London traffic was a bitch at any time of day but even the beeping of car horns and drivers yelling out their windows couldn't distract me from the peculiar feeling which slithered up my spine, tightening its hold, something was off—wrong.

I'd had it since I'd left Sage's apartment.

Well, I'd had it longer than that.

And no matter how many times I tried to reassure myself, it just wouldn't budge.

My phone beeped and seeing as the traffic had come to a standstill I opened it up.

What's this? Do we work part-time hours or what!? It read.

Cheeky bastard

I rolled my eyes. He could wait another half-hour and I had other more pressing issues.

My mind went back to thinking about Sage. And some relief had come with seeing her, talking to her, but I had gone to visit her, not only because I had to see her, but because I wanted answers.

Then why the fuck hadn't I asked anything?

You know why.

Because I didn't want to give her any reason to end the possibility of what we might have together.

Why?

Because I was afraid to lose her.

Fuck!

My wolf grumbled. He was pissed we'd just walked away from her, again. He hadn't stopped harassing me whilst I was with her, touching her, tasting her. His intentions had barged their way into my brain with the same demand... over and over.

Mate—Mate her!

I blew out a puff of air. I'd never given two thoughts about finding a mate...my fated mate.

Didn't fucking believe in all that bullshit. Fairty-tales and teenager shit. Yeah, I got the 'mate' thing. But Fated? There was only one true Mate for everyone?

But she's all I thought about. And when I'm with her, every inch of me—every fucking nerve in my body comes alive, like I'd never lived a full day before her.

I slammed on the horn of my car as some wanker pulled out ahead of me. His cheap-arsed BMW almost took the front end off my car. I glared at him through his mirror and he glanced away.

Yeah, that's right sunshine, fucking drive like you've passed a test. Prick!

I clenched my jaw as I continued driving. My mind returned to the only subject that filled every corner of my head as I tried to rationalise it for the umpteenth time today.

It was widely known I was a hard bastard, took no shit from anyone, had to be in my position. Couldn't allow for any sign of weakness with the current reigning Alpha's, as they would sense it—smell it a mile off, therefore, I had to be on top of my game.

My reputation for being a womanizer was also commonly acknowledged, and I wasn't surprised when her cousin called me on it—she had every right to.

And, when I thought back, yeah, I'd been a cunt to a lot of women.

True, I was always upfront. But I'd used them and moved on to the next. So, if truth be told I had been an all-round piece of shit where women were concerned.

But I didn't want to do—or be that anymore.

And I hadn't even so much glanced at another woman since the second I clapped eyes on her.

And even when I tried to shift her from my mind with the distraction of another woman. It had failed monumentally, him indoors and him downstairs had refused to play ball.

I groaned; she was changing me in ways I hadn't even realised needed to be changed. Sage softened me, and I didn't mean it would stop kicking the shit out of someone who deserved it—no softened in the way I wanted to make her happy. Put her needs before my own, to soothe her and not let any fucker hurt her.

As the traffic came to stand still... again, I pinched the bridge of my nose, sighing loudly resting my head on the headrest behind me.

Face facts, arsehole. If it walked like a duck. Talked like a duck, then it was a fucking duck. This 'fate-mate' thing had to be real.

Nothing else made sense.

>>>

A half-hour later I pulled up outside of Wolfe headquarters. Sure as hell wasn't in the mood to see my brother, but I had no choice. Bringing my car to a stop, I got out and threw my keys towards a young lad, he was one an Alpha's son from up North, Good kid. "Cheers Danny."

"No problem, Mr Stone," he said as he slid into my driver's seat.

Heading inside, it was business as usual. Straightening and pushing back my shoulders I internally sighed as I prepared myself. Knowing every woman I passed would make a beeline to stop and talk to me. But today, I wasn't in the mood. I mumbled a 'good morning' to each one, keeping my eyes forward, picking up the pace heading straight for the elevator.

Stepping inside my shoulders relaxed. But I'd fucking spoke too soon as the woman who I'd let suck my dick nearly a fortnight ago—the one my ex-personal assistant caught me with edged her way in before the door closed, effectively cornering me in the elevator.

Fuck!

"Good morning Hunter," she said, her tone low as if she was trying to make her voice sound sexier.

Shitting hell!

I swallowed and for the life of me, I couldn't remember her name. I flicked my eyes over her, to see her ID badge. Thank fuck for that. I cleared my throat. "Good morning Miss Hall."

She stepped closer and ran her hand down my chest.

Fucking hell.

"Please Hunter, call me Samantha." She giggled.

Her potent perfume flooded my nose, it was overpowering, and I thought Ruth's breakfast would make an unexpected appearance and ruin my new shoes.

I skipped back. But did this deter her? Hell no, she didn't know how to take a hint—she took another step towards me.

"I thought you would call me, after our—" she paused, licking her ruby red lips.

Don't say it—for the love of Christ. Don't say it!

"Date," she said. Her fingers twisted one of the buttons on my shirt.

Date? What Date?

I didn't think giving the boss a blowjob could constitute as a date. She was deluded. I wanted to be upfront and make a change from now on and stop shitting on my doorstep. I'd never understood why I did it.

