Chapter 1 Garrett

That poker evening had grown increasingly uncomfortable.

It was her exquisite scent that unsettled me.

Or perhaps it was simply her breathtaking beauty.

She sat right beside me, so close and yet forever out of reach.

Natasha Cortez.

The black velvet dress she wore clung to every curve, highlighting her hourglass figure.

Still, I thought the neckline dropped a bit too low.

Royce Williams, one of my protégés from Vegas, hadn't taken his eyes off her all night.

I even caught him licking his lips-what a pervert!

Damn it! Speaking of pervert, I had already grown as hard as a rock!

No wonder I had been losing from the start.

This woman had been driving me insane.

I might as well have thrown in my cards.

I decided to retreat to my room for the night and cool off with a cold shower.

After all, everyone else had planned to organize a little BDSM strip-poker game later on. That was their way of quietly celebrating the upcoming wedding of Cameron Holt and Arlene Newman, a couple of friends whose ceremony would take place the day after tomorrow.

However, since I was an international star, I couldn't join in on such activities without risking exposure. Besides, BDSM had never really been my thing. I hoped people understood- while I would never say no to spicing up my love life from time to time, anything beyond that simply wasn't for me. I had no interest in a woman who catered to my every whim or in negotiating and checking off a partner's list before making love. No, thank you. That was never what I wanted.

What I truly longed for was a sense of mystery, a spark of romance.

What I wanted was... Natasha.

Stop it! Garrett! You shouldn't even think about it!

She was married.

Married-don't forget that!

And to my damn cousin, no less!

"I would like to join too... if it's... hmm... possible," Natasha announced shyly, her sweet voice barely above a whisper.

I froze mid-motion, just as I was about to toss my cards aside. I had thought about slipping away and heading back to my room. All I had wanted was to quit the game and put as much distance as possible between myself and this enchantress!

"I would like to join too." Those words struck me like a heavy blow.

A vein throbbed on my forehead.

I wasn't jealous, not at all. Of course not!

She was still my cousin's wife! It was only natural to feel shocked at the idea of her joining a BDSM strip-poker game with a room full of dominants, wasn't it?

Yeah, right. Just keep lying to yourself, Garrett!

Lenora Mendez, the wife of one of the most influential members of our pack at the Billionaire Beach Club, placed her hand on Natasha's and offered with a gentle smile, "Of course! It shouldn't be too difficult to find you a gaming partner." Then she turned toward the big players gathered in the neighboring room-not in the grand living room where we sat-and called out loudly.

"Hey! Jason! Natasha's looking for a partner for strip-poker! What do you say?"

Jason Fletcher was an Alpha, just like me.

He stood on the same level as I did.

A pure-blooded Divine Alpha, through and through.

His wife had passed away a year and a half ago.

That was why, in Lenora's eyes, he made the ideal partner for Natasha. He never engaged in full sexual relations with his partners, while Natasha happened to be married to that bastard-my cousin-who was nothing but a wife-beater!

My cousin, Brent Cortez, was an Alpha as well, but he belonged to a far lower tier than ours.

All this explained why, if Natasha truly wanted to dip her toes into the BDSM lifestyle that had fascinated her for so long-a lifestyle that attracted many people here tonight-Jason would be the perfect person to guide her, and, most importantly, the least committed option she could choose. Without question, he would be a much safer Dom than someone like Royce, who was barely more than a beginner.

After all, Jason not only lived the lifestyle but also owned several BDSM clubs that welcomed both Alphas and humans. If I remembered correctly, there was even a special day at his clubs set aside for Alphas in heat, looking for compatible partners...

So, it could be said that he was an Alpha with a wealth of experience as a Dom. My rational mind told me that Jason was probably the ideal person to introduce Natasha to the lifestyle she had secretly longed to experience for quite some time.

I also knew perfectly well that it wouldn't be with my idiot cousin that Natasha would ever risk exploring this submissive side of herself- at least, not in any way that was truly healthy.

No.

Brent was a wife-beater, an abuser who cared only for his own satisfaction. He never gave a damn about Natasha!

That meant she would never have dared ask him to tie her to the headboard for a rough session. That would have been nothing but an invitation for more abuse.

Logically, I shouldn't have gotten involved either.

Natasha was an adult, after all.

She was free to make her own choices.

Yet I couldn't stop myself from speaking up and objecting. And when I did, even I was surprised by the words that spilled out of my mouth.

"That won't be necessary! I'll be Natasha's partner!"

Not only did I say this, but I spoke with the commanding voice of a true dominant. It was the tone of a Divine Alpha with an unbroken, pure lineage-something I had always carried.

I sensed right away that Natasha was far from unaffected. A visible shiver ran through her. With my Alpha magnetism in play, it would have been almost impossible for her to resist me. Even those sitting around the table seemed equally affected. The game came to a sudden halt as everyone turned to stare at me, mouths hanging open. Even the other dominants and a few of the Alphas at the table seemed to shudder, as if a chill had swept down their spines.

They recognized it instinctively.

Who I truly was.

My essence as a Divine Alpha.

The supernatural authority I held.

After all, I stood among the most powerful supernatural beings on earth-even within my own species.

The charismatic aura I exuded-the very force that had helped make me internationally renowned- now bristled with dangerous, possessive energy.

I tried to rein in the fierce aura that had slipped out of my control for just a moment.

I started to open my mouth, ready to explain away my impulsive outburst. But before I could, Natasha once again showed me, as she had so many times before, just how courageous she was as a Consort* one of our kind, but somehow always willing to stand up to me.

To me, of all people- an Alpha male with more power than most.

Me... the one who was destined for her.

"No!" the brave little woman protested.

What followed was a flurry of Spanish insults-which I'll spare you-but every word reflected that fiery temperament of hers.

My gaze darkened. The Alpha inside me felt the sting of rejection. Natasha had made me endure that kind of pain more times than I could count. She had to be the only woman of our kind capable of resisting the Alpha meant for her.

But tonight, the pain cut deeper than ever; she actually seemed ready to choose someone else.

I could understand why she'd held back all these years, causing us both so much pain-especially with my cousin being such a fool.

But now, to see her willing to go to another Alpha, someone like Jason Fletcher, while she continued to turn me away?

Not that I had tried to seduce her before today. She was my cousin's wife, and I had always respected that! I was a man of honor! But to be asked to let her go to another man... again?

It had torn me apart to watch her marry my cousin.

To see his mark on her neck, to catch his scent lingering on her skin.

He was the one who had claimed her!

All the while, my heart, my soul, that sacred flame within me- she had taken them for herself. Stolen. Confiscated!

And tonight, she trampled on them all over again!

Unable to hold back any longer, I finally lost my composure. I tossed my cards onto the table.

I seized her delicate wrist, sprang to my feet, and pulled her toward a nearby sitting room whose doors opened to the large hall. Natasha tried to resist, but it was useless!

The room we entered was dark, the lights off, with only a sliver of moonlight shining through the bay window. I slammed the door shut behind us and pressed her against it.

She let out a small, fearful cry, pleading with me, "Garrett! Stop! You're hurting me!"

I released her wrist at once, troubled by the sight of the faint mark I had left behind.

My mind, still hazy from all the scotch I had consumed during the poker game, must have caused me to misjudge my own strength.

Once freed, Natasha tried to slip away from me. I quickly slammed my left hand against the door behind her, blocking her escape, while my other hand tightened on my target. To her right, near the door, a piece of furniture stood in the way, leaving her with no path to flee.

I found myself so close to Natasha that my warm breath brushed her face, and her intoxicating scent rose up to fill my senses.

...

Consort: Female of the Alpha