Dear Mate, You're Mine！

Can you believe this?

LEON'S POV

I wanted to follow Irene, to ask more questions, to understand more about her plan and her resolve. But just then, Sophia, my party date had returned to my side, her voice pulling me back to the present.

“Leon, can you believe this?” she started, not noticing my distraction. “My shoe suddenly became so uncomfortable, and then this waitress nearly spilled a drink on me. It’s like the universe is conspiring against me tonight.”

Her complaints entered my ears, but my mind was elsewhere. I kept glancing in the direction Irene had gone, the memory of her words and the thought of the USB drive in my pocket pressing against my thoughts. Sophia continued talking, her voice a constant stream of trivial matters, but I barely heard her.

“Leon, are you even listening to me?” she asked, a note of irritation creeping into her voice.

I forced myself to focus on her, though it was difficult.

"Sorry, Sophia. What were you saying?”

She huffed, clearly annoyed. “I was saying that the service here is absolutely dreadful. And don’t get me started on my shoes. I just bought them, and now they’re already giving me blisters.”

I nodded absently, my face showing impatience. My thoughts kept drifting back to Irene, to the determined look in her eyes, the strength in her voice. The realization that she was my Mate had shaken me to my core, and now all I wanted was to find her again, to learn more about her and how we could work together to bring Matthew down. Then, probably make her mine after that.

Sophia continued talking, oblivious to my distraction.

“And can you believe that waitress? She was so clumsy! Honestly, some people just shouldn’t be in customer service.”

I sighed, my patience wearing thin. I needed to get away from her. My eyes kept wandering to the exit, hoping to catch a glimpse of Irene leaving, but she was gone and out of sight.

“I’m really sorry, Sophia,” I said, interrupting her mid-complaint. “I have something important I need to take care of. Can we talk later?”

Sophia’s eyes narrowed in annoyance, but she nodded. “Fine, go. But don’t think I’m not annoyed with you.”

I didn’t wait for her to say more. I turned and made my way away from the party, my heart pounding.

Just as I was about to leave, Sophia suddenly grabbed my arm.

“Leon, wait. Can you take me home?”

I sighed inwardly but nodded. There was no getting out of it.

“Sure, Sophia. Let’s go.”

The drive to Sophia’s house was a silent one, her earlier complaints and unnecessary discussion still echoing in my mind. My thoughts were miles away, filled with visions of Irene and the USB drive that held the key to Matthew’s downfall. When we finally pulled up to her house, Sophia turned to me, her eyes hopeful.

“Would you like to come in?” she asked.

I shook my head. “I can’t, Sophia. I have something important to take care of.”

Her face fell, a flicker of confusion crossing her features.

“Leon, what’s going on with you? You’ve been distant all night. Is there something you’re not telling me?”

I sighed, trying to find the right words.

“I’m sorry, Sophia. It’s just... I have a lot on my mind right now.”

She frowned, sensing my coldness but not understanding the reason behind it.

“You’re always so focused on other things. Sometimes I wonder if you even know how to be romantic.”

Her words stung, but I couldn’t let myself be distracted.

“Sophia, I need you to understand that this is important. I have to go.”

She huffed in frustration, crossing her arms. “Fine, go then."

I watched as she got out of the car, slamming the door behind her. As she walked towards her house, I felt a pang of guilt but quickly pushed it aside. I had more pressing matters to attend to.

With Sophia safely home, I drove off, my thoughts once again consumed by Irene. The night was dark and quiet, the perfect backdrop for the turmoil raging inside me. I couldn’t stop thinking about the look in Irene’s eyes.

I parked the car and sat there for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts. The USB drive in my pocket felt like a burning weight. I needed to find Irene, to let her know that we can work together. But first, I had to make sure I was ready for what lay ahead.

I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car, the cool night air clearing my mind. I had a mission now, one that went beyond personal revenge.

FLASHBACK

My pack, the Golden Crest Pack once thrived in a vast territory deep within the forest. I spent my childhood in a wooden house there, surrounded by ancient trees and the sound of nature. Those memories are vivid, filled with laughter, adventure, and the warmth of family. But they were burned to ashes by the Gerard Wolf pack, forcing us to flee to a very strange land with bizarre environment conditions. That loss was a wound that never truly healed. In fact, heaven knows how we survived.

My father, a strong and proud Alpha, had to rebuild our business empire from scratch. I remember the nights he spent hunched over his desk, mapping out strategies and making deals. He never forgot the humiliation of losing our land and the lives of our loved ones, and neither did I. The place we migrated to was a different world, one where we had to adapt and survive, but it was never truly home.

On his deathbed, my father looked at me with eyes that had seen too much pain.

“Leon,” he called out to me with an unusual, weak yet authoritative voice that made me shed tears, “never forget the shame of our destroyed territory. You will reclaim what is ours, and you will make them pay for what they did to us.”

Those words have been my guiding star, the fire that fuels my every move. Even now, as I stand at the precipice of a new battle, I hear my father’s voice, urging me forward. The hatred for the Gerard Wolf pack runs deep than anything.

END OF FLASHBACK

I snapped out of my reverie as the car engine hummed softly beneath me. The memories of the past lingered, but the present demanded my attention. I had Irene’s information, and it was a powerful weapon. Matthew had betrayed her, but in doing so, they had handed me the means to strike back at the man who had taken so much from my family.

A sense of purpose filled me. Irene was more than just a tool in my quest for vengeance; but the stakes were too high to back down now.

The moon hung low in the sky as I drove back to my pack’s territory. The memories of my childhood, the loss of our land, and my father’s dying words all swirled in my mind. But now, they were joined by the image of Irene who unbelievably have a predestined sensual bond with me.

Ryan sensed my pain, nudging me with a suggestion to contact Irene. The plan was starting to take shape in my mind, and I knew Irene was the key to its success.

A cold glint appeared in my eyes as I took a deep drag on my cigar, exhaling slowly. The smoke curled upwards, dissipating into the air, much like the remnants of my old life. The flame of revenge burned brighter within me, illuminating the path I had to take. I needed a plan that would completely crush Matthew’s pack, bringing him to his knees and reclaiming the honor and territory my family had lost.

Matthew’s commercial success was the backbone of his rule. If I could orchestrate his downfall in the business world, it would destabilize his entire pack, leaving him vulnerable. Irene held all the crucial information that could tip the scales in our favor definitely.

With a concluded thought, I picked up the phone and dialed Irene’s number. It was time for negotiations.