Chapter 2 Garrett

Natasha's scent reminded me of cherries or wild raspberries.

To me, she was a ripe and juicy fruit.

A forbidden fruit.

Whenever she stayed close a little longer, I always picked up a deeper note beneath the sweetness. It carried a subtle bitterness, something like dark chocolate or coffee.

I had always been drawn in by Natasha's gentle fragrance. It was the first thing that caught my attention the day we met. That intoxicating scent of hers.

Tonight, her fragrance felt even more mesmerizing.

It carried the sharp trace of fear, but there was also the unmistakable sweetness that came with the anticipation of doing something forbidden, something thrilling and delightful.

With all her senses heightened, this petite woman lifted her wide, innocent eyes to meet mine, returning the feeling. Just as naturally, she leaned closer, taking in my scent as well. Her pupils widened, and I knew the pull between us was mutual.

Natasha pressed her thighs together right there in front of me, making it clear I had not imagined the spark between us.

She could not pretend to be unaffected by how close we stood.

By my presence.

By the true Alpha who was always meant for her.

I half-closed my eyes, doing everything I could to keep myself in check. I refused to let this wild beast loose, the one that strained and fought for freedom every time I stood near the woman meant for me. My heart. My soul. My Divine Consort.

Natasha Cortez.

I knew I should have resisted.

She was my cousin's wife.

But I grew tired of holding back this hunger inside me, this force that wanted only to claim her.

The Alpha within me wanted her more than anything. And unlike Garrett Cortez, "the so-called honorable one", he cared nothing for the fallout.

I had always managed to control myself.

I prided myself on keeping those violent instincts buried.

But with Natasha, everything I had ever learned seemed to vanish all at once.

I opened my eyes and saw that she had lowered hers, trying to avoid my gaze. Her shoulders slumped. I sensed her fear, but I could also feel her shame for wanting another man-a man who was not her Alpha.

Tonight, I nearly let myself forget about him, probably because of the alcohol. Still, Brent would always stand between us.

But tonight, Brent finally served his purpose.

"What were you thinking, Natasha? Did you really believe my cousin would be fine with you going to parties at a BDSM club or hanging around people like Jason Fletcher? Men like him would see you as nothing more than a plaything. Just a way to keep boredom at bay! Hey, Natasha, how could you even think about cheating on Brent with a man like that?"

But what I truly wanted to ask was, why choose him and not me?

Natasha met my eyes and held my gaze.

Just like she always did, she challenged me with a single look.

Tonight, though, whether it was the alcohol or something else, her answer rang with honesty.

"Yes. It would be worth it. Even if it was just for one night where I could finally breathe, away from this stifling marriage. That would mean everything to me."

Her answer left me at a loss for words. Brent was so violent, so twisted and cruel toward her, that I always thought the only reason she stayed was because she loved my cousin. Maybe it was a warped kind of love, but it was still love-or so I believed.

But she spoke about this marriage as if it was nothing but torment. As if it were a prison sentence. A burden she could never escape.

Natasha threw her head back and let out a sharp, sarcastic laugh when she noticed my shock.

She mocked my foolishness.

"Do you really think Brent would divorce me if he ever found out? Never! Brent would never let me go. Hurting me is the one thing he enjoys most. You know, I had the bad luck to be the daughter of the man he hates most in the world. He'll never set me free. This is how he gets revenge on my father for everything he did. I'm nothing more than a toy to him, Garrett. He tortures me without mercy. Even letting me work for you is just another way to make me suffer."

My breathing grew rough and uneven. I could feel a vein throbbing in my neck. The Alpha inside me threatened to burst out in a storm of anger. I had to steady myself, to keep my emotions in check, so I would not frighten her into shutting down completely-especially now, when she was finally telling me the truth.

If she only knew how many times I had tried to give her a chance to open up to me, hoping she would finally hand me a real reason to fight for her.

But her words broke my heart all over again.

Her soul belonged to another Alpha. And someone took pleasure in her suffering.

Suddenly, something she said hit me with a force I could not ignore, and I felt that sharp pain twisting deeper inside my chest. It was as if she had taken a knife to an old wound and twisted it repeatedly.

My voice betrayed the struggle inside me as I asked, "Why? My love, why do you say it's torture to work for me?"

I always thought that bringing her into my life, hiring her as my cook, letting her join me on tour, might give her a little escape from the misery she endured with my cousin.

I wanted to believe we had carved out a space just for the two of us. A place where, even if only for a while, we could both find happiness.

But from what she said, it was clear that, for her, it felt like the complete opposite.

Her voice shook as she looked away. "Because I love you, Garrett. And your cousin knows it."

My hand, which had been resting on the door, fell limply at my side, stunned by her admission. She would not even meet my eyes, as though loving me was a secret she felt ashamed to reveal.

I reached out, took her chin gently, and made her look at me. My thumb brushed softly against her lower lip as I asked, "How long? How long has it been, Natasha?"

She spoke so quietly I almost missed it. "From the very start, Garrett."

Without thinking, I leaned in and kissed her. My lips pressed firmly against her soft, yielding mouth. My tongue explored her hungrily while I held her by the waist, drawing her closer. As our kiss grew deeper, I slid my hand beneath the hem of her dress, pulling down her panties, my arousal straining against my pants as it pressed against her hip.

Natasha moaned softly into my mouth.

I could feel her excitement, how much she wanted me, how wet she was for me.

I wanted her right there against the door, with everyone on the other side able to hear us. I wanted to claim what had always belonged to me.

I wanted to claim her, to announce to the world that she was mine. My Consort. My soulmate.

But just as I started to pull down her panties, I felt Natasha's small hand press gently against my chest, pushing me away. Her lips broke from mine.

"No, Garrett! Not here!

Not like this. Not in a place where anyone could catch us."

I pressed my forehead against hers and shut my eyes.

I forced myself to regain control.

When I looked at her again, she could sense my determination. Without another word, I bent down and lifted her into my arms.

Natasha gasped in surprise, wrapping her arms around my neck and nestling close to my shoulder.

I carried her away with quick strides, taking us through a side door that opened onto the main corridor. I could not stop kissing her as I led her toward the room I used on the floor above.

Tonight, Natasha would finally be mine.

And if she thought I would let her slip away in the morning, after everything she had admitted, she could not have been more wrong.