217 The Sleeping Alpha
Lucian
The ‘company’ arrived twenty minutes later.
I hated this part.
She was young, maybe twenty-one, twenty-two. Pale skin, soft freckles across her cheeks, green eyes that darted around the room too quickly. Her brown hair was pulled back loosely, trying to look effortless. She
was undeniably pretty. Cute, even.
And I hated that she was here.
I didn’t know if she was doing this by choice or desperation. But either way, it disgusted me that it was even
an option on the table.
She started toward me, already slipping into her role, her smile rehearsed and practiced.
“Wait,” I said, raising a hand to stop her.
She paused, eyes flickering with surprise, then suspicion.
I kept my tone light, neutral, but firm. “What’s your name?”
“Bianca Ash,” she replied, the words coming too easily.
I moved to the minibar and bent to open the tiny fridge, buying myself a moment. The cool air and rows of miniature liquor bottles stared back at me.
“What would you like?” I asked.
“Anything, sir,” she purred, trying to match the fantasy.
If only I had truth serum, I thought grimly.
I grabbed two tiny bottles of dark rum, handed her one, and motioned to the sitting area. I sank into the two-seater couch, nodding toward the armchair across from me.
She obeyed, sitting with practiced grace. She wasn’t sure what this was yet, but she was smart enough not to ask questions.
“I like what I see, Bianca,” I said smoothly, watching her body language.
She smiled, eyes cautious now.
“Who do I talk to if I want to keep you?” I asked.
That hit her.
Her cheeks flushed instantly, and her lips parted like she couldn’t quite believe what she’d just heard. That fantasy, a rich man rescuing her, flickered across her expression like a reflex.
“Justin,” she said finally. “He works for the boss. I don’t know who the boss is, but Justin handles… us.”
Her voice dropped near the end. She wasn’t just shy.
She was afraid.
1/4
< 217 The Sleeping Alpha
That was what I needed.
I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice. “I’m not here to f**k you, Bianca.”
She blinked, caught off guard.
“I free girls like you. I’ve done it before. I’ll do it again. If you help me, if you tell me where I can find this Justin, I’ll pay you enough to disappear. Enough to start over.”
She stood up so suddenly her chair scraped the floor.
Her hands trembled. Her head shook quickly, her mouth open but no sound coming out.
Fear. Panic.
She was debating whether I was real, or bait.
I stayed seated, calm and still, trying not to spook her further.
“I’m not here to hurt you.”
“I won’t betray my pimp,” Bianca said quickly, her voice tight with fear. “If you don’t need me, I’ll leave.”
But the panic in her eyes, the tremor in her limbs, she wasn’t trying to be bold. She was just terrified.
+3 Points >
I stood slowly, closing the distance between us in two steps. Before she could bolt, I pressed her back gently but firmly against the wall. Not to threaten her, but to make her listen.
Her scent shifted instantly, fear and confusion, laced with something else.
“Fifty thousand,” I said flatly. “For your trouble.”
She froze.
I watched her expression shift in real time, conflict giving way to disbelief, then disbelief giving way to something hotter. Greed. Hope. Hunger for a better life. That sum could change her world in Goldenpeak.
“A-Are you serious?” she stammered.
“I don’t make jokes about money,” I said, stepping back.
She stood there, stunned. Guarded. But curious now.
I sat back down in the armchair, leveling my voice.
“Here’s the deal, Bianca. You stay with me. Pretend we’re sleeping together. Play your part. While we’re around others, you point Justin out to me, quietly. That’s it. Once I’ve seen him, and once the job’s done, the money’s yours. Wired straight to your account in Goldenpeak.”
She nodded instantly. The choice was simple: sell one night of pretense or sell the rest of her life.
I didn’t mention Chase. Not yet. She wasn’t ready for that.
But if she worked the circuit here in Mistwood, she’d have seen or heard something. Girls like her were invisible to the powerful but saw everything.
She’d be useful, if I could earn her trust.
“One last thing,” I said, firm again. “You sleep on the couch. No funny business. If you cross a line, the deal is
off”
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+8 Points
<217 The Sleeping Alpha
Bianca nodded quickly. “Yes, sir.”
I headed to the bathroom to shower.
As soon as the door closed behind me, Denis linked in.
“We’re all settled,” he said. “Lance has an interview tomorrow, beachside bar. Temporary gig, good cover. I’m still figuring out where to plant myself. Somewhere I can hear things, maybe a delivery service or kitchen
staff.”
“Sounds good,” I replied, lathering soap into my palms. “I’ve got a girl here. She’s going to point out her pimp, guy named Justin. If Chase is local, or even if he just passed through, someone in that circle might’ve served
him. These girls know faces. I’ll ease her into the question tomorrow.”
“Keep me posted,” Denis said. “And be careful. That kind of girl has a lot to gain, but just as much to lose.”
“I know,” I replied, rinsing off. “But right now, she’s our best lead.”
I returned to the room fully dressed, my prosthetic nose firmly in place. The disguise was almost flawless,
removing it would take real effort. I’d also taken care to keep Mara’s mark hidden beneath my collar.
“You don’t have to hide your mate’s mark, sir,” Bianca said quietly, watching me from the couch.
I frowned, caught off guard.
“It’s only a mated wolf, madly in love, that would turn down someone like me,” she added with a small, sad
smile.
I gave her a tight smile of my own. “You’re wrong,” I lied easily. “My mate died. Car accident. I’ve been thinking about getting a tattoo over it… something to help me forget.”
Her expression shifted instantly, guilt and pity flashing across her face.
“I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice suddenly softer. “That was insensitive of me. Please forgive my words.”
I nodded, relieved that she bought it. Letting her believe she had a chance might make her more willing to help.
After a beat, I shifted the conversation.
“A friend of mine told me to ask about someone while I’m here. Thought maybe you could help.”
She sat up straighter, curious. “Who?”
“Chase,” I said carefully. “His name is Chase.”
She let out a light laugh. “You’ll need to be more specific, sir. I’ve come across plenty of Chases in Rewan. Common name around here.”
I smirked and leaned back.
“I’ll ask my friend for his last name,” I said casually. “Thanks anyway.”
I didn’t want to risk dropping the name Nighthorn just yet. If that name set off alarms, this whole mission would blow before it even started.
I pulled back the covers and tossed her a pillow and a duvet. She caught them and made herself comfortable
on the couch.
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I laid down, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts already drifting.
What was Mara doing right now? Was she sleeping? Was the house quiet? Did she miss me the way I missed
her?
Thated being away from her.
But I knew one thing for sure.
This had better be worth it.
