<b>Aria’s </b>POV
I felt like I was dreaming.
That surreal feeling didn’t go away, <b>even </b><b>when </b>his silver Rolls–Royce drove us to a private estate nestled on a hillside in the middle of the city.
He still hadn’t exined why he brought <b>me </b>here. When I followed him into the grand, insanely luxurious foyer, I couldn’t help but finally blurt out, “Um <b>Alpha </b>Grayson?”
He turned and looked at me
<b>“</b><b>Umm</b>, won’t your sister and Jace mind me being here?”
“This <b>is </b>my private residence,” he replied.
My heart thudded harder in my chest, leaving me a little breathless. “Well that’s great, but my real question is… why did you bring me back here?”
He stared at me with those stormy gray eyes, unreadable, and just standing there under his gaze made my entire body heat up.
“Because, Aria, I—”
But he didn’t get to finish.
<b>“</b>Alpha Grayson, do you have a minute? Nova appeared with an apologetic look and whispered something into his ear.
He nodded and tumed to me. “Please wait here, <b>Aria</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
“Oh–sure, yeah, go ahead.”
They left, and I was left standing alone in <b>the </b>massive hall, turning in awkward little circles.
Honestly<b>, </b>I was so nervous I felt like I might puke.
If May were here, she’d be screaming with excitement, probably convinced <b>that </b>Alpha Grayson was <b>madly </b>in love with <b>me </b>and couldn’t bear to watch me suffer anymore, so he whisked me away to his private mansion to spoil me rotten
God…
Just thinking about that made my cheeks go up in mes.
Nope. Not happening. I couldn’t let <b>May’s </b>delusions hijack my brain. I was <b>an </b>adult, not a teenager. Fairytales didn’t happen in real <b>life</b>.
So why did Grayson bring me here?
<b>Oh </b>I really wished he didn’t have <b>work </b>to do right now because I <b>was </b>literally dying of curiosity <b>over </b>here.
“Miss Collim?
A voice behind me jolted me out of my spiral. I startled so hard that I identally knocked a <b>crystal </b>piece off a sculpture.
“Oh <b>my </b>god!” I fumbled to catch it and turned around, face flushing in horror.
A middle aged woman in a uniform stood behind me, calm andposed.
*1–Fma sorry!” I stammered. “How much is this statue?! Il pay for it.”
Please don’t be one of those million–dor pieces. I prayed internally. I really didn’t need to go more bankrupt
But the woman just smiled. “No need to worry. We rotate those pleces all the time—it’s no big deal.
She waved her <b>hand</b>, and two maids walked over and carried the sculpture away like it was nothing
19:46 AM
“Alpha Grayson apologizes for having urgent work,” the woman said politely. “He asked me to take care of you in the meantime. I’m Mrs. Jones, the housekeeper here. If you don’t mind, would youe with me?”
I nodded nervously <b>and </b>followed her through the <b>hall </b>into the heart of the vi.
I swear this was the most beautiful building I’d ever seen
Every inch of the <b>ce </b>was designed to perfection–stylish, artistic, more stunning than anything I’d ever seen even on TV.
We entered a bright, airy sitting room with floor–to–ceiling windows that opened up to a full garden view, where <b>you </b>could see thewn. and red roses in full blossom.
I couldn’t help but gasp.
“Oh wow!
“This is the <b>Alpha’s </b>favorite reading lounge,” Mrs. Jones said with <b>a </b>smile. “If you don’t mind, please wait here. I can also prepare a guest room if you’d like to rest
“I’m fine right here. I quickly <b>sat </b>down on the <b>cloud</b>–like sofa. “This is perfect.”
“Great. Then I’ll have someone bring tea and refreshments. Feel free to browse the bookshelves or magazines. ring the bell
need anything.just
Soon, maids brought in tea, coffee, fruit, and evenid out forks and knives for me. Once everything was set, they all quietly left.
