Word Count: 1774

~Onyx

I sit up in the bed, gazing down at Sienna.

When I woke, her auburn hair was splayed out across her face, her limbs strewn about over her head. I spent a couple minutes gently brushing her hair away to reveal her peaceful, sleep addled face.

Since then, I've just been admiring her soft features, listening to the calm, steady breaths that brush past her full lips.

I've never felt so peaceful.

The curtains gently flutter in the breeze. I don't remember leaving the window open last night, although I suppose I was too wrapped up in Sienna to care.

Birds distantly chirp, the warm wind rustling through the trees outside. I let my eyes flutter closed.

Memories of last night stain my mind.

No part of me was close to taking Sienna last night, although I still feel the physical and mental strain of having to resist nonetheless.

It wouldn't have been right to have my way with her like that. I want her willing...I shouldn't want her at all.

She stirs next to me, stretching out.

"Good morning," I murmur.

Her eyes blink open. She rubs them before focusing on me.

"Good? Nothing feels good about this." Her voice is thick and croaky as she rubs her temples.

I brush my fingertips over her forehead. "How's your head?"

"Sore. So is my hand for some reason." She holds it out in front of her, flexing her fingers. Her knuckles are flushed purple. "What happened last night?"

I exhale slowly through my nose. As I suspected, she bears no memory of what happened.

"How much do you remember?"

"I remember dancing with Alex, and not much after that." She looks tempted to sit up, but succumbs to the gentle brush of my fingers along her forehead and through her hair.

"Maren drugged you. I think she wanted you to sleep with Lord Ableman to fuck with me," I relay. "When he came onto you, you punched him pretty hard. That's why your hand is like that."

Her eyes widen and she examines her hand with renewed interest.

"Oh wow. Im glad I did that."

I bow my head slightly, relief forcing a breath out of me. At least she doesn't seem scarred from the experience. I don't think she realises how close she was to being seriously harmed.

"He definitely deserved it. By the time we return home, everyone, including his wife, will know what he did."

If he thought a simple threat was enough to sate me, he's a fool.

"You're evil." She doesn't sound unhappy about it.

"Only to those who harm you," I murmur, twisting a piece of here silken hair around my index finger.

"What else happened? Did I do anything stupid?"

"I took you up to bed and you fell asleep immediately," I respond tightly.

Telling her the truth of lasts nights interaction will only embarrass her. Plus, I don't need to complicate things. I said a lot in the heat of the moment, and although none of it's a lie, I don't need to muddle her feelings with my own.

She lifts the sheets before dropping them again, mortification staining her cheeks red.

"I'm half naked."

Before she slept she stripped my shirt off. Again, leaving her in the scraps she calls under garments.

"Apparently you were overheating, so you stripped off, crawled into bed and went to sleep," I supply, the corner of my mouth curving up.

She presses a hand over her eyes, mortified. "Sorry if I was annoying."

"You were fine."

Annoying isn't the word to explain what happened last night.

Irresistible, maybe...

"I can't believe Maren drugged me." Her scowl returns. "What a bitch."

"At least you don't have to remember the rest of the party. I know you hate these things." It's best to diffuse the situation before she confronts Maren and gives the vindictive Alpha more reason to target her.

Maren will quickly learn what happens when she fucks with my mistress. Real or not.

Sienna twists her head to look up at me. "Way to look on the bright side."

She taps my nose with her fingertip and I laugh under my breath. I could lay in this bed for hours if it didn't belong to the exact woman she's seething against.

It takes a physical toll on me to force myself out of bed, breaking the peaceful moment.

"Let's get out of here. I've had enough of this place for a while." I toss Sienna some clothes before vanishing into the bathroom.

We ready quickly before heading off downstairs. Sienna moans and mutters about her headache and how she wants to bury the next person who looks at her funny.

However, as we reach the foot of the stairs, she see's something over my shoulder that has the irritation detraining from her face.

I turn, grim understanding settling over me.

"Zion..." His name sounds bitter and edged with hatred as it comes out of my mouth.

He turns to face me, as imposing as I remember him. Maren immediately skulks back, not wanting to be involved in what she knows could then vicious very quick.

