven years he had offered her… seven years to teach her to be strong and independent, to survive in a world that didn't want her as a being but as a tool, to face the darkness around her.
Seven years in which, although he couldn't and wouldn't dare to mark her as his companion, at least he could enjoy her company as his wife.
Aleksi sighed, something strange for him. In just a few hours he had felt more than he had in his entire life. Now he was confused. Deep down, he felt that she was his Luna, his destined mate. He couldn't smell her properly to be sure, but considering her skill, he wasn't surprised that she had hidden herself from him and everyone else using her perfumes.
But what if she did it on purpose? He couldn't judge her for not wanting to be his companion. After all, he was a monster to everyone. Someone who didn't care if they called him a butcher, bloodthirsty, or cold-blooded, if he could protect his pack and, with it, the balance between the different races.
That was the role he had accepted after his family's murder.
He wasn't a hero with impeccable morals, but he would rather sacrifice himself than lose his principles. That was why he would only allow himself to be happy for those seven years. More than enough time to teach her how to survive. After that, he would let her go and protect her the best he could.
Yes, he would let her go.
A frustrated growl escaped from his chest, uncontrollable, as if it were an instinct as primitive and basic as breathing.
Let her go.
It hurt, bothered him, and caused him anguish, even though he still didn't have certainty about who she was, or maybe he already knew, but didn't want to accept it.
His lips stretched into a bitter smile as he remembered how she had trembled the last time they met in the library. He knew how scared she had been, but he couldn't help but prolong the silence. He wanted to see her longer, imprint her in his pupil, enjoy her scent, however faint it was, hidden among the perfume that had drawn him to her.
Suddenly, the presences in the mansion began to stir.
Something in his mind lit up, and his expression darkened.
They had begun to erase the evidence.
Eris had mentioned a basement and a lab. He didn't want to be reckless and search without a formal order from the Ministry of Supernatural Security and the Council for the Protection of Endangered Races. But if Eris didn't care, why should he be prudent with his future in-laws? Shouldn't he just end it all?
He got up, convincing himself that he had already gathered enough evidence after his conversation with Kyle and Eris…
But he stopped in the middle of the room, rubbed his face with his hand, and grabbed his slightly long hair.
He wasn't like this, he knew there was nothing better than catching them red-handed, that he should be patient and leave no loose ends… but his heart, which apparently wasn't made of stone, suffered at the thought of endangering Eris, and his entire body demanded a hunt. To go protect her.
But the Kassias pact had him trapped. Since Kassian, the last registered creator, had been murdered 188 years ago, only then was a proper investigation carried out and the tortures, experiments, and forced labor that Kassian had been subjected to in the name of love were revealed. His wife, a siren, kept him under her control with a seduction spell, feeding him potions made from her scales and tears, sponsored by the most feared heretic witch. The worst part was that no one had noticed, which alarmed the entire perfumer community. It was a turbulent time filled with strikes, human hunts, and war between species, as everyone wanted a piece of the cake. Eventually, the laws were tightened, and people like him were trained and assigned as watchmen, guardians, and hunters.
To prevent another perfumer from suffering the same fate, a thorough process of monitoring and protection was created after each bond, relocation, or birth of a fae. Still, each one was assigned a special guard for their surveillance.
But if the protection center in this area was infected with bribes, as he suspected… cleaning was necessary.
When he was tracking the "creator", he had never heard of a guard or any record of her… that's when he should have started to suspect. However, the Stella family wasn't just powerful; they were the creators of the most coveted perfumes in the current supernatural market. He thought their case would be different with so many eyes on the family…
How foolish he had been… Goddess, he wouldn't make the same mistake again. After today, he would never put her in danger again, never distrust her. Even if she said black was white and white was black, he would believe her.
He smiled slightly, not wanting to imagine what would happen to him and his sanity when he marked her as his Moon… no, no, he wasn't going to mark her. He furrowed his brows and erased his smile.
Suddenly, the door opened, interrupting his thoughts.
Sabrina appeared in the doorway. Aleksi turned, his body tense, with the accumulated fury ready to explode. She was wearing pajamas so sheer they barely covered her figure. Her blonde hair cascaded in soft waves around her face, and her green eyes sparkled with a mix of challenge and seduction as she walked closer, swaying her hips with a confidence that left no doubt she felt beautiful and desired.
"Alpha, I was just coming to talk to you. Wolf packs have always intrigued me," she said in a silky voice, crossing the room without waiting for a response.
Aleksi stared at her, his gray eyes like ice, reflecting the contained fury inside him. Sabrina stopped immediately, feeling the pressure of his presence. A chill ran down her spine, but she didn't retreat. Images of possible scenarios of her death appeared in her mind, and she understood they were his doing, his killer instinct emerging.
They were a warning for her, yet Sabrina didn't retreat. She was there with a clear purpose. She needed to keep him occupied while Kyle got Eris out of the mansion.
Their golden goose.
Aleksi looked at her with a tacit threat in his voice. "What do you want, Sabrina?" And in that instant, he understood what was happening.
The hunt had already begun.
And Kyle had dared to touch his Eris.