Chapter 17.

Her features were much softer in sleep. She looked peaceful. Her long dark lashes resting peacefully on her cheekbones and her lips slightly curved in a pout. Aidas wanted nothing more than to curl up into the curve of her body, but he restrained himself. He didn't want to wake her.
No, she must never know that he came around, or else she would freak out. And if there was something he didn't want, he didn't want her distrusting him any more than she already did.

He gently dropped her phone back on her bedside drawer. The spyware had been installed, he would be able to get her location wherever she was and track her calls. Aidas didn't want her to panic or get mad at him for taking such drastic decisions but her protection was necessary. Especially when dealing with a man like Hunt Adler.

He clenched his jaw angrily, just thinking about Hunt made his blood boil.

When Lacey had told him she was on a date with him, at first he had been impressed that she was getting closer to him. But slowly he started to think about the whole situation. With the murders going on and Hunt Adler and his pack being right in the middle of the chaos, Aidas was beginning to feel stupid for inserting Lacey in such drama.

Especially since Hunt could not even protect his own girlfriend from being murdered.


He paced around her room for a while, watching Lacey sleep. He wondered if he was doing the right things sometimes. And he also wondered why he couldn't get her off his mind. It was one of the reasons he had avoided her calls ever since her date with Hunt. He needed time to clear his mind.

Aidas Vladimir did not date humans, it was his rule. Even though Lacey might have not been a human, he still considered her as one. And he didn't particularly feel comfortable about a fragile human girl taking space in his heart.

Lacey stirred in her sleep and Aidas paused. She mumbled a few incoherent words and he almost started laughing before he cautioned himself.  He took that as his cue to leave.

He would see her another day.




When Lacey arrived at work there was already a coffee on her desk. Which was strange because she had gotten to work so early even Donna wasn't at her desk. There was no note to let her know who the buyer was yet one sniff told her it was her favourite, hazelnut latte.

She looked around the office again, she really couldn't fathom who could have done it, she wasn't too close to anyone in the office for them to get her a cup of coffee so early in the morning.

She sank into her chair and peered around. Hardly anyone in the executive floor had arrived and no-one even looked her way or acknowledged her at all. She turned her attention back to the cup. It's a venti, tall, frothy and still hot. She wanted to resist it until she knew the giver, but without a conscious thought it was in her hand and the first milky sip crept over her taste-buds and down her throat.

"Enjoying the coffee?"

Hunt's voice brought her out of her reverie and her eyes widened.

"Good morning!"

She said as she set the coffee down smiling at him.

"Did you do this?"

She asked incredulously as she pointed to the coffee. There was no way in hell he could have gotten her a coffee. Lacey thought as she started at him. How did he even know her favourite coffee?

She asked herself.

Hunt shrugged.

"I just figured you'd need a little peace offering because of what I did three days ago."

Lacey raised her eyebrow.

"Oh! You mean ending our date abruptly and not offering an explanation?"

She asked and Hunt nodded.

"Yes! That one. I admit I was wrong for that. And one cup of coffee isn't going to make up for it but maybe we can finish that date this night. What do you say?"

Hunt asked as he leaned on he table with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Lacey couldn't help smiling.

She was going to do her best to milk the situation though.

As much as she could.

She folded her arms and smirked at him.

"Well... only if you'd tell me why you left. I mean, what was the emergency?"

Hunt's smile faltered for a bit but he kept it up.

"Sure. I'll tell you everything you need to know."

He said and Lacey looked relieved. If only she knew he was lying.

"Alright then. Tonight it is."

"Great! We'll leave right after work. My chef makes a mean ramen noodle soup."

"Oh! I love ramen."

Lacey commented and Hunt nodded as he started walking away.

"Wait!"

She called back as she remembered the coffee. There was no way Hunt would have known that her favourite coffee was hazelnut latte. She needed to know how he found out.

"How did you know this is my favourite coffee?"

She asked and Hunt shrugged.

"I don't know. It was a wild guess."

He replied.

"Well, thank you for the coffee!"

"Always."

Hunt waved as he started walking towards his office. Of course, he had lied again, the only reason he knew what her favourite coffee was was because he used his super hearing to listen to a conversation between her and Donna a few days ago and she had mentioned it.

He rarely used his super hearing to eavesdrop unless he really needed to but he had done it out of genuine curiosity.




After work, Hunt and Lacey leave together. And after an hour's drive, they arrive at Hunt's family manor. It was a huge mansion. And Lacey was blown away by it. Unlike Aidas's castle that had been dark and scary to look at, Hunt's family manor was the complete opposite.

