Chapter 112: Alpha Lucien’s Girlfriend

Michael’s POV

I watched the subtle change in Emerald’s expression.

She leaned back in her chair and interlocked her fingers over her stomach, studying me with the kind of cautious curiosity that told me she was already trying to figure out what I had in mind.

"What is the condition?"

I almost let a smile slip off my face.

I had been serious about giving her the money. There was nothing amusing about that part. But the look on her face was too tempting to ignore.

I decided to pull her leg a little.

"We play a game."

Her eyebrows drew together. "What sort of game?"

"A game where you become my girlfriend until you pay me back."

The change in her expression was immediate.

I watched several emotions cross her face within the space of a few seconds. Surprise came first, followed by disbelief, then suspicion.

She looked at me as though she were trying to determine whether I had finally lost my mind.

I wanted to laugh, but I held it in.

She stared at me for a long moment before asking, "Is this game real, or what?"

"What do you think?"

I kept my face straight, allowing her imagination to guide her.

She held my gaze, and I held hers. I could almost hear her mind working through what I had said.

I wasn’t going to rescue her.

I wanted to see how far I could take this before she realised I was playing with her.

Eventually, Emerald released a deep breath. "Well, games aren’t serious, so I will just accept your weird condition."

I lowered my gaze for a moment so she wouldn’t see the amusement in my eyes. She had actually fallen for it.

Emerald was gullible.

Right then, a dangerous thought occurred to me. Who told her games couldn’t be serious?

Who said they couldn’t become real?

I kept that thought to myself. I would let her find out for herself later.

My amusement was interrupted by Draxen.

"Why did you trap our mate?"

I kept my expression neutral. "I am a wolf. If I can’t play games like this with her and actually watch her fall for my tricks, how am I supposed to enjoy myself?"

Draxen was silent for half a second before deciding to irk me. "You just admitted that she is our mate."

"I did not."

"But you didn’t deny it," he pointed out.

I ignored him.

Emerald had already called the waiter and was settling the bill. I watched as she handed over her card, and the waiter inserted it into the POS machine.

"I won’t give you the satisfaction you’re craving. I’ll make sure to starve you out."

"Well, at least I won’t be suffering alone."

The corner of my lips twitched. Draxen had become particularly irritating since Emerald had entered my life.

"You’ve been watching her for more than five minutes now."

I watched Emerald retrieve her card from the waiter. "And so?"

"You must be enjoying this game far too much."

I shrugged inwardly. "And I couldn’t be any happier."

Emerald stood and picked up her sling handbag. "I think we should get going."

I shut off my connection to Draxen before standing.

We left the restaurant together and stepped back onto the sidewalk.

The night had settled over the city, and traffic moved steadily along the road beside us. Neither of us spoke for a while.

I listened to Emerald’s heartbeat beneath the city’s ordinary sounds. The occasional vehicle passed close to the curb, its tyres humming against the asphalt.

Then I noticed something.

Several times, the headlights of approaching cars caught Emerald directly in the eyes. She squinted each time and turned her face slightly away.

I quietly used my ability to dim the glare before it reached her. The adjustment was subtle enough that she didn’t notice.

We continued walking.

Two minutes passed in silence before Emerald broke it. "When will you send the money?"

I glanced at her. "When do you want it?"

She considered that for a second before answering, "Maybe around next weekend."

"That works." I nodded. "Where do you want me to send it?"

Her eyebrows furrowed. She seemed confused for a moment, but suddenly, realisation flashed across her face.

"My holding company."

"That’s what I assumed."

"When the time comes, I will forward the account details to you. You can transfer the money directly into the account."

"All right."

We walked a few more steps. Then Emerald stopped. A broad smile spread across her face as she turned towards me.

She extended her right hand. I stared at it, unsure what she was doing. Still, I reached out and took her hand.

She shook it firmly. "It is nice doing business with you, Mr. King."

I looked at our joined hands, then shifted my gaze to her. There was something almost amusing about the satisfaction on her face.

She genuinely believed this had been nothing more than a business arrangement.

I let her hand go. For now.

We reached the entrance to Emerald’s dorm a few minutes later.

The moment we passed through the gate, I expected her to say goodbye and head upstairs, but she continued walking beside me.

I glanced at her. "Where are you going?"

"To see you off." She said it so casually that I almost smiled.

She walked with me all the way to the visitor’s car park, where I had left my car earlier. When we reached it, I unlocked the doors and opened the driver’s side.

She stopped beside the car and said, "Drive safely."

"I will." I got inside, started the engine, and lowered the window. She was still standing there.

I watched her for a moment, then I smiled. "Don’t forget something."

Her brows knitted together. "What?"

"You’re my girlfriend now."

Her expression changed instantly. I could see the disbelief return to her face. "Michael—"

I laughed softly. "You agreed."

"I agreed to a game," she clarified.

I pointed out, "A game where you’re my girlfriend."

She opened her mouth, probably preparing an argument, but I was already putting the car into reverse.

"Goodnight, Emerald."

I drove off before she could reply. Then I looked in the side mirror. She stayed in the same spot with hands on her hips, watching me drive away.

I laughed. "You don’t know what you just walked yourself into."

I turned my attention back to the road. Then a thought occurred to me.

If Alaric ever found out how I had managed to trap Emerald into becoming my girlfriend without even telling her the truth behind the arrangement, he would probably lose his mind.

I shook my head, still amused. I could already imagine his reaction.