Chapter 4

"Do you have a problem?"

As Alaric spoke, he scrutinized Adina, as if trying to see through her facade.

"I figured an Omega from the lower rungs of society like you wouldn't know the meaning of shame."

Adina's eyes snapped open, his words cutting into her like a knife, though she couldn't pinpoint exactly where it hurt.

Alaric casually avoided her gaze, seemingly too disdainful to spare her another glance. He turned away, picking up a black wallet from the coffee table...

The manager gestured for the security guards to take Adina away with them.

"Wait," Alaric interjected, halting the guards. "What about the item?"

"What item? Ladies, hand it over quickly," Caleb said wearily.

But it seemed the one who was crying her heart out wasn't the main concern—rather, it was the one who looked so calm...

"I didn't touch anything in the wallet," Adina stated confidently. She hadn't even touched those cards.

Alaric faced her, his tone icy: "There was a button inside."

Everyone present was bewildered.

Adina felt even more baffled. Even if there was a button, why would it matter?

"Return it to me."

Alaric grabbed Adina by the collar, his gaze piercing as though it could see right through her.

"I didn't touch the wallet! I have no idea about any button!"

Oppressed by his presence, Adina felt a suffocating terror from this handsome man in front of her.

"A button? If it was white, then... I... I saw it," Maeve, being dragged away by security, suddenly said. "I saw it in the wallet... thought it was useless, so I..."

Adina shut her eyes, taking a deep breath.

"So what?" Caleb asked urgently.

"So I just tossed it into the pool of liquor..."

Maeve stammered, but before she could finish, Alaric had already pulled Adina by the collar, dragging her out.

"Clear the place," Alaric commanded as he passed Caleb, his words carrying an undeniable authority.

Caleb, unconcerned about the night's losses, promptly instructed the manager to clear the venue. Fifteen minutes later, the once bustling Pony Bar was devoid of any patrons.

Without the music and dazzling lights, the venue's sudden silence felt unsettling.

Yet, the intoxicating aroma of spirits lingered in the hall.

And that aroma wafted from the pool of liquor Maeve mentioned—a vast circular pool over fifty square meters, filled not with water but pure whiskey, changed daily.

Many once came, spending extravagantly just to experience the pool's opulence.

Now, the empty hall on the first floor held only two seemingly intertwined figures and the sound of shuffling footsteps.

Alaric halted by the pool's edge.

Adina stared at the seemingly bottomless amber liquid, her heart pounding in her throat.

Having once almost drowned, surviving by mere luck, even the sight of a shallow pool made her dizzy!

"Get in and find it."

Alaric, without hesitation, pushed her straight in...

Adina didn't even have a chance to struggle, plunging into the pool. The potent aroma overwhelmed her senses, as if she had fallen into a chaotic darkness...

"Adina!" Back in the private room, Maeve fainted the moment Adina was pushed in...

Standing by the pool, Alaric with his hands in his pockets, looked composed and calm, his tall figure unflinching.

But as soon as Adina sunk into the pool, his inscrutable gaze darkened, drowning in memories...

That button was the only thing left by a girl who vanished five years ago.

That night, he had been set up. Mid-shift, he stumbled into a strange room, where a girl lay unconscious. To alleviate his pain, he entwined with her.

The next morning, he woke to find only a forcibly torn white button...

And she seemed to have vanished from existence...

Meanwhile, in the pool, Adina was struggling. The whiskey choke was pushing her to desperation; the depth of the pool far exceeded her height.

But she knew there was no one coming to help her.

In her line of work, unless you're flawless, one mistake means bearing all consequences.

She could only count on herself...

But she was feeling dizzy, the surrounding liquid cold as that harrowing seawater...

She was exhausting herself struggling...

"Alaric! This pool isn't for just anyone! Pure alcohol at sixty percent..." Caleb warned, concern in his voice as he approached.

"If she can't handle it, she shouldn't have meddled with my things."

Alaric's response was callous. He watched the bubbles rising on the pool surface, his eyes fierce and unwavering.

Caleb shook his head and turned away, considering the unconscious one who needed attending...

"Whoosh..."

Out of nowhere, a hand shot out of the pool, only to slip back beneath the surface.

But in that fleeting moment, a small reflection caught Alaric's eye, sparking interest.

"Pull her up!" He ordered, a trace of urgency in his voice.

At his signal, several men dressed in black swiftly entered the hall, pulling the half-conscious Adina from the pool's depths.

"Gasp... gasp..." Adina lay on the floor, eyes closed, coughing out whiskey.

Alaric approached, crouching to take what she held between her thumb and forefinger.

A white button, stained with amber liquor, but not the one he wanted.

