Chapter 4. Devil’s Game

Draco emerged from his room, his robes trailing as he descended the stairs. Catching a delightful aroma, he inhaled deeply and proceeded to the kitchen, where he discovered Martha, the cook, preparing a meal.

A sly grin crossed his face.

"And who granted you permission?" His voice, low and icy, resonated.

Martha turned, a spoon slipping from her hand. "Good morning, Alpha," she greeted.

"I didn't request your greetings. This is my kitchen, not yours. Is that too difficult for your stone brain to comprehend?" He arched an eyebrow, and she nervously bit her lip.

"I'm truly sorry... I thought you might like breakfast," she replied.

Draco strolled over to the stovetop, seized the sauce she was preparing, and poured it down the sink. "If I wanted breakfast, I'd have instructed my maids to prepare it," he sneered as he exited the room.

Martha watched her time and effort being washed away in the sink before taking a deep breath and leaving.

"What's the feedback on our sales?" He inquired, taking a seat on the couch.

Martha sat across from him and cleared her throat. "I'm still waiting for the financial secretary's response, sir," her voice quivered.

"You said what?" He slammed his hands on the table, causing her to flinch.

"I... I haven't received a reply from the financial secretary," she stammered, gripping the couch tightly.

He approached her, lifted her chin, and tightened his grip. "I didn't pluck you from the streets to have you act like a fool," he added more pressure.

He forced her to meet his gaze as tears welled in her eyes.

"You do want to see your husband, don't you?" He leaned in closer, his face inches from hers.

"No, please... I can't go back to that house..." She burst into tears, and Draco pulled back with a sinister smile.

"Very well. You have thirty minutes to get everything ready. When you're done, sit in the car and wait for me," he casually slapped her cheek before walking away.

~~~

Edgar held his gun tightly as he entered an apartment. He opened the door slowly, walked in, and closed it.

He heard a woman's voice and hid behind a pillar, covering his face with a mask. Nobody knows who he is; he's only known as the new 'Serpent' in the criminal world.

Surprisingly, in the living room, he found an old lady, and he shot her in the head right away.

"Ahhh!!!" A young guy, about eighteen, yelled from behind him, and he turned and shot him twice in the stomach.

A woman came out of the kitchen and pointed her gun at Edgar's face.

He put the gun back in his pants.

His bodyguards walked in and were shocked to see him already there.

"Alpha? what are you doing?, I mean, you didn't inform us you were coming for this operation '' One of the guards was stunned to speak, as he had never been on an operation with Edgar before.

"I wanted to join in the action," he smirked and pointed at the little girl.

"Take her with us." He left the house with his bodyguards and the weeping girl.

He pressed a remote, and the house exploded.

The girl kept crying, watching her home burn to the ground.

"Shh…don't make Daddy angry." He patted the girl's head as she continued to cry.

"Don't touch me!... you're not my Daddy!!" She cried and Edgar exhaled.

"Let's see about that, she has a good mouth, I'm sure she would learn how to please a man with a blow job!" He said, his eyes scanning her entire body.

The little girl tried losing herself, freeing his grip, prompting Edgar to let his fangs out, his eyes color changed.

"Behave yourself little doll" He smirked, gripping her chin.

They drove back to the pack, and the girl was taken to the slave quarters. Known to many but seen by few, Alpha Edgar ruled the underworld and held humans who were indebted to him as slaves.

Pearl elegantly brought a tray of food into Scarlett's room.

Draco was seated on the bed, and Scarlett was perched on his lap.

She dropped the tray on the table and turned to face them, asking, "Is there any need for me?"

"No, just go," Scarlett retorted, rolling her eyes.

Pearl walked out, and she proceeded to take the plate of salad on the tray.

"You know, my father would really love to see you," Scarlett started, and Draco looked at her.

"Why is that so?" He inquired, putting on his shirt.

"For future purposes. I mean, you've been bedding his only daughter for months now," she replied, taking a spoonful of the salad.

"I will decide about that." Spanking her ass, he left the room.

Descending down the stairs, he met Edgar, who was staring at the window, lost in thought.

"What are you staring at?" He questioned, tapping his shoulder, causing Edgar to turn.

"Nothing, just wondering how the ball party would be tomorrow," he spoke, and Draco smiled.

"It's not a big deal, everything is perfectly under control," he assured him with a slight grin.

"You went hunting?" He asked, getting unpleasant scents from him.

"Absolutely, these humans always get on my nerves," he hissed and lit his cigar. "Scarlett's father was invited to the ball party, right?" He narrowed his eyebrows, and Draco nodded.

"Don't worry, I've got everything under control." He patted his hair.

"Get your fucking hands off me!" He slapped it off, and Draco chuckled.

"Alpha, here are your drinks," Pearl said calmly, placing a bottle of wine on the table.

Edgar turned and watched her; he moved closer to her, while Draco's facial expressions changed.

"What are you doing?" He asked, but Edgar neglected him.

"What happened to your arms?" Edgar asked, twisting her arms, as he had noticed an injury.

"Nothing serious." She replied and moved backward.

"Does it matter? Such a low-born should be erased from this planet," Draco snarled.

"She's still out, mate, huh?"

"In her weirdest dream, we've rejected her, and that settles it." He walked out of them, and Pearl bowed, leaving.

Hidden behind the pillars, Scarlet smirked deviously before returning to her room, her mind ablaze with thoughts.

Had Pearl, whom she perceived as a mere maid, been nothing more than the Alpha's rejected mate all these months?

Her rival.

She sighed softly as Draco reentered the room.

"How long has Pearl been staying with you?" she asked, and he regarded her with a puzzled look.

"Does it matter?" he scoffed, pulling her closer.

"So, you've never had a soul mate, huh?" she inquired, and Draco's gaze intensified.

"No! We do not have a mate. Why are you suddenly asking?"

"Never mind!" she replied, and he rolled his eyes.

"I'm just curious. I don't want to lose you." She kissed his neck, then moved to capture his lips.

Hands encircled her waist as she settled on Draco, swaying in slow motion.

He held her chin, leaned toward her ear, and whispered, "Never." His voice caused her body to melt, captivated by his touch, by his breath.

The entire world faded from Scarlet's mind; all she could envision was just Draco and nothing else.

She wouldn't let anyone come between them, even if it cost a life.