King couldn't understand why his mood hadn't gotten better even after drinking with Trez. Usually that would do the trick and King went on with his day perfectly fine.

King wondered if it was the early morning that irked him or that he was still thinking about that green-eyed stranger from last night. The answer was clear because King's body reacted every time he thought of that man, his blood boiled and his muscles stiffened as hard as iron. It was like he was a high-school pup with raging hormones fawning over his crush. King wanted to punch himself for being like this and he needed to get a grip on himself.

He ignored his grim disposition and entered the elevator at Centauri Enterprise. The sleek metal elevator, climbed and climbed, up to the top floor of the industrial skyscraper. The doors pinged open and King exited the elevator when he was greeted by a short, young woman with blonde hair and hazel eyes.

"Good morning. I'll take you to Mr. Centauri," she said. King followed the woman towards the double doors down the white clean lobby. "He'll see you inside." she opened the door and let him enter alone.

A familiar voice was heard in the massive office, that was nothing less of what King expected for Gabriel Centauri to have for himself. The large sky-high windows allowed for bountiful light to shine over the glossy marble floors, large oak table and leather chair. But more than the extravagant room, it was hard not to notice the three men standing in the office and King recognized all three of them. Gabriel stood with his beta and brother Hunter Centauri and his enforcer River Drakov.

"Good morning, King," said Gabriel as if he was amused that King finally gave into meeting him.

"Already on first name basis," remarked King.

Hunter Centauri grumbled a curse and glared through King. His amber gaze nothing less than a predator who was ready to consume his prey, who in this case was definitely King. The man was built like a weapon. Lethal and formidable, the beta of the Centauri pack was indeed worthy of being by his big brother's side. His face was rakishly handsome, strong jaw and straight nose lead down to a corded neck to a pair of sturdy shoulders. He was tall and undeniably trained every day.

From the two brothers, Hunter seemed to be the less reasonable one, except Hunter wasn't the only one glaring at King. On the other side stood enforcer River Drakov, whose icy blue stare was penetrating as it was scorching hot. River wasn't dressed in a suit like Hunter or Gabriel, he fashioned a leather jacket over a black shirt and rugged dark jeans, but still looked as powerful as the Centauri's in their suits. King discovered that he definitely wasn't liked by these two, not that he cared for their approval.

From the two men still, King realized that the power emitted from Gabriel Centauri was completely different. The intensity in the alpha's golden eyes was indisputable and it resonated all the way inside King's body, he sensed his wolf take guard against Gabriel's avid dominance. The scent that radiated from Gabriel was nothing short from thick, feral strength. His muscular built and towering height that even surpassed Hunter was overwhelming. His dark hair had been raked back revealing his masculine bone structure and handsome face. He wore the finest black suit, that had been perfectly tailored to his muscular physique. King realized the night they met that Gabriel was a force that no one could understand of how it came to be. He was a master alpha who ruled his pack with an iron fist, gaining the loyalty of every wolf under his protection. King wondered how Gabriel had done it without using some underhanded trick.

King didn't know what he was doing here meeting with these people. But he knew that he was curious now, he wanted to know what was so special about this alpha and his pack.

"Don't mind them," said Gabriel. "I was a bit surprised that you called me and wanted to meet."

King pulled his head out of his thoughts. "Let's just say that a mutual friend convinced me," he said.

"There are only two friends that we both know," Gabriel joined King on the couch. He crossed his legs at the knee. "And Zero never calls anyone. So, it's Trez, right?"

"How do you know, Zero?" he asked Gabriel. King was surprised about this one. His friend Zero rarely talked to anyone and neither did she make friends with another. So, this little fact changed a lot of cards for King.

Gabriel grinned. "She's a friend," he said idly.

"Zero doesn't befriend just anyone," said King. "There's more to you then you let, isn't there?" he stated more than asked. Things were unwinding in an odd direction, puzzled King.

Suddenly, the door opened and they were interrupted.