Yeah, right Hunter, keep telling yourself that. Of course, I knew why, it was easy—too easy.

They all came to me with zero effort required.

My brother's words echoed in my head.'Mark my words, Hunter, one day you'll be slapped with a sexual harassment complaint and end up in court.'

Could it happen? When all the women had set their sites on me?

Nah... surely not?

And I'd always been upfront about my intentions.

I dragged my focus back to her, firmly removing her hand from my button and lowering it to her side. "You can hardly call what happened between us a date Miss Hall."

Fuck!

She looked burned for a second, maybe two. Her cheeks flushed, and eyes narrowed; coldness ate any warmth from seconds ago, she pursed her lips. I could tell she was just about to rip me an extra one, getting too ready to give me both barrels.

Thankfully I was offered a reprieve when the elevator door opened. "Don't let me keep you Miss Hall." I guested at the open doors. It was her floor after all.

She huffed and stormed out, muttering something about me being a bastard, which she wasn't wrong.

Phew! I looked up and thanked whatever powers that be that got me out of that one.

As the elevator door opened to the top floor, I flicked through my phone as I walked past my new personal assistant. I didn't look up as I spoke. "Anything for me Miss Simms?"

"No Sir, I emailed you all of your messages, but nothing seemed of huge importance."

"Cheers Da— " I was just about to say darlin'. I had to stop that shit. Right now. Turn over a fresh leaf. Act professional with all my employees, especially if I was to make a go of this with Sage. She had to know I would not treat every woman like they were my next conquest.

Heading into my office my brother was sitting where I left him, with his head down buried in his laptop. "Honey, I'm home."

He sneered. "Yeah, I could smell you from here, and what's that fucking awful smell you brought back with you?" he asked.

I knew what he was referring to... Miss Hall's perfume was all over me like a nasty rash. "Just shared the lift with a woman from the accounting department, Miss Hall. Think she bathed in whatever she was wearing." I considered changing my clothes. "You can smell it from there?"

He wrinkled his nose. "Yeah keep your distance, sit over there." He pointed to my leather sofa.

Cheeky Bastard.

It was my fucking office. I sat down relaxing my arms across the back of the sofa.

Zander slammed the lid on his laptop down. "We had a visitor whilst you were out and you ain't gonna believe who the fuck was just sat where you're sitting now."

I sniffed the air, but all I could smell was Miss Hall's perfume. He waited for me to ask. "Well, are you gonna tell me or do I have to beat it out of you, like old times?"

"Yeah, right." He raised an eyebrow before chuckling. "None other than the fucker we talked about this morning. Charles Du-Ponte."

I sat up, bringing my arms down. "What...here?"

"Yeah, cheeky bastard walked in like he owned the place, looking for you."

"Me?" I placed my hand on my chest, shaking my head.

"Yeah—you Casanova."

I pushed myself to the edge of the sofa, rubbing my hand over my chin. I had to stop myself from standing and pacing my office, it was my go-to when something caught me off guard—which hardly ever fucking happened. And I knew Zander would watch me carefully.

What did he want? Was he here about Sage, to tell me to stay away from his granddaughter?

"What did he want?"

"Wants to bury the hatchet, said he just heard about Dad and came to offer his condolences and shit."

"What? Really? "

So not about Sage? Or was this a test, checking me out?

Zander leaned back in my chair, rocking it slightly. "Yeah, I know. Sounds off to me too."

I didn't want to ask, but I knew my brother would think it, so better to throw it out there. "Do you think this about Sage... me and her?"

"Well it's a pretty big coincidence he shows up right after Sage didn't tip up for work—don't you think?"

Fuck, I didn't know what to think. "What else—did he say anything else?"

He nodded. "Get this." He paused.

"What?"

"He's invited us to his place, tonight. Has a huge family event happening and wants us there, to put the past behind us. Said he's invited all the pack Alpha's and supposedly our cousins from the States will be there too. Said he's already buried the hatchet with Uncle John and is working with Victor and Hugo." Zander rolled his eyes. "Wankers, the pair of them."

Shit, was this event that Sage would be at tonight? Could I just rock up? Would she be okay with me turning up? I played the conversation in my head.

'Hey, Sage, fancy seeing you here. Yeah, your grandfather invited us, my family and your family have a history—oh, and we think he might have murdered your mother and father. Surprise!'

Fuck, I didn't know what to think. I turned my attention back to my brother. "What do you want to do about it?"

He looked up to the ceiling, rubbing his hand over his beard. I knew his mind would play out every scenario, he always was more the 'thinker' out of the two of us.

I preferred to sort things with my fists first and then ask questions.

"I think we should go. Just to see what he's up to with our cousins if for nothing else?" he said.

I nodded my head. "Yeah, you're right. I wouldn't trust those two tossers as far as I could throw them."

My mind drifted back to Sage. Perhaps if I met this Charles Du-Ponte I could talk to him about how I felt about Sage. See if he's serious about burying the hatchet and what his thoughts would be on me and her being together.

I wondered if I should call Sage and give her a heads-up?

Nah. I decided against it.

"What time?"

"Around Eight."

No backing out now, tonight I would come face to face with her grandfather and perhaps figure out a little more of the mystery that was Sage Dufrene.