<b>ay </b>too unreal
Even the people here were nicer than anyone I’d met out in the real world. I cupped my face in my hands and let out a little giddyugh.
The sunlight was warm on <b>my </b>skin<b>, </b>and the <b>couch </b>was so soft I could melt into it. Before I knew it, my eyelids started getting heavy.
I
<b>gave </b>up trying to fight it and fell asleep.
And that turned out to be the best nap I’d had in <b>forever</b>.
Way better than passing out on the cold tile floor of a supermarket. So much better <b>that </b>when I finally started waking up, I almost didn’t want to leave my dreand.
I yawned, stretched, and slowly opened my eyes
some point, someone <b>had </b>even
The golden light of sunset was now spilling through the windows. Crap—I must’ve slept for <b>hours</b><b>. </b>At so covered me with a soft nket.
Across from me, Grayson <b>was </b>sitting with aptop on hisp, his face perfectly sculpted by the orange glow of dusk<b>. </b>
“Uh, you’re done with work?”
I sat up quickly, instinctively wiping at theer of my mouth.
Thank god it was <b>dry</b>. Drooling in front of Grayson Hart would’ve been the final <b>nail </b><b>in </b>my dignity’s coffin.
He closed theptop and looked at me, amusement flickering in his eyes. “How was your <b>nap</b>?”
“Good” I admitted, dierks hot. “Better than I’ve had in a <b>long </b><b>time</b>:
“Then do you w
To stay here?
My mouth dropped open in shock
WAIT
WHAT
“What the Hold on—didn’t you say you don’t sleep with virgins!” I blurted.
9:46 AM
“I still don’t,” he replied coolly
“Then why do you want me here–are you suddenly in need of a maid
He chuckled, then pushed a document across the table.
“Take a look at this first.<b>” </b>
I picked it up. It was a contract. A literal contract between me and
d <b>him</b>.
ΠΡ something?
The first few pages listed an absurd number of perks: a weekly allowance that made my eyes bug <b>out</b><b>, </b>full ess to the house. board, apensation money once the contract terminated. I could even write in
conditions.
<b>my </b>own
And at the very end. I finally <b>saw </b><b>the </b><b>two </b>things he asked of me
room
and<ol><li>I had to be avable whenever he needed me<b>, </b>and stay close.</li><li>He gets to decide when the contract ends.</li></ol>
“1. I don’t understand.” I looked up from the document, stillpletely lost. “You just want me to be around <b>you</b><b>? </b>That’s it! <b>Can’t </b>anyone do <b>that</b>?”
He didn’t seem like someone whockedpanionship.
He crossed his hands on his knee, resting his chin on his fingers, and stared at me. The way he sat looked exactly like a predator lying in wait. And I–yeah, I was definitely the prey.
“My doctor diagnosed me with severe insomnia,” he <b>said</b>. “I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep since 9. Sometimes it makes me
I shivered.
<b>From </b><b>his </b>tone, I had a feeling “irritable” <b>was </b>putting it mildly.
“But you seem totally normal most of the <b>time</b>.” He was mo
was more elegant andposed than anybody I knew.
“Extreme episodes are rare. And I make an effort not to let outsiders see it. But your scent calms me. Just being around you seems to help
I stared at him, stunned.
As wolves, we <b>all </b>had <b>our </b>own unique scent. May
Even alurací a mate<b>. </b>
that mine smelt like coconut ice–cream. Our scent could express emotions, or
But healing? That <b>was </b>new.
“Are you sure it’s that <b>simple</b>? Just stay <b>close </b>to you and you’ll get better?”
“Appears But we need to keep testing. My medical team is desperate already<b>, </b><b>and </b>before my <b>condition </b>gets worse, I’m willing to <b>try </b>anything”
I but <b>my </b>lip <b>“</b>Are you sure it’s okay to tell me all this? <b>Isn’t </b><b>this </b><b>a </b>top secret?”
This kind of information <b>could </b>be worth <b>a </b>fortune <b>to </b><b>his </b><b>enemies</b>.