Fantine

I jumped into my car and slammed the door behind me, my heart still pounding against my ribs while Riley’s laugh rang in my ears and the image of that towel hitting the floor was still making my cheeks flush with a warmth that wouldn’t pass. I fumbled for my phone and called the secure line Mira had created, waiting through the static until her voice finally came through, calm as ever.

“You’re late for the check-in, Fantine,” Mira said and in the background I could hear the faint tapping of keys, most likely while she was glancing at maps or bank statements.

“I was delayed at the gym, the team is a lot to handle and Riley Porter is even worse than what Father described,” I said trying to keep the quiver out of my voice because I didn’t want her to realize how much he really got under my skin.

“Did you get close to him Yet? Mira asked, her voice turning into that serious sisterly caution I always got when she thought I wasn't getting my work done.

“I’m close enough,” I said.

“I've already made myself the PR manager, so I have an excuse to be right by his side the whole time, but he’s arrogant, and it’s not easy to keep a professional distance.” I said, leaving out the part where he kissed me or the fact that our wolves were screaming at each other.

“He’s an Alpha heir, Fantine, they’re all arrogant to begin with but you need to find his weakness fast, so tell me, is there anything out of the ordinary in his schedule?”

“Not yet, but there’s something I need you to do for me,” I said, "Mira, I want you to investigate the Porter family’s private wealth, and I’m not talking about the pack funds or the public hockey endorsements." I leaned my head back on the seat and closed my eyes as I spoke.

Mira was silent for a moment, I knew she was contemplating the danger because Father hated us going off-script, but at last she sighed and said, “I can try, but why the interest in finances? Your job was to get him alone for the kill, I thought.

“I just feel like this family has more secrets than Father let on, and Riley said his dad is a bit of a control freak, so if I can dig up some dirt on Marcus, I can use it to come closer to Riley since he hates the man as much as we do,” I said, though it was only half the truth since what I really wanted was to get to know the man who was supposed to be my fated mate.

“Fine, I’ll see what I can dig up but you need to be cautious, Selene is already feeding Father that you’re being too soft and she’s trying to find any excuse to go down there and take over the mission herself,” warned Mira, and hearing Selene's name made my blood run cold because my older sister was the cruelest and most heartless person I had ever met.

“I’m not being soft, I’m being thorough, so just give me those records and I will take care of the rest,” I barked as I felt the pressure mounting in my chest and the realization that I was running out of time sank in.

“Just keep in mind why we’re doing this, Fantine, the Porters stole everything from our father, and they owe it to us to lose everything now, so don’t get distracted,” said Mira and then I was met with silence and the screen went black.

I sat there a long time, I watched the students as they passed through the parking lot and I knew my current plan—run away every time Riley got close—wasn’t working because it just made him more curious and more determined to chase me.

If I wanted to get into his home and find the right moment to kill him, I would not be able to do it while fighting the bond; I had to stop fighting, and I had to start leaning into it, and that meant that Fantine Lennox was about to become the most loyal, lovestruck mate that he’d ever seen.

I started the car and headed toward the team dorm, and I was already brainstorming ways to make him think I had finally broken, because the only way to get a predator to drop its guard is to act like you’ren the prey who has stopped running.

I stepped inside the lobby and noticed Jayden on a couch, so I approached him with a shy smile that I had rehearsed so many times that it looked completely natural.

“Hey Jayden, is Riley around? I think I left my notebook in the locker room and I was wondering if he could help me find it,” I muttered, my voice low and betraying a small hint of embarassment.

Jayden looked up and grinned, leaning back as he pointed toward the stairs, “He’s up in his room, probably brooding about how you ran out on him earlier, you should go up and surprise him because he’s been in a foul mood all afternoon.”

“Is it okay if I just go up? I don't want to intrude,” I inquired, pretending to be someone uncertain while my heart was about to explode from the amount of risk I was taking.

“Go ahead, room 302, he won't mind if it’s you,” Jayden chuckled and turned back to his phone as I made my way for the stairs, and with every step I took, I could feel the mate bond pulling stronger and stronger.

I reached his door and hesitated for only a second before I knocked, and when the door swung open, Riley stood there with a look of pure shock on his face, his blue eyes searching mine for an explanation.

“Fantine? I thought you were done with me for the day,” he said, his voice dropping an octave while he leaned against the doorframe.

“I wanted to apologize for earlier, I got overwhelmed and I shouldn't have reacted that way, so I was wondering if we could start over,” I said, looking up at him through my lashes, and I could see the exact moment his guard started to crumble as he reached out and tucked a stray hair behind my ear.

“I’d like that,” he whispered, pulling me into the room and closing the door behind us.