Birthday Message

Xander Alekto was a force of nature; all sharp angles, piercing eyes, and a presence that demanded submission. But Valeria Castellanos never believed in submission. She stood before him, heels clicking against the marble floors of The Seraphine Lounge, the city’s most exclusive rooftop bar. The skyline glittered behind her, but Xander's gaze stayed locked on the woman who dared to challenge him. Tonight, the air buzzed with the kind of tension that made onlookers hold their breath, sensing that between them, power was more than a game.

Valeria lifted her glass, swirling the dark wine as if it held secrets only she could unravel. "You didn’t even use punctuation in your birthday message," she said, her tone soft but laced with razor-sharp amusement. Xander leaned back against the velvet booth, his jaw tightening. She always had a way of making him feel like a schoolboy caught red-handed; and he hated how much he liked it.

The lounge was a study in dark elegance, with low lighting casting shadows across the sleek black tables and crystal chandeliers reflecting the city lights. Jazz music floated through the air, smooth and sultry, like the tension simmering between them. Xander exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing.

"You’re still hung up on that?"

His voice was low, rough, but Valeria only arched a perfect brow, her silence louder than any reprimand.

He shifted closer, the scent of his cologne wrapping around her like smoke; dark, intoxicating.

"You think you can tame me, Val?"

he murmured, voice dipping into a dangerous whisper. Her lips curved into the slightest smirk, the kind that could unmake a man.

"Tame you?"

she echoed, setting her glass down with a quiet clink.

"No, Xander. I’m here to make you better. Whether you like it or not."

Outside, the city stretched endlessly, lights bleeding into the horizon as the night deepened. The wind whispered secrets across the rooftop, cold against the warmth of their proximity. For a heartbeat, the world felt like it held its breath; just them, the quiet hum of music, and the promise of something dangerous unraveling between them. And as Xander's hand brushed against hers, the weight of his touch searing through her skin, Valeria knew one thing: this was only the beginning.

The city lights sprawled beneath them, glittering like fallen stars. From their corner booth at The Seraphine Lounge, the world felt distant, quiet; but the tension between Valeria and Xander hummed like a live wire. Valeria swirled her wine, watching the crimson liquid catch the low light. Her gaze flicked to Xander, who sat across from her, arms folded over his broad chest, his jaw tight. She allowed herself a moment of satisfaction. At least he remembered. March 27th. Late, yes; but the message had come. She should be pleased. Should.

"And that’s all you have to say?"

Valeria finally broke the silence, her voice calm, almost too calm. Xander’s brow furrowed.

"I said happy birthday."

His tone was defensive, like he didn’t understand why they were still having this conversation. Valeria’s lips parted in disbelief, her head tilting ever so slightly.

"Yes, Xander. 'Happy birthday.' No punctuation. No apology. Just two words tossed into my messages like… like a grocery list."

Xander scoffed, running a hand through his dark hair.

"You’re upset about punctuation now?"

He leaned forward, his piercing eyes narrowing.

"I remembered, didn’t I? It’s not like I forgot."

The heat in his voice made nearby guests glance their way, but Valeria only raised her brow; that quiet, lethal arch that made even this Alpha hesitate.

"Yes, you remembered. After the clock struck midnight."

Valeria’s voice was smooth, but her words cut sharper than glass.

"Do you think being handsome excuses everything? News flash, Alekto; it doesn’t."

She leaned back, arms crossing elegantly over her chest.

"An apology wouldn’t kill you. Or are you too Alpha for that?"

Xander’s jaw tensed, his pride prickling under her cool scrutiny. He exhaled slowly, fingers tightening around his glass. For a moment, he said nothing; just stared at her, as if daring her to push him further. The air between them grew heavy, electric, until finally, he leaned in, his breath warm against her ear.

"I’m not apologizing over a text message."

His voice was a low rumble, dark and dangerous.

"But if you want me to make it up to you… I have other ways."

Valeria met his gaze, unflinching.

