Tempting the Lycan Chairman

My mate, Ethan, abandoned me and got engaged to the daughter of Gavin Landry, the most powerful Lycan chairman in the world.

What's worse, my father was framed and thrown into prison, and Ethan actually took advantage of the situation, threatening me to become his secret mistress!

In my pain and despair, I went to a bar to drown my sorrows, but I unexpectedly ran into Gavin. His gaze on me was burning with intensity.

For the sake of my father and for revenge against Ethan, I decided to seduce him.

---

Today was supposed to be the day my fated mate and I got engaged. But now I'm watching him kiss another woman. Marrying her could make him the future Alpha because she's the daughter of Gavin Landry, the most powerful Lycan chairman in the world.

At the banquet, everyone was blessing the couple, but no one remembered that just two months ago, it was me who was together with Ethan.

As the ceremony was about to end, I was relieved that I would no longer have to endure this torment.

Suddenly, I received a tearful mindlink from my adoptive mother.

"Judy! Please, come home!" She sounded panicked; my mother never panicked.

I no longer cared whether it was improper to leave now and strode out of the venue. My intuition told me that something serious had happened at home.

---

The moment I stepped into the house; I could hear my mother sobbing.

"Judy?" My mother sobbed; I could hear that she was in the kitchen and my heart stuttered at the sound of her broken voice. "Your father was taken away by the Gammas tonight."

My heart fell into my stomach. "What?!" I gasped.

We lived in a decent-sized house; my adoptive father, being a successful businessman and a Delta of the Redmoon pack, had a lot of money.

"He was arrested," she explained. "He made a bad investment for the company, and he ended up losing all the money. He went completely bankrupt and now he owes the pack so much money. Until he pays it, they put him in jail."

"They can't just come and take him away like this," I said, standing to my feet, hardly able to contain my emotions. "Without any warning? That's not fair!"

"They can do whatever they want. The Beta is under the jurisdiction of the Lycans, and it was his decision. Loan sharks are ruthless, and nobody wishes to deal with them. It's easier to just get rid of the problem and right now… your father is the problem."

Before I could say anything more, my phone started to ring. I reached into my bag and pulled it out. I frowned when I saw the name flash across the screen.

"I heard about your father," Ethan's voice was soft as he spoke, and my traitorous heart skipped a beat. I hated how my body responded to him still; it was because of this foolish mate bond. Even though he rejected me, and I accepted it, that didn't mean it severed our bond. It won't be severed until he marks someone else. "I might have a suggestion though. But I'd like to tell you in person. Come outside."

I quickly left the kitchen and walked out of the house. Ethan was leaning against his car with his arms folded across his chest.

Goddess, I hated how good he looked.

I had been in love with him for longer than 2 years. He was my friend, my confidant, my fated mate. When he rejected me, it destroyed everything I had dreamt of.

I wrapped my arms around my body, desperately trying to hold myself together.

"Why are you here? Has your engagement ceremony ended?" I asked him after a long and awkward silence.

"I wanted to talk to you," he replied.

"Why?"

The corner of his lips tipped upwards as he stared at me; I nearly melted under his scrutiny, and I had to shift my gaze to look at the ground.

"Because I can help you," he answered. "Your father's funding chain is broken, and he now owes a lot of money. I know for a fact that he doesn't have that kind of money, especially now that his business has gone under. But I do."

I lifted my gaze to meet him; he was serious.

"Are you saying you'd pay my father's debt?" I asked him.

He nodded.

"Yes," he answered.

"And what would we have to do in return?" I asked, almost afraid to ask.

He smirked, which gave me an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"There is a condition," he confessed. I waited silently for him to continue, my eyes never leaving his. "After I get married, I want you to drop out of school and become my mistress."

I couldn't have heard him correctly; I stared at him with my jaw practically on the ground.

"Excuse me?" I managed to sputter. "You want me to what??"

"Drop out of school and become my mistress. I already have a luxurious home for you to live in. You would never have to want for anything. I'll pay off your father's debt and give you more money than you could dream of."

"How… how could you ask me to do such a thing?" I asked in a choked whisper; tears threatened to spill from my eyes, but I kept them away, not wanting him to see my break.

He stepped closer to me, and I felt rooted to the ground, unable to move away. My wolf was whimpering about his request; she couldn't believe our mate could ask such a thing from us. She was gutted and I hated that she was put in this position.

"Because we've always been so good together, Judy," he said, reaching out and touching my arm gently. "We will always have this strong connection, even if I mark someone else. You and your family would be set for life… all you have to do is say yes…"

He was rubbing his fingers up and down my arms and I felt sick to my stomach. I finally found the strength to step away from him, my body trembling.

"No," I said, meeting his eyes. "I would never become your mistress."

His eyes darkened.

