THE BEAST ETERNAL OBSESSION

: THE BEAST

*AMELIA'S POV*

"Is this what you mean when you say you love me?" My voice was low, heavily laced with venom.

"Tell me, Leonhart. Am I really that shallow to you?"I added, my eyes darkening as I stared at him.

He just stood there, watching me with that utterly infuriating smirk plastered across his face. "Kitten, I'm no one's but yours," he said smoothly. His voice remained entirely calm as he took a slow step toward me.

I let out a sharp, mocking laugh. He paused, arching a single brow in response.

"Do I look like a fool to you, Leon?" I picked up a heavy kitchen knife from the counter, effortlessly spinning it between my fingers.

"You made me like this. You made me fall in love with you. I was perfectly fine on my own before you barged into my life without permission. And now you want to leave me? For her?"

My voice cracked for a split second, before instantly hardening. "Oh no. Never. You're mine. Always have been. Always will be."

He said absolutely nothing. I could hear his heart pounding too fast, too loud in the tight space. All I wished for was for him to him pull me in and kiss the fight right out of me. But I was furious, furious enough to kill. Even him.

"Say it," I whispered, the desperation bleeding through my anger. "Say you love me."I bit my lower lip, and his eyes instantly followed the movement.

His jaw tightened as he pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose, fighting every primal instinct that was screaming at him to seize and I was making it entirely impossible for him to stay away.

When he finally touched me, the movement was agonizingly slow. His broad palm cupped my cheek, and I melted into the warmth of it with a shaky breath.

"Kitten," his voice dropped into a rough, uneven register. His forehead came to rest firmly against mine. He closed his eyes, deeply breathing in my scent. It was getting too hard for him to resist. My obsession, my rage, and my love simply mirrored his.

"Kitten," he whispered against my skin. "I really want to kiss you right now." My breath caught. Heat flooded my cheeks, turning them bright red. My anger always melted the second he held me like this.

"Can I...?" he asked, leaning in, closing the final shred of distance between us.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I groaned, burying my face. Mmm.That dream again.

I had been having the exact same vivid dream every single night for a week straight. I stretched my stiff limbs, blindly slapping at the nightstand until the alarm finally shut up. Waking up is easily my least favorite part of being alive.It's daily proof that I am not, and will never be a morning person. I yanked the blanket back over my head. Five more minutes wouldn't kill me... but my job definitely would if I missed my shift.

Sighing, I dragged myself out of bed, ran through my morning routine, and by 8:00 AM, I was on my way to a corporate job I absolutely hated. Adulting sucks.

I forced a polite smile onto my face and reminded myself to play nice with the executives. My boss, Mr. Miller, is the kind of guy who genuinely believes the world revolves around him, a self-proclaimed big fish swimming in an ocean full of sharks.

I arrived at the office, straightened my skirt, plastered on my best professional expression, and walked through the glass doors. The staff greeted me on autopilot, and I nodded back before heading straight for the executive office.

Thank God Mr. Miller wasn't at his desk yet. Otherwise, I'd have gotten an earful about punctuality. I carefully laid out his schedule for the day, set it neatly on the center of his desk, and went to the breakroom to brew his morning coffee. When I returned, he was already seated stiffly in his chair, gripped in an intense phone call. I quietly set the mug down and waited by the door.

His face looked completely pale like he'd just seen a ghost. "Yes, sir," Mr. Miller said, hanging up the receiver with a sharp, heavy exhale. He rubbed his forehead with closed eyes, frustration written all over his features.

Good, I thought. Maybe now he knows how I felt after he forced me to stay late yesterday.

"Good morning, sir. Today's sched..."

"Cancel everything," he interrupted sharply.

I blinked. "But sir, I spent hours booking that luxury restaurant for the regional partners. They are leaving the country for two months. We won't get another chance like this."

He raised a judgmental brow at me. "You think that minor contract is bigger than the person who is coming to this building today?"

I rolled my eyes toward the floor before I could stop myself. Arrogant jerk.

Just yesterday, he had dragged me through back to back meetings to ensure MC Group survived their bankruptcy. Now he was acting like global investors were the ones begging him for a meeting. Typical.

"But sir, we won't get another chance"

Mr Miller slammed a heavy palm down on the mahogany desk, frowning deeply. "We have an exceptionally important guest coming today from Lycan Diamond Enterprises. Tell everyone on the floor to be on their absolute best behavior. Make sure everything runs smoothly without a single hitch."

"Yes, sir."

"Now leave."

I turned and walked out, my mind already spinning. Who could possibly be coming that has my boss this rattled?