"Try starting with 'I’m sorry.' Then we’ll see if you survive the rest."

Xander shifted in his seat, fingers curling around his glass as if it were the only thing keeping him grounded. The weight of Valeria's stare made the air feel thick, heavy with unspoken expectations. He wasn't used to this; the pressure to apologize, to admit fault. His pride warred with the quiet guilt simmering beneath his skin. For a moment, his lips parted, but no words came. Instead, he exhaled sharply, pushing himself to his feet with a grace that belied the turmoil inside him. Valeria arched a brow, watching him carefully as he paced toward the edge of the rooftop, the city lights casting sharp angles across his face.

He stood there, jaw tight, fists clenched at his sides. Apologies weren't his thing; they never had been. But this wasn’t about the birthday message anymore. It was about her. Valeria, with her unyielding gaze and quiet strength, had a way of stripping him bare without ever lifting a finger. She wasn’t asking for much. Just a few words. An admission. Yet even now, with the weight of her expectation pressing against his spine, he couldn’t force them out. Instead, he turned, crossing the room in long, purposeful strides, his eyes dark with intent.

Without a word, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. Valeria’s breath caught, her eyes narrowing in suspicion as he dropped it onto the table between them.

"Consider this my apology,"

he said, voice low and rough, though his gaze never wavered. The box sat there, innocent and unassuming, but the weight of what it held was palpable. Valeria eyed it warily, then flicked her gaze back to him.

"You think you can trade apologies for gifts?"

she asked, her tone smooth, laced with amusement and something sharper.

"Typical."

Xander said nothing. Instead, he leaned down, bracing his hands on either side of her chair, caging her in.

"No,"

he murmured, his breath ghosting over her skin.

"But I’m not good with words, Val. I show things. I prove them."

His eyes dropped to her lips, dark lashes shadowing his gaze. Slowly, deliberately, he cupped her chin, tilting her face up to meet his.

"I may not say sorry the way you want me to… but I can promise you this."

Then he kissed her. Slow and deep, pouring everything he couldn’t say into the touch; his pride, his guilt, his unspoken devotion. When he pulled back, breathless, he rested his forehead against hers, voice barely more than a whisper. "Happy birthday, Valeria." He pulled back just enough to smirk, a flicker of that Alpha arrogance returning.

"Next time, I’ll remember the punctuation."

Valeria stared at him for a long moment, her heart racing, her mind spinning. And then she laughed softly, shaking her head.

"You’re impossible,"

she muttered, but there was no heat in her words; only warmth, affection, and the faintest glimmer of satisfaction. Maybe she didn't need to tame him. Maybe she just needed to show him how to be the kind of Alpha who could be both strong and sweet, dominant yet devoted. And judging by the way Xander watched her now; dark eyes softening, a rare tenderness slipping through the cracks of his pride; she knew she was already halfway there.

Xander turned on his heel, the polished soles of his shoes clicking against the sleek marble floor of The Seraphine Lounge. The city lights spilled through the glass walls, casting a soft glow on his sharp profile; the chiseled jaw, the perfect slope of his nose, and the faint smirk tugging at his lips. Every step he took radiated power and grace, his tailored suit draping effortlessly over broad shoulders, exuding the kind of quiet arrogance that made people stop and stare. Even walking away, he commanded attention.

Valeria watched him, her wine glass poised delicately between her fingers. Her gaze lingered on the way his muscles shifted beneath the expensive fabric, the slow, deliberate stride that screamed dominance. She let out a soft hum, eyes glinting with mischief.

"Show-off,"

she muttered, though the corners of her lips curled in amusement. Then, as if sensing her stare, Xander glanced over his shoulder, their eyes locking across the dimly lit lounge.

For four long seconds, the world seemed to still. Xander's dark gaze held hers, curiosity flickering behind those stormy eyes. Valeria’s expression didn’t waver. She merely raised her glass, a silent toast, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. Xander frowned, something unsettling pricking at the back of his mind; but before he could move, a sudden wave of dizziness crashed over him. His vision blurred, knees buckling.

