When Gabi woke up the next morning, she had to admit to herself that it was the best sleep she had in the last two weeks. A part of her was expecting Dante to barge into her room in the middle of the night with some kind of punishment for her after she shouted and cursed at him, but nothing like that happened.

For a few minutes she just stared at the view from her window, still tucked warmly in all of her pillows and sheets, wondering how it was possible for weather to be still so nice in October. The sun was shining ever so brightly and the sky was spotlessly blue, making her want to go outside and sit there all day. Maybe she will ask Luca later that day to skip some of the training and let her wander on the rooftop to catch the wind in her hair. Then memories of the last evening showed up in her mind and she sighed quietly.

If she ever has the training again, that is. If Dante doesn’t decide to kill her anytime soon or make her life any more miserable than now.

Finally after pondering on her situation for a few minutes she decided to eat something. It was already quite late and she was sure Fernanda already prepared the breakfast, and most importantly Dante left for work.

With no hurry she made her way to the bathroom and let the water wash away the rest of the sleepiness from her body. Feeling lighter at heart and seeing the pretty weather outside, for the first time in a while she felt content enough to look pretty just for herself.

With the smallest of smiles on her lips she went into the wardrobe and after a quick scan of her clothes she chose a delicate white dress with pink pastel flowers that went up slightly above her knees. Having in mind that she may go train later that day she once more put her hair in a bun, but let two or three strands of loose hair fall out of it so that her face was better framed. For a second she even wondered if she had the things needed to do her makeup, but quickly she dismissed the thought. Doing her makeup would be like coming to terms with the whole situation, and she didn’t like that.

After briefly looking at herself in the mirror and deeming her outfit good enough she went downstairs. As expected nobody was there, the same as her breakfast. She furrowed her brows a little looking at the empty countertop, only after a second noticing a small piece of paper attached to the fruit bowl. Reaching for an apple she started reading the note, written in a surprisingly elegant and neat handwriting.

“Fernanda won’t be here for the next week or so. The fridge is full. Make sure to eat.”

The message wasn’t signed but she already knew who wrote it. Only one person she knew here would use the minimum amount of words that still would sound like he was pissed. She quickly looked around, but the only thing she noticed was an empty cup of coffee stacked in the sink.

Seeing that she visibly relaxed. That meant he already went out. The perspective of not seeing Fernanda for a week was a little bit upsetting, especially when she thought that maybe she won’t train anymore with Luca. That meant no human interaction for a week or even longer as she didn’t plan to talk or even see Dante through that time. She will just have to cope with it somehow.

Gabi opened the fridge and blinked her eyes in surprise, seeing that indeed it was full of everything she could think of. Although she was hungry, she didn’t feel the need to eat something complicated, so she decided to do some toasts with cheese and fruits.

Half an hour later she sighed satisfied, feeling how her grumbling stomach finally started to settle. She once more looked around, trying to find something to do. It was still quite early in the morning and she had plenty of time before her usual training time. Gabi thought about returning to her room and watching some TV, but she quickly dismissed the thought. She was already fed up with it and the room she spent so much time in. Washing the dishes after her breakfast she decided to find something new to read, as on yesterday’s morning she finally ended The Count of Monte Cristo. She had to admit that Dante really had a great collection of classic literature in here, maybe she will find something from Dumas again? Maybe The Three Musketeers?

With that thought in mind she made her way towards the library and straight to one of the bookcases. She was so immersed in searching through the books that only when she heard a cling of a whisky glass being put away on the table did, she noticed she was not alone. She flinched and jumped in surprise and she shot a quick look in the direction of the sound.

Gabi felt her heart picking up pace upon seeing Dante sprawled on one of the armchairs. He clearly showered not so long ago as his hair were still a little bit damp and a few strands had fallen onto his forehead, making him look like a total heart breaker. He was wearing some black plain T-shirt that perfectly showed off his toned muscles and slim blue jeans – a sight quite peculiar for her, as it was the first time since she came here that she didn’t see him in a formal or semi-formal attire. The book on the coffee table was still on the same page, but beside the whisky glass she spotted two big whisky bottles, of which one was already empty and the other one was also close to an end. A quick scan of his face told her he not only didn’t sleep much, seeing the darker circles under his eyes, but he was also drunk because his dark orbs staring right back at her seemed distant and not so fierce as always.

She knew based on herself that it was pretty hard – getting drunk while you’re a werewolf. Their healing abilities most of the time quickly got rid of the poison from their systems, but still it was not impossible. If you drink long enough or your healing system is weakened it can happen.

Looking at Dante though she couldn’t decide which one was it. The man was one big mystery for her.

“Did I scare you?” she felt goosebumps rising on her skin from his low, nonchalant voice. It was the first time he was speaking to her like that, probably because of the alcohol. She gulped and bit her lip, wondering what she should do. He was already pretty unpredictable while sober, so she hadn’t had any idea what he was capable of while in this state. Finally, she decided to play it politely, even if she did scream at him last night. She still felt he was able to bring her down, even in his state.

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“I just didn’t see you Alpha at first, that’s all.” She answered, trying to maintain their eye contact. She remembered he didn’t like when she averted his gaze.

He squinted his eyes a little and didn’t say nothing. Gabi felt whatsoever his hot stare on her whole body. At that moment she cursed at herself for choosing such an outfit. Her bare shoulders and legs could provoke him into jumping on her. Fortunately for her, nothing like that happened. After a few heated moments his eyes finally rose to her own green ones and she could see a glint of red shining in them, but he still didn’t move. Instead he opened his lips a little and with a slow and almost erotic gesture licked his lips, making her legs tremble and uneasy knot resting between her legs. Her heart was beating like crazy and she tried with all her might not to show on her face any of the emotions right now storming her body and mind, although she didn’t know with what effect.

