The Alpha and His Contract Luna
40. Charity gala.

Sebastian.

I swipe everything off my desk in frustration. How the fuck is it possible that these men continue toevade me. There's still no clue on the men that attacked Krystal. Nor the serial killer that continueshunting down both werewolves and humans.

My breathing comes hard and fast. What the hell was I missing? There has to be something.Something I am missing. Or I wasn't doing something correctly .

I was supposed to be the alpha of alphas, not that I was bragging or anything. Yet these mencontinue being a mystery to me. They continue eluding me.

“Maybe we are looking at it from the wrong perspective?” Fang chimes in.

I reply irritatedly. “I'm pretty sure we've looked at from all angles and perspectives”

I collapse on my seat, running my hand through my hair. Today was the charity event. I've probablyruined my hair with continually running my hand through it, but fuck it. Who cares if my hair isperfectly styled when I have more important things to focus on?

“I'm just saying” Fang says with a shrug. If you could even call it a shrug.

“Unless there is something we are missing then we've exhausted all possibilities” I repeat, sighing indefeat.

Things were just not adding up. I didn't know what to fucking do especially with the murders. Thosepeople died in a very fucking painful way and I can't even get justice for them. Or catch the bastarddoing it thus prevent more deaths.

Every day I hope and pray that we will replace a clue. Every day I am fucking disappointed when I don't.I've put everything in my life on a stand still including my work, just so I can focus on this case. Yet Ihave made no progress.

Let me not even start on Krystal's case. She was attacked in my fucking compound. I promised Redwhen she signed the contract that she'll have my protection. Yet she and her daughter have beenattacked while in my care.

Every fucking day I remember that day in the clearing. When I found Lauren crying her heart outwhile holding Krystal in her arms. I remember the three slashes on Krystal's back.

I remember the blood that soaked her clothes and how pale she was. It fucking gutted me when shescreamed as her wounds were being cleaned. It destroys me that just like I've disappointed thefamilies of the murder victims by not catching the killer. I have also let Krystal down by not catchingthe men that attacked.

“It's not your fault Bash. You can't always control everything that happens” Fang tells me, sadnesssipping into his voice. He may not want to admit but he was feeling the same kind of failure I was.

I don't answer him. There was no need because I won't be able to get rid of the guilt. Not until Icatch the people responsible.

There's a knock on my office door. I compose myself and look up just as James, Monica's matecomes in. He bows and I groan.

"How many times have I told you not to do that shit James?” I glare at him.

He just shrugs. “You know I'll never listen”

He and Monica have been with me long before my parents died. They were like a second set ofparents to me. They were a big help when I had to take my alpha title at just seventeen. Theybasically raised me.

I shake my head at him. I wasn't in any mood to argue. “What is it?"

“You'll be late for the gala. Monica informs me the Luna is ready and she’s about to come down”

I look at my watch. We were already thirty minutes late. I didn’t care though. The only reason I waseven going was because I was the benefactor of the event. This would also be Lauren's and I's firstofficial public appearance as a couple.

“Fine lets go” I reply, getting up from my chair.

We get to the living room just as Lauren descends the stairs.

Fuck! I said I wouldn't ever touch her but she was making it fucking impossible to abide to the rules."Wow...you look pretty” I hear Jax say.

He was standing hand in hand with Krystal. Both of them looked at Lauren in awe and wonder. I hadnot even noticed them until I spoke.

Lauren comes down from the last step and twirls around in front of the kids.

"How do I look?” she says with a big smile.

She had a black sequin backless gown with a plunge neckline. Her hair was done in a sort ofcomplicated updo with some loose tendrils, making her look sexy and classy at the same time. Hermake up wasn't over the top. Simple in a way that drew attention to her hazel eyes.

“Like a queen” Krystal answers.

Lauren just laughs before bypassing the kids and coming to me. She gives me a shy smile.

"You ready to go?” I ask clearing my throat.

Fuck! This evening was going to be fucking hard. I can't wait to be done with it.

She nods her head before turning to the kids. “Okay, come give me some love before I leave”Immediately they scramble to her. She bends down giving me the perfect view of her perky ass. Igroan internally, suppressing whatever attraction was trying to rise up.

