Chapter 629: As Badly as They Do

Hayley’s POV:

I slowly approached him, a smile curving on my lips as I said, “From now on, you don’t need to be the middleman between Odessa and me anymore.”

“Will you come with me?” I asked, following Hera’s eager encouragement. I extended my hand, offering him the invitation.

“I promise I won’t treat you as badly as they do.”

Benjamin remained quiet for a moment, his face—once tight with tension—softening. The usual powerful Alpha aura around him seemed to fade. He smiled at me, amusement sparkling in his eyes, and gently ruffled my hair, treating me like a child. “Alright then, I guess I’ll reluctantly be your ‘Beta.’”

I shook my head playfully, mimicking a mischievous pup. Suddenly, I was full of energy, jumping up to wrap my arms around his neck and hang onto him like a sloth.

“Let’s go, my Beta. Let’s head home.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He chuckled and played along before lifting me with ease, walking toward the door. It wasn’t until we reached the car that he set me down.

As I finally began to settle, Hera stirred within me, her energy boiling over with impatience, eager to take control of my body and mate with him. I barely managed to keep her at bay, and just as Benjamin sat next to me, my mind flooded with vivid, intimate images. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him, feeling embarrassed by the thoughts racing through my head.

Benjamin, sensing my discomfort, started the car and then turned to face me. He studied me for a moment before bursting into laughter. “Heh, weren’t you just so bold a second ago? Now you’re all shy?”

“Shut up!” I blurted out, instinctively reaching to cover his mouth.

He paused, then leaned into my palm, pressing his face there as he kissed me passionately, holding the kiss for what felt like an eternity before pulling back to settle back into his seat.

I sat there, replaying the kiss in my mind, feeling the heat spread across my body. The spot where his lips had touched mine still tingled with warmth. That man—he sure knew how to tease.

Benjamin, though, appeared unfazed. His tone turned serious as he shifted the conversation. “So, where are we headed now? Should I take you home?”

“Your kissing skills are impressive,” I muttered under my breath.

“What?” Benjamin turned his head toward me, his posture suggesting he was ready for another kiss.

With my lips still sore from the first one, I quickly tried to change the subject. “Nothing! Just drive me to…”

“You have a meeting or something?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Not me,” I answered. “You’ll see when we get there. Just drive!”

At Riverview Lounge:

Henry arrived a little earlier than expected. About 30 minutes passed before a man walked into the room, his face marked by rough, intimidating features, with a scar running across the bridge of his nose. He made a direct path toward Henry and sat down across from him.

Henry, barely able to contain his excitement, was visibly thrilled. This was his first time meeting someone from the SI Organization face-to-face.

“Where’s Claudio?” the man asked in a cold, emotionless tone.

“Well, not quite yet,” Henry said with a grin. “The person who knows where he is hasn’t arrived yet.”

The man slowly raised his head, eyeing Henry with a look that mixed disbelief and suspicion. “Are you trying to mess with me?”

“Of course not,” Henry replied quickly, picking up two glasses of freshly poured liquor and walking toward him. He handed one glass to the man. “SI is an organization many people dream of joining. I’m not about to ruin my own future. Have a drink. It won’t be much longer.”

The man hesitated but finally took the glass and raised it to his lips. However, just as the glass was about to touch his mouth, the man froze, his entire body locking up. Slowly, he set the drink back down on the table, his face darkening with a dangerous expression.

“What kind of game are you playing?” His voice held an unmistakable edge.

“What do you mean?” Henry frowned, beginning to lose his patience. He turned to walk away, holding the empty glass. “You don’t even respect me, but you still came to meet me?”

“I didn’t realize a little brat like you had the guts to try something with someone from the SI Organization.”

“Watch your mouth. You should know better than to speak to me like that. I’m a high-ranking werewolf,” Henry shot back, his usual cocky attitude returning.

Then, something clicked in his mind. “Wait, what did you just say? Try something with you?”

“When did I ever try something with you? I’m just offering you a drink, and you won’t even take it.”

“You think I didn’t notice the drug in that drink?” The man glared at him, his eyes sharp with fury.

“Drug? What drug?” Henry was confused. “Is there something in the drink?”

No sooner had he spoken than foam began to spill from his mouth. Henry instinctively touched his lips, feeling the foam.

Before he could comprehend what was happening, his body collapsed onto the table, his consciousness slipping away…