The ornate sandstone was almost too pretty to touch the earth, almost as fancier than a palace. The windows were oversized, mullioned and almost cathedral-like.

As they both walked inside the manor, Lacey fell in love with the decor.

"This is beautiful!"

She whispered and Hunt smiled as he watched her take it all in.

"Perks of being a Councilman's son I guess."

He shrugged and Lacey chuckled.

"You live here alone?"

She clarified and he shook his head.

"No, I live here with my parents. But I only see them if I cross a dozen hallways so I guess you can say I live alone."

"I have a full wing to myself."

Hunt said pointing to his side of the manor and Lacey's jaw dropped. A full wing?

The manor was beautiful, from the oak floors and antique furniture bathed in the flicker of yellow candlelight to the many candelabras that held them.

Hand in hand, they both walked to his where he stayed. They spent the next hour eating dinner and talking. The Chef already had their dinner ready a few minutes before they arrived.

After dinner they both moved to the living room with glasses of wine in their hands.

"Don't you feel alone here sometimes?"

Lacey asked and Hunt shrugged.

"I'm barely home. Can't say I feel much when all I do when I get here is sleep."

Lacey rolled her eyes.

"You're not always in the office. So if you're not here then where are you?"

She asked and he shrugged.

"I guess you'll find out soon enough."

"Hnmmm."

Lacey thought as she eyed him wearily. When it came to questions Hunt was slippery. He evaded them with ease. She didn't know if she should be worried about it. But he was definitely hiding something.

"Oh! About that night! Why did you leave abruptly? You said you'd to tell me about it."

Hunt sighed.

"I was honestly hoping you'd forget about it."

"Well, a deal is a deal."

Lacey's shrugged and Hunt gave her a look.

"I lost someone yesterday. Not a close friend but a family friend. That's why I had to leave."

"Oh! I'm sorry about that."

Lacey gently placed her hand on his shoulder. She almost felt bad for asking but he didn't look too bothered about it.

"It's okay. Really, it is."

He murmured.

There was a brief silence after that.

After a while, Hunt's eyes started wandering across her body. There was a lazy expression in his eyes... Something that made him seem more seductive.

It was something new, something that wasn't there before.

"So..."

Hunt said slowly and Lacey raised her eyebrow.

"So?"

He placed his hand on her knee and left it there for a second, testing her reaction.

She smiled at him and he held his breath. There was something sweet about the anticipation, it made her feel safe. He was making sure she wanted it too.

He leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

"I hope this is okay."

He whispered seductively in her ear with a voice that sent tingles down her spine.

Lacey smiled and kissed him back.
His soft lips moved expertly against hers.

He was a careful kisser, slowly exploring the limits of her comfort. But it was not long before his tongue started teasing her.

His palm slid up her thigh, his caress gentle but persistent.

And finally a desperate moan escaped her lips and he lost control. A low feral groan came out from his mouth and their kiss turned hungry and urgent. And he eagerly pulled at her clothes.

"Tell me, do you want to go further?"

He whispered huskily in her ear and Lacey considered her options.

She wasn't ready. No, she wasn't ready to go further with him, no matter how badly her body wanted him.

She slowly disentangled herself from his arms smiling politely.

"Maybe another time. I think that should be all for now." She said and Hunt nodded.

"Of course. I understand."

Lacey looked at the time on the wall and decided that she wanted to go home. She had had quite a day and she needed to be alone. Even if it was going to be for a few hours.

"It's getting late..."

"Yes, it is. I hope you don't mind a ride home?"

Lacey nodded appreciatively.

"I don't mind a ride."

"Great! Let me grab my keys."

Together they both walked out of the manor, as they neared the foyer with the two of them deep in a conversation, the sound of glass shattering on the floor startled them.

Lacey turned and found a tall man in a suit staring at them with shock evident all over his features.

But the sound of glass shattering, where had it come from?

It was from the maid a few feet to them watching them as they both came down from the stairs. She nervously mumbled a sorry as she scurried away.

Hunt sighed as he put his hands in his pockets.

"Good evening father. This is my date, Candy Holmes."

He turned to Lacey who was looking just as confused as the man.

"Candy, meet my father."

Lacey smiled nervously.

"Nice to meet you Mr Adler."

The man was still transfixed to a spot.

He blinked once. Twice.

"Nice to meet you too."

He said as he started walked right past them and up the stairs leaving Hunt and Lacey confused. With the looks she was getting from the servant, Lacey could almost guess what was going on.

"It's because I look like her right?"

She asked and Hunt nodded.

"Yes. Don't worry about them. Let's get you home."