The city stretches out before me, a maze of steel and glass reflecting the pale morning light. From my office on the top floor of Vermillion Holdings, I have the perfect vantage point—a queen surveying her kingdom.
And today, I am preparing for war.
The conference room hums with quiet efficiency. My staff moves like well-oiled machinery, their voices a controlled murmur beneath the glow of the crystal chandelier. Spreadsheets and portfolios clutter the obsidian table, graphs and projections flickering across the digital display on the far wall. The scent of fresh coffee lingers in the air, mingling with tension and anticipation.
They know something big is coming.
I sit at the head of the table, legs crossed, fingers drumming lightly against the armrest of my chair. My charcoal-gray power suit is tailored to perfection, my hair pinned back in a sleek style that leaves no room for weakness.
My presence alone commands attention.
Celeste Valen, my right hand, stands just behind me, tablet in hand, her sharp blue eyes scanning reports with machine-like focus. She's tall and lean, with the effortless grace of a predator. The faint silver ring on her finger—engraved with her pack's insignia—is the only outward mark of her wolf side.
She is the only one here who truly understands what I am.
And that is why I keep her close
Celeste speaks first.
"The merger with Ashford Industries is set to finalize within the week. Their legal team tried to stall, but they folded once they saw the new contract revisions."
I allow myself a small, satisfied smile.
"Good. And our stake in Valhalla Tech?"
"Secured," she replies. "Their CEO agreed to the partnership under the revised conditions. They were hesitant, but I reminded them who they were dealing with."
My lips curve. "You reminded them, or you threatened them?"
Celeste smirks. "Is there a difference?"
A low chuckle ripples through the staff.
Across the table, Jonathan Hale, head of acquisitions, leans forward, adjusting his glasses.
"That leaves the Drakovich Consortium as the last major competitor in our sector."
A slow hush falls over the room.
Roman Drakovich.
A businessman as ruthless as he is strategic. The one man who has managed to keep up with me, whose empire casts a shadow nearly as vast as mine. A rival worth watching.
I tap a manicured nail against the glass tabletop.
"Drakovich won't be easy to push out. He knows the game too well."
Jonathan nods. "Which is why we need a more aggressive strategy."
"Like what?" Sophia Lang, head of public relations, interjects. "A hostile takeover?"
I tilt my head, considering. "No. That would make us look desperate. We need something smarter. More… poetic."
Celeste meets my gaze, something sharp gleaming in her expression.
"Then we take what he values most."
A slow smirk curves my lips.
"His power."
Silence. Then, an approving murmur spreads through the room.
I lean forward, voice dropping to a silken command.
"I want every possible weakness exploited. Every deal he's trying to close—intercepted. Every ally he depends on—turned against him. By the time we're finished, Roman Drakovich won't just be struggling to keep his company afloat. He'll be crawling."
Jonathan nods. "I'll arrange for our analysts to start compiling leverage."
Sophia adds, "We'll begin discrediting his assets subtly—whispers to the right ears."
Celeste merely smirks. "And I'll make sure the whispers turn into screams."
Irelax back in my chair, watching as my empire moves at my command.
This is power.
The meeting continues with rapid-fire discussions, strategies unfolding like a grand game of chess. I let them talk, let them plot, until I decide we've covered enough ground.
Finally, I glance at Celeste. "Anything else?"
She hesitates. Just barely.
Then she speaks.
Kade's Proposal
"Kade Draven has requested a private meeting."
The words settle over the room like a shadow.
The shift in energy is immediate. The once-confident murmurs still. A few of my staff glance at one another, uneasy.
They know the name.
They know the weight it carries.
Kade Draven isn't just a business rival.
He is a threat. A predator who plays the long game, lurking in the dark corners of power. He's always been a wildcard. Unpredictable. Dangerous.
And now, he wants to meet.
I arch a brow. "Did he say why?"
Celeste shakes her head. "Only that it concerns something you want."
I exhale slowly, fingers curling around the armrest of my chair.
Something I want.
Kade knows exactly how to bait a trap.
The question is—do I walk into it?
I rise from my seat, adjusting my cufflinks.
"Tell him I'll consider it."
Celeste inclines her head. "And if he insists?"
I smile, slow
Celeste watches me with quiet expectation, waiting for the final call on Kade Draven's invitation. But I don't answer right away.
Instead, I walk toward the massive floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at my city. The skyline is painted in streaks of gold and amber as the sun begins its descent, casting long shadows over the buildings below.
Kade's request is not surprising. But the timing is.
He's always been deliberate, never making a move without reason. If he wants to meet now, it means something has shifted. And when the ground shifts, it's usually because someone is about to fall.
