Tempting The Alpha

"I'm sorry, sir, but is it possible for you to drive faster? I don't want to be late," I said as I glanced at my watch.

I had an interview with Estelman & Associates-an international law firm owned by Christian Diaz, one of the wealthiest men on the planet. As rumor had it, his law firm was expanding, so they needed twenty new employees to fill their vacant positions.

Lisa, one of my best friends, pulled some strings and got me an interview at the company. Working there wasn't my first choice. However, due to the fact that my mother and sister were unable to make ends meet, I was forced to find a job in order to survive. It was enough to make me shudder just thinking about it. Sitting in an office was something other than what I saw myself doing, at least not long term, but girls got to do what a girl gotta do.

From a young age, I always felt destined for something more than living in squalor. My father skipped out on us shortly after I was born, leaving my mom to care for my older sister and me. After my father left, my mother made it a point to become more in touch with her human side; being a wolf, in her words, was a curse. As a child, she did not regard being a part of the supernatural as anything more than a nuisance, so she would switch the topic whenever it came up.

I love my mother, no doubt about it. However, the mere fact that she allowed herself to be dragged along by this mediocre life, which I despise, makes me angry. We lived in a small two-bedroom, one-bath apartment in the Lightborne pack, and we were not on the best side either.

I know it sounds like I'm being a bitch, but honestly, who doesn't want more in life? The idea of not pursuing your goals or dreams has never appealed to me. I busted my ass to get a degree in both business management and business administration; I sought something to fall back on. My ultimate goal was to be wealthy, rich, and powerful. Although I know it sounds wrong, if it meant betraying my family and pack for what I wanted, I would. After all, no one ever gets anywhere in life without having to step on some toes.

On the other hand, my mother was content with what we had. Whenever I would tell her about my goals, she would smile lovingly and then say, "Rubi, sometimes it's the simple things in life that mean more than big houses, fancy clothes, and jewels. That materialistic stuff doesn't always bring happiness but pain; trust me, I should know."

Although I know it's wrong to frown upon our living situation, and one should always be thankful, I can't help but wonder if there was something more to my family. And for whatever reason, my mother just gave it up. Regardless of the underlying cause, I would change that, no matter what it took.

As I stared out the window, I saw old, decaying bodegas crumble away and be replaced by brand-new, shiny buildings. This was a clear indication that we had moved from the poor side of town to the rich side. This was the side of the city I longed to be a part of, and someday, no matter how much it cost me, I would.

For some reason, it doesn't make sense to me how some people, like my friend Lisa, get up every morning and have everything they want. In contrast, I have to scrounge around for pennies to buy the food I need. If it wasn't for Lisa and the hand-me-downs she gave me, it's highly likely that I would end up dressing like my sister.

Honestly, there were so many aspects of Lisa's life that I was envious of, except for her looks. That's the one thing I had over her; that was the only card I had in my favor. Lisa wasn't that unfortunate; she always kept her shoulder-length, mousy-brown hair neat and shiny, and her brown eyes were always warm and caring. Lisa stood five feet six inches tall and had a very petite athletic figure. Her naturally tanned skin was golden and held a dewy, light appearance.

I was grateful to the moon goddess for blessing me with long black hair, stunning blue eyes, and a figure like no other. Although I was only five feet five inches, I did not complain when every guy wanted my attention. The saying says that sex sells; well, I made sure my appearance and sexiness worked for me. Taking that into consideration, today, I was going to use all my assets to ensure it worked in my favor.

"We have arrived, Miss," said the driver as he pulled up to a five-story building.

"Thank you," I said as I exited the car. "For driving so fucken slow," I muttered under my breath, closing the door. I know it wasn't the driver's fault, but with all the new technology, the cab company would likely invest in better navigation systems. After taking a look up at the building, it was impossible to resist sighing and shrugging my shoulders. "Here we go," I thought as I approached the double doors and entered the building.

As soon as I stepped inside, I looked around for a moment before approaching the reception desk. In spite of my approach, the receptionist was so focused on typing that she did not look at me.

"Excuse me," my voice trailed off.

"Is there anything I can assist you with?" the receptionist asked, not even looking at me as she continued to type on her keyboard.