"I'm about to become the Alpha, Judy. You must get with the times. Becoming my mistress would only benefit you and plus, don't you want your father out of jail?"

"I will find another way," I said through my teeth. "If that's all you came here to say, then I've heard enough. You can leave."

He raised his brows as he stared at me. He studied me for a moment longer like he expected me to change his mind at any moment.

"You'll change your mind," he told me as he stepped away from me and towards his car. "And when you do, I'll be here. But until then, your father will remain in prison."

"I'll figure it out," I said to his retreating back. "We don't need you, Ethan!"

He chuckled as he opened his car door and then he turned back to gaze into my eyes.

"In order to get him out of prison, you'll need at least 5 million dollars. When you realize that there's no other option, you'll come to your senses. I'm sure of it."

Without another word, he got into his car. I watched as he drove away, disappearing into the night.

It was only when he disappeared that I allowed myself to fall to the ground. Tears streamed down my cheeks before I could stop them.

5 million dollars?

How was I going to come up with that kind of money?

---

In the following days, I was running around trying to raise money, but to little avail.

I wandered aimlessly down the street, and before I knew it, I had stopped in front of a bar.

On an impulse, I walked in and began to drink excessively. I didn't know what else I could do but drown my sorrows.

After I had lost count of how many drinks I'd had, a deep voice sounded from nearby.

"Get me a whiskey and a martini for the lady," The man stepped closer to me. "What's got the beautiful lady in such a bad mood?"

"My mate abandoned me," I said, speaking the truth.

"It seems your mate has poor eyesight," he replied.

I smiled sarcastically. I couldn't understand how my life had turned out this way. How could my destined partner treat me like this?

When I saw him kissing another woman at what was supposed to be our engagement ceremony, when he looked at me cruelly and said he wanted me to be his secret mistress, I couldn't help but wonder—do people suddenly turn rotten, or was he always like this?

I wanted to laugh at his ridiculousness, but I also wanted to cry. He was so sweet at one point; I spent more than 2 years loving this man. Now, everything he did made me feel like I had never truly known him.

The bartender placed the drinks in front of me, and I eagerly took a large sip.

"Thank you for the drink, and also, thank you for your comfort," I said to the man.

I had drunk enough and started to get down from the stool, except my blouse snagged on the corner of the counter and just as I heard a tearing sound, I began to fall to the ground. I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the impact, but it never came.

Instead, I felt strong arms wrapping around my body, lifting me into the air. I opened my eyes and peeked up at the man who caught me, and my breath hitched.

He was so handsome.

He held me with ease as if I weighed nothing and I could tell from the feeling of his arms around me that he was muscular. He smiled down at me and a dimple appeared on his right cheek.

I wanted to lick that dimple.

"Madam, are you falling for me?" He asked teasingly.

I stared at him for a heartbeat longer before I squinted my eyes at him, seeing what he did there.

"You're a funny one, aren't you?"

He grinned. Then he looked at my shirt and immediately frowned.

"Let me take you to my suite upstairs," he said, making my heart skip a beat.

"What?" I said in barely a whisper.

His eyes met mine and I got lost in their beauty for a moment.

Goddess, his good looks were sinful.

"Your shirt is ripped. I have one you can wear upstairs in my VIP suite," he explained.

I blinked a couple of times and gave a nervous chuckle.

"Oh, alright. Thank you," I managed to sputter.

He turned to the bartender.

"Charge our drinks to my suite," he ordered.

"Yes, sir."

I allowed the man to carry me out of the room.

His arms were so warm that I found myself resting my head against his broad chest, breathing in his minty scent. My wolf was practically purring in my mind. She'd been quiet for most of the evening while she licked the wounds the broken mate bond had caused. But right now, it was as if she had forgotten she was heartbroken.

"Take off your shirt," he instructed once we were in the suite. He had released me and was walking to the closet.

"Excuse me?" I squeaked.

"So, you can put on a new shirt," he explained.

"Right," I breathed.

I lifted my ripped shirt over my head and threw it onto the bed, leaving me in only my innerwear from the waist up. Once he found a shirt, he turned around to face me, and his entire body froze as his eyes trailed down my body. I was too busy checking him out to notice him staring at me but the longer I stared at him, the more I started to recognize him.

Then, realization struck me, and I gasped.

"It's you…" I breathed, taking a step back.

His eyes shifted upward and met mine; his brow arched.

"You know me?" He asked.

"I know of you," I clarified.

The corner of his lips tipped upward as he walked towards me, slowly, as if he were stalking his prey. I could practically hear the sounds of my heartbeat.

"And what do you know of me?"

"Only what I've heard…" I admitted.

"And what have you heard?"

"You're Gavin Landry, Lycan Chairman. You're a heartbreaker. You have a new woman each week and you never sleep with the same woman twice."

