/4TH OCTOBER 2030/
Tonight, they were attending an event. Not just an event but The event. And by they, Rita meant, her boss, Mrs Ortis, her husband, her secretary and last but not least, her. Th had something to do with telecommunications. And whatever it was was huge. Mr Princeton, Miss Ortis and the board had taken great lengths to secure the deal. And unfortunately, her presence was required. That was why she was in a red off shoulder floor length gown handing the keys to her car to the valet and walking into the biggest conference hall in the city by thirty minutes past seven in the evening.
Rita hoped the cake on her face was worth it. She found Miss Ortis easily in her flowing emerald green backless gown and high ponytail, the woman gave her as much importance as she gave the music playing or would give a bug under her heel. There was no sign of her boss anywhere. If he stuck to the plan and he almost always did, he should have been here thirty minutes before she did. He had to be here. Somewhere.
Half a champagne glass later, the main event began. “Welcome esteemed guests, ladies and gentlemen of the press. Velvon and Deleze Inc and subsidiaries are happy to present to you what we believe will be known as the collaboration of the decade.” A portly man blond man on stage declared. His name was Riccardo Walus, spokesperson for Velvon. A mage. “But don't take it from me. Take it from our esteemed hosts themselves. Please help me welcome to the stage, Mrs Tiana Verdugo, CEO of Velvon and Mr Samuel Princeton, Owner and CEO of Deleze Inc and subsidiaries.”
Clapping erupted from the crowd and the click and flash of hundreds of cameras went off almost immediately as Mrs Tiana Verdugo and Mr Princeton began up the stairs and took the stage. Mrs Verdugo was a darker shade of mahogany with a full head of black braids that reached her mid back. The shimmering cream gown she was wearing emphasized her smile and the swell of her very pregnant stomach. Mr Princeton wore a tuxedo that emitted three vibes. Sexy, cold and dangerous. The press could not get enough of it. Riccardo gave the Microphone to over to Mrs Verdugo. “Welcome everyone, tonight we are proud to introduce a Velvon initiative, a first of its kind.”
Everyone's attention was on the stage, eyes focused for the most part on Mrs Verdugo while her speech went on before she handed the microphone over to Mr Princeton. “I couldn't have put it in better words myself, Mrs Verdugo. Tonight will the beginning of something new, for both our companies and for all of Alvas. It is our great pleasure to introduce to you all the Xelio sphere.”
Gasps of awe took the hall followed by applause and cheer.
***
The date of the event was a pain. As of late, the whole event, planning and execution, down to the smallest details had been one big pain in the ass. A minor annoyance compared to all the good his companies, Alvas and his pack would reap. Now all the pageantry was over, he just had to wait only a few short minutes before he would carefully slip out. The opportunity presented itself after the first round of reporters. Samuel did not bother excusing himself and blended in with the dressed crowd.
The full moon was only three days away and if he had to spend another hour in this place with so many people, let alone another minute in this tux he was going to lose it. A wave of pain flooded his body and brought him crashing down to his hands and knees at the top of the stairs. His mouth felt like it was on fire as fangs pulled free from his gums.
*****
After the reveal, both she and Mrs Ortis were up to their necks in requests, congratulations and conversations. Mrs Ortis looked to be enjoying the attention, practically glowing with it, until they were asked to produce Mr Princeton.
“I'm sure Mr Princeton is around here somewhere, Mr Saki.” Rita did not know whether to be grateful for the change of topic and a chance to stop smiling so much or be slightly panicked, seeing as she had not the slightest clue where he could have gone. “This is his Personal Assistant.” Raylene introduced.
“Nice to meet you Mr Saki, my name is Rita, Rita Anozim.” Rita said, offering her hand for a shake. Mr Saki took it and shook it firmly. “Charmed to meet you. I mean no offense but i wish to speak to Mr Princeton directly.” Definitely panicked and just the moment Raylene was waiting for. There was no way out of this one unless Mr Princeton himself appeared right then and there.
