The dark circles under my eyes were starting to worry me.

I had woken up at four in the morning to fly over in time for the meeting, and since I couldn't sleep on planes, I was functioning on three hours of sleep.

"You look like death," Meredith chirped from her side of the car.

Unlike me, she was refreshed and ready to take on the world. Not only was she a morning person, but she was also able to sleep on the four-hour flight on top of her six hours of sleep.

I was only a little jealous.

"I feel like death too," I groaned, pulling my sunglasses back over my eyes.

She grinned, "Is your evil twin going to make an appearance?"

"If someone rubs me the wrong way, then yes."

The smile on her face was unnerving.

"I don't like that look on your–"

"Look!" She cut me off, slapping my arm in excitement, "We're here!"

My eyes immediately darted to the windshield and sighed in relief as the manor became more visible as we got closer. The faster we got through this meeting, the faster I could go back to the Coven. I was never comfortable leaving it for long when I had to make unexpected trips.

The driver pulled into the driveway and up to the front of the house where the Minister waited to greet us. I plastered the most genuine smile I could muster on my face and got out of the car with Meredith behind me after thanking the driver.

"Ah, Jaslynn, so wonderful to see you," the Minister exclaimed cheerfully, kissing my cheeks.

He was a small, stubby man with a white beard that he occasionally liked to grow out. Meredith liked to call him the smaller version of Santa Claus because of his appearance and his love for children.

I didn't know how old he was, all I knew was that he was there when my great-grandfather was born. That was also probably why my entire family had a close relationship with him and why he treated me as another granddaughter.

"How are you, Minister?" I greeted, bending over to give him a brief hug, "Ready for retirement yet?"

He threw his head back and let out a full-bellied laugh, his eyes sparkling with merriment, "Not for a couple more centuries, I'm afraid. I'm not ready to let you youngsters take control."

"We're not that bad," I grinned, "Maybe a bit wild, but we know how to hold our own."

The Minister shook his head, "Whatever you say, Jaslynn. I'm still sticking around to keep an eye on all of you."

Before I could give a retort, Meredith came out of nowhere and grabbed the poor man's hand and started shaking it furiously, "Minister, it is a complete and utter pleasure to see you again. How are you doing?"

The Minister wasn't surprised by Meredith's enthusiasm, seeing as she did this every year. He was her idol, and she was completely starstruck by him every time.

"I'm doing fine, my darling, although my hand does feel a little numb," he smiled kindly.

Meredith stared at him like a deer in the headlights until she realized that she was still shaking his hand. She flushed and let go of his hand abruptly, "Sorry, Minister."

He chuckled lightly and turned his attention to both of us, "Because we are still waiting on Alpha Alrik, who should be arriving by the afternoon, we will have the meeting in the evening. So in the meanwhile, take some rest and be down for lunch. Helene has prepared a feast for all of you to enjoy."

"Thanks, Minister. We'll see you later."

"Thank you so much, Minister. We are so grate–"

I dragged Meredith away before she started rambling again. Once we were out of earshot, I raised an eyebrow at her flustered state, "You see him everywhere. Shouldn't you be a bit more...calm around him?"

"It's just that he is so charming and intelligent. I aspire to be like him and acquire his level of knowledge. Did you know he met Napoleon Bonaparte? I want to meet Napoleon!"

"Mer, he's dead. He died ages ago."

"Too bad there's no resurrection spell."

I stiffened and adjusted the duffel bag on my shoulder, "I don't think many people would appreciate you resurrecting him."

"Yeah, yeah. Did you know the Minister even met King Henry VIII? I wonder if he met all his wives too. It might have been interesting to meet Anne Boleyn."

Something told me I was not going to be getting much sleep this afternoon.

***

"Jas, wake up! It's time for lunch. I'm starving!"

The word 'lunch' had me sitting upright quickly. I rubbed the sleep away from my eyes and stared at the dancing redhead who I apparently called a best friend.

She noticed the horrified expression on my face and stopped her ridiculous moves, "It's my hunger dance."

"Right," I drawled, scooting off the bed, "I had no idea humping the air was an expression for hunger nowadays."

She wrinkled her nose, "It was twerking."

"No, that was grinding."