She hugs the kids one by one. Krystal seems used to it but I see the emotions playing in Jax's eyes.Miranda never hugged him. So to have Lauren give him that when she didn't need to. Moves me ina way I don't want to acknowledge.

"We're going to be late” I growl in irritation.

We were already late, but I just wanted her ass away from my face. She finishes hugging them andtelling them goodnight and we leave.

Since it was a gala, we would be taking the limo. We replace Hunter waiting for us in a suit. I usherLauren in and we drive off.

“Is there anything I need to do, or names of people I need to know?” She asks a few minutes intothe ride.

Our section of the limo was soundproof so Hunter couldn't hear what we were talking about. I fillher in on what's needed.

My business partners, investors and who to keep an eye on. We also get our stories straight all thewhile I can't get my fucking eyes off her.

We get to our destination. Just like it's expected there are reporters which I fucking hate. Hunteropens the door for us and I get out first. I hold out my hand for her and help her out. The momentwe do, we are surrounded by paparazzi.

I wrap my hand protectively around her waist, as Hunter tries to push them away.

“Mrs Ashford, this is your first public event with Sebastian Ashford, how does it feel?” one of themasks.

“You look stunning Lauren, is the dress from one of your collections?”

"Are you on good terms with Darren and Miranda?”

They keep bombarding us with questions and it's fucking annoying. I feel a rumble trying to make itpast my throat but I push it down. We finally are able to get past them and get into the hall. If I hadthought outside was hard then inside was fucking worse.

"Sebastian, glad to have you here, and the fact that you've brought your beautiful wife with you"Mark says rushing to us.

He's one of the many people who have been trying to get me to invest in their failing business. Thehad no potential to ever rise back up again but they never fucking see that.

Lauren smiles at him while I just groan. The ass kissing always gets to me. Everyone trying to get inbusiness with Sebastian Ashford. Or trying to get me to invest in their company. It's fucking grateson my nerves.

He talks but I don't even pay attention. He realizes that and switches to Lauren. Either she’s a goodactress or she is genuinely interested in what he was saying, because she engages him.

“If you'll excuse us I think my wife is parched” I cut him off.

Without waiting for an answer I pull Lauren away. I wanted to get this over and done with. Wewould stay for a little while then make an excuse and leave.

“That was rude Sebastian” Lauren scolds me. I scoff.

A waiter offers us some champagne. I would have preferred something stronger to deal with theheadache. But the champagne would have to do.

"And he wasn't?" I ask her. She looks confused but I don't give her any explanation.

Fuck, I needed to leave. The feel of Lauren's curve under my palm was driving me crazy. Fang wasn'tfaring well also.

"Are you okay?” she asks, staring at me in question.

I groan and nod. Surveying the room. I spot one of my business partners, Alpha Garret. He wasaround my age and he was the perfect distraction.

I lead Lauren avoiding anyone who wanted to speak to me. We were being given curious eyes.Women eyeing me up, while the men eye fucked Lauren which just pissed me the fuck off.“Sebastian” Garret answers with a smile. Clapping me on the back.

He turns to Lauren and his smile gets bigger.

“Damn, if you weren't already mate-d, I mean married to Bash I would already have claimed you asmine” he says which makes Lauren laugh.

The sound goes straight to my dick. I snarl lowly. Was the bastard trying to get me to expose oursecret or what?

“No need to get all snarly at me Bash” he says with a smirk.

“I like you” Lauren tells Garret with a chuckle and I tighten my arms around her waist. “But I'm a oneman type of woman. Sebastian will forever be the only man I want and need”

She finishes and leans into me. Making Fang and me relax a little bit. I don't know how she is able tomake me lose this much control.

No woman, not even Miranda has ever made me feel this way. The need to gouge out the eyes ofevery fucking man in the room who so as much turns their eyes in her direction.

I was just starting to relax when Lauren stiffens beside me. I look down at her to replace her handsfisted and her eyes blazing like a raging fire. I turn to look at where she was staring at. Only to replaceher looking at Darren and Miranda who had walked hand in hand

It pissed me off to see them here but what got my teeth grinding though, was the hunger and lustthat was on Darren's face as he stared at Red.