Chapter 475: What Do You Want with Her?
Daniel’s POV:
I turned and accidentally bumped into a beta woman. She winced, rubbed her chest, and gave me a pitiful look before quickly shifting to a seductive gaze. I was unimpressed but asked directly, “Do you know Hayley Carson?”
“Hayley Carson?” Her expression soured instantly at the mention of the name, and her tone turned icy. “What do you want with her?”
Her agitated response suggested a connection to Hayley. Before I could reply, she hastily added what she probably thought was a helpful warning: “You seem like an important, high-ranking werewolf. Don’t be fooled by her. Hayley has a fiancé, and different men pick her up every day. Her life is a mess, and honestly, she’s just an Omega. Trust me, you’d regret even a night with her.”
Her words painted a negative picture of Hayley, but her eagerness to disparage her made me skeptical of her motives. It was clear she had approached me deliberately—perhaps thinking too highly of herself. Seeing her act so arrogantly and insincerely, a more entertaining idea suddenly popped into my head. Despite my growing disdain, I masked my feelings with a charming smile and played along.
“Thank you for the heads-up. You’ve been so helpful; how can I possibly thank you?”
She feigned modesty, clearly pleased with herself. “Oh, it’s nothing. I just hate to see people taken advantage of. It’s not personal.”
Her hypocrisy was palpable, and I could barely conceal my scorn. Yet, she was performing for the wrong audience—I saw right through her act.
Feigning enthusiasm, I seized an opportunity. “Actually, I have a friend from Midnight Pack hosting a warm-up party at his bar tonight. How about you join me?”
“Midnight Pack?” She raised an eyebrow, her expression turning thoughtful. A few seconds later, she brightened and agreed, “Well, I’m free anyway, so sure, I’ll come along. It’ll be nice to catch up with some old friends from school.”
I graciously stepped back, opened the passenger door for her, and gestured invitingly, “Feel free to bring your classmates too. The more, the merrier.”
She appeared quite pleased with the invitation, smirking slightly as she got into the car. “I’ll think about it,” she said haughtily.
As she turned away, my expression cooled. Although I hadn’t managed to confront Hayley, entertaining this woman’s company was a minor distraction. And as for Hayley, well, she would not be able to dodge me forever.
Hayley’s POV:
I felt somewhat misled by Benjamin. He had promised a relaxing break at Midnight Pack, yet here I was, dragged into back-to-back meetings all day. By the time we finally left the office building, night had fallen. Slumping into the car seat, I sighed, my boredom palpable. Business dealings were truly tedious. Besides, being in Benjamin’s car meant I couldn’t handle any Shadow Pack business. I regretted not bringing my sketchbook. Sketching some new designs would have been a perfect way to pass the time.
Benjamin drove with focus, but at the next traffic light, he unexpectedly turned the steering wheel, heading in the opposite direction of my hotel. Puzzled, I turned to him, “Aren’t we supposed to turn left here?”