"Alpha Onyx." He strolls over to me, hands seated in his pockets. "It's a shame I didn't see you last night. I was hankering for a dance."

My eyes narrow slightly. I haven't seen him in person in over a year. He hasn't changed, although he looks far more weathered.

He has ruled over his Pack for over twenty years. He killed his first wife and his daughter in cold blood when they betrayed him, and since then, he has had no empathy for anyone who has crossed his path.

He is a monster in every sense of the word. Even Sienna is backing off a few steps behind me.

"Strange. I would have assumed you would have made yourself known," I challenge.

"I arrived late." He glances back at Maren, who shakes her head. "At that point, you were chasing your mistress around everywhere."

My teeth protest as my jaw tightens to the point of pain. I don't even want him mentioning her name.

"Seems far more enjoyable then speaking to you." I keep my tone calm, neutral, not wanting him to see how much he angers me.

He knows how I feel, though. He knows he killed my father and every day I dream of revenge.

He looks at me with his cold dark eyes, almost like he's curious.

"Can't we at least be pleasant?"

"I tried that. Every diplomat I ever sent into your territory have been slaughtered," I remind him darkly. "Every offer to trade has been rejected, every display of peace laughed at. We have surpassed pleasant."

I don't mention my father. It's not worth wasting my breath.

Zion only smiles, stepping forward to pat my shoulder. It takes everything in me not to react with anything other than a bitter stare.

"Lighten up, Alpha." His stare is far too cold to be construed as friendly. "I'm afraid I can't make piece with someone who owns a large portion of the land I want."

"You'll never get it," I vow.

He knows he's not strong enough. The land I own is resource rich and desirable. My people are strong and patriotic, and will fit to preserve what's theirs.

And most importantly he's not smart. He's arrogant, misguided and hungry for power beyond his grasp. He's pathetic.

However, the one time he won against my Pack is the one time it matters. He took down a strong Alpha, and his retribution now awaits him.

"I wouldn't be so sure." He casts his gaze behind me, bumping my shoulder as he passes by. "You must be Sienna. I've heard so much about you."

I turn, ready to grab him by the collar and throw him back but I hesitate.

Sienna stares up at him with pure terror. She's never met him before, although the knowledge of what he's done is clearly enough to petrify her.

She doesn't respond, she just stares, stunned.

"Quiet, huh?" He laughs under his breath. "I've seen your picture in the newspaper. I never forget a face."

Her breath catches in her throat, utter terror seizing her. She's usually so composed that seeing her in such a state takes me aback.

"Leave her out of this," I warn.

"I never took you to be the kind of man to take a mistress, Onyx. You always seemed like a true romantic." Zion turns to me again, looking over me like he's trying to gauge something.

"You know nothing about me."

"I personally never took a mistress. After my wife left me, I decided I never wanted another woman in my sight again, let alone in my bed." He looks back and Sienna who's gaze is now pinned at the floor.

I should rip his heart from his chest for daring to make her so fearful.

"Your personal delusions having no bearing on me," I growl.

"All these Alpha's love their little playthings. For that reason, they don't mind leaving others alone," he says, giving Sienna a good once over like he's looking for fault in her. "I don't feel the same way."

His threat is hardly veiled. It would tip me over the edge were so much not at stake.

"Touch Sienna and I'll fucking kill you."

I stride closer to him. I'm taller, younger, stronger. Killing him would be no difficult feat. Everything else that comes with it would, and he knows it.

"I implore you to try." He stretched his arms wide, unfazed. "I know what transport contains which one of your guests. Try anything, and they are dead."

"Onyx..." Sienna pipes up, concerned for her friends.

I take another step at him until I'm looking down into the eyes that witnessed the death of my father.

"Hurt Sienna, and there is nothing that will stop me from destroying the very fabric of your Pack. Once it's gone, so are you," I say quietly, although the promise is no less threatening.

Zoom merely smiles. "Your father would be proud. You're just like him."

He lets me stew in those words as he steps around me, giving one last fleeting wave toward my friend.

"Goodbye Sienna. Onyx. See you soon."

❤️••❤️

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~Midika 💜🐼