LILA'S POV Fresh air. Cool breeze.I didn't know where I was going, but I wasn't a stranger in this town.You know that cliché moment when Rapunzel's feet touch the grass for the first time? Yeah, that was me right now... except this wasn't my first time touching grass. This was my first time doing something simply because I wanted to.Screw his punishment. Screw him too.The lights flash red and gold as I step into the bar. It's loud. Crowded. Smells like whiskey, sweat, cologne, and maybe desperation. Perfect. This is the last place I would've picked for myself, but tell me about your least favorite place being the only damn option you've got. Well, that was me.I push the door shut behind me, not even blinking when some drunk idiot whistles. I walk past the stares, chin high, eyes forward, heart pounding like a war drum. My heels click against the floor like a challenge.I'm not supposed to be here. But that's the whole damn point.I slide onto a barstool like I own the place, eve
LILA POV I'm stunned. Just standing there, staring at him, my mouth slightly open, eyes wide in disbelief.What the hell just happened?What was I expecting? A kiss? An apology? Affection?Stupid.This is him. Cold. Ruthless. Distant. And he doesn't give a damn about me.I slowly rise from the bed, my breasts bare, flushed, rising and falling with every shaky breath. My clothes-ripped to shreds-lay scattered on the floor like the remains of my pride.Humiliation claws at my skin.I wrap the duvet around me, heart pounding in my ears, face burning in shame, and make my way to the door.This... this has to be one of the most humiliating moments of my life. He makes me feel insane. No-he drives me insane. I don't even know what he wants from me, and worse... I keep falling for him. Over and over again.Why?My heart is beating so loud, it feels like it's about to tear through my chest and crash onto the damn floor.What in the name of the Moon Goddess was I thinking?This is the same fu
RAFAEL POV If there's anything I never knew, it's that passion was such a huge deal.And sexual passion? That's a whole different kind of war.It doesn't knock politely. It crashes in, uninvited setting every inch of you on fire until you can't tell the difference between pain and pleasure, fear and desire, sanity and obsession.I certainly didn't remember walking her to the bed.I just remember the heat. The taste of her still lingering on my tongue. The fire curling deep in my gut, setting my veins ablaze like gasoline had been poured into every inch of me, and she was the fucking match.She laid there, breath ragged, lips parted, neck flushed pink. Sexy was on word. Fucking beautiful was another. How could she be this beautiful? How could she affect me this much? No one dares to bring out this part of me. No fucking one.Her eyes wide with something between want and wonder... but one thing I was sure of, there was no fear. No hesitation.She wasn't scared of me.Why the fuck isn't
LILA POV Tell me about coffee...People think it's just caffeine and warmth in a cup. A routine. A way to wake up. But to me?It's care.It's how I say, "You made it through the night," without fumbling for the right words. It's the quiet way I try to bring calm after chaos. Especially for him.Strong. Hot. Steady. Something he could hold when the rest of him felt like it was falling apart.After setting the meal on a tray, the beeping sound of my phone diverted my attention and I made to grab it. Staring at the caller, Ava. I inhaled a deep breath, hoping whatever was coming wasn't for the worse.I picked up."Hey, Lila, is everything alright? I had quite a scare, ""Everything is fine, Ava. At least I'm still breathing. I intended to call last night, but something happened, and I couldn't just..."I didn't get to finish before she cut me off."What happened? What did the big bad Alpha do now? Growled too loud? Did he shift and scare your soul out?"I chuckled softly, brushing my fi
RAFAEL POV I inhaled, exhaled. The wafting smell of brewing coffee penetrated through my nose. I'm in a daze-I can barely tell what's going on. What had happened? And why did this coffee smell so fucking nice?My tummy grumbled, and I let out a grumpy sound.What had happened? Flashes by flashes... The smell of tequila refreshed my memory as I recalled every incident-last night's attack, the tequila induction, and then another panic attack.The memories were fresh. This was the first time I was getting a panic attack twice in such a short span. The major trigger had always been darkness. But this morning was awkward-there was light, and still, it occurred.How did I get out of it? How...? I stilled at the realization.She was here.My eyes propped open, still sleep-filled. Ace howled gently. Ace wasn't a wolf that spoke too much-injured, battered, and restless. He's more vicious than I am. And the only way he vents is by being ruthless. He's a beast that's beyond taming.And now? Let
LILA POV Crashing on the bed after promising to take care of Rafael wasn't part of the plan.How it happened? I don't even know.Well, you can't blame me. It's fucking crazy how things just... change. In the blink of an eye.To everyone, Rafael is a cold, ruthless being. And to me? He's more than just cold and ruthless.He's dangerous. A risky game. A bold warning label on a bottle of regret, blunt, obvious, and still somehow tempting to the reckless.Who would've thought that someone so boldly Alpha, so dominant, would carry a fear like that?Not just a fear of the dark. A memory. A wound he keeps stitched up with pride and silence.Then I heard it. A muffled sound. Then a piercing scream. A growl, thick, rough, commanding.I jolted upright in bed. I was in my room. Rafael wasn't.That voice, that cry for help, it was coming from his room.My feet moved before I could even think. Barefoot. Fast.My beast was racing wildly... What the hell was happening again. I pushed the door open