The Alpha's Little Temptress

Sienna

“Fourty-six thousand dollars, Sienna.”

The hard smack of the tablet hitting the desk made me jump.

Fourty-six thousand dollars. That was what this morning's ambush was about?

Seriously?

Dante turned toward the enormous glass windows behind him, staring down at the skyscrapers of Mount Clairelle like the entire city had personally disappointed him.

His city. Well, technically our family's city. But close enough.

I crossed my arms over my chest, squeezing my eyes shut for a second to fight off the headache behind my eyes. “Are you done?”

His shoulders stiffened.

He turned around slowly. Those bright blue eyes were the exact same shade as our father's. Unfortunately, Dante had also inherited Father's terrifying ability to make people feel guilty without saying a word.

"In three hours," Dante said, very calmly. "VIP service, top-shelf liquor, and a valet tip that could buy a sedan."

“It was a good night, I have standards, and the valet looked like he needed the money. Does that answer it?”

“You’re only nineteen years old.”

I rubbed my temples, letting out a heavy sigh.

Dante really dragged me out of my soft bed at seven in the morning just to lecture me like a kid? I genuinely didn't get why he was making such a big deal out of it.

We owned half the businesses in this part of Clairelle. Our family had more money than we could spend in five lifetimes. Fourty-six thousand dollars wasn't going to ruin us.

“Besides, I was just trying to network,” I grumbled. “You’re the one who’s always telling me the pack needs better social ties—”

“I said you need better ties,” Dante cut in. “Not a group of fake friends who only hang around to drink off your card every single night.”

He wasn't yelling, but the shift in his tone reminded me real quick that even if he was my flesh and blood, Dante was still the Alpha. He wasn't playing around.

"Your luxury car is seized," Dante said. "Your black card is revoked. And you are leaving Clairelle tonight. To… well, a bootcamp of some sort."

The last of my hangover vanished instantly. Pure anger rushed right through me, my face heating up.

“You can’t be serious!” I yelled, stepping right up to his desk. “I’m a Montclair! You can't just ship me off to some backwater camp like I'm trash!”

“You will not be going to a camp, Sien.”

The voice came from right behind me, over by the office door.

Deep, calm, and so smooth it cut my angry outburst completely.

No way.

I froze, all the air leaving my lungs. Slowly, agonizingly, I turned around.

Standing in the doorway, looking so broad his shoulders almost hit both sides of the frame, was Alpha Sebastian of Lupine Regalia.

He was wearing a dark charcoal suit that matched his jet-black hair. His gray eyes locked straight onto mine, holding me right where I stood.

I hadn't seen him in person for six whole months, and looking at him now, my brain completely blanked out.

“Sev!” I blurted out, jumping a little from the shock.

The thrill of seeing him turned straight into total embarrassment. He had heard me screaming like a spoiled brat.

Dante waved a hand lazily toward him from the desk. “You will be in the care of Sebastian from today onwards.”

My mouth stayed slightly open as I stared between them.

I didn't even know how to process what was happening. I was thrilled, but there was no way in hell I was going to let myself act like a giddy idiot right in front of my brother.

I cleared my throat, stepping aside as Sev walked fully into the room.

He stopped right beside me, so close I could feel his warmth. The clean scent drifted over, making my head spin. He turned his face down toward mine.

“You will be offered a two-year course in Health Sciences,” Sev said softly, his voice gentle and patient. “It specializes in werewolf physiology and traditional healing. I will personally oversee your accommodations, far away from the distraction of city nightlife.”

Two years.

My mind raced, trying to pull the numbers together. I was going to be living in his territory, under his watch, for two entire years.

Here at home, health courses took four years, and standing this close to him, two years felt way too short.

I bit the inside of my lip, desperately trying to keep myself from grinning like a fool.

I was going to see him every single day.

“What do you think, Sien?” Sev asked, his voice dropping.

Those gray eyes searched my face, looking like they were reading every single nervous thought running through my head.

Painfully self-conscious, I forced my eyes down toward my shoes while my face burned red.

I had literally just rolled out of bed after partying until dawn. My hair was probably a mess, I had zero makeup on, and here I was, standing next to the guy I had been hopelessly, desperately in love with since I was fourteen years old.

“I love it!” I blurted out.

I caught myself real fast, swallowing hard to soften my tone, and smoothed down the front of my clothes to look as sweet and harmless as possible.

“I mean... I really appreciate your assistance, Sev. I want nothing more than to, you know... get away from the city and just be... good.”

Dante let out a loud snort. “You know you’re talking complete nonsense, right?”

I shot Dante a quick glare while Sev wasn't looking, digging my nails into my palms.

“You leave tonight. Go pack your bags, Sienna,” Dante ordered, waving me off.

I ignored my brother completely and turned back to Sev.

Those dark gray eyes were pinned on me again, making my heart thump hard against my ribs.

“Umm...thank you for this opportunity, Sev,” I whispered, looking up at him through my eyelashes, keeping my voice soft.

A tiny, handsome smile touched the corners of his lips.

He reached out, his massive, warm hand gently taking mine, and lifted it up to press a light kiss right onto the top of my knuckles.

“The pleasure is mine, Sien.”

When he looked back up, his eyes meeting mine, a sudden glint of bright yellow flashed deep inside his gray eyes.

My heart flipped in my chest.

His wolf.

Dante loudly fake-coughed from behind his desk, ruining the moment completely. “Packing your bags, remember?”

I rolled my eyes in frustration, pulling my hand away from Sev's warmth.

Older brothers really knew how to ruin every single good thing in life.

But honestly? It didn't even matter.

Dante thought he was punishing me by kicking me out of the city, but he had just handed me everything I had ever wanted on a silver platter.

I was going home with Sev, and I was going to make sure that by the time those two years were up, he would never want to let me go.