My Gift, My Dowry

Clicking heels heralded silence along the hallways where she was led to. Audrey Gillard had finally stepped inside the estate that had replaced her family's mansion after her pack was stolen from her. Still, it wasn't too late to turn the tides in her favor.

Audrey knew that she was easily the most beautiful compared to all the females in this estate. Gamma or Omega, none of them were enough to overtake her. Even her aura alone was enough to take them all down. As for the Beta female that walked next to her, Audrey didn't care about Millicent. She was only a good housekeeper before, and that was why she was kept by the Gillards as the Beta.

Of course, with the way that Audrey looked around secretly, Millicent already knew what was going on in her head. This Beta had served the Gillards even before they 'rescued' the street-dweller that Audrey's father liked so much.

"Audrey, don't even think about it. You don't know Nicholai." Millicent took another glance at the female Alpha before speaking in her neutral yet stern voice. "I only stayed with him for days at most, but I can tell that he wouldn't show mercy to his enemies."

"Enemies? I'm not here to be his enemy." With a mocking and dismissive laugh, Audrey flipped her hair. "My father had shown me what was wrong in this bunch of werewolf packs that existed in this region. None of them… is headed by a woman."

"Oh? Wasn't our pack headed by you already? Oh, wait, they listened to Darius more." A chuckle was Millicent's answer, hitting a sore spot of the female Alpha.

A cold sensation rattled Millicent's body, but she didn't fear the blatant threat of the female Alpha. In the insistence of Millicent's mocking smile, Audrey spoke, "Darius was a useless mate. He's nothing but a pretty stone that my father mistook for a diamond. An Omega-born Alpha like him would never equate to anything that befitted me."

Millicent only made a more derisive half-smile. However, she didn't say anything anymore. The two women reached the mezzanine lounge where Nicholai stayed. Instead of drinking, he was just looking out the glass walls as if he was tuning into another scene. His stalwart figure was leaning on the side frame, exuding elegance and power that Audrey expected from a real male Alpha.

At their arrival, Nicholai only moved his head to acknowledge their presence. Millicent left without a word, and Audrey only waited for her to be out of sight. The female Alpha then smiled deeply before taking off her gray designer jacket, revealing a black-and-white work dress. Her collarbones were emphasized by the cut.

"Nicholai Rudolf, we've met again. The last time, I was forced to run from you." She moved to sit on the couch, crossing her legs while keeping her sharp eyes at his back view. "This time, I would like to demand reparations. You're making use of my father's lot, aren't you?"

"What are reparations in the face of total domination?" Nicholai finally moved to glare at her, but there was a smile on his lips. "Audrey Gillard, I didn't mistakenly occupy your father's little lot. I invaded your city, and your pack lost to mine. Why should I make amends with you?"

"…perhaps, but you do realize that the Gillards is still not a simple werewolf family—I am not a simple werewolf Alpha." She got up from her seat and walked toward Nicholai, her gait seductive with her hips swaying in a rhythm only she knew. "Nicholai, you took down my pack and made use of my resources and my remaining people. You seemed to have forgotten to draw on the most important piece…"

She smiled deeply, titled her head to show her slender neck, and whispered in his ear without blocking his eyes. "Me."

Nicholai followed her face with his eyes, seeing the victory and anticipation that was embedded in the expression that she wore. It was as if she knew that she would win whatever she set her eyes on. After all, she was Audrey Gillard. Even if Darius didn't know who she was outside their pack, a lot of other male Alphas did. Nicholai, especially, was one of them.

A smile made Nicholai's lips curl. "You want me to make use of you? What kind of benefit could you even give me, Audrey Gillard? What are you willing to offer?"

"Oh? You want to know what I can offer you?" Audrey moved her head again, this time blocking his line of sight with her beautiful face. Her red lips could already feel his breath on them. "Nicholai, I am aware of what you need. No one who could speak to the Council doesn't know that you, in particular, would need successors. More than ever…"

"I do need successors. What does it have to do with you?" The smile drawing across his lips was becoming more and more sinister.

"Can't you see this, Nicholai Rudolf?" Audrey reached to hold his head with her fingers. A glint flashed across her eyes as she whispered, "I am a powerful female Alpha. I can grant you a successor that could shake the entire world. Not only your rivals will bow down before you… if you have me."

A glass suddenly flew next to Audrey, shocking her from the shrill sound of the impact. She retreated and almost stumbled as her heels struggled to get a good footing. Her angry eyes then shot to the origin of the drinking glass that shattered on the frame that separated the glass and cement. However, her eyes widened as she saw who threw the glass.

With another glass slowly getting juggled by one hand, Darius stared at the two across the lounge. His eyes were certainly filled with loathing, but he had a sinister smile on his face. "Sorry, my hand slipped. The servants told me that you're asking me to deliver drinks to you because you have a guest. I didn't realize that you have the audacity to accept a defeated Alpha in my house."

"Darius, please." Nicholai only laughed as he gracefully slipped away from Audrey's reach. "I intend to meet her for a few reasons. How about… showing you how low she had sunk…?"

"You…" Audrey growled as she turned to face the direction where Nicholai and Darius were. "You two are colluding against me, aren't you? You dared invade my city and destroy my pack for sweet revenge against me! Disgusting creatures!"

"No, most of my reasons don't even include Darius." Nicholai went behind Darius and wrapped his arms around the other, causing Darius to stiffen. The delusional Alpha finally had his red eyes flashing. "However, serving you in such a humiliated and defeated state is a dowry I am willing to give, of course along with all the riches and power that came with the Gillard family."

Nicholai placed his chin on Darius's shoulder. "What do you think, love? Do you like my gift?"