The Supreme Alpha

Author's note: This is from Seraphina's point of view

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When Lazarus asked what's in it for him if he helps us with awakening Duke's wolf, my stomach formed painful knots.

I knew that he wouldn't do it out of the goodness of his heart, but I still hoped that he won't take advantage of the situation. I was wrong.

A man like Lazarus doesn't need money or things that money can buy.

This was about him showing superiority and I had a feeling that this will be directed at Duke.

Werewolves keep their grudges and Lazarus never got over the fact that I am with Duke. In his mind, if not for Duke, I would be with him, and there is nothing I can do to convince him otherwise.

And there is also a matter of their fight at Luca's birthday which ended in a tie. A guy like Lazarus is used to winning, and unfortunately, so is Duke. 

I was afraid to ask, but I had to speak up.  "Tell me what you want in exchange, and we will see if we can meet your demands."

Lazarus cocked an eyebrow, his keen gaze not leaving me, not even for a second.

"A date.", Lazarus said, and I couldn't believe he said that with a straight face.

I could feel Duke stiffening next to me and I gave his hand a squeeze, hoping that will be enough to prevent him from jumping over the table to strangle Lazarus.

"You want a date with me in exchange for helping us?", I asked, just to make sure I understood him right.

Lazarus shook his head. "No, no, princess. You are asking me to give you my time, my strength, and my unique ability. How can one date be an equal exchange?"

I couldn't believe him. "You want more than one?"

Lazarus chuckled. "I want a date with you so that we can discuss the conditions."

Duke bolted to his feet. "You are out of your mind!"

I really thought that he will jump over the table at Lazarus, and I gripped Duke's hand with more force.

Lazarus lifted his hands, palms toward Duke. "You are the ones who called me here and asked for my services. If this is not acceptable, we will end the talk here."

"We called you here to talk.", Duke squeezed through his teeth angrily. "You are over the line. Do you really expect my Serina to go with you on a date? Over my dead body!"

"That can be arranged.", Lazarus said calmly. "Your dead body…"

"Laz!", I interrupted whatever he wanted to say next. "Can you be reasonable?"

"Reasonable?", Lazarus asked like he had no idea what I am talking about. "Listen, princess, you owe me this date for a long time."

Somehow, I knew that he will go there. Why did I think that he will let it go?

My expression told him that I knew exactly what he was talking about, but Lazarus still continued, "I remember you agreeing to a date. I booked the whole restaurant so that we can share a meal undisturbed. I came to pick you up with flowers and chocolates, but then you got the news that certain Drago Orsini is sleeping around and that he fathered a child, and you fell into a week-long coma, so we had to postpone it. I was a gentleman by allowing you to recover, but we didn't get to it. I am only asking what you owe me from before this man…" Lazarus looked at Duke like he is something dirty. "…spoiled our plans. It's just sharing a meal and maybe some dancing. It doesn't require spending the night together unless you are interested." Lazarus ended with a smirk.

The silence that blanketed the dining room was intense.

I was confident that Duke will punch Lazarus, or curse, or object… something, anything. But he just stood there and glared at him.

"Is that it?", Duke said in an icy tone, making everyone look at him.

I couldn't believe my ears. Was Duke agreeing in my place that I will go on a date with Lazarus? Shouldn't I decide on that?

"Are you serious?", I asked.

Duke looked at me. "It's just dinner and maybe some dancing if you feel like it. Sharing a meal is not a big deal and he can't force you to more than that." Duke turned to look at Lazarus. "Correct?"

Lazarus's eyebrows were so high that they nearly reached his hairline. He was equally shocked by Duke's words, but he still responded, "Of course. I will never force Serina to do anything against her will."

"Unless she is about to pass out and you sneak a kiss.", Calista chirped.

I couldn't believe her. She was quiet so far, why couldn't she continue like that? Waah! That kiss was another secret I told her and she blurted it out. I really need to learn to keep my mouth shut.

"You did what?", Duke snapped while looking at Lazarus.

Lazarus looked at me guiltily. "I was out of line. I apologized."

This was getting out of hand. Before anyone blurts anything else that might start a mass fight, I tugged Duke's hand, urging him to sit. With him standing at the head of the table, everyone was tense.

"Are you sure about this?", I asked him when he sat next to me.

"If it's up to me, he wouldn't be here.", Duke responded curtly. "But you said that we need him, and you are the boss, so… treat this as a meal while discussing business. You had plenty of those. I just want you to promise me one thing."

"What?"

"If he tries anything funny, show no mercy. If you don't kill him, I will. I don't care how much value he brings to the success of our operation. You come first. Without you, none of that matters.", Duke said with all the seriousness in the world.

"OK.", I agreed reluctantly.

I didn't think that this dinner will bring anything good. It was obviously Lazarus taking advantage of the situation, and I had no intention of coddling his ego. But Duke was right. It's only a meal. I can do it. 

I turned to Lazarus and saw him grinning at me. 

"Excellent! I will let you know when I will pick you up."

"No.", Duke rejected Lazarus. "For security reasons, I want at least twenty-four hours heads-up where you will be dining. Pick if you want lunch or dinner and if you want to dance, ensure that music is available at that place. You can't change locations and keep privacy in mind."

Lazarus sneered. "Anything else?"

Duke had one more condition, "It needs to happen within the next three days."

Lazarus frowned. "Why the time limit?" 

I responded, "Because Fynn will be here in five days. By then, we should know if you are participating or not."

"Fynn?", Lazarus asked, and his eyes moved to Sergio. "General from the Bluemoon pack?"

I confirmed. "Yes."

Lazarus was visibly displeased. "Why didn't you tell me that he will be involved? Is there someone else participating?"

It seems that Lazarus doesn't like Fynn either.

Considering that Fynn greeted Sergio with a punch in his face, I could assume that Lazarus will get a similar welcome, but Lazarus is not a weakling, so they will probably erupt in a fistfight. I was not looking forward to it.

"Don't make it sound like we are concealing anything from you.", I said. "You are the one who started setting demands instead of asking about the procedure…" And then I told him that Fynn will also be there and that Sergio will give them some boosts that will grant a certain dose of resistance in front of the aura of the Supreme Alpha. There is no guarantee to what degree it will work, but chances are rather good that Fynn and Lazarus will be able to resist the command of Duke's wolf.

…

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Somehow, the lunch ended without casualties.

Lazarus went into his room, saying that he will make some calls to reserve a venue for our date.

He loved saying that 'date' word, pissing Duke off, but Duke only glared at him, and I couldn't believe that Duke was actually so cool about it. I had a feeling that I was missing something important.

"Serina", Calista called. "Can we have a word?"

"Sure", I responded, and the two of us went into the study.

I assumed that she will want to know more about Duke. After all, I revealed that he is actually Mateo Testa, Damiano's son. It's a big deal.

What I didn't expect was her question, "What happened to Aldi?"

I swallowed a mouthful of air. "What makes you think that something happened to him?"

Calista cocked an eyebrow at me. "I usually mind my business and he minds his. We stay out of each other's hair and that's how we coexist. But if your boyfriend is Damiano's son, and you are planning to awaken his wolf, Aldi wouldn't want to miss that no matter on what expedition he went."

She was right. My father wouldn't want to miss it.

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