He raised his brows.

"Is that so?" He asked. "Tell me more about myself."

What should I tell him? Should I tell him I know he's going to be my ex-mate's father-in-law? Or should I tell him how I figured out his usually low-key identity?

His footsteps, approaching me one by one, were like the beat of a drum, pounding wildly in my chest. I was starting to panic.

Just as he was only an inch away from me, a dangerous thought rose in my mind.

If I were to get involved with Ethan's future father-in-law, just think about how he would react. His expression would be priceless, right?

Especially considering my father's precarious situation now, who else could help me out but Gavin?

Why not seek a more powerful protection instead of relying on Ethan, who has hurt me? In the end, my rationality was overpowered.

Slowly, I leaned in close to Gavin's ear, licked the edge of it, and in a voice full of temptation, whispered, "I also know... you're reacting to me."

His body tensed at my bold move. For a moment, I wondered if I'd gone too far. Then his large hands gripped my waist, pulling me flush against his hard chest.

"Dangerous game you're playing, little wolf," he murmured, his voice dropping to a husky growl that sent shivers down my spine.

"I like danger," I replied, surprised by my own confidence. The alcohol had lowered my inhibitions, but there was something else too—a primal attraction I couldn't deny.

Gavin's eyes darkened as he studied my face. "You're different from the others," he said thoughtfully. "Most women throw themselves at me for my money or power. But you... there's fire in you."

His thumb traced my lower lip, and I fought back a whimper. My wolf was practically purring, urging me to submit to this powerful alpha. It confused me—she had been devastated by Ethan's betrayal just days ago, and now she was practically begging for Gavin's touch.

"Maybe I want your money and power too," I said, trying to maintain some control over the situation. "Don't assume you know me."

He laughed then, a rich sound that warmed me from the inside. "Fair enough." His hand moved to cup my cheek. "But I'd like to know you better, Judy."

I froze. "How do you know my name?"

Something flickered across his face—was it guilt? But it disappeared so quickly I wondered if I'd imagined it.

"You're to be my daughter's mate's ex," he said casually. "I make it my business to know everything about anyone connected to my family."

The mention of Ethan and his fiancée cooled my desire instantly. I took a step back, suddenly aware of my near-nakedness. "So you knew who I was the whole time?"

Gavin handed me his shirt, which I quickly slipped on. It engulfed me, smelling of his intoxicating scent.

"Yes," he admitted without shame. "But I didn't expect to find you so... captivating."

I crossed my arms defensively. "I should go."

"Your father is in prison," Gavin said abruptly.

I stared at him, shocked. "You know about that too?"

"Five million dollars is a lot of money," he continued, moving to pour himself a drink from the suite's bar. "Especially for someone like you."

My anger flared. "Someone like me?"

"A college student with no wealthy relatives," he clarified, taking a sip of amber liquid. "It would take you decades to earn that sum legitimately."

"Are you offering to help me?" I asked cautiously, hope and suspicion warring within me.

Gavin's eyes gleamed in the dim light of the suite. "Perhaps. But as you said, I might want something in return."

My heartbeat quickened. This was exactly what I'd hoped for when I made my bold move, yet now that the possibility was real, I hesitated. Was I really prepared to do this?

"What would you want from me?" My voice came out steadier than I felt.

He approached me again, this time stopping at a respectful distance. "A week. Give me one week of your time, exclusively. After that, I'll clear your father's debt."

"A week to do what exactly?" I pressed, needing clarity despite the obvious implication.

"To get to know you," he said simply. "The rest is up to you. I don't force women into my bed, Judy. If you come to me, it will be your choice."

I considered his offer. One week with him in exchange for my father's freedom and five million dollars. It was a better deal than becoming Ethan's secret mistress for life.

"And what would Ethan think about his future father-in-law consorting with his rejected mate?" I asked, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice.

Gavin's smile was predatory. "That, my dear, is entirely the point, isn't it?"

I couldn't help but match his smile. He understood me better than I thought.

"When do we start?" I asked.

"Tomorrow," he said decisively. "I'll send a car for you at noon. Pack for a week at my estate." He took a business card from his pocket and wrote something on the back before handing it to me. "My private number. In case you change your mind."

I took the card, our fingers brushing. The contact sent another jolt of electricity through me.

"I won't change my mind," I assured him.

As I left the suite, still wearing his shirt over my clothes, I felt a curious mixture of emotions—anticipation, fear, excitement, and a strange sense of rightness that I couldn't explain.

My wolf, who had been so broken just hours before, was now practically dancing with excitement. Be careful, I warned her. This man is dangerous.

But as I stepped into the cool night air, I couldn't help but smile. Dangerous was exactly what I needed right now.