Chapter 2

Camellia's POV Cedarwood and iron tang hit my nostrils. I sniffed deeper, craving more of his scent. Then it hit me – that aggressive, intoxicating musk only a prime Alpha could emit. The rock-hard muscles under my fingertips tensed. A calloused hand clamped around my wrist, yanking me away from the warmth I desperately wanted to explore. Moonlight caught the glint of his eyes as he spread my arms, scanning me head to toe. His gaze lingered on my curves. "Wrong room?" I sidestepped and tripped him with my leg, sending him sprawling onto the floor. I gasped and covered my mouth. "S-sorry! Didn't mean to—" My words slurred. I blinked a few times. I was drunk. Propped on one elbow, he laughed. "Most entertaining crash landing I've ever seen." His palm slid up my thigh. My neck gland throbbed. Lyra howled in my skull – it was the signal of a true mate. But this silhouette was human. Moonlight haloed his disheveled head. What the actual hell? My true mate was some random human call boy? Lyra growled, pushing my trembling fingers to yank down my lace strap. Since the temporary marking, Esmond never made me burn like this. The full moon turned my wolf's hunger into molten need. His golden eyes narrowed to slits as my bra clasp snapped – predator's gaze. Those were not human eyes. Then it hit me – the pleasant cedar scent might not be from body wash. "Wait—" My protest drowned in his pine storm. When he pinned me against the wall, Alpha dominance crushed my lungs. Lyra howled approval. My knees hit granite thighs as his rough palm slid under my red minidress. The roughness of his palm made my heart skip a beat, my pulse racing wildly. Lyra was just beneath the surface, urging me to act, to feel everything. "You're shaking," he purred against my ear, fangs grazing skin. The temporary bond mark flared white-hot. I tried to push him away, but he easily sensed my movement and pinned my hands above my head. "Let... go..." His laugh vibrated through me. "Cut the act, gorgeous." Moonlight revealed emerald wolf eyes. Lyra went feral – damn full moon madness. "Mark me!" I clawed his back. He tossed me onto the mattress. The mattress was soft. I didn't feel any pain, but the fall made my head even dizzier. A tall figure loomed over me. If Esmond could cheat, why couldn't I claim my true mate? His fingers closed around my throat, forcing my gaze up. Moonlight showed our tangled reflection – my scarlet dress around his hips, his golden strands smeared with my lipstick. Then I saw his face. "Lionel." The name tore from me. He was MY MATE's uncle. Lionel's POV When that woman called out my name, my muddled consciousness snapped into clarity. I pushed my wolf, Leroy, back into the recesses of my mind. I flew back to LA for the Ironclaw Pack Gathering hosted by my father, Alpha Drogo. But here's the kicker—I didn't tell a soul from the pack about my whereabouts. Only my Beta knew I was holed up in this overpriced hotel suite. So, I immediately turned on the desk lamp. The sudden light made me squint. When my vision cleared, I looked at the woman lying in bed. She had long brown hair, and her eyes were filled with panic. When I looked at her neck, I saw a faint, incomplete mark. The sight hit me like a punch in the gut—I immediately realized the gravity of the situation. I looked at her face again. By then, she also saw me clearly. Her already pale face turned even whiter. It was obvious that the alcohol had worn off. "... Uncle Lionel?" Hearing her address me, I remembered something. A few years ago, I attended Aljean's son's wedding when I was back at Ironclaw Pack. Aljean was my brother. He was older than me. The she-wolf who had made a mate vow with Esmond was the woman in front of me. Her name was Camellia, a she-wolf with Alpha blood. "Uncle Lionel... I..." She opened her mouth, nervously trying to say something. "Shut up." I snapped. My mood was terrible, filled with anger and disappointment. I couldn't believe this had happened. She seemed scared. She wanted to explain, but I didn't want to hear it. Leroy protested in my mind. He still wanted her. I looked at Camellia's face. When my gaze fell on the skin of her chest, Leroy roared again. "Get. Out." The words came out harsher than I intended. As I stood up, Camellia's eyes glanced at my body. She froze for a moment, then awkwardly looked away. Her ears were turning red. She had no idea how attractive that reaction was to me. "Get out of here! I don't want to see you again!" I shouted, my voice filled with anger. Camellia scrambled for her dress, that damn floral scent still messing with my head. After she fled, I chain-smoked by the ruined bed, dialing my cleanup crew. "Scrub all security footage. Tonight never happened." Leroy kept whining about lost chances while I stared at the city lights. My nephew's wife. My mate. The universe really needed to lay off the tequila shots.