Alpha's Dark Desires-Chapter 145: The Devil’s Waltz

Elena’s POV:

Okay. So the guy was a hunk—tall, built like a damn statue, with sharp eyes that saw too much and a smirk that pissed me off just by existing.

But let’s not forget the important part—he was also ruthless. The way he tore through those rogues like they were nothing wasn’t just skill. It was effortless. Like he’d done it a hundred times before.

And he lied.

Yeah, I remembered.

I did not faint. I was knocked out—which meant he had dragged me into his car while I was unconscious.

So, not only did I wake up in an unfamiliar place with no clue where the hell I was, but I was also stuck with yet another asshole with an agenda.

Guess I just had that kind of luck.

I had to tread lightly.

Because one thing was clear—this guy had an ulterior motive.

And I needed to figure out what it was.

I wasn’t sure what I expected when I agreed to dinner with the hunk who kidnapped me, but it sure as hell wasn’t this.

The man—who still hadn’t bothered to introduce himself apart from telling me his name was Ace—led me down a grand hallway lined with expensive paintings and golden chandeliers. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I had been dropped into some rich aristocrat’s mansion instead of being abducted by a rogue wolf.

The dining room was no different—long mahogany table, flickering candles, and a spread of food that looked straight out of a five-star restaurant. Steak, roasted vegetables, wine.

If this was supposed to be some kind of intimidation tactic, I had to admit—he had flair.

"Sit," he said smoothly, pulling out a chair for me.

I eyed him warily. "Are you planning to poison me?"

He let out a low chuckle. "If I wanted you dead, little wolf, you wouldn’t have woken up."

Fair point. But that didn’t mean I trusted him.

I sat anyway.

"Well, Ace," I said, picking up my fork, "do you make a habit of abducting strangers off the highway, or am I just special?"

His lips quirked up, as if my defiance amused him. "You’re very special."

I rolled my eyes, but inside, I was on high alert. He was too calm, too confident—like he already had me exactly where he wanted.

That meant I had to play this carefully.

So, I smiled.

Tilted my head.

Leaned in just enough to make him think I was warming up to him.

If he wanted to flirt? Fine. I could play along.

Two could play this game.

"So tell me, Ace," I said, voice smooth, "what exactly do you want with me?"

His eyes gleamed in the candlelight, and for the first time, I caught a glimpse of something dangerous beneath his charming façade.

"Oh, little pet," he murmured, lifting his glass.

"You’ll find out soon enough."

How’s that? Do you want to add more mystery or intensity to the scene?

The weight of his words hung in the air between us, thick and suffocating.

"You’ll find out soon enough."

Every instinct screamed at me to run. To flip the damn table over and make a break for the door. But I forced myself to stay still, schooling my features into a mask of mild amusement.

I wouldn’t let him see my fear.

Instead, I reached for my wine glass, lifting it to my lips as if his cryptic words didn’t bother me in the slightest. "Well, that’s ominous," I mused, taking a small sip.

Ace chuckled, the sound smooth as silk yet carrying a dangerous edge. "Is it?"

I met his gaze over the rim of my glass, refusing to be the first to look away. "Depends. Should I be worried?"

He leaned back in his chair, fingers lazily tracing the stem of his own glass. His eyes never left mine. "That depends," he echoed, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Are you the kind of girl who enjoys a little danger?"

A test.

He was trying to see how much he could rattle me, how much I would bend before I broke.

So I smiled, slow and deliberate, and leaned forward just enough to let my fingers graze the rim of my plate. Two can play this game, asshole.

"That depends," I echoed back, mimicking his tone. "Are you the kind of guy who enjoys playing with fire?"

For a moment, silence stretched between us—thick, charged, alive.

Then, he laughed. A deep, genuine laugh that sent a shiver up my spine.

"Oh, I like you," he said, eyes gleaming with something I couldn’t quite decipher. "I can see why they want you so badly."