"I have an interview with Estelman & Associates," I responded as I looked around the reception area, noticing that there was no color on the walls and everything was white canvas.

'Odd,' I thought to myself as I returned my attention to the receptionist, who had not bothered to look up from her screen.

"Name?" the receptionist asked.

"Rubi Salvatore," I replied.

"You are interviewing with Erin on the third floor. Take the elevators on the left," she said, gesturing in the direction of the elevators.

With a smile on my face, I thanked her and made my way to the elevator as quickly as possible. As soon as I stepped inside the elevator, I inhaled deeply and tried to calm my nerves. As I straightened my blazer jacket, I thought to myself, how did it come to pass that I, Rubi Salvatore, ended up failing miserably to the point where I had to interview for a job at a law firm? It was okay, but law wasn't my forte. I shook my head to clear my thoughts of all that. Now was not the time. I needed to make sure I kept my head in the game. Taking a quick look at my reflection, I tugged my hair behind my ear and nodded at myself just as the doors opened. Placing a smile on my face, I exited the elevator and walked straight to the reception desk. I was just about to greet the receptionist when I heard my name called.

"Rubi Salvatore?" called a woman.

It wasn't until I turned around that I saw a woman in a gray pinstriped suit walking towards me. Her blonde hair was neatly combed into a low bun, and her brown eyes were hidden behind reading glasses. In response, I smiled at her and gave her a nod of my head.

"Yes, that is me," I answered with a polite smile.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Erin. I will be conducting your interview this way," she said as she turned and walked down the hall to the interview room.

"Fantastic," I replied while mentally facepalming myself in an attempt to hide my frustration. So much for using my assets to weasel into this place, I thought as we rounded a corner and walked into a conference room.

"Please sit where you like, and we will begin," Erin said as she pulled a chair and sat down.

Taking a deep breath, I sat down and tried to remain calm and professional as Erin cleared her throat and began the interview.

***Three months later***

"Rubi, are you done? I have to get ready for work," my sister Julie yelled as she banged on the bathroom door.

"Hold on, I'm almost done," I yelled back at her, rolling my eyes as I continued applying my makeup.

Having only one bathroom was one of the things I hated most about the apartment. It was challenging to get ready with three women living here. Julie typically left for work early, giving me time to soak in the tub. However, today, she was running late. As a result of a power outage, the alarm clock stopped working. Despite it being my usual hour for getting ready, technically, I could say screw you. However, as I said before, I love my family, and I would never do anything to hurt them purposefully, but I do have higher ambitions than they do.

"Rubi, I can't be late!" shouted Julie.

"Alright, geese," I said as I pulled the bathroom door open and stepped out, glaring at her as I pushed past. "Happy!" I sneered.

"You know, maybe if you had a job, then you would understand the importance of time management," Julie retorted as she walked into the bathroom and closed the door.

'Bitch!' I thought as I walked back to my room and sat on my bed, recalling what had happened at my interview.

(FLASHBACK)

"I think that is exactly why I am an excellent fit for this company," I said with a smile as I explained my reasoning.

Erin's eyes were fixed on me momentarily before she sat back in her chair and began speaking to me. "Ms. Salvatore, I am impressed that you came in here with that well-put-together speech," Erin said.

"Thank you," I replied happily, but my joy was short-lived.

"However, the truth is that you have no experience in a law firm or even in any job for that matter. I interpret this situation as someone who knows someone and has pulled a few strings. However, you need more than just knowing someone to be able to work here. I am so sorry, but I do not think you are the right fit for this company," Erin said as she stood from her seat.

"Sorry, I don't understand. You don't think I'm a good fit based on the fact that I know someone who was able to secure me an interview? Did you not hear what I had to say?" I asked her, standing to my feet.

"Yes, I did, and as I said, it was a rather very well-put-together speech, but as I said, you do not have any work experience, and we need candidates who have previously worked somewhere and who aren't seeking assistance from others to get ahead or counting on their good looks. Thank you for coming in," Erin replied as she left the conference room.