“I'll go and get him.” Rita offered, excusing herself. Where in the world did he go? He could not just wait until the event was half done before disappearing, could he? Where was she even supposed to start looking?
Seven minutes of checking and Rita was sure he was not even in the main hall, she even tried his phone but he was not answering.The only other places left were the bathrooms and the second floor. There was no way she was going to the men's bathroom without looking weird or desperate, so upstairs it was. She found a set of stairs that went up and she took it.
Her steps froze and whatever had been on her mind fled. There was someone on all fours at the top of the stairs. From the looks of it, it was a man. Any thoughts of shinanigans disappeared when a deep moan of pain came from the person. Rita rushed forward, taking the steps two at time in her heels. “Hello? What's wrong?” A fourth step and she knew who it was. Her steps quickened. “Mr Princeton.”
A hundred different scenarios as to what possibly happened to him played in her head. Allergies, poison, silver. Wolfsbane. Would they need an ambulance? The thought nearly had her tripping on the stairs.
There was just too much going on. His wolf so close under the skin. So close to the surface. And she was right there. If she did not leave he would–
She had nearly reached his side, only two steps away when he got up on his own. His back turned to her.
Rita let out a sigh of relief. At least he could get up on his own, so maybe it was not as bad as she thought. “Are you alright? What happened, Sir?” She asked. Out of habit, she stretched out her hand to reach for his. Two things happened. First, his hand reached out and grabbed her wrist. And he gripped it tightly. It was so quick that she did not even see it happen. She noticed the presence of his claws too late. The miniture daggers pinching her skin, a very small taste of the pain they could inflict.
Second, her back was pressed up against the wall, her other hand restrained between his chest and hers. The wrist in his grip pinned beside her head.
His irises were all molten gold with no trace of humanity left in them. They sent a wave of panic and fear down her spine. Her worst fear had finally come true, she was face to face with the wolf. She could it in the hands that pinned and caged her to the wall. Before Rita could utter another word, Samuel bent his head and skimmed down the column of her neck with his nose, she sucked in a breath. His hot breath fanned her throat and made her shiver. Stupid traitorous body. She shuddered when he planted his face in the spot in-between her neck and her shoulder. There were people downstairs, some of which he had to personally speak with. She had to snap him out of it.
She felt the heat of his mouth on her neck, lips showering kisses up to her ear and down to her shoulder. A moan escaped her lips. ‘No. Have to get him off.’ she thought to herself. “Stop.” she ordered weakly. She tried again, her voice more steady than before. “Mr Princeton, Samuel–whoever you are, st–”
Her breath froze in her lungs when she felt the press of something sharp, hard, thick and wet against her shoulder. Cold dread streaked up her spine like lightning. Fangs. She realized and started struggling and thrashing, if you could call it that.
Fear rendered her speech useless and the air became hard to breathe. No. Nonono! Not again! Samuel growled, a sound that made its way to her bones. She ignored the warning in it and continued struggling. The fangs pressed against her skin harder. And she stilled, fear freezing her completely. The longest minutes of her life passed before Samuel withdrew the pressure of his fangs from her skin. He flicked his tongue over the spot before sucking on it. He started small but with every gasp and moan that escaped her lips the suction increased, molten heat rushed to her core until her sounds became louder and she was sure the hickey he would leave on her neck would take a few days to disappear.
He let go of her neck with a pop. Rita shivered as the air conditioned air hit the spot he just left. He took her lips not a second later preventing any protest. His kiss was hard, demanding, almost punishing. His tongue sought entrance into her mouth. When she did not provide it, his hand went to her ass and gave it a hard squeeze. Rita gasped and he plunged his tongue into her mouth.
He moaned at the taste, champagne and her. This is what the human had been denying them both for so long. He almost groaned when thought of the human taking back control again. He felt her surrender and his other hand left her wrist to grasp the back of her head, bringing her closer, her free hand doing the same as their tongues dueled for supremacy.
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