My god, even if she hated him, he still was making her go crazy.

“What book are you looking for?” he finally broke the silence, but his low and now hoarse voice made her wolf go crazy even more. He wants us, he wants us! She yipped in her mind and Gabi had to clench her teeth quickly as to not let a moan escape her lips. She quickly hushed the wolf and pushed it away so that it couldn’t take control of her body.

“I – I thought about the The Three Musketeers by Dumas…” she cursed at herself for stuttering at the beginning of her sentence.

Dante looked at her for a second with an unreadable expression on his face and then he stood up and sauntered to her slowly, without breaking their eye contact even for a second. She felt how her breath hitched at how close he was coming to her and she stepped back a little, but he quickly closed the remaining distance between them. Now if Gabi leaned a little, she could finally nuzzle her nose into his chest like she always wanted to, even if she fought the urge with all her might. A waft of his irresistible scent surrounded her and she wanted to break away and run, but a part of her mind reminded her what Fernanda had said – you can’t show him you fear him! That’s why she stayed where she was, her eyes glued to his brown ones that seemed to suck her into some other dimension. He leaned down to her and then she felt his hot breath smelling strongly of whisky and she couldn’t help but wrinkle her nose in distaste. He saw her reaction and one of his brows raised sarcastically.

“What, you don’t like alcohol? Or is it just me?” she felt tingling heat from his hot breath and wetness between her tights at his evident teasing. How come that alcohol could change a person that much?!

“I just don’t like strong alcohols like whisky, rum or vodka.” Gabi desperately tried her voice to be as casual as she wanted it to be, but she couldn’t help it trembling a little at the end.

“Oh? And what do you like to drink for example?” he leaned even more to her, making her feel how his whole body almost radiated with warmth, and that strong scent of his was making her head become dizzy, slowly making her forget about all of her resolutions. She gulped and looked at him in silence for a few moments, trying to grasp her own thoughts. He seemed patient with her this time, as with an almost invisible but cunning smile on his lips he watched her every move with his dark orbs. For the first time she saw them up so close and she was mesmerized by the red glints in them that seemed to swirl in some kind of a dance in his eyes when you looked closer at them.

“Umm, semi-dry or sweet pink wine.” It was harder and harder for her to find her words as she desperately tried to stay on the surface of her sanity.

“So predictable, huh?” he almost purred and she had to clench her fists until they bled so that she didn’t mewl and jump on him. How did I end up in this situation?, she cried to herself. His lips were now almost touching hers and she was so shocked she didn’t even move a muscle to run… or maybe come this little bit closer? Right now, she didn’t know what she wanted at all.

“Pink wine, huh?” he looked like he pondered on the thought for a moment, and then he took one of the strands of her hair between his fingers, swirling it with an almost erotic manner, making her breath erratic.

“It’s good… for a woman. Delicate and warming, too gentle for me…” his voice was almost a whisper now, when his head lowered to her ear and his lips grazed her earlobe when he talked, making her whole body yearn for him. “Delicate and gentle, yet so addicting that if you try it only once, you want to try it again… and again… and again…” his voice was now almost a growl, filled with lust and need. She perfectly knew the last part wasn’t about the wine, and it made her mewl a little under her breath. He growled a little bit louder at that and came even closer to her, so close they were almost touching themselves by just standing, and his hot breath hovered even closer to her ear.

Gabi didn’t know what would happen if not for the phone that rang in his pocket. She jumped a little, drawn out of her crazy state and pushed back two steps, making the distance between them safer. Dante looked irritated but nonetheless he answered it, still watching her with his lustful gaze.

“Leave it on my desk. I’ll deal with it later tonight.” He finally voiced out after listening for a moment just before he ended the call still not breaking the eye contact with her. Gabi took a step away seeing he once more was coming her way. The phone call made her realize what was happening and that she got caught up in a moment she never was suspecting would happen, and she was scared to the bone. Her mind was now one big mess, and all of this was because this bastard decided to get drunk and act nicely to mess with her.

“It seemed important. I think you should take care of it now” she stumbled on her feet a little from her nerves, but he still was getting closer.

“And what if I don’t want to take care of it now?” his eyes were misted with lust and she felt panic creeping on to her. She didn’t want it, definitely not this way.

“O-of course I can’t make you. You’re the boss. But because you’re the boss I think you should do it now.” She felt she didn’t make any sense, but her mind once more was becoming blank. In a minute she won’t have any objections to just jump into his arms.

This time she couldn’t take it and averted his eyes by closing her own. She heard him growl in dissatisfaction and she waited for a harsh pull on her chin, but instead she heard him say:

“You wanted the The Three Musketeers, right?” she slowly opened her eyes and saw how Dante pulled out a book she searched for from one of the higher shelves she still didn’t go through. She hesitantly took it from him, searching for any indication that it was a trap, but he gave it to her with no problems. Emotions in his eyes died a little and his ever present cold started to take on his features and his eyes. A part of her mind decided she didn’t like it. She liked them much more when they were full of life.

“Thank you.” She said quietly, still eyeing him carefully. By this time the old cold and unwelcoming Dante was back - it seemed that the whole alcohol finally was out of his system.

“I’ll be back late. You have a free day today. I’ll check if you have eaten when I come back so don’t try anything.” His low voice once more was without any emotions and for some reason it struck her heart the most. Without waiting for her reply, he walked out of the library. Gabi heard his steps when he went up to his own bedroom. She still was standing dumfounded in the same place with the book in her hands when he went down 10 minutes later and the main door to the penthouse clicked quietly after he went out.

Her mind was a one big mess along with her heart, and she couldn’t help but let the tears flow down her face.