(End of Flashback)

It had been three months since that interview. I kept telling my mother and sister that I was still waiting for the results of my background check and other tests I needed to take. Despite this, I knew I couldn't keep up with the lie for much longer.

"This is horse shit," I muttered to myself as I walked to my closet and rummaged through it for clothes feeling like a failure. My first attempt at an interview failed; 'what was the point?' I thought.

A few days ago, Lisa invited me to a dinner party she was hosting at her house, which meant I had to find an outfit to wear, a situation I wasn't prepared for. As I was about to close the closet door, I noticed a black sequin mini-dress hanging in the corner. I decided to try it on and was pleasantly surprised at how great it looked on me. The dress hugged my curves in all the right places. The dress was captivating and elegant, and I knew right away that it would be an excellent choice for a dinner party. Taking it off, I tossed it in my duffle bag along with a pair of black stilettos and my makeup bag. As I exited the room and headed toward the front door, my mom called my name.

"Rubi, where are you heading?" my mother asked.

"Lisa is having a dinner party she asked me to attend. Remember I told you about it two weeks ago?" I answered as I turned to face her.

"Rubi, you need to do something with yourself. You can't just keep running to dinner parties and whatever else you are invited to without thinking about your responsibilities," my mother replied.

"Mom, I know, okay, I told you I am waiting for that job offer. If I start working somewhere else and they call me, I will have to quit, and that will look unprofessional on me if they call for a reference," I explained to her as I approached and hugged her. "Don't worry, Mom, I will have that job in no time. Now I really have to go; I love you," I told her, placing a kiss on her cheek before making a dash to the door.

Once I had exited the apartment building, Lisa's chauffeur did not take long to pull up and start speaking to me.

"Miss Rubi, it's a pleasure to see you again. Let me take your bag," he said as he opened the car door and extended his hand to take the bag.

"It's literally the least you can do since you're late," I replied as I tossed him the bag and slid into the back seat.

I waited as the driver placed my bag in the trunk, then walked around to the driver's side and got into the driver's seat. He looked at me in the rearview mirror and said, "Hey, don't be so mean. I was trying to be polite."

I rolled my eyes and said, "Well, don't be late next time. And I don't think it's polite that you talk back to me. I'll be sure to tell Lisa about this."

The driver stared at me momentarily before finally starting the car. As the car pulled away, I closed my eyes briefly and clutched my hand to my heart. I could feel tears welling in my eyes; taking a deep breath, I opened my eyes and said, "Vinny, I am sorry. I'm just having the worst day ever. Three months, actually. I'm sick and tired of being a nobody; I'm tired of living here, knowing deep inside I am meant for more." As I spoke, my voice trembled with emotion. I had been holding these feelings for so long, and it felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest. Vinny nodded in understanding, and we sat silently for a few moments.

Finally, he broke the silence and said, "Miss Rubi, you are not a nobody and are meant for more. Don't let anyone or anything make you doubt that." Vinny's words struck a chord in me.

"Thanks, Vinny," I said as I looked in the rearview mirror and smiled at him.

We drove in silence the remainder of the way. As we approached Lisa's house, I couldn't shake the green-eyed monster that washed over me at that moment. I wouldn't say I disliked that Lisa invited me to a fancy dinner party. However, it should be the other way around. I should be hosting and having everyone come to my house and gawk at how enjoyable the party was. The moon goddess had definitely blessed the wrong person.

Upon pulling up to Lisa's house, I was surprised to see all the cars in front of the old Victorian mansion that had already arrived. As soon as Lisa stepped out of the front door, I immediately placed a smile on my face and waved at her as I exited the car.

"Hey, girl," I said as I walked up to her and hugged her.

"Oh my goddess, we need to hurry and get ready because the party is going to start in about forty-five minutes," Lisa said as she pulled out of our embrace and hauled me to the front door.

"There are so many cars here today? Are you sure this is just dinner?" I asked Lisa as we entered the front door.

