The bar

Dimitri:

As I watched Angel enter with a man, I realized how distant she seemed from me now. They exchanged smiles, and somehow, she offered him a handkerchief, which he kindly refused.

Luna Haizel, noticing my distant gaze, furrowed her brow in confusion and lightly nudged me.

"What's bothering you?" she asked, trying to capture my attention. I briefly glanced at her, shaking my head to dismiss my concerns.

"Why are you still here?" I responded with another question, displaying my irritation.

"My husband is in a hotel with his ex-wife, do you really think I should leave?" she retorted, her sarcasm making me roll my eyes.

"Yes, and I expect you not to speak to me that way again when I ask a clear question. I asked for some time, Haizel!" I retorted, the frustration evident in my voice. Luna Haizel took a deep breath, clearly trying to stay calm. It was irritating to see her so upset; I had given specific instructions, which she chose to ignore.

"Dimitri, I am your wife, not a mistress to be treated this way. I haven’t done anything wrong..." she began to defend herself.

"I’m not interested in what you did or didn’t do. When I give an order, I expect it to be followed. Now, leave this hotel and return to the pack. Antonia shouldn’t be left alone for so long," I ordered, checking something on my phone for a moment.

Luna Haizel seemed to want to argue, but instead, she sat down next to me, taking my hand. I raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Dimitri, you know Antonia isn’t alone. We can stay here together tonight. The pack can look after her, and the nannies and tutors are around," she argued softly, trying to persuade me.

I looked at her hand on mine before standing up abruptly from the bench where we were sitting in the lobby.

"You can stay if you want. But I have things to do and I won’t be spending time with you. So don’t expect anything intimate," I said coldly, not waiting for a response. "Maybe you should enjoy the night at the hotel. Use the spas, they might be useful for you."

I headed to the bar, needing a drink to clear my mind. Upon arrival, I found Mark, a long-time acquaintance, sitting there. He greeted me with an ironic smile.

"Alpha Dimitri, what a surprise to see you here," he said, extending his hand. "Tired of domestic life, or has your wife brought you trouble again?"

"You always have a way with words, Mark. Luna Haizel is here with me. There comes a point in marriage when your wife insists on following you everywhere," I replied, trying to keep the conversation light.

"If Luna Haizel has reached that point, I wish you luck," he commented.

"What brings you here?" I changed the subject, wanting to avoid discussions about marital problems.

"Paulyn saw me with another woman. She wasn’t pleased and is making a scene. I chose to ignore her until she calms down. Usually, a gift does the trick, but she needs to calm down first," he explained, and I nodded, familiar with his ways of resolving conflicts.

Then, the man who had been walking with Angel earlier entered the bar.

"My son, Locke," he introduced, with visible pride. I kept my expression neutral, but internally, I was calculating. "Locke, this is my friend, Alpha Dimitri..."

The casual encounter might have seemed trivial, but in the complex web of personal relations and power, every interaction had the potential to trigger significant events.

Locke extended his hand, a courteous smile on his lips. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Alpha Dimitri."

I accepted the handshake, sizing up the young Alpha before me. His presence was more imposing than I expected for someone his age. "The pleasure is mine. I've heard very good things about you."

Mark interjected with an ironic smile. "Don't let him fool you with modesty, Locke is one of the most astute Alphas in the region."

Locke laughed, a sound that carried a certain depth. "Well, we try to keep things interesting, don't we? What brings you to the hotel, Dimitri? Pack business or just a necessary getaway?"

The question was casual, but the implications were clear. He knew something, perhaps more than he should. I decided to keep my cards close to my chest. "A bit of both. Family issues that need a different scenery to be resolved."

**One hour later.**

"Wait, what do you mean you're retiring?" I asked Mark, shaking my head in disbelief. The fact that the man was stepping down from his position was the last thing I expected, especially knowing how hard he had worked to build everything he had today.

"There's a lot for me to take care of now. I want to take a break and settle down with my family. Sabrina deserves to see more of me, and Locke is old enough to take on the responsibilities. He's been trained for this, and I believe he can handle everything," he said, and I frowned, shaking my head in disbelief.

"Are you sure you're okay, Mark? Don't get me wrong, your son will be as valuable a partner as you are. We'll continue from where you left off, but are you alright? Is there a specific reason why you're leaving everything you worked so hard for?" I asked, concerned.

Mark smiled. "You know, there comes a time when a man gets tired of the race, the fights, and the enemies. While I know Locke will face significant challenges, I'm confident he's capable of overcoming them." He said, looking at Locke. The young man's eyes were on me, but he smiled upon hearing his father, soaking in the praise, letting it sink into his mind.

"Understandable." I said, choosing to respect the man's decision in front of his son. I doubted he would tell me everything in his presence.

I looked at Locke before nodding, watching as the young man smiled at me.

"Well, let's hope this partnership brings out the best in us," I concluded.