I stiffened.

"They?"

I was careful not to react, but inside, my mind raced. Who the hell was ’they’? Kane? Dean? Someone else entirely?

I needed answers. And fast.

So I tilted my head, keeping my expression carefully neutral. "Oh? And who, exactly, is ’they’?"

Ace only smirked, lifting his glass in a mock toast. "Nice try, little wolf."

Damn it.

I bit back my frustration, plastering on a flirtatious smile instead. "Can’t blame a girl for trying."

His smirk widened. "No, I can’t."

And then, to my absolute shock, he stood up and walked over to my side of the table.

I tensed as he reached for my chair, but instead of grabbing me, he simply pulled it back ever so slightly, offering me his hand.

"Come," he said. "Let’s dance."

I blinked. "What?"

His eyes gleamed with amusement. "Dance with me."

Okay. Not what I was expecting.

But I was trapped in a house with a man who had all the power. If I refused, it would make me look weak.

And I’d be damned if I let him think I was weak.

So I exhaled slowly, placed my hand in his, and let him pull me to my feet.

The dining room led into a massive, open living space, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows that revealed the vast forest outside. In the center of the room, a record player sat on a polished wooden table, spinning a soft, haunting melody.

Ace’s arm wrapped around my waist as he pulled me close, one hand capturing mine while the other settled low on my back. He smelled of leather and something darkly intoxicating.

"Do you always force your kidnapped guests to dance with you?" I asked, arching a brow.

His lips twitched. "Only the pretty ones."

Cocky bastard.

Still, I let him lead, my body moving with his in smooth, effortless steps. He was good—too good. His movements were controlled, precise, as if he had done this a thousand times before.

"You’re awfully comfortable with this," I murmured, letting my fingers trail along the line of his shoulder.

His grip tightened just slightly. "And you’re awfully good at pretending you’re not terrified of me."

I smiled. "Who says I’m pretending?"

That earned me another low chuckle, his fingers flexing against my lower back. "Oh, little pet," he mused, voice dipping into something dangerously soft, "you should be."

And just like that, he dipped me.

The world tilted, my heart lurching as my back arched, my throat completely exposed to him.

My pulse pounded against my skin.

For one breathless second, he hovered over me, his lips just inches from my neck.

A warning. A promise.

And then, just as suddenly, he pulled me back up, steadying me as if nothing had happened.

I swallowed hard, refusing to acknowledge the way my hands trembled slightly as I pulled away from him.

"Charming," I muttered, stepping back.

Ace grinned. "I try."

I crossed my arms. "So what now? Am I supposed to be swooning? Falling at your feet?"

His gaze darkened. "No," he said, voice lower now. "I just want you to understand something."

I stilled.

His smirk was gone. His usual playfulness gone.

Now, there was only steel in his expression.

"You’re mine now."

The words sent a cold shiver down my spine.

I forced a scoff, ignoring the way my stomach twisted. "I don’t belong to anyone."

He took a step closer, crowding my space.

"You do now."

I clenched my fists. "And what, exactly, does that mean?"

Ace tilted his head, studying me. "It means Kane isn’t coming for you."

A sharp pang shot through my chest, but I masked it with indifference. "Good."

Ace chuckled darkly. "Oh, little pet... you don’t understand, do you?" He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. "I let him chase you. I let him think he could find you. But now?" His fingers brushed down my arm, feather-light. "Now, I’ve made sure he never will."

Panic surged through me, but I refused to let it show.

I lifted my chin. "And what if I run?"

His hand curled around my wrist—not hard, but firm.

"Then I’ll chase you," he murmured. "And this time? I won’t let you go."

Something in his voice sent a chill through me.

This wasn’t just about Kane anymore.

This was about me.

Ace didn’t just want to keep me away from Kane.

He wanted me.

Not as leverage. Not as bait.

As his.

And I had no idea how the hell I was going to escape.

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