: BARGAIN

Chaos swirled around the entire building. Employees rushed past my desk, straightening ties and prepping files, all for the arrival of one man. Eventually, Mr. Miller called me down to the lobby. We stood outside the company's main entrance as two pristine black SUVs idled at the curb.

The heavy doors opened in perfect sync, and four broad-shouldered men in tailored suits stepped out. One of them immediately moved to the rear door, opening it with strict formality. Then, the guest stepped out.

My breath caught in my throat. "Who the hell is he?"

He had dark hair, flawless skin, a wide back and shoulders that tapered down to an incredible waist that has no business being that slim.His charcoal suit clung to his frame like it was guilty of looking too good.God had clearly taken His time crafting this man.Suddenly, his dark eyes scanned the crowd and found mine.

Time completely stopped. The noise of the city, the movement of the staff, the entire world it all faded away.

"Focus," Mr. Miller muttered sharply beside me. I snapped out of it, dropping my gaze to the pavement as my pulse hammered against my ribs.

"What was that? Why did it feel like I'd known him for a lifetime?" I peeked up slightly.

"Mr. Miller," the guest said, his voice smooth and deep as he shook my boss's trembling hand.

Then, he turned his full attention to me. He took my hand in his, bowing slightly to press a firm kiss to the back of it. "My lady," he said. An electric spark shot straight up my arm.

My skin felt like it remembered his touch long before my mind could process it. And God, he smelled intoxicating. Clean, dangerous, and completely addictive. His thumb brushed lightly over my knuckles. He smiled slow, deliberate, and wicked like he knew exactly what he was doing to my composure.

Suddenly a heavy throat cleared behind him. It was his lead guard. The guest finally let go of my hand, casually adjusted his cuff, and walked past me into the lobby.

I forced a professional smile and stepped aside to follow. The guard who had opened the SUV door fell into step right behind me. I felt it instantly, an intense, burning stare boring holes into my back. Or was it just my imagination?

My mind kept drifting back to our mysterious guest. "Why did he feel so intimately familiar? Like we had met in another life." I laughed at that thought as if.

We reached the executive elevator. I pressed the up button, and the doors slid open. We stepped into the mirrored cabin, my boss grinning like an idiot the entire time. I internally rolled my eyes. "So there was someone in this world that Mr. Miller was terrified of."

"What's your name?" The question cut through the quiet air, directed squarely at me.

The guest ignored my boss completely, even as Mr. Miller scrambled to kiss up to him. Normally, I would feel offended on behalf of the company, but watching my boss squirm was too satisfying.

I looked up to answer. Big mistake. The guest was towering over me, staring straight down. "Damn. Was I really that short, or was he just too tall?"

"Amelia, sir," I replied smoothly.

He nodded once, his expression shifting as if he were permanently memorizing the syllables. "Amelia," he repeated, the name barely above a whisper. His voice was low, rough, and it sent an involuntary shiver straight down my spine.

I quickly dropped my gaze back to the floor. What is it about him? And why was he making me feel this way?

"Where do you stay, Amelia?" His dark eyes glowed with a quiet, intense curiosity.

Seriously, what was wrong with this guy? He came here to negotiate with my boss, so why was he interrogating his secretary instead? A part of me wanted to pretend I hadn't heard him just to avoid the awkwardness, but Mr. Miller would have a fit if I ignored a VIP.

"Hmmm, I...."

The elevator doors opened before I could formulate an answer. Thank God.

My boss stepped out first, followed closely by the guest and his security detail. I kept my head down and walked straight to my desk, waiting to be summoned.

A few minutes later, my desk phone rang. "Make us coffee," my boss's voice snapped through the line before he abruptly hung up, sounding thoroughly frustrated.

I huffed, slamming the receiver down. "Why was he always so incredibly rude? If I didn't desperately need the money, I would have given him a piece of my mind and walked out for good."

I wasn't exactly lucky in the family department. I had grown up in an orphanage, and the facility directors had used their connections to get me this administrative job. In return, they still came by my apartment every single month to collect a portion of my paycheck to pay off what they spent raising me. I was just another kid nobody wanted, working to pay off her debt.

I pushed open the heavy office door, a serving tray balanced in my hand. Two coffees, perfectly prepared.

I set the tray down, handing one cup to my boss before turning to the guest. He reached out to take the porcelain mug, his eyes locked onto mine. His warm fingers deliberately brushed against my own. The same electric sparks from earlier shot up my arm. I gasped softly, instantly yanking my hand back.

"Thank you," he said smoothly.

