Chapter 5 The Bond of Wolves

Scarlett couldn't breathe. The weight of Kevin's words hung in the air, as palpable as the tension in the room. She could feel his presence pressing against her, urging her to take a step back, but her body refused to obey. She wasn't sure if it was the undeniable pull of his aura, or the allure of the danger he represented, but she couldn't look away.

Kevin moved first. His hand, still warm from where it had brushed against her skin, found its way to her wrist. He didn't grip her tightly, but the touch was enough to make her heart skip a beat.

"Scarlett..." His voice was low, almost a growl. "I told you not to get too close."

"I didn't ask for this," Scarlett retorted, her voice tinged with defiance, but there was an edge of vulnerability in her words that she couldn't hide. She wasn't sure if she was trying to convince him or herself.

Kevin's lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile. "Maybe not. But now you're part of it, whether you like it or not."

His words hit harder than she expected. Part of her wanted to pull away, to break free from whatever spell he'd cast on her, but another part-one that scared her-wanted to stay right where she was. Wanted to let him pull her deeper into this world, into the darkness of the pack, the dangerous thrill of his touch.

He leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, "You've made your choice, Scarlett. You just don't know it yet."

The door opened again, and this time, it wasn't just a single pack member entering. The entire group-six men in total, all towering with the same intimidating presence-filled the doorway. They stood there, eyes fixed on Scarlett with varying degrees of curiosity, interest, and something darker.

"Kevin," the one with the jagged scar across his face spoke first, his voice gruff. "We've got business to handle. The boss won't wait forever."

Scarlett could feel the shift in Kevin's demeanor, the sudden coldness in his eyes. The air around him seemed to thicken, crackling with the weight of his authority. It was a side of him she hadn't seen before-ruthless, commanding, and fiercely protective of his pack.

"Business can wait," Kevin snapped, his grip on Scarlett's wrist tightening just enough to remind her of his power. "I'm busy with something more important."

Scarlett looked up at him, her heart racing. He was treating her like an obstacle in his world, yet she knew that she had become something much more to him than just a fleeting distraction. Whether she was ready to admit it or not, she was already in too deep.

The men exchanged uneasy glances, but they knew better than to argue with their Alpha. One by one, they left, closing the door behind them with the sound of a heavy exhale. But Kevin didn't release her.

"You'll have to learn, Scarlett," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "In my world, nothing is ever simple. Not even us."

Her chest tightened as his words sank in. She was already entangled in the web of his pack, his mafia, and the werewolf bond she couldn't escape. But how far would it go before the darkness consumed her?

"I'm not afraid of you, Kevin," she said, her voice shaking with something between fear and anticipation.

He chuckled, but it wasn't the comforting sound she had once heard. It was deeper, more knowing. "You will be. Soon enough."