"Gabriel," that honeyed voice from last night pierced through King's ears right into his gut.

King's head whipped around and he saw the green-eyed stranger. Instantly, his whole body stiffened. Klaus walked into the office and the man was even more gorgeous in broad daylight. The sunlight streamed through the tall windows and shined over his glossy blond hair appearing golden. King studied the masculine lines of his face that had an elegance and charm, which made him appear angelic. Klaus looked taller and the muscles of his body were defined under his casual white shirt and black slacks.

King was a loss for words and that never happened to him before. He fisted his hands, digging his nails into his palms trying to relax. He got himself under control, but it was his wolf that raged out of control. The control that King had mastered over the years had been thrown out the window.

"Klaus," Gabriel got out of his seat.

How did Gabriel know Klaus? wondered King crossly.

"I brought coffee," said Klaus, his voice caressed King like honey was dripping over his ears. "It's you," Klaus announced.

They all froze in the room.

"Do you know him?" Hunter asked Klaus.

"Yeah, he was the guy that helped me last night with the drug dealers," said Klaus.

King played it cool. He looked up and faced that beautiful face and those deep emerald eyes. "Oh right," he said lazily, but King never forgot that face or body.

"This is King Vitiello," River informed Klaus.

Klaus gaped. "This is the King that we're always talking about?" he asked Gabriel.

"Yes, brother," answered Gabriel.

"Wow, what a small world," said Klaus.

"You can say that again," King reeled back. "Hold on...brother?" He looked from Gabriel to Klaus back to Gabriel. "You're brothers?"

Gabriel was puzzled. "Yeah," he answered. "He's my baby brother."

King controlled himself otherwise his jaw would've dropped open. And here King thought that he had no chance with Klaus. That gap had doubled. No, it quadrupled. There was no way King would be able to touch Gabriel's baby brother now. Damn it, this day couldn't get any worse.

"Here's your coffee," said Klaus. He handed out the cups. "Would you like some?" he put the cup in front of King.

King lost a moment looking in those sweet green eyes. "Er- sure," he grabbed the cup and skimmed his hand over Klaus's. "Thank you." King needed a blast of caffeine to wake him up from this nightmare. Whiskey would work much better, but coffee would have to do for now.

"No problem," Klaus smiled. He returned to the side and stood quietly near Hunter who also happened to be his brother.

Fucking fantastic, King cursed inside his head. He took a sip and damn it all even the coffee Klaus got was perfect. King needed to get out of here otherwise who knows what he'd do now. This situation couldn't get any worse. "Okay Gabriel, let's get this done with already," he insisted. "What do you want from me?" King looked up to find Gabriel's golden gaze very much intrigued. King stiffened because this alpha saw more than King intended him to see.

Gabriel sipped his coffee idly smiling at King. "How about I invite you to dinner at my house," he politely suggested. "We'll share some drinks, eat good food and then we'll discuss the details."

King was not amused at all. "I don't do dinners."

"That's fine," Gabriel shrugged. "I didn't really expect you to agree. Although, our Klaus cooks a great Sunday roast."

King froze in his seat. He looked up to meet Gabriel's amused gaze, the alpha's cheeky grin played over the rim of his cup. King didn't know much about this Centauri family, but right now, one thing was clear... Alpha Gabriel was a dangerous man indeed. Even though King really didn't do things like family dinners, he was curious about them and wanted to know more no matter how much he denied it. On top of that, King bit back from looking at Klaus this entire time.

"Fine," King gritted out.

Gabriel nodded in approval. "Great, I'll see you at seven," he got up from his seat buttoning his expensive suit's jacket. "I'll have someone pick you up-"

"No-" interrupted King. "I'll drive myself."

"I'll text you the address then," responded Gabriel.

"Okay," he said. King got out of his seat too. He stood and tried his hardest not to look at Klaus who was standing just a few feet away from him. He turned his way towards the door to leave as fast as he could.

