Page 13 of The Alpha's Lunar Crown

His hands pause, and he returns his glass to the table. "I would think about this more if I were you, Mr. Ravenclaw. You won't get a deal like mine anywhere, and I think a seat in your company is a fair price."

I lean into my chair, toying with the ring on my finger. In my line of business, I've come across different types of businessmen. The good, the righteous, and the dirty. Laurence is a dirty bag from the depths of a public dumpster, and if he continues to play with me, I'll be more than happy to show him where his kind belongs.

"Mr. Stone, I think we might have encountered some form of miscommunication along the line. I am not asking to be a part of your organization. I'm merely seeking the passage that your current project will afford me."

"And I hear you, Ravenclaw, but passages don't come at a cheap rate," he replies, smirking. "Scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours."

"If you insist." I smile in return, pulling out all the files I gathered on him and his dirty dealings. Smuggling, tax evasion, and everything in the book. "Guess I'll have to fling this one through the window and see what the reporters do with it, eh?"

His eyes narrow before he snatches the files from me, his eyes doubling in size as he takes in the words on the paper. "I didn't mean for it to come to this, Laurence, but you see, I hate being put in a tight corner. It brings out the worst in me."

"You will regret this, Ravenclaw," he threatens, his eyes blazing, but I don't miss the tremble in his voice or his shaking hands. He knows he has nothing on me, and this will be all I need to take him down.

Following my father's death and the temporary loss of my wolf, I put everything into building my business empire and expanding the strength of the headquarters, penetrating into multiple sectors and increasing the influence of shifters. It was all to distract myself from my current situation, but along the line, I've come to acquire a certain degree of ruthlessness. It's the only way to survive in this world, and I make sure my counterparts know I am not to be played with.

"Let me worry about the consequences of my actions, Laurence," I say, getting on my feet. "I expect an invitation on my table before the day runs out. We wouldn't want the proverbial wind blowing on the chicken, now would we?" I threw him a wink before downing my drink and heading out of the private area of the restaurant, a triumphant smile playing on my lips.

Phoenix is roughly two hours from Sedona, but the two couldn't be more different. While the city is big, hot, and populous, Sedona is a valley with beautiful views and nature. It's a great place for shifters but not so good for business. That's why most of our organizations are either in Phoenix or New York.

Construction is the last on my list, and after this meeting, I am certain I am on a one-track road to success. I revel in my post-success bliss, reaching for the phone in my pocket to place a call to Liam and instruct him on how to proceed when familiar laughter reaches my ears, stopping me dead in my tracks.

It took a moment for me to recognize her. Her hair is blonde and straight, giving her face a lifted look. If not for the way her hazel eyes widened at me, I might've missed her.

"Aurora." The sound barely left my lips, and I'm certain she didn't hear me, but I had to say her name to make sure it was her in the flesh. Her name tastes like the first bite of your comfort food after having the worst week or like a bird I've been housing in my mouth and refusing to set free.

"Aurora," I repeated, this time louder and taking a step towards her. She doesn't answer, and when I reach for her hands, she flinches, taking them off the table and tucking them on her lap.

The action stung, but I understand. I wouldn't be so thrilled to see me either.

"Who are you?" A gruff voice asks, and only then do I notice the polished man with dark eyes, jet black hair, and nice bone structure on the other side of the table. You can tell he spent a lot of time and money on his appearance despite the laid-back air around him. I'm not one to check out my fellow men. Frankly, I've never met a man I felt the need to size up, but he is on a date with Aurora, and I can't resist. He is a shifter, too, and that triggers a possessive instinct in me.

The urge to mark my territory overrides common sense, and before I can stop myself, I blurt out, "I'm Lucien, her fated mate. Who are you?"

I felt Rora stiffen at my words. Her eyes snap to mine, a mix of anger and disbelief shining through them.

Mr. Polished appears taken back, his eyes bouncing from Rora to me.

"Is he telling the truth?" He directs his question to Aurora, who takes a sip of water before answering.

"I am fated to no one." I don't miss the slight tremble in her hand as she places the glass on the table, completely ignoring me.

Polished turns to me, "The lady does not recognize you, and I suggest you leave before I make you."

The son of a bitch. Who does he think he is?

"I believe the lady can speak for herself, and if she wants me out, she would have said that a long time ago."

He turns to Aurora with a raised brow, waiting for her to give a go-ahead, and I decide I am done with this charade.

"Five minutes, Rora. You owe me that much." Something in my voice must've surprised her because her head snapped to me like she wanted to confirm the words came from me.

"I owe you that much?" she echoes my words, her brows raised in disbelief.I hold her eyes. "You don't expect me to just walk away like I didn't see you after all these years." I don't care that we're in public, and I'm risking causing a scene. All I can focus on is how she's here in the flesh. Five years spent looking for a person strips you of certain characteristics, and vulnerability is not a thing of shame to you anymore.

She takes her time before turning to polished—I refuse to acknowledge him as her date. "I'll be back. Let me see what he wants." Her tone is flat and cold, but it's also the first time I've heard her voice in years. If I wasn't scared she might disappear, I would've shut my eyes to let the sound flow through me. I didn't realize how much I missed it.

"You have four minutes and twenty-five seconds left. If I were you, I'd quit gaping like a fish and start speaking. What do you want?" Aurora bites out the moment we step out of the restaurant. I physically recoil as though I've been slapped in the face. I thought she was cold when she spoke the first time, but this is next-level. I never knew she had a voice like that in her.

"You look well," I finally manage to say, and she gives me a look.

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