Chapter 31
Rebecca’s POV
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I forced a laugh, my voice sounding hollow even to my own ears. “Sterling Group spares no expense, apparently.”
The driver approached, offering a respectful nod. “Ms. Brown? I’m Raymond. Mr. Sterling sent me to escort you to the residence.”
“Right. Thank you,” I replied, suddenly feeling terribly out of place. My heart fluttered nervously in my chest as I looked at the gleaming Bentley, so out of place in Sofia’s modest neighborhood.
I hugged Sofia one last time, clinging to her a moment longer than necessary. My fingers trembled slightly against her back. “I’ll see you tomorrow. One o’clock.”
The Bentley glided through the evening traffic, its engine barely audible. I sat stiffly in the back seat, my shoulders tense, hands folded tightly in my lap. The leather beneath me was butter–soft, interior immaculate. I felt like an intruder, as if at any moment someone would realize I didn’t belong here and throw me out.
Raymond caught my eye in the rearview mirror. “First time in a Bentley, Ms. Brown?”
I nodded, heat rising to my cheeks. “Is it that obvious?”
He chuckled, the sound warm and unexpectedly friendly. “Most people either try too hard to look unimpressed or they bounce on the seats testing the springs. You’re just sitting there looking like you might break something expensive.”
the
Despite the knot in my stomach, I managed a small smile. “Well, I probably couldn’t afford to replace the ashtray in this car, so that’s a legitimate concern.”
“No ashtrays,” Raymond replied, with a grin. “Mr. Sterling doesn’t smoke, Says it dulls the senses.”
“Oh.” I filed that information away, though I wasn’t sure why I cared. My fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of my blouse. “Have you worked for Mr. Sterling long?”
Raymond nodded, smoothly changing lanes. “Five years as one of his personal drivers. Though I have other duties in the pack as well.”
My stomach tightened at the casual reference to werewolf life. “You’re a werewolf too?” The question
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Chapter 31
came out quieter than I intended.
“Delta rank,” he confirmed. “We handle security, enforcement, that sort of thing.”
E
I processed this, remembering what Sofia had told me about pack hierarchy. Alpha at the top, then Beta, Delta, and Omega. William had been vying for a Delta position before I’d discovered his
betrayal. The memory sent a fresh wave of hurt through me.
“So you’re… important,” I said awkwardly, picking at a non–existent thread on my jeans.
Raymond laughed again. “Compared to some, yes. Compared to Mr. Sterling? Not even close. He’ll be Alpha soon, and he’s already the most powerful wolf in the territory after his father.”
I glanced out the window, watching as we left the city center behind. The buildings grew more
spaced out, more exclusive. “I’m just a human,” I said softly, more to myself than to Raymond. My throat tightened. “I don’t even rank on your scale.”
In the mirror, Raymond’s expression grew serious. “Don’t sell yourself short, Ms. Brown. Mr. Sterling doesn’t surround himself with people who aren’t valuable in some way.”
I laughed bitterly, blinking back unexpected tears. “I’m not sure ‘valuable‘ is the word I’d use for my
position.”
“Whatever position you hold, Mr. Sterling selected you personally. That counts for something in our
world.”
I fell silent, unsure how to respond. My hands clenched and unclenched in my lap. I certainly couldn’t explain the true nature of my “position” to this man, werewolf or not.
After a few minutes, I spoke again, my voice small. “I feel ridiculous having you drive me around. I’m nobody important.”
Raymond’s eyes crinkled with amusement in the mirror. “It’s not about who you are, Ms. Brown. It’s about who Mr. Sterling is. And Mr. Sterling is a man whose orders we follow without question.”
The simple statement sent a chill down my spine, making my skin prickle with goosebumps. It reminded me just what kind of man–what kind of creature–I’d made a deal with. Dominic Sterling commanded this kind of loyalty, this kind of power, as naturally as breathing.
