PURE BLOOD

"The drinks are here" Damian said and dropped some drinks on the table.

She took one of the glasses chugged the drink down.

"As I was saying, I know when things are not what they seem, look Nicole…."

"Stop making a fool of yourself Ava, and drink the water on the table" Damian scolded her.

"No, let me finish tal…."

My phone started to ring and when I looked at it, it was my security, he must have seen how uncomfortable I was, And decided to get me out of there, I grabbed a glass of champagne and stood up.

"Excuse me," I said then downed the champagne, now I began blaming myself for ever tasting the champagne, I was just in a hurry to get out of here and I didn't bother inhaling it, the awful taste of the champagne overshadowed the sweet wine I had earlier, thank goodness I only swallowed a little quantity and held the rest In my mouth, my eyes started to water and my throat starts to burn, so I quickly darted off to the bathroom to empty my mouth,but I bumped into someone and emptied everything on him.

"Breathe slowly" The person whispered and his hand that was on me felt like I was been zapped.

I looked up at the pair of stormy blue eyes, and right then my wolf whispered, "Mate" Before I gave in to the darkness.

* * * *

"You will hang if you dare scratch that portrait," Lydia yelled at one of her workers.

"Move your ass already," he yelled at another, giving her a pointed look. She turned to the left and yelled at the one carrying some tools inside "Stop dragging your feet; we don't have all-day people."

"Mrs. West," she smiled the instant she saw me. Lydia is my event planner, and she is always great at her job, but believe me when I say she has a foul mouth.

"Hi, Lydia, how are things looking up?"

"Perfecto, just perfect" she demonstrated with her hands. I smiled while she was busy showing off the decoration; she was almost done, just hanging up the artwork that would be on display.

I was satisfied at the end of the interesting tour and was glad she stuck to the design I chose.

It was an hour to the art show, and I was nervous as hell. Ava tipped my bowl of confidence and I am struggling to remain calm; all hell would let loose if she did find out.

Secondly, I had made a fool of myself yesterday too, All I remember is bumping into someone and vomiting on the person then I called the person, mate.

I wish Ava was the only thing I was worried about, what is the odds of meeting my mate, thousands of miles away from the werewolf world.

The only thing I remembered was those stormy blue eyes I could swear I have seen them before, but can't quite remember where, anyways, it doesn't matter, what matters right now is my revenge.

I hurriedly went into my office at the far end of the hall to get dressed. My guests would soon arrive, and I didn't want to be unprepared when they get here.

Locking the door behind me, I quickly slid into the red dress I had ordered to wear for the night.

It hugged my skin tightly, showing off my curves. I did my make up, nothing too heavy, a little here and there but something luxurious to charm there pants off, I adorned my neck and ears with a diamond set I had selected for the occasion. I picked up my clutch and opened the door to see Nina at the door, looking through her tablet.

"Has the guest arrived?"

"Yes, ma'am," she replied.

I quickly got on the elevator while Nina filled me in on everything I needed to know about the show. I have been searching for a way to broaden our scope and take over New York as a whole.

This selfless act of opening our door to the public will bring great returns and certainly bring me a step closer to my revenge plan.

"If it's not ruined already," I gasped.

The minute we stepped into the hall, I shrieked quietly without attracting attention to myself.

Images of someone carrying me flashed in my mind but it went away as quickly as it came.

"Almighty Ares honored our invitation, he even came by himself, look over there" Nina whispered to my hearing.

I looked at where she pointed then it hit me,the pair of the stormy blue eyes I had seen earlier and then I felt electricity in my tummy and my wolf whispered, "Mate."

It can't be, Ares is a Lycan, of the royal bloodline, heard they are quite private about their ways that not many people knew of them. He built his empire in the human world, but respected among the wolves.

"Ares?" I whispered in disbelief.

"The stakeholders would be so happy." Nina said.

"They have me to thank for that." I chipped in, still lost in thought.

"Ready?" Nina asked as Marla was calling me up on the podium. I was still disoriented thinking about my meeting with Ares, but it was now or never. Nina ushered me to the podium to deliver my speech before stepping aside.

"Thank you, Marla; that is one hell of an introduction," I said, smiling, and some of my guests chuckled.

I searched for Damian or Ava, but they were nowhere to be found in the auditorium. I was sad and tense, as it could only mean one thing: she knew who I was and why I had returned.

Just the thought sends chills down my spine, but that's trouble for another day.

I thanked everyone who made it out tonight and was about to dive into the speech I had prepared for the occasion when I picked up Ava's scent.

I was searching for her all over the auditorium while delivering the speech. It was dark in the room with only the stage light on, but you know wolves and night vision. After searching the room for a while and finding no signs of Ava, I just concluded that I might be wrong.

"We hope that with this little effort, we would give back our quota to the community and the country at large, thank you." I ended the speech and made my way down from the podium as all cheered and clapped.

"That is a beautiful speech," I heard a familiar voice say from behind me.

"Thank... " I was stunned to see Damian behind me, with Ava, of course, glued to his side.

"Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Stone." Surprised to see them, I was beginning to think that I might be needing another surgery and, of course, a new identity, since my cover is blown.

"The paintings are so beautiful; I love them," Ava said, holding my hands as if we were long time acquaintances. I could feel Damian's gazing lustfully at me, but I did a good job ignoring him anyway.