"Klaus," Gabriel called out, "why don't you escort King to his car."

King stiffened. He muffled a curse under a harsh breath. "That's fine. I can go-" Klaus had already appeared by his side. "You don't need to," King said stiffly.

"I don't mind," Klaus said. "Besides, I'm heading out too." Klaus turned towards his brothers and waved before he opened the door for King. "Ready?" he asked.

King looked back at Gabriel. The alpha was grinning, a sly grin that irked King. "Tonight, at seven," reminded Gabriel.

King walked out of the room with Klaus; the one person he wanted to avoid this entire time. They crossed the long hallway and Klaus waved at the girl (calling her Cassie) at the secretary table before they both got onto the spacious elevator. King strode all the way to the end of the elevator, his back leaned against the metal railing and he grasped the handle.

"Is your car parked underground?" Klaus asked as his slender fingers hovered over the elevator button.

"Yes," King answered. Klaus clicked the button then. He turned to the side and leaned against the railing like King had done. "You didn't tell me you were a Centauri," mumbled King as he sipped his coffee.

"I don't give that name out so easily," said Klaus.

"You had no problem giving your first name," remarked King.

"What about you?" countered Klaus. "You gave me your name too. Didn't that seem dangerous?"

King grinned. "I felt no danger from you," he spoke the truth.

Klaus glanced towards King, his emerald eyes brightened under the white florescent light of the elevator. "Neither did I," he smiled sweetly. "You pose no threat to me, so I didn't mind giving you my name."

King chuckled which surprised Klaus. "You don't think of me as a threat," he said but his smile fell and bitter ice concealed his expression. "You should."

King straightened to his full height before he closed the small gap between them. The darkness in his deep sea-blue eyes returned and he glared down into Klaus's beautiful emerald gaze. Their legs brushed against each other, their chests mere inches apart. King felt the rush of need consume him when he sensed Klaus's wolf. King's gaze dropped from those emerald eyes, over the straight nose and then those lush lips. King's hand fisted the railing inside the elevator, otherwise the urge to touch Klaus was undeniably irresistible.

King didn't even notice when the elevator doors pinged open.

"Ahem-" a voice clearing interrupted them.

King backed away and he let Klaus pass first. He turned towards the open doors and found River standing in front of them, but River was also in Gabriel's office. The same blue eyes, dark black hair and dangerous attitude.

This man raised a brow at the scene in front of him, he frowned and crossed his bulky arms. "Who the hell are you?" The man stepped in front of Klaus, like he was protecting him from King, which was probably a good idea because King didn't know how much restraint he had himself.

"This is King Vitiello," informed Klaus from behind the man. "King, this is Ryder Drakov. River's twin brother."

King understood now why the two looked identical. He stepped out of the elevator and came face to face with the fierce Drakov twin. The man was King's height and just as muscular and definitely hot, but standing next to Klaus, King's interest was not piqued at all.

"Did you meet Gabriel?" asked Ryder.

King raised a brow at the man's domineering tone. "What does that have to do with you?"

"I was talking to Klaus," gritted out Ryder. He turned back towards Klaus. "Does Gabriel know that you're here?"

"Gabriel was the one who sent me," he answered. Klaus chuckled and patted Ryder's stiff shoulder. "Don't worry about me and go to your brother." Klaus went around Ryder and rejoined King's side. "Gabriel told me to escort King to his car, so I was just helping out."

Ryder smiled at Klaus but then he glared at King, which was quite amusing for King to witness. "Will you be alright by yourself?" he asked Klaus as his scowl pierced right through King's head.

Klaus nodded. "Come on, King," he said. "Get going or else River's going to kill you for being late, Ryder."

King followed Klaus through the glass doors outside to the parking area. Ryder didn't enter the elevator until King was surely far enough from his scowl. However, even with the distance, King could still feel Ryder's glare on his back; it was quite chilling and beyond awkward.