"Whatever, it was still my hunger dance. Now, let's go, I can smell Helene's famous shrimp starters."

I sighed and shuffled to the mirror, eyeing my messy hair and the drool at the corner of my mouth, "I'm gonna need a few minutes to fix my appearance."

"Okay, I'm going down and saving some food for us. You can take your time, but just know that every minute you take is a minute closer to me devouring your portion of food too."

I threw my hairbrush at her and she closed the door behind her before it could reach her.

***

I smoothed out my skirt one last time and double checked my appearance.

Even though the meeting wasn't until the evening, I still had to maintain a somewhat professional appearance. From what I understood, all the other leaders were here and roaming the manor so I could not just walk around with a pair of sweats on.

I grabbed my phone and exited the suite just in time to see the Minister's butler lugging a suitcase down the hallway. He bowed his head at me politely, and I returned it with a smile.

It looked like the final leader had arrived at last.

I headed downstairs to the dining room, expecting to find Meredith sitting there, but the room was empty except for a man sitting at the end of the table.

His head was bent some papers so I couldn't see his face. All I saw was slightly messy, thick black hair.

He was dressed in a black shirt that was unbuttoned at the collar to reveal a bit of bronze colored skin, and I could make out a tattoo on his neck that curled and hid under the black cloth. The shirt itself was taut and didn't do anything to hide the muscular physique underneath.

He made the large dining room feel small with his presence. It was like he commanded attention without even having to move.

And based on the power and confidence that radiated off of him in waves, I had a strong inkling that this man or werewolf was Alpha Alrik.

I decided not to greet him and distract him from his work that he seemed completely focused on since he didn't acknowledge my presence at all.

Not to mention, I wasn't too keen on meeting an Alpha who hadn't bothered to show up to any of the annual meetings.

I quietly grabbed a cup from a trolley cart and poured myself a cup of chamomile tea.

"Refill my coffee."

I froze in place with the tea kettle still in my hand at the rough voice that echoed through the room.

Was he talking to me?

I turned around slowly and found his cup in my face as he held it up for me to take.

With pursed lips, I took the cup from his hand and decided to be nice and refill it once since I was at the tea and coffee station anyway. I didn't want to trouble the maids and make them do it.

After I poured him his coffee, I made a move to give it to him when he spoke again:

"Reheat my steak."

My eyes narrowed at his bent head immediately, "Pardon me, Alpha Alrik, but I don't ever recall applying to be your personal servant. The Moon Goddess blessed you with two arms and two legs so please make use of them."

There was a gasp from the other side of the dining room, and the sound of pots and pans hitting the marble floors echoed loudly. I winced at the ringing in my ears and sent a comforting smile to the maid, who was picking up the dishes she had dropped frantically with a mortified look on her face.

I directed my attention back to Alpha Alrik, who had stopped writing but still didn't look up. A few seconds later, he slowly stood up and picked his plate off the table.

I raised an eyebrow as he rotated his body toward me so I was finally able to get a clear view of his face.

Saying he was good-looking would be an understatement.

He had the kind of features that one would have to look twice at before realizing how attractive he really was.

From the sharp jawline to the crooked nose to the little scar on his cheek to the light stubble on his face, he was imperfectly perfect, a walking contradiction.

His eyes were a dark gray, almost black in the light we were in. They were narrowed in on my face as he made his way over to me casually with his plate still in hand.

I didn't break eye contact even though the tingles running wild down my back and the butterflies flapping away in my stomach were starting to annoy me.

He stopped just a few inches away from me and towered over me, almost like he was waiting for me to crumble to my knees.

He might be used to that back at his pack, but we were equals here. I was not going to bow my head to a fellow leader.

After studying me for a few moments, his lips parted, "You're not a werewolf."

I gave him a saccharine smile, "Jaslynn Beaumont, leader of the Imperium Coven. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Alpha Alrik."

He raised an eyebrow at my introduction, "A witch?"

"Yes, a witch."

I was a bit confused by the tiny smirk on his face. His eyes were glinting with an emotion I couldn't identify and the corner of his lips was tilted upward like he was amused.

What was so amusing about me being a witch?

I parted my lips to ask him, but he opened his mouth first.

"My bitch."