He should keep chasing, and I will keep baiting him till he loses himself.

"Thank you; I feared you wouldn't make it," I said to Ava, who was still clinging to my arm.

"Damian would hang me; he was suddenly all for the art show," she casually replied, but I could sense the jealousy hidden behind those words.

"Oh, I didn't know you were a big fan of art," I spoke to him, holding his gaze.

"There is a lot you don't know about me," he replied, staring even more lustfully.

"Mrs West"

"Hi, um, sorry, Mr. Ares Steele, it's nice meeting you." I was flustered as I grabbed his hand; it was cold, and I felt a tingling sensation. I was praying internally that he doesn't talk about the vomiting scene, I was glad he doesn't recognize me as his mate thanks to the cloaking spell.

"The pleasure is all mine, did you get my note" He asked glancing from the tall blue eyes guy standing beside him to me.

"Yes, thank you" I replied.

Jude handed me a note that he had left me, he asked me to take aspirin and water, then helped my security put me inside my car before he left.

"Shit he remembered" I exclaimed to myself.

He was handsome in his suit, his scent intoxicating, and honestly, It wouldn't be such a bad idea to give in to the mate bond, as it is messing me up already. But i was busy with my revenge, and that is important to me above everything else.

"That was a wonderful speech," he complimented.

"Thank you." My wolf was internally leaping for joy.

"Excuse me, please," I quickly said to Ava and Damian. I almost laughed my ass off when I saw Damian's face. He was uncomfortable all through my discussion with Ares, but I didn't give a shit.

After talking with him for a good number of minutes, he dug his hands into his pocket and handed his card to me.

"Call me anytime, and we will talk more about the project," he said, and I quickly took it from his hand.

There was a spark, but his cold hands wouldn't let me relish the moment.

He smiled at me and walked away.

"I know you want my man."

"What are you talking about, Mrs. Stone?" I screamed.

"I have no evidence yet, but ever since you came to the wedding, my husband is no longer the man he used to be."

"I'm lost for words at your accusations."

"He forfeited everything, including our honeymoon and allegiance ritual, just so he would be here at this art show."

"What on earth..."

"I'm onto you, Nicole West," she said, demonstrating with her fingers.

I smiled internally. I guess I'm winning this game little by little. This is what she meant by knowing who I am and what I am up to.

"Are you sure I'm the one you should be worried about? Your husband is fucking someone, by the way, but I think you picked up the wrong scent."

I enjoy causing her sleepless night with a touch of restlessness.

"You know her."

"I didn't see her clearly, but I think I saw her build," I said.

"It must be that sneaky bitch, Eloise. I knew she was up to no good hanging onto Damian and the pack like a leech

"You must come to my allegiance ritual."

"I thought people outside the stone royal family couldn't come to the allegiance ritual."

"Just say yes and leave the rest to me."

"I don't know, I will think about it," she was about to say something else when her phone rang.

"What I heard is yes and don't you dare disappear on us like you did last night," she said, holding her index finger up, gesturing that I should hold on while she stepped out to answer the phone.

* * * * *

I'm tired from all the meetings and greetings. It was one hell of an event; which served its purpose, a well orchestrated publicity stunt and baiting Damian and Ava.

"Aren't I the genius?" I chuckled silently but was cut off when a car nearly ran into us.

"Keep it steady," I yelled, massaging my head, which bumped on the car roof.

"Sorry, ma'am, it's just."

"Eyes on the road, don't worry about me," I yelled at him. The last thing I want is to be dead before executing my revenge.

I remembered my meetings with Ares and the possibility of future meetings with him, and I was grateful that things were finally taking shape.

But when I remembered he is my mate, fear gripped me, going against the mate pull was such a big deal, I don't know if I hold a candle against it. I kept on thinking about it till I dozed off.

The continuous ringing of my phone woke me up from sleep. I was prepared to hang whomever it was that just interrupted my beauty sleep when I noticed that I had 10 missed calls.

"Strange," I whispered, tossing the pillow to the side.

It was Nina and a strange number. I called Nina back, but she wasn't picking up.

I tried calling the strange number, and the caller picked up at the first ring.

"Hi, am I speaking with Mrs. Nicole West?"

"Yes, and you are?"

"I'm Detective Sam from the local police station; there has been a break-in."

"What?"

"Someone broke into your office."

I jerked off from the bed.

"How is that possible?" I asked, a little surprised.

"And we think they may have been following you for a while."

"Where are you? We think you are in danger."

"At home, Detective Sam, and I'm not alone; I have men all over the house; if anyone is here, they will be arrested. I said it with a tone of finality before I hung up.

I hurriedly picked up my jacket and headed to the company.

The minute I got into my office, I picked up a few scents.

"Wolves," I whispered.

"Are you looking for anything of value?" the detective from earlier asked as I was busy looking through the mess the intruders had made.

"I don't think they are here to steal."

"Why"

"Those paintings are worth a fortune, yet they are untouched." I pointed at the painting in the corner.

"Hold on, how did you know they were following me?"

"Here I caught them on CCTV at the parking lot. He handed me a laptop to play the video on, and I clicked on the play button.

"Lelani!" I whispered to myself.