"You're welcome, sir," I murmured, taking a hasty step away from the desk

"I've changed my mind. I'll take her as the bargain." The entire office went dead silent

Take who? Take me for what now?

"But sir..." Mr. Miller stammered.

"I'll forget the outstanding debt," the guest cut in, casually sipping his coffee as if we were discussing the weather. "If you hand over your secretary to me."

I froze on the spot. "Does this psycho think I'm some kind of trophy he can just barter away?"

"But Mr. Leonhart, my daughter would be more than efficient enough for your estate, why her? She's just a..."

"I don't think what I intend to do with her is any of your business, Mr. Miller."

That instantly shut my boss up.

"Leonhart. Where on earth had I heard that name before?"

He placed his coffee cup back on the table, his fingers lingering on the porcelain for a second too long before pulling away. Then, he stood up and walked toward me, his movements slow, fluid, and deliberate. My eyes tracked his every step.

He stopped a mere inch away from me, reaching out to tilt my chin up with his thumb until I had no choice but to look into his eyes. My breath hitched. For a second, my lungs forgot how to function.

"But if you must know," he murmured, his face inches from mine, "I'm in love with her." The room fell into absolute, stunned silence.

"Come with me," he whispered.

I snapped out of the trance and yanked my face back from his touch. "I'm not for sale." I blurted, turning on my heel, as I marched straight out of the office, with my heart hammering violently against my ribs.

Outside in the corridor, his massive guard was already waiting for me. "Miss Amelia, my boss wishes to speak with you further."

"Tell your boss I'm not interested," I snapped, attempting to push past his bulky frame.

Without a single word of warning, the guard grabbed my wrist, pivoted, and hoisted me over his broad shoulder in one swift, effortless move like I was a sack of potatoes.

"Hey! Put me down!" I screamed, kicking my legs wildly and slamming my fists into his solid back.

"I'm sorry, miss, but my boss wants to talk to you. "The elevator doors slid open ahead of us, and he walked right in.

Oh no, this cannot be happening. Where the hell are they taking me?

: MINE

"Put me down! Or I swear to God I will make you regret this!" I yelled, blood rushing to my head.

The man didn't answer. He didn't even flinch. Reaching a sleek black car, he popped the passenger door open. With one swift motion, he dumped me onto the leather seat and slammed the door shut before I could get my bearings.

The window cracked with the frantic impact of my fists. "Open this door! Now!" I screamed, hammering against the glass.

"Not yet," the guard said, resting one heavy hand on the window frame from the outside, effectively blocking my escape route. "My boss will see you soon."

Click. The automatic locks engaged. I yanked the handle on the driver's side, but it wouldn't budge.

Turning around, I sent him a deadly, blazing glare."Just stop resisting," he said, his tone as calm as a priest giving absolution. "My Lord will be here shortly. There's no need to be frightened."

I rolled my eyes so hard it physically hurt. "Says the guy kidnapping me in broad daylight. Real reassuring, pal."

After a few grueling minutes, the rear door clicked open.

Mr. Leonhart stepped into view, his personal guard trailing a step behind. Without a word, Leonhart slid into the seat right beside me. He didn't say a word. He just turned his head and stared.

"What is the meaning of this, Mr. Leonhart?" My voice came out steadier than I actually felt, though my hands were trembling.

He remained silent. His dark gaze held mine, unblinking and heavy. Every self-preservation instinct I had screamed at me to break contact, but pride forced me to hold his stare.

A low chuckle escaped him. He reached out, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear with slow, deliberate precision. "Be calm, kitten," he whispered.

Instantly my breath hitched, turning shallow and uneven. "What is wrong with me?" My heart hammered against my ribs like it knew something my brain didn't. Like it recognized him.

The engine roared to life, sealing my fate as the car accelerated. "Where are you taking me?" The words broke past my lips before I could stop them.

Tears finally spilled down my cheeks, but I refused to look away. He didn't answer, instead he leaned in, crowding my space until his forehead pressed firmly against mine.The entire world narrowed down to the intoxicating heat radiating from his skin.

His voice was a low, rough rasp, meant only for my ears.

"Sleep."

My eyelids grew impossibly heavy against my will. I fought the sudden wave of exhaustion, glaring up at him through the gathering haze until I saw it. His eyes bled into a deep crimson, burning like molten gold in the shadows of the car.

A sound tore from his throat a low, guttural vibration that was more beast than man. It should have terrified me. Instead, it sent a traitorous, electric shiver straight down my spine. He dipped his head, his lips brushing the sensitive curve of my neck. His breath was scorching against my skin. "MINE," he murmured.