They crossed the parking lot area. "This one's me," said King as he stood in front of his grey Maserati.

Klaus stopped and turned, he looked at the rich car and then at King. "It was good seeing you again," he smiled sweetly. "I'm sure we'll be meeting a lot from now on though."

King took in a deep breath, which was a bad fucking idea because all he smelt was Klaus's candy sweet scent that was warm as honeyed sunlight. King needed to get the hell out of here because a parking lot wasn't appropriate for what he was thinking of right now.

"Thank you for bringing me to my car," King spoke a bit too stiffly. He couldn't believe that he forgot all his finesse just because he lost his footing in front of this endearingly cute pup.

"No problem," said Klaus. His emerald eyes glimmered when he stared at King like he knew that he unnerved the man.

King pulled open the car's door and eyed Klaus who was still waiting beside the car. "See you tonight, Klaus," he said wanting to know what Klaus would say back, but nothing unsettled Klaus's polite smile.

"Yeah," Klaus was confounded and it was clear in his eyes. "Sure."

King held those eyes for just a moment longer, an instant that filled his entire being and his wolf stood with intent, like the beast was watching Klaus too. King ripped himself away and got into his dark car. The windows were tinted, so Klaus couldn't see that King purposely kept his eyes averted away. As fast as he could, King drove off out of the underground area and as far as he could get from that enchanting male scent.

King didn't waste any time before he reached his lonesome manor at the edge of town in the middle of nowhere. His private property was surrounded by a fortress of trees, which he favoured because King loved a good run in his wolf form and no one needed to see a wild beast let loose in New York streets.

The tall black gates opened up to a singular path towards a dim grey bricked house, that had darkened windows and a massive white door at the front. King parked his car on the side near the garage, that was only meant for the King's collection of cars because there were never any visitors at his estate, he preferred his home to be unsullied by outsiders.

King climbed the stairs and without even ringing the doorbell or pulling out any keys, the door creaked open. Behind the big door, a young man who stood stiff and tall was King Vitiello's butler, Bone Barbieri. Bone was a simple man dressed in the finest Italian suit, his dirty blond hair was precisely combed without a single hair out of place and his blue eyes regarded everything without the slightest interest. Bone was as pale as his name implied and just as simple, but the one thing he was known for was his loyalty towards his young master.

"Welcome home, master," Bone greeted sternly.

King entered his house and Bone promptly closed the door. "Bone," he greeted back. King took off his jacket, Bone was quick to remove the jacket and empty coffee cup from his hands. They passed the large foyer and entered the open lounging room, that matched the entire black interior of the house.

"Would you like any refreshments?" asked Bone.

"I can pour my own scotch, Bone," King reminded for the hundredth time.

"I rather you wouldn't," affirmed Bone. "The fingerprints on the glass are a pain to get off."

King froze before touching the double glass square decanter, that was indeed sparkling brightly. He looked at his butler who was arthritically waiting for King to take a seat. King followed through without any complaint and took a seat near the dead hearth, that was always cleaned no matter how many times he had used it. In a few quick moments, Bone's hands which were covered in white gloves had handed King a crystal-clear glass full of golden brown scotch.

"I take it your trip was successful?" Bone asked.

King leaned back in the black chair, that matched pretty much everything else in the manor. "The Centauri's have invited me to dinner," he told Bone.

A flicker of interest piqued in Bone's blue eyes. "Did you agree?" he enquired.

King nodded. "Just out of curiosity," he answered.

"You do not do things out of curiosity," argued Bone. "What is it that you're not sharing, master?"

King swirled the liquid gold in his glass. He wasn't surprised that Bone called him out on his lie because he had been with Bone for over ten years now. They had met in the cage fights, King had beaten the man who tried to kill Bone, and ever since then, Bone has been by King's side. King had no clue why he had earned an admirer just from beating a man to death when that man deserved his punishment. King tried his hardest to convince Bone to live his life now that they were freed from cage fights, but this stubborn mule never listened and decided all on his own when he pledged himself under King's service.

