CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54 MORNING REGRETS OR SOMETHING ELSE?

Draven’s POV

I stumbled through the party hall,my vision getting worse with each step. Was yesterday’s hangover still affecting me? But that didn’t make sense,I’d only had one drink. Alaric was trying to warn me about something,but his presence felt distant,like he was behind a thick fog.

I needed to find Ryan urgently. The room tilted dangerously as I searched the crowd,faces becoming indistinguishable blurs. My Alpha strength should have metabolized whatever alcohol I’d consumed,but instead,I felt weaker by the second.

Suddenly,I felt slender arms snake around my waist and caught a whiff of overpowering floral perfume that made my stomach turn. Before I could react,Ella Howard was pressing herself against me,her voice grating in my ear.

"Alpha Draven,you don’t look well. Let me help you,"she purred,her grip surprisingly strong as she guided me through the ballroom.

I tried to protest,but my tongue felt heavy in my mouth. "Need... to find... Ryan," I managed to slur.

"Oh,I’ll take care of you much better than Beta Ryan could," she said,dragging me toward the exit while smiling and nodding at guests we passed. Alaric was howling in protest,but I couldn’t access enough strength to break away from her.

As soon as we cleared the crowd,Ella pushed me against the wall in the corridor and pressed her mouth against mine. The taste of her lipstick made me gag,and I tried to push her away,but my arms felt like they were filled with lead.

"Stop," I growled weakly,but she ignored me,calling the elevator with one hand while keeping the other firmly around my waist.

"Alpha Draven,you’re obviously unwell. Let’s go to your office where you can lie down," she said loudly enough for anyone passing to hear. "I’ll take good care of you."

My mind was foggy,but alarm bells were ringing.

"Find Ryan... tell him..." I mumbled.

"Of course," she said sweetly as she helped me into the elevator. "I’ll find Beta Ryan right after I get you settled."

I leaned heavily against the elevator wall,fighting to stay conscious. Through my haze,I was aware of Ella’s hands wandering across my chest,her fingers working at my shirt buttons.

"Don’t," I tried to protest.

"Shh,you’ve wanted this for so long," she whispered,pressing herself against me. "I can give you what your little slutty assistant wouldn’t dare to."

I felt a flash of anger at her mention of Caroline,but couldn’t muster the strength to act on it. The elevator doors opened,and Ella practically dragged me to my office,fumbling with my security card to unlock the door.

The last thing I remember was being pushed onto the couch,Ella’s hands all over me,unbuttoning my shirt and reaching for my belt.

I woke up with a pounding headache and instantly froze at the feeling of bare skin against mine. My eyes snapped open to find Ella Howard naked beside me,her body marked with what looked like fresh love bites.

Horror and disgust flooded through me as I realized I was completely naked too. The room reeked of sex. "No,no,no," I muttered,desperately trying to remember anything from last night.

Alaric was just as confused and horrified. Neither of us had any memory of what happened.

"Morning,my Alpha," Ella purred,stretching like a satisfied cat. "You were amazing last night. So passionate,so dominant..." She traced a finger across my chest.

I jerked away from her touch,stumbling out of bed. "What did you do?" I growled,my voice shaking with rage and panic.

"Don’t act like you don’t remember," she smiled,sitting up to show off her marked body. "You claimed me completely. Said I was meant to be your Luna,your mate. That I was so much better than that frigid assistant of yours..."

"Don’t you dare speak about Caroline," I growled,backing away and grabbing my shirt from the floor.

"Oh baby,don’t be like that," Ella purred,standing up and reaching for me. "The powerful Alpha Thorne will have his Luna soon. When should we announce our mating ceremony?"

"Luna?" I backed away from her touch,feeling sick. "Is that what you think this is about?"

Ella’s eyes hardened. "Don’t pretend you didn’t want it. You’re mine now,Draven Thorne. The mighty Alpha finally spent a night with his Luna."

I laughed darkly. "You think one drunk night makes you my Luna? I can’t even remember what happened." The rage inside me was building. "Get dressed. Now."

"You can’t dismiss me like some common women," she hissed,slowly pulling on her dress. "After what we did last night-"

"What we did?" I cut her off. "At most it was drunk sex. And we both know you weren’t exactly pure before me."

The moment she was dressed,I grabbed her arm and dragged her to the elevator,ignoring her protests. Inside,I pushed her against the wall,my Alpha presence filling the small space.

"Listen carefully," I growled,my eyes flashing. "This means nothing. You’re not my Luna,you never will be. If anything happened,it was just a drunken mistake. And if you try to make this into something it’s not,I will make sure you regret it. Is that clear?"

"You’ll regret this," she spat as the elevator doors opened to the lobby. "My father won’t stand for this treatment."

"Your father will be lucky if he still has a job by the end of the week," I pushed her out,nodding to the security guard on duty. "Daniel,please escort Ms. Howard from the building and revoke her access credentials. She’s no longer welcome here."

"Yes,Alpha," Daniel replied,moving quickly to Ella’s side as she began shouting threats.

I rode the elevator back up,leaning heavily against the wall. Once inside my office,I locked the door and immediately called Ryan through our pack mind-link.

"Ryan,I need you. Emergency." My voice was strained even through the link.

"On my way. What happened? You disappeared last night." Ryan’s concerned reply came instantly.

"I’ll explain when you get here. Bring Joseph. Meet at my apartment in thirty minutes." I couldn’t face staying in this office a moment longer.

"Coming now."

I grabbed my jacket and phone,then took the private elevator to the parking garage. I needed a shower desperately. Ella’s perfume was all over me,and the thought made me sick. Alaric was pacing in my mind,both of us drowning in shame and regret over what might have happened last night.

All I could think about was Caroline. How could I face her after this? We were just on a break,and now this... Would she ever forgive me if she found out? The thought of losing her forever because of one drunk night with Ella Howard made me want to throw up.