After One Night with the Alpha Chapter 78

Brad's POV

I looked down at Marissa, who was pressed against my bare chest, her eyes gleaming with what she clearly thought was victory. The scent of her arousal filled the air, mixed with that cloying perfume she always wore. It made my stomach turn.

"You just... want it that badly?" I asked, my voice dropping to a low, dangerous rumble that she completely misinterpreted.

Her face lit up with desperate hope, and she nodded eagerly. "Yes, Brad! I'm willing to do anything for you!"

I let a cold smile spread across my lips, though it never reached my eyes. My amber gaze swept over her with calculated indifference as I placed my hand on her waist, letting my Alpha aura press down on her. "Is that so? You really won't regret it?"

"Of course not!" she breathed, pressing closer to me. Her instincts were screaming at her to submit to my Alpha presence, but her desperation was overriding her common sense.

I tightened my grip slightly, my voice taking on that commanding tone that made weaker wolves tremble. "No matter what I do to you today, you won't regret it?"

*Perfect,* I thought coldly. *You're digging your own grave, Marissa. I've given you chances. Multiple chances. But you keep crossing lines, keep threatening what's mine.*

The thought of her scheming against Elle, manipulating situations to make my mate suffer, sent a fresh wave of rage through me. My wolf was practically snarling for blood.

"You're ready for that?" I asked one final time, my voice carrying a warning that any sensible wolf would have heeded.

But Marissa was too blinded by her own fantasies to notice the danger. "I'm ready for anything, Brad! Whatever you want to do to me, I'm willing..."

*Then don't blame me.*

Without another word, I moved with Alpha speed and precision. From the medical cabinet in my private bathroom, I retrieved a set of specially designed restraints—the kind used in werewolf medical facilities, strong enough that even an angry wolf couldn't break them.

Marissa gasped as I spun her around and secured her wrists behind her back, the cuffs clicking into place with metallic finality. "Brad? What are you—"

"You said you were ready for anything," I cut her off coldly, testing the restraints to ensure they were secure. "I'm just making sure you can't change your mind."

She was still deluding herself, trying to turn this into some kind of dominance game. "Is this how you like to assert your Alpha power? I'm yours to command, Brad. Whatever you want..."

I ignored her completely, retrieving a specialized gag designed for wolf safety—it would prevent her from biting or howling for help, but wouldn't restrict her breathing. As I fitted it into place, her eyes finally began to show the first flickers of uncertainty.

Leaning down so my mouth was right by her ear, I let my voice drop to that Alpha tone that could command or terrify. "Since you're so fucking eager to throw yourself at me today, I'll make sure you get exactly what you're asking for. Marissa, after today, we're done. Permanently."

The scent of her fear finally began mixing with her arousal, and I felt a cold satisfaction at the change. *Good. Now you're starting to get it.*

I pulled out my phone and dialed Alex. When he answered, I spoke with deadly calm. "Mark's still at the training center, right? Tell him to get his ass to my private lounge. Now. I've got something for him."

Marissa's eyes went wide above the gag, and she began making muffled sounds of protest. I could practically watch the realization dawning on her face as the pieces clicked into place.

The truth hit her like a sledgehammer. Her whole body went rigid, and she started shaking her head frantically, desperate sounds escaping around the gag.

*That's right, sweetheart,* I thought with grim satisfaction. *

She began struggling against the restraints with pure desperation, even trying to force a partial shift, but the cuffs were designed to suppress werewolf abilities completely. Her strength was pathetic against materials meant to hold rogue Alphas.

I watched her panic with ice-cold detachment, my amber eyes never leaving her terrified face. "What's wrong? I thought you were ready for anything. Isn't this what you wanted?"

"Here's the thing, Marissa," I continued, my voice conversational as if we were discussing the weather. "I don't appreciate being manipulated. And I really don't appreciate threats against my mate. You should've thought about that before you decided to keep pushing me."

A sharp knock interrupted my thoughts. "Come in."

Mark entered, his gaze immediately locking onto the bound figure on my couch. His pupils dilated instantly as he took in Marissa's disheveled state—her dress hiked up from struggling, her body language screaming helplessness.

The scent of his immediate arousal flooded the room.

"She's all yours," I told him, clapping him on the shoulder. "Fair warning though—she's got a mouth on her and doesn't know when to quit. Might need some... correction."

Mark's eyes lit up with predatory hunger, the kind that made lesser wolves bare their throats in submission. "Understood, Alpha Rayne."

Without another glance at Marissa, I headed for the door. Her muffled screams and Mark's low, appreciative growl followed me out, but I felt nothing except cold satisfaction.

*You played with fire, Marissa. You threatened what's mine. This is what happens when you fuck with an Alpha.*

Alex was waiting outside with fresh clothes. I dressed efficiently while the sounds from the lounge grew more intense behind the closed door, but I felt zero urge to intervene.

*Some bitches never learn until it's too late.*