Page 139

Hades

The clinking of heels reached my ears. I raised my head, finger poised to press the elevator button. But just before I could make contact, I stilled.

My breath caught.

She stepped into view, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. The dress she wore – sleek, understated but devastating in its elegance and allure – seemed to dim the entire hallway.

The emerald mini dress hugged her full figure, the black floral stockings highlighting her long sculpted legs. The ankle boots added a inch or two to heights.

Her titan curls were swept to one side in a way that drew attention to a lightly angled, delicate features of her face and the subtle shimmer in her eyes held me captive longer than I cared to admit.

I forced my gaze away, clearing my throat as if that would somehow erase the seconds I’d spent simply staring.

Focus, Hades.

Stepping to the side, I extended my hand toward her, palm up, a silent invitation. "Shall we?"

Her eyes settled on me, hesitating for just a breath before she placed her hand in mine. The contact was light, uncertain, but enough to send a slow burn through my palm.

The elevator doors slid open, and I guided her inside with a careful grip. She stepped in close, her posture perfectly poised but her fingers tightened slightly around mine, betraying the nervousness she tried to hide.

As the doors closed, enclosing us in the small space.

---

Watched her from beneath my lashes; she was fidgeting, alot. Her eyes were stuck on what she was taking in outside the tinted windows. I knew that the reality of her punishment was finally dawning on her.

Three, two, one...

"The road..." she breathed, barely audible over the low hum of the engine.

"What is wrong with the road, Red?" I kept my voice casual, though I could already sense where this was heading.

Her head turned slightly, but her gaze remained glued to the scene beyond the window. "It’s packed. There are people everywhere."

Ah. She’d finally noticed.

"They live here," I replied smoothly, shifting in my seat as if this wasn’t unusual. " It is always busy. You know how cities are."

Her brow pinched. "I know that. I meant… it’s different today." Her eyes narrowed at the crowded sidewalks, at the headlights stacking up along Lunar Boulevard as far as she could see. "I don’t think I’ve ever seen it like this when we’re out."

I said nothing for a beat, letting the quiet stretch long enough for her to start overthinking. It wasn’t often that she caught on to the things I did for her, and I found I enjoyed watching the realization dawn on her.

"I didn’t close the roads today," I admitted, finally breaking the silence.

Her head snapped toward me then, those green eyes narrowing with something between confusion and suspicion. "You close the roads when we go out?"

I met her gaze head-on, unwavering. "Usually, yes.

I prefer not to take chances." She was a werewolf after all and if the statistics were correct and the the border to Silverpine was as closed off as it had always been that would mean she was the only werewolf in the Obsidan pack.

She was a royal to boot. There was no bigger target.

A flicker of something unreadable crossed her face, but she looked away quickly, her attention returning to the city moving slowly outside the window.

"You didn’t today," she said softly, more to herself than to me.

"No," I agreed. "I wanted you to feel it—see it for what it is. No barriers, no buffers. Just us and the city." I leaned back, watching her closely. "It’s authentic this way." When I said first date, I meant first date.

For a long moment, she said nothing. Her reflection in the glass looked almost distant, as if she wasn’t entirely sure how to process the information.

"We’re not untouchable, Red," I added, my voice dropping lower. "No matter how much power we hold, we exist in the middle of it all. I won’t always shield you from it. Consider it a part of your training."

She crossed her arms, still staring out. "Training," she muttered.

"You act like you haven’t seen traffic for five years."

Her posture stiffened just slightly, though she made no move to argue.

We rolled down Elysian Artery, weaving through the bustle of city life. The flickering neon lights from storefronts, the clusters of Lycans gathered on street corners, and the faint glow of sigils marking territory boundaries all painted the canvas of Lunar Boulevard’s nightlife.

Dominion Tower loomed ahead, cutting through the skyline like a spear of glass and steel. The golden lights at its peak shimmered, marking our destination—the Silver Dominion.

"It’s not far now," I said, my eyes tracing the tower’s silhouette. "We’ll take the elevator straight to the top once we arrive."

She finally glanced over at me, her expression softer now, though the edge of curiosity remained. "It’s beautiful," she murmured, a simmer in her eyes.

I shrugged lightly. "I figured we should indulge in something different."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, searching mine for hidden meaning. There was some, but I kept it buried beneath a carefully crafted mask of nonchalance.

After a moment, she exhaled and leaned back into her seat, gaze drifting to the tower ahead.

I’d let her have this victory—the small satisfaction of feeling unprotected and free, even if I knew every enforcer on duty tonight was tracking our route, hidden in the shadows.

She didn’t need to know that, and anyway, she had bigger fish to fry tonight.

The sleek black car slowed to a stop at the entrance of Dominion Tower, the imposing glass facade shimmering under the city lights. A valet stepped forward, but I dismissed him with a subtle shake of my head. I preferred to handle things myself when she was involved.

I opened her door, offering my hand once more. She hesitated, just for a fraction of a second, before slipping her fingers into mine.

Her eyes wandered, taking in the lavish entrance lined with polished marble.

"This is more than I imagined," she murmured, her grip unconsciously tightening around my hand.

"You’ll find the inside even more impressive," I replied, leading her through the entrance.

The lobby was bustling. Conversations hummed, but a noticeable shift occurred the moment we stepped inside. Eyes followed us, some lowering in deference, others lingering too long. They knew who we were; there was no need to announce it.

She felt it. I could tell by the subtle way her shoulders squared, though she kept her chin lifted, refusing to be cowed by the weight of so many gazes.

But I felt her hand tremble.

We stepped inside, and I swiped a keycard, directing the lift to ascend. As the doors slid closed, she finally let out the breath she’d been holding.

"I thought you said this was a first date," she said, arms crossing over her chest.

"It is."

"Then why does this feel like I’ve just walked into a council meeting I wasn’t invited to?" She knew why.

I smirked but didn’t answer.

The elevator rose swiftly, the hum of the machinery the only sound between us. When the doors opened, the top floor stretched before us, sleek and modern with dim lighting that cast long shadows against glass walls.

The restaurant’s interior sprawled across the open space, divided into intimate booths and tables, most of which were already occupied. Soft music drifted through the air, low and melodic.

And that was when she saw it.

Her eyes widened, halting abruptly as she realized.

I didn’t buy out the restaurant.

Lycans filled the room—men and women from the elite circles of Obsidian Pack. Some were powerful Alphas, others warlords or heads of influential families. The hum of their conversations faltered when they spotted us, but none of them vacated their seats.

"They’re staying," she whispered, barely masking the disbelief in her voice.

"Of course they are," I replied smoothly, pressing my palm against the small of her back to guide her forward. "I thought I’d offer you a… more authentic experience tonight."

"But the..." she whispered.

My finger hovered above the button, sinful anticipation flooding my veins. If she needed a distraction, I would give her a distraction—with my personal twist. I wrapped my arms around her waist.

"The what, Red?" I whispered against her hair.

She stiffened against me as a waiter came forward. "Your Majesty, your table is ready."

Her hand trembled lightly against my arm, but she didn’t pull away.

I felt the eyes on us—some curious, others calculative. The weight of the Obsidian Pack’s attention wasn’t something easily ignored, and she knew it.

"Right this way," the waiter gestured, his voice neutral, but his gaze flickered toward her just a fraction too long.

I didn’t like it.

"Is it in?" I whispered.

She paused before we continued to walk again. "Yes."

"Are you ready?" I murmured as we sat down.

Her eyes widened. "What?" she mouthed.

I pushed the button.

A mix between a yelp and moan escaped her, and silence suddenly doused the whole room.