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“I see you’re still flaunting yourself as a pitiful widow and earning spots in the corporate world by throwing my uncle’s name around and granting access to anyone who looks like he stacked some coins to his name.

” Tom’s words hit me like a slap in the face as soon as I stepped into the living room.

I saw the Lego house Noah was talking about torn apart and thrown to the side. The man-child must’ve destroyed it when Noah ran out to greet me.

“Say whatever you want to all who care to listen, but I’ll not have you walk into my house and speak to me in that manner.”

“Your house?” He sneered, taking a step forward. “This is my uncle’s house. You’re a desperate bitch with nothing to your name, and I’ll be sure to return you to the gutters where you belong soon.”

“I would say good luck to you, but you’ve been trying ceaselessly for over three years with nothing to show for your efforts, so I wouldn’t want to waste my wishes on a deadbeat,” I replied, injecting a sickening amount of sweetness in my tone.

Tom was in front of me in a flash, his eyes wild with anger.

“What did you just call me, bitch?”

“Deadbeat. I believe that’s what the lady said, and for context, it means a spineless jelly of a man who has a penis the size of a baby’s pinky and corners women to threaten them instead of facing their own lives. ”

I pursed my lips to hold back the smile flirting with them. Trust Victor to make the most dramatic entrance and speak to potentially dangerous men like they were babies. I would never understand where he got his audacity.

“Oh,” Tom exclaimed, his eyes darting between me and Victor, who was currently standing next to me. “You’ve graduated to bringing your men home and turning my uncle’s house into a whore house?”

“Go home, Tom. You’re only embarrassing yourself at this point.” I sighed, pushing past him with Victor behind him.

“You just watch. I will expose you for what you are, and when I’m done with you, you’ll be left naked in the streets.” He retorted, hurling threats after threats.

“That’s enough, Tom. You have till the count of five to get out of here, or I’ll be forced to do it myself.” Victor cut through his rants, and like the chicken I know him to be, he tucked his tail between his legs and fled the room after throwing a few colorful words my way.

“Does that happen a lot?” Victor asked when Tom was finally out of the house.

“Today is one of the good days. Sometimes, he resorts to breaking things to prove a point. Your presence must’ve scared him off,” I replied, handing him a glass of wine.

“Cara,” I called Noah’s nanny when I heard her in the kitchen. “Tom is not allowed in the house anymore. Pass the message to security. If he tries to force his way in, call the cops.”

He was the only link I had to Adrian, and I would’ve loved to have him around, hence the countless chances I’ve given him. But it didn’t seem like that was going to happen any time soon, so I’d rather he stay away from my family.

Victor took a sip from the glass before looking at me, a flirty look playing behind his soft gray eyes. “So, what do I get for being your knight in shining armor, huh?”

A blush crept to my cheeks. Victor had a charming way with words, and he was the only man I’ve let close to me since Adrian died. The fact that he was also a werewolf made me feel safer around him, but I couldn’t deny the interest he had in me, nor could I continue putting him off for long.

“I would’ve made you a special dinner, but I just got back from a work dinner, and I’m a bit tired.”

A charming smile touched his lips.

“It’s alright, I’m not dying tonight.”

“Alright then, I owe you dinner,” I replied, smiling back at him.

*****

“What do you mean you hate caviar? Who hates caviar?” I stared at Victor, who stared at the open can of caviar in front of me with disgust.

We opted for lunch at Masa in place of a home-cooked meal. After days of burying myself deep in work to keep my thoughts from wandering to Griffin’s threats or the way my body reacted to his touch, the change of scenery was much appreciated.

“It just fishes eggs, and it has a weird texture. I’ll never understand the hype about it or the ridiculous price attached to it. I don’t even understand why anyone would eat it.”

I smiled at how simple he could be sometimes. It was one of the things I admired most about him. He managed to maintain his simplicity and originality in a world where everyone was struggling to be seen.

“It’s quite nice when you get into it.”

“I know it’ll be. I just need to get into first,” he replied, a mischievous look playing behind his eyes .

I caught the double meaning behind his words a lot faster than I would like to admit.

“Are we still talking about caviar, sir?” I replied in a sultry tone, deciding to indulge him a little.

“I don’t know,” he leaned into his seat, pining for me with an intense gaze. “The subject of my comment is luxurious, highly sought after, and insanely beautiful. So, you tell me, are we still talking about caviar?”

I weighed my options carefully, deliberating between continuing with our little game or shutting it down. When I agreed to play along, I was hoping for a little friendly back and forth, but the look in his eyes had gone from mischievous and playful to intense real quick.

Finally deciding to play it safe, I intentionally knocked a little bit of caviar on my dress and excused myself to the bathroom.

I turned on the tap, letting the cool of the water travel from my hands to the rest of my body.

Victor was a great guy. Noah loved him, too.

But he knew nothing about the person I was.

Except for Adrian, I have told no one the truth about my past. Even Adrian knew the story in bits, as I couldn’t risk divulging the supernatural world to him.

With Victor, I had to be honest. He was a werewolf like me, and if we were together, he’d eventually learn the truth.

I just didn’t think I was ready to unpack all of that.

Plus, I couldn’t bear for him to look at me differently.

If my own mate didn’t believe me, what were the chances someone else would?

I heaved a sigh of relief and was suddenly attacked by the intoxicating scent of sandalwood and pine. My eyes snapped to the door to find Griffin leaning on the doorpost, his eyes alive with unyielding rage.