I have no intention of letting that someone be me.
I turn back to Celeste. "Book the VIP suite at Elysium."
She tilts her head, interest flickering in her sharp blue eyes. "Not here?"
"No," I say smoothly. "If Kade wants a meeting, he'll do it on my terms. Neutral ground. Controlled environment."
"And if it's a trap?"
A smirk plays at my lips. "Then he'll find himself in one too."
Celeste nods in approval and moves to make the necessary arrangements. The rest of the team takes their cue to leave, exiting the conference room with hushed discussions about Roman Drakovich and our next steps.
But as Celeste turns to follow them, I stop her.
"Stay."
The moment the last board member leaves, the air shifts
Gone is the rigid professionalism, the carefully maintained atmosphere of control. The heavy doors swing shut, sealing us in, and with it, the last remnants of formality vanish.
Celeste exhales dramatically, rolling her shoulders as she strides toward the bar in the corner. "Finally," she mutters, pouring herself a drink. "If I had to listen to Jonathan drone on about projections for one more second, I would've thrown him out the damn window."
I smirk, leaning back in my chair. "You'd make quite the spectacle."
She takes a slow sip of whiskey, then turns to face me, one brow raised. "Please. We both know I'd land on my feet."
That's the thing about Celeste—she doesn't bow, she doesn't break.
She may be my assistant in title, but in truth, she's my only real confidante. The only person I trust enough to see me beyond the cold, untouchable facade.
And, more importantly, the only one who isn't afraid to call me out on my shit.
Celeste sets her glass down and perches on the edge of my desk, an act no one else in this building would dare attempt. She tilts her head, studying me with those sharp blue eyes.
We've fought, bled, and built this empire together.
She wasn't always my assistant. Years ago, when we were nothing but two ambitious, hungry she-wolves clawing our way to the top, she stood beside me. Not beneath me.
And now, no matter how much the world sees her as just another cog in my machine, I know better.
She's my blade. My shield. My sister in all but blood.
And if the world ever comes for me—
Celeste Valen will burn it to the ground.
"I need you to do something for me."
Celeste perches on the edge of the table, arms crossed. "I'm listening."
I meet her gaze. "Dig deeper into Kade's movements. I want to know everything—who he's spoken to, where he's been, any changes in his business dealings. If he thinks he can outmaneuver me, he's in for a rude awakening."
Celeste's lips curl slightly. "Consider it done."
She taps a few notes into her tablet before glancing back at me. "And Drakovich?"
"He's a long game," I murmur. "For now, our focus is on the threats at our doorstep."
Celeste inclines her head. "Understood."
She pushes off the table and strides toward the door, pausing just before she exits. "And Lilith?"
I look up.
She holds my gaze, voice steady. "Are you sure you want to meet Kade alone?"
A slow smile spreads across my face. "I've never needed a chaperone."
Celeste chuckles under her breath. "Just don't kill him. Not yet, anyway."
She leaves without another word.
I lean back in my chair, exhaling slowly.
Kade Draven.
What are you up to?
The office is silent after Celeste leaves, but my mind isn't.
I exhale slowly, leaning back in my chair. The city stretches beyond the glass windows, glittering like a kingdom under my command. Yet, despite all my power, there are still those who believe they can control me.
Kade.
Damon.
And now, his betrothed mate.
My phone vibrates on the table, slicing through the quiet. A blocked number.
I already know who it is.
I let it ring twice before answering.
Silence greets me on the other end, thick and heavy. Then—
"You need to stay away from him."
A female voice. Smooth, refined, but laced with barely restrained anger.
I smirk. "And who might you be?"
A sharp inhale. Then, a clipped response.
"I am his mate."
Ah.
So she finally decided to make herself known.
I spin my chair slightly, watching the city lights below. "Which one?" I ask casually.
The woman bristles. "Excuse me?"
I cross one leg over the other, feigning thoughtfulness. "Damon has two mates, last I checked. You'll have to be more specific."
Her breath hitches. "You think this is funny?"
I tilt my head. "I think it's pathetic."
A growl vibrates through the speaker. "Listen to me, Lilith. He is mine. Whatever thing you two had in the past is irrelevant. I don't care if you're his mate—you will back down."
I almost laugh. Almost.
Instead, I keep my voice silky smooth. "And if I don't?"
A pause. Then she lowers her voice, filled with venom.
"I will kill you."
The words hang between us, a whispered declaration of war.
I take a moment to absorb them, letting the weight of the threat settle. Then, I chuckle softly.
"Oh, darling," I purr. "You should have started with that."
Before she can respond, I hang up.
She wanted to play games?
She just stepped onto my board.
And no one wins against me.