Lisa's house was beautiful, not just from the outside but also from the inside. The house had an old-fashioned contemporary style to it. Upon entering the house, you notice cream-colored walls covered with fine art and luxurious furniture. Above the grand entryway was a marvelous chandelier Lisa told me her father ordered from overseas. The house always had roses on every table, something I loved; they added a touch of warmth and a welcoming atmosphere to the home. I loved her house; it was the one place I enjoyed hanging out in. This was not because it was fancy but because it was a place where I could speak freely and not worry about what others might think. Lisa always encouraged me to speak my mind around her, and although I did, there were some things I couldn't bring myself to tell her.

Lisa laughed and replied, "Yes, it's just dinner."

As we dashed toward the stairs, I caught a woody, aromatic scent, unlike anything I had ever smelt before. Glancing around, I couldn't determine where it came from. However, it was enough to make my wolf come forward momentarily, only to disappear as if she was afraid of something, a curious behavior given Storm's reputation and just her name. Shrugging it off, I followed Lisa into her room. Just as I was about to close the door, the housekeeper approached.

"Miss, you forgot your bag," she said, handing it to me. I smiled, thanking her before closing the door.

"The thought of this party makes me so nervous," Lisa whispered.

"Why?" I asked, furrowing my brows in confusion at her. This was the first time I had ever seen her so fidgety. As much as I was envious of Lisa, I truly cared about her. After everyone at school learned about my financial situation, they all turned their backs on me, yet Lisa stood by my side. Lisa had shown me what a true friend was.

"I didn't tell you, did I?" Lisa asked.

"Tell me what?" I asked, sitting in the vanity.

"Christian Diaz is going to be here tonight. The party is for him; my father insisted on it since he is back in town," Lisa explained as she walked over and sat beside me.

Christian Diaz was one of the world's most influential and wealthiest men. He was rumored to have killed his parents to inherit his fortune and be the Alpha of his pack. However, it was unclear to which pack he belonged. Yet something about that was very intriguing, not to mention his wealth and power. There was no doubt in my mind that he was the kind of man I wanted for myself. Knowing who the party was for tonight, I would do everything in my power to get his attention and win him over.

Christian's POV

Overtaking the family business was the easiest thing I've ever done. Did it follow ethical principles? In truth, no, but what do ethics and power have in common? Over the course of history, there have been a number of influential men who have overlooked ethics in order to achieve success. Now, add me to the list.

My parents were very successful at everything they did. However, they lacked ambition. There is no denying that a life of hardship and mediocrity can only be lived by those who lack desire. Aspiration is vital if you want to achieve success in life. Without it, you will never reach your potential. It is the drive and determination to strive for excellence that will lead to success.

You could say that I grew up with a silver spoon in my mouth, and fuck did that spoon taste so delicious. For as long as I can remember, my ambitions have always superseded the ways of my family. The idea of having such high goals was frowned upon when I was growing up, so it came as no surprise when I turned eighteen that my father refused me my birthright.

"Your ambitions are too high and will likely tear this pack apart," my father said before he cast me out of the Knightwing Pack. The moment that Fucker said that, it sealed his fate.

Two years after I was cast out, I returned stronger than he could have imagined and took my place as Alpha of the Knightwing Pack. Since then, the pack had flourished under my watch. I had built the most powerful empire the world had ever known. Although the cost was high, you call me an asshole, ask me if I give a fuck? I don't. Don't get me wrong, losing my parents took a toll on many pack members, and those who couldn't move on to new beginnings suffered the same fate as my parents.

I was taking a seat at the table in my uptown New York penthouse. Just as I was about to take a sip of my morning coffee, Aleric walked into the room.

In the days that followed, being cast out by my father, Aleric was by my side. Although he didn't need to leave, the fact that he stood by my side during that time was enough for me to feel secure that he had a place when it was necessary.

My attention was drawn to the blood on his shirt and hands. While smirking at him as he walked toward the kitchen sink, I began to speak to him.

"I take it the little punk put up a fight?" I asked, chuckling at the absurd thought of someone trying to fight with Aleric.

"Fucken bitch, hit me with a goddess damn crowbar. Got me pretty good on my side," Aleric replied, laughing as he rinsed the blood off and walked towards the table.

"I wonder what he was thinking?" I chuckled at his statement as I took a sip of my coffee before returning my attention to the stock pages of the newspaper.

"The mother fucker lost his head. No pun intended," Aleric chuckled as he poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down opposite me.