The word felt less like a threat and more like an ancient promise. And then, everything went black.

I don't know how long I was out cold, but when I cracked my eyes open, the harsh morning light pierced my vision.

"I just had the weirdest, most vivid dream," I thought, rubbing my aching forehead as I sat up and stretched my stiff limbs. I instinctively reached toward the nightstand for my phone and that's when the bedroom door swung open.

My head snapped toward the sound, eyes widening in instant panic. A sharp scream tore from my throat.

"Who the hell are you? And what are you doing in my room?" I scrambled backward, standing flat on the mattress as if the height could protect me.

The woman standing in the doorway merely tilted her head, completely unfazed by my shouting. "Oh, you're awake. The Alpha will be happy to hear this," she said simply, before bolting back down the hallway.

Yesterday's chaotic events crashed back into my mind, sharp and jagged. It hadn't been a dream. "He....he was a..how is that even possible?" The words tangled on my tongue, refusing to form a coherent thought.

"You're awake." His voice cut through the silence from the doorway, low, dark, and instantly possessive.

I turned slowly, and there he was, looking like he owned the very air in the room. He wore a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, a slim black tie, and high-waisted trousers. His hands were casually tucked into his pockets, acting as if he had all the time in the world.

Fuck! He looks like a sin desperately waiting to be committed.

Without asking for permission, he crossed the room and sat directly on the edge of my bed, claiming the space as if he belonged there. His gaze pinned me to the spot.

"Did I imagine it? Did I hallucinate because I was knocked out? No. I knew what I saw. The glowing red eyes. The bare teeth. It was a terrifying truth I didn't want to name."

"Why did you bring me here?" My voice came out softer than I intended, a weak attempt at regaining control.

"Because you belong by my side." His eyes didn't blink. "Where you've always belonged by my side." My heart stuttered, then began beating too fast, too loud. In the quiet room, I could have sworn he heard it.

"Mr. Leonhart, this isn't funny. I want to go home."

He stood up. Slow. Deliberate. Then began circling the bed like an apex predator closing in on its prey. My body moved before my brain could process the danger, backing up until the cold, solid wall met my spine. There was nowhere left to run. He caged me in, planting his arms on either side of my head, close enough that I could feel the intense heat radiating off his chest.

He didn't speak. He didn't need to. My eyes fluttered shut, my chest tightening as I braced myself for a kiss. Instead, he dipped his head to my neck, took a slow, deep inhale against my skin, as if he were memorizing my very essence.

"Mmm," he hummed against my pulse point, his voice thick with restraint. "You smell like mine." He stayed right there, his lips a mere breath away from my pounding jugular.

Every logical instinct screamed at me to run. Yet, a traitorous, buried part of me wanted to lean closer into his warmth.

"What are you..." My words ran short as he trailed his nose along my neck, groaning softly.

"Hmm. Say it," he murmured, his voice rough and demanding against my skin. "Say you know what you are to me. Say you're mine."

I swallowed hard, my throat completely dry. "I'm not yours."

A low chuckle vibrated through his chest, and I felt the physical rumble against my own. His fingers flexed against the wallpaper beside my head, dominating my space without even touching me. "Not yet," he countered smoothly, stating it as an absolute fact I simply hadn't accepted yet.

His thumb brushed my jawline, tilting my face upward until I had no choice but to meet his eyes. Deep red, glowing faintly in the dim light of the room. Those eyes were entirely non-human and yet, I couldn't look away.

"You keep saying you want to go home," he whispered, his breath teasing my lips. "But you're already home, kitten. You're in my arms. Where you've been for years, even if you didn't know it."

My breath hitched. "That's insane. You're insane!"

"Insane is letting you walk out that door." His forehead came to rest against mine again, narrowing the entire universe down to the friction between us. "I won't. I can't. Not now. Not ever."

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words died when his nose traced the sharp line of my jaw, agonizingly slow and possessive."Tell me to stop," he challenged, his voice a dark, tempting promise. "And I will. But you won't. Because a part of you wants this just as much as I do."

He chuckled softly, a wicked sound. "Do you know why your body submits to mine?" I slowly shook my head, mesmerized. "It's because you're my mate, kitten.

My fingers curled tightly into the fabric of his shirt, fisting the material just to keep myself upright. My legs felt like they were about to give out completely. I hated how right he felt. I hated how much I didn't want him to step away.

"Stop playing with me, Leonhart," I whispered softly, my voice trembling. His lips curved into a dark, satisfied smile against my skin. "I'm not playing, kitten."

"You're my mate."