"Where the hell did she hide that stupid thing?!"
I tossed the bundle of clothes in my hand back into the open drawer. I had already searched the entire bedroom, but I still couldn't find the stupid silver dagger.
This wasn't my first time looking for it. In fact, every time I'd stayed here before, I searched for it. I must have torn through this apartment a dozen times already.
"If only that bitch didn't carry it around with her all the time, I would have already gotten my hands on it," I hissed, stomping my foot on the ground. "There's no way she had time to take it with her. She left the apartment so quickly that night."
I scanned the room again, searching for any possible hiding spots.
"I'll check the closet again," I sighed. But just as I reached for the handle, movement in the kitchen froze me in place.
My eyes widened.
'Crap, Mason is back already!'
I hurriedly slipped into my red dress and bolted out of the bedroom. "Mason! You're back! I've been waiting sooo long for you to come back~"
He met me with a dark, unreadable scowl.
"You're still here." His voice was flat— more statement than question.
A twinge of panic rose in my chest. I hadn't expected him to take Esther's transfer to werewolf territory this badly. I quickly moved to his side and began unbuckling his belt.
"Of course I'm still here. It's my duty to serve you~" I purred, putting as much seduction into my voice as I could.
He remained cold and unmoving, but his eyes tracked my every motion as I slowly pulled down his pants.
"You seem a bit tense today. Let me help you relax a little."
Before he could reply, I took him fully into my mouth.
He immediately gripped my shoulders, his fingers digging into my skin just enough to sting. As the warmth of his hands seeped into my skin, I began to move. Back and forth, I worked my way up and down the entirety of his shaft.
"Mmm," he moaned softly.
I smiled inwardly, happy to see that my tricks still worked. If anything, I knew his body like the back of my hand and exactly what I had to do to make him bend to my will.
A few minutes later, I got up from the ground and flashed him a flirtatious smile. "Come, let me make you feel even better."
This time, he followed me on his own accord with a slight look of infatuation. I led him into the bedroom, but continued on until we were both inside the bathroom. There was just enough room for both of us.
I turned on the shower to get the hot water running before turning my attention back to Mason. The cramped space made him seem even taller than usual, more imposing, and that thrilled me.
He was truly the best of the best when it came to the men in the city. His status alone as the strongest hunter made him extremely desirable, but his looks were also second to none.
'To think that bitch Esther managed to capture his heart. If not for her, I'd already be Mrs. Ryker.'
I pressed my body as close to him as I could as I slowly began to unbutton his shirt. Each undone button revealed more of his muscular chest, causing me to speed up in excitement.
Very few men, even among the hunters, were this physically fit.
As soon as his shirt hit the floor, I slid my arms around his neck. "Why don't you help me take my dress off?"
The very next moment, he lifted his arms and yanked my dress off in a single motion. My cheeks reddened in response as I pulled him beneath the showerhead.
The bathroom quickly heated up, and not from the hot water. Using the best of my abilities, I continued to service Mason until I finally felt his attitude towards me soften.
Ever since Esther left, he'd been moodier than ever. I steeled myself and took him deeper, determined not to let his thoughts drift back to her.
'Don't let him slip away. This is the closest you've ever come to being Mrs. Ryker!'
After giving myself a mental pep talk, I put even more effort behind every movement. A few minutes later, my efforts paid off because Mason finally lifted me off the ground and carried me into the bedroom.
We were both still drenched, but that didn't stop him.
For the next few hours, he kept me pinned beneath him. By the time he was done, my body was extremely exhausted. But it was worth it.
The cold and moody man who greeted me earlier now had his arm draped around me lovingly. He rested his head against my stomach, enjoying the way I ran my fingers through his hair.
"Did something happen at the Hunter HQ today? You came back looking a bit stressed," I asked, keeping my tone as gentle as possible.
"Hmm, it's nothing really. Just the usual talks of war," he replied. "It's just that there are a few leaders who want to push for war now, without waiting for Esther's return."
My hand froze. Why was it that every time I talked to him like this, he would bring that bitch up? I've been the one comforting him every time something went wrong. I've been the one warming his bed! So why did he constantly bring her up?
"I had to argue that we should wait for her," he went on. "After me, she's our strongest hunter. I know she'll come back."
My anger caused my heart rate to quicken. I prayed every day that she failed the mission as miserably as possible so that she would never crawl back.
'I hope you're nothing more than a pile of bones by now!'
All of my efforts to push Esther out of Mason's life have finally come to fruition with this special mission. But instead of the blissful life I had imagined, Mason remained fixated on that vixen.
I did my best to mask my anger and continued to run my fingers through his hair.
"Mmm, you're right," I murmured. "She'll come back."
Mason clearly liked my response because the next moment, he rolled over, straddling me. Before I had a chance to prepare mentally, he suddenly shoved himself inside, full force.
However, this time his eyes remained closed as if he was lost in his own fantasies.