"What is on the agenda for today?" I asked, eyes glued to the newspaper as I asked the question.

"You have a meeting with Thomas Townshend regarding the newly opened office at ten; you also have a one o'clock with Erin from human resources. She hired a few new people and wants to run them by you, and then there's a dinner party at Michael Turner's house tonight," Aleric sighed as he sipped his cup of coffee.

I nodded, turning the page of the newspaper before speaking. "Are there any updates on the Salvatores?" I asked.

"No, not since that day. Those fucken roaches ran," Aleric growled.

The Salvatore family has a very unique quality about them. They were born with the ability to contain a werewolf and a Lycan in one body. Under normal circumstances, when a Lycan mates with a wolf and marks it, the wolf would lose all sense of its wolfhood and become a Lycan. By harnessing both Lycan and Wolf's powers, neither transforms into either side but something more substantial. This extraordinary ability gives the Salvatore family an advantage over other werewolves and Lycans, as they can combine their powers to create more robust hybrids. This makes them a formidable force to be reckoned with.

When I learned of this bloodline, I made it my goal to find them. As a result, whoever possessed such traits was all-powerful. Although the Alpha didn't possess this unique ability, I knew one of his children did. After capturing him, I offered him a deal: Tell me where they were, and I would spare his life. The bastard's family fled after his capture. Following that day, I killed him and the remaining pack members. Since then, I've searched for his mate and children.

Looking up from the paper, I cocked my brow, "Don't worry, they will turn up, and the moment they do..." my words trailed at the mere thought of finally taking what was rightfully mine.

Standing to my feet, I raised my coffee cup and took one last sip before setting it down, pulling on my jacket, and heading toward the door. Halfway through my walk, I glanced over my shoulder at Aleric.

"Get everything ready for the dinner party, and for goodness sake, take a fucken shower. No one needs to ask me why my Beta has blood on him," I said before exiting the house.

Having to deal with all the political nonsense was one of the things I hated most about my job. Recruiting and firing people has never been my strong suit, and that is why I decided to hire Erin to handle all that shit on my behalf, and she was great at it.

As I sat in my office and looked over the company figures, it dawned on me that the majority of our clients had very valuable assets that would need to be managed efficiently. Turning my attention to my computer, I made sure to send Aleric an email about the situation as soon as possible. Just then, Erin walked in, a smile on her usually serious face as she approached my desk and dropped the files.

"You seem a bit chipper today," I said, tilting my brow in a sarcastic manner.

"Yes, well, I have some very excellent candidates for you," Erin replied as she took a seat.

"And they are all aware of what it is that we do here?" I asked as I grabbed the files and looked at the picture of the first new recruit.

"Technically, they know what I feel they need to know," Erin replied.

I nodded in agreement as I looked through the files when I saw her picture. "How did that file get in there? Forgive Mr. Diaz that wasn't meant to be in this pile," Erin replied as she rose from her seat and attempted to take the file from me.

I glanced at her and growled. Erin quickly sat down. Opening the file, I took a moment to read the basic information about her before turning to Erin.

"You interviewed her?" I asked as I rotated the picture so that Erin could see it.

"Yes, sir, I did; however, she is not the right fit," Erin replied.

"I agree, she wouldn't be the right fit for this position," I said as I turned the picture around and stared at it momentarily before I glanced at Erin.

"Attend to the new hires, and I'll handle this," I replied.

"Yes, sir," Erin said as she stood and walked out of my office.

As soon as she left, I immediately called Aleric and asked him to come to my office as quickly as possible. Once the call ended, my eyes were drawn to the picture once more, and at first sight of the image, I could hear growling in the belly of the beast within me when the sound of his voice resonated from the depths of my mind and said, "MINE."

"Don't worry, we'll have her before you know it," I told him as I rose from my desk and walked toward the fireplace. After throwing the picture into the fire, I watched as the flames consumed it. A part of me wanted to keep the picture; she was beautiful and easy on the eyes. However, it stayed the same: she had something I wanted. Turning to the window, I growled, "Rubi Salvatore, you should have stayed hidden, my little mouse. The games are about to begin."