He frowned, his gaze lingering on her pained face before moving downward...

Sure enough, her collar's button was missing.

She must have torn it off herself, trying to fool him.

Still playing games at a time like this—how amusing!

"Does she need to be cleaned up?" Beta Kaia asked emotionlessly.

Alaric stood quickly, clenching the button in his fist.

"Have you thoroughly investigated her background?"

"The info's on your desk."

Alaric glanced at her delicate face, one that could enchant anyone, before coldly instructing, "When she wakes, inform her to deliver my watch to the headquarters office by 11 AM tomorrow. I'm eager to see her next move."

With a cold look at Adina on the ground, Alaric strode away.

Caleb, seeing Alaric leave, instructed his men to move Adina to a private lounge.

"How could such a beauty have such poor judgment, tangling with the cold-blooded Alaric?" Caleb mused to himself.

By looks and figure, these two were quite the seductresses, what a pity...

Maeve stirred, "Where's Adina?"

"Oh, you woke up quickly." Caleb glanced at Maeve.

He pointed to a dark corner of the room where Adina lay slumped on a couch.

"She's just unconscious, nothing serious. Now that you're awake, remind your friend to ensure she delivers the watch to Zenith Global's top-floor office by eleven tomorrow."

With that, Caleb departed with his entourage, mercifully having arranged for their paycheck to be cleared.

Shortly after, Adina awoke, and the two collected their pay and headed home.

"Adina, I'm so sorry, I didn't know it was Alaric," Maeve lamented.

"It's nothing, honey. You can't expect to always stay dry working by the river. I'll find a way to take it back from him," Adina reassured, spite for men evident in her eyes.

Adina comforted Maeve briefly, turning to her own room.

Her wolf spirit Ava restless after a day spent.

"Damn, what kind of man is this?" Adina's eyes flashed with anger.

"He's different; I like his scent," Ava replied.

"He's my mate? What did I do to deserve a tyrant like this?" Adina cursed under her breath.

Meanwhile, Alaric absentmindedly rubbed a glass, sifting through the intel his subordinates had gathered...

"Adina? Touching her wrist made me feel electrified."

"You old dog are finally breaking your fast. She seems spirited," Lauren jested.

Alaric's mind was fixated on today's encounter, unable to shake the image of her enchanting eyes, a distraction for him.

…

"I'm here for the watch." Adina presented the day's earnings to Odette.

"This isn’t enough, there's a $50 late fee," Odette calculated with her cheap cunning, confident she'd exploit Adina.

"Mrs. Odette, I'm only a day late, I'll pay on time next." Adina clenched her hands, aware of the landlord's disdain for her family, but unable to move with the kids.

"Late again on the rent?"

Adina turned to face the smirking Jack, the landlord's idle son.

Jack sauntered to Mrs. Odette, whispering something into her ear.

After glancing Adina over, Mrs. Odette turned and left with the money.

Jack closed in on Adina, his hand sliding up her shoulder, pinching her chin, restraining her movements.

Adina smiled coyly, "Missed me?"

Jack silenced her with a forceful kiss, his tongue invading like a snake, exploring every inch of her mouth.

Going deeper, his hand slipped lower, hot fingers slipping under her shirt, skimming over smooth skin, as their breaths grew heavy.

Adina felt a sudden wetness below, her core releasing moisture that slowly trailed down her thighs.

Jack unzipped Adina's pants, skillfully sliding beneath, rubbing between her soft folds until he felt the dampness.

Jack pulled back momentarily, arching a brow, "You're wet?"

Adina's hand, over his pants, pressed boldly against his bulge, "As are you."

Jack chuckled, descending onto her lips again, savoring her silken taste.

Their intimate sounds magnified in the sparse room, stirring their shared desires.

Adina felt the room spinning as she fell onto the inviting bed, Jack's hands drawing circles on her back, soothing or stirring desire.

Between kisses, Jack nestled into her neck, savoring her scent, Adina's breathing stirring her chest rhythmically.

His thick shaft relentlessly pounded her, only momentarily withdrawing before plunging deep, tassel meeting tender depths.

Jack kneaded Adina's breasts into varying shapes, provocatively squeezing until flesh bulged between his fingers, eliciting her soft moans...

...

"Give me the watch, Jack. I have matters to attend to; we have plenty of time, right?" Adina's post-coital voice had a husky, alluring timbre, magnetic as ever.

"Hold on a bit longer, then you can have it," Jack relished her scent, unwilling to leave his dreamlike state.

After some time, Adina dressed, accepting the watch from Jack, offering a teasing kiss.

"I'll be missing you." She smiled, her alluring figure brushing past as she left.

Chuckling softly, Jack watched her go.

…