"You're right," said King. "I found someone that I can't get out of my head."

Bone raised a brow. "Is this somebody part of the Centauri pack?"

"Not just a part of it," King sighed when he remembered, "he is one."

Bone stiffened. "Oh," he said. "Then I deem it wise to stay away from this particular person."

King's grin widened. He leaned back in the chair and stared up at the black chandelier above him. "I wonder if I said that I wanted to kiss him, touch him, devour him..." he mumbled softly. "If I wanted to make a complete mess of him... what sort of face would he make...?"

"I've never seen you like this before," said Bone.

"Because I never met someone who could take my breath away," responded King.

"What will you do?" asked Bone. "I heard the Centauri's are formidable foe and the worst kind of wolves to make an enemy out of."

"Would I agree to dinner if I wanted to make an enemy out of them?" replied King.

"Very well," said Bone. "I shall see to it that your finest suit is ironed."

"Why?" King asked. "Any will do."

Bone pierced his lips forming a strict frown. "Master shall dress to impress," he added curtly. "And I think a three-piece Tom Ford shall do the trick."

King let his butler go through the fuss over this emergency task, which required Bone's immediate attention. However, King wasn't too sure if a suit alone could seduce Klaus Centauri, not that he had any intention to seduce the man until Bone mentioned it. King didn't know what he was going to accomplish at the dinner tonight, more than anything though he wanted to see Klaus again. Deep inside, a light had flickered on and King was intrigued. He needed answers that only Klaus could give him.

Over and over again, the scene from last night played inside King's head. Those green eyes haunted him and he couldn't even close his eyes without seeing them or feeling them in his bones and despondent soul.

Bone returned with a curious frown. "Will master be joining the Centauri pack?" he asked carefully.

"No," answered King. "It's just dinner, Bone."

"I've heard a lot about the Centauri family," Bone stated grimly. "And they do not invite just anyone to dinner."

King got to his feet and faced Bone with an amused smirk. "And what could be worse than inviting the most dangerous killer in town for some Sunday roast?"

"Maybe this is a trap?" Bone advised as he followed King up the fleet of black stairs to the second floor.

"It could be," said King. They both entered the simple black bedroom that King wholeheartedly loved to come back to.

"And what if they plan to capture you?" Bone asked after.

"I doubt they would," said King as he entered his large bathroom, stripping out of the layers of his suit.

Bone followed and picked up the suit. "You would risk your safety over dinner with a stranger you met once?" he marvelled.

King met his butler's inquisitive eyes through the massive mirror. "This stranger was worth it," he mumbled remembering Klaus's smile.

Bone straightened to his immense height, which always reminded King what a dangerous fighter Bone was during his days. "Would you like me to prepare anything for your host tonight?" he asked.

King thought for a moment before he stepped under the hot spray of water. "Anything is fine," he instructed because he knew that Bone would handle it from there and it would be perfect without any of King's instructions.

"Very well," Bone replied. "I will have a bouquet of roses arranged."

King stuck his head out. "Flowers!" he astonished as a joke but when he saw Bone's stern expression. "Oh, you're serious about the roses?"

"Yes, master," he answered. "I do not make jokes about roses. Enjoy your shower as I arrange for your dinner at the Centauri's." Bone curtly bowed and left for his duties of his master.

King stood in the shower longer than he intended, but he needed something to help himself relax for tonight, because Bone was right. The last thing he wanted was to make an enemy out of the Centauri pack.

King leaned his hands against the black shower wall, his head lowered under the hot cascade of water that poured down his black hair and over the broad span of his back. The hot steam rose around the massive marble enclave and King had eased every tense muscle back under his control.

Dinner tonight was going to need a certain degree of charm and ease, so getting enchanted by Gabriel's baby brother was going to have to stop.

King raked his wet hair away from his face and prepared himself for the inevitable and unpredictable dinner with the Centauri pack.