The glass slipped from Valeria’s fingers, shattering against the floor as Xander collapsed. Gasps echoed around the lounge, the soft murmur of conversation shifting into hushed panic. Valeria remained calm, rising slowly from her seat, her heels tapping a measured rhythm across the marble as she approached his unconscious form. Her people moved swiftly, shadows slipping through the crowd, and within moments, Xander’s wrists were bound in sleek crown cuffs; restraints made to subdue even the strongest of Alphas.

She knelt beside him, brushing a lock of dark hair from his forehead, a quiet satisfaction gleaming in her eyes.

"Tsk, tsk,"

she whispered softly, leaning closer.

"You’re handsome, love… but still so predictable."

Standing tall, she dusted off her hands and turned to her team with a flick of her wrist.

"Take him. He needs… discipline."

As they carried him away, the city lights shimmered behind her; and in the heart of The Seraphine Lounge, Valeria’s game had only just begun.

Xander's head lolled to the side, the cool leather of Valeria’s car seat pressing against his cheek. The soft hum of the engine mixed with the distant sound of tires crunching over rocky terrain. The road twisted along a steep cliff, moonlight slashing through the trees, casting shadows across his face. His wrists burned slightly from the crown cuffs, locked behind his back, keeping him restrained. When he finally stirred, the first thing he felt was the soft pinch of fingers on his cheek.

“Rise and shine, Alpha.”

Valeria’s voice was smooth, teasing, laced with quiet amusement. Xander blinked, his dark lashes fluttering open to meet her smirking face. Her fingers drifted from his cheek to his lips, tracing them softly. The warmth of her touch sent a shiver down his spine, but the pressure against his wrists quickly reminded him of his predicament. He tugged against the cuffs, muscles flexing, but they held firm.

“What the hell, Valeria?”

His voice was rough, still thick from sleep. He shifted in his seat, broad shoulders rolling as he tried to sit up properly, but the cuffs forced him to lean back. His legs sprawled wide, thighs tense as the car jolted over another bump.

“Is this your idea of a joke?”

His eyes narrowed, sharp and accusing.

Valeria only hummed, reaching down to the velvet box he’d dropped earlier at the lounge. She flipped it open with delicate fingers, her breath catching softly when she saw what lay inside. “Well, well,” she murmured, holding up the gift for a better look. Nestled in soft black velvet was a breathtaking terrarium; but not just any terrarium. It was a masterpiece of glass and gold, cradling a single blooming lotus suspended in pristine water, its petals soft as moonlight. The craftsmanship was exquisite, the glass etched with delicate patterns that shimmered under the dim light.

Xander shifted, watching her carefully.

“I was going to give it to you properly,”

he muttered, jaw tight.

“Before you decided to kidnap me.”

Valeria chuckled softly, turning the terrarium in her hands, the light catching on its edges.

“How romantic,”

she mused, her voice softening for a moment.

“An expensive lotus terrarium… You do have taste, I’ll give you that.”

She set it carefully on the seat between them before turning back to him, eyes glinting with mischief. Her hand reached out again, this time tracing the bridge of his nose, soft and teasing.

“But you’re still not off the hook.”

Xander inhaled sharply, trying to ignore the way her touch sent sparks dancing across his skin.

“You’re insane.”

His voice was low, dangerous, but there was no real heat behind the words. The car jolted again, the rocky road twisting higher into the forested hills. Xander braced himself, legs spreading wider to keep steady as the vehicle swayed. Valeria only smiled, unbothered, leaning back against her seat with an air of satisfaction.

“Maybe,”

she murmured, watching the shadows play across his face.

“But I’m not the one in cuffs.”

The smirk that tugged at her lips was pure wickedness. As the car climbed higher into the night, Xander’s glare burned into her; but beneath that simmering frustration, something else flickered. Submission wasn’t in his nature… but Valeria? She might just be the one to change that.

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