+Chapter 18+

Caspian sat stiffly, not sure what he was supposed to do. His curious eyes trailed over to the Alpha on a leash, looking away quickly when he returned the stare.

Was he also bought at an auction? Was being put on a leash a possibility in his future? Why did the Alpha look completely feral?

Asher glanced down at the slender hand touching him, "You aren't supposed to be here."

Silvia retracted her hand with a smile, dark red lipstick bewitching. "Yes, but I couldn't miss the chance that you'd bring your slave."

Asher's jaw twitched at her words but he remained composed, "I dislike that word."

Silvia waved away his dissensions, moving closer to Caspian. "Deny it all you want, but you're just like me."

Asher's sharp gaze was fixed on her, "No one is like you."

Caspian couldn't tell if they were having a friendly conversation or not, getting spooked the closer Silvia got. He had just started to relax but she looked really perceptive, what if she saw right through his disguise?

Asher slipped in between the two of them, and Caspian was grateful to the Mafia King for the first time.

"Aren't we a tad possessive? I just wanted to get a proper look at the merchandise," Silvia tutted, entertained by his reaction.

"You've got yours," He deadpanned.

Silvia didn't back away, "I could help you break yours in," She smiled, an evil light in her eyes.

Caspian felt shivers go down his back, Jenny hadn't been kidding when she mentioned that rich folks were into strange things. Asher wasn't a better option but he was grateful that Silvia hadn't been the one to buy him

"And I could break you," Asher casually handed back to her.

That was enough to make her ease up and take a couple of steps back, "Don't threaten me with a good time."

She didn't stay long after that, and Caspian was happy to see her go, certain that she would have seen right through him if Asher hadn't stepped in.

While he recovered from that whirlwind, Asher sat right across from him, pouring himself a drink from the bottles that a waiter had been quick to provide the moment they got to the table.

"I still don't know your name."

Caspian stared blankly at the Alpha in front of him for a few seconds before his brain kicked into gear, "Ca-Cassia."

It still sounded strange to his ears to refer to himself by a different name, and it was a little surprising that Asher didn't know his name.

He had stupidly told Jael his real name though so maybe this was for the best.

"Cassia, do you drink?" Asher sat up to pick up a bottle of wine, the slender neck of the bottle looking fragile in the clasp of his ringed hand.

Caspian almost wished he could have given his real name because Asher saying his fake name was enough to make his spine tingle.

He had never had even a drop of alcohol before but what better time than now, so he held Asher's hazel-gold gaze and lied through his teeth. "Yes."

Caspian almost backed out at Asher's devious smile, his hand trembling as he took the glass of wine offered to him.

He tentatively brought it to his lips under Asher's watchful stare, certain he would choke from how hard the Alpha was staring.

He took a sip and immediately made a face, he knew that alcoholic wines weren't sweet but he wasn't prepared for the taste.

Asher's deep chuckle brought his head up, "You're a terrible liar, you know that?"

His tongue piercing flashed as he spoke reminding Caspian of the taste of it, his pride hurt by his words.

It was a bad idea but he closed his eyes tightly and poured back the dry white wine, it burned on the way down, leaving an exquisite aftertaste.

He placed the empty cup on the table and tried hard not to gag, his eyes still closed from the bitter taste as he swallowed sporadically.

He opened his eyes to gloat, his words never leaving his mouth because he was face-to-face with Asher.

He hadn't heard the Alpha move, and he was trapped in his seat, there was no backing away.

Caspian had relaxed because they were in public but somehow the party provided more privacy than the car, it might have as well been just them in the room.

The second kiss of the night came with a lot of warning but that didn't help him avoid it. His hands fisted his dress, head reeling. Asher smelled and tasted of wildfire, the tangy taste of the wine long forgotten.

Asher only broke off the kiss because someone interrupted them but Caspian barely noticed, dazed from the effects of the wine and the kiss.

He barely caught Asher's words as he excused himself, his head dropping forward on the table, glasses clinking delicately.

He just needed a moment to pull himself together, just a minute or two and he would be fine.

Caspian took longer than a couple minutes but eventually, his head stopped spinning and he could sit up.

He squinted as he did, the flashing lights felt blinding and he could hear his pulse in his head. Why did he think that drinking was such a great idea? How did he plan to hold his own against Asher like this?

Caspian flinched when someone approached, he thought he was Asher back to pick up from where he left off.

However, the smoke that washed over him was nothing like Asher's scent. The acrid scent of burning nicotine made him lean back as an Alpha materialized out of the dim room.

"What a treat to find you alone," His raspy voice came closer.

Caspian squinted at the cloud of smoke that was blown in his face, his addled mind taking longer to process what was going on.

"Asher should have been more careful."

At the mention of Asher's name, he snapped into focus, his head tilting lazily to the side. "Who... are you?"