Chapter 1

Lila

The burn in my throat was sharp yet oddly soothing, chasing away the storm of emotions threatening to pull me under. I set the glass down with a shaky sigh, trying to gather the scattered pieces of my resolve. No. I wasn’t going to let my heartbreak win tonight.

“You need to get drunk, forget everything, and actually live for once,” Sophia declared, pouring me another drink, her tone as unapologetic as her glossy red lipstick.

Elena smirked, leaning in closer, her voice dripping with mischief. “Or better yet, the fastest way to forget a man? Get under another one. Preferably one with abs carved by the gods and a tongue that knows its way around,” she added, sliding the vodka bottle toward me with a wink.

I couldn’t help the bitter laugh that bubbled up, though tears threatened to follow. My father’s harsh words echoed in my mind—words that had crushed me more than I’d ever admit.

“You’re just an omega, a low ranked she-wolf, Lila. And I was cursed with having a weakling so just be grateful that I’m not throwing you out of the pack and letting you live with dignity.” He had said it to his five-year-old daughter who had just lost her mother. 

The memory hit like a punch to the gut, but I shoved it down, swallowing my pain. 

I should have been at the party, celebrating my union with Alpha Sheldon right now, smiling for pictures, and accepting congratulations. Instead, I’d run away to a club, drowning in alcohol and the company of my two best friends. All thanks to my fiancé and the fated mate he claimed to have rejected before getting involved with me. A liar through and through. 

If no one else cared about my worth, then I’d carve my own path. I wasn’t a weakling, I hadn’t just shifted into my wolf form yet. They were unaware of my combatting skills. 

“Stop overthinking and go for it, honey,” Sophia urged, snapping me out of my spiraling thoughts.

“Fuck it,” I muttered under my breath, grabbing the vodka bottle and taking a long, defiant swig.

“Now that’s my girl!” Elena whooped. “And while you’re at it, find someone who actually knows what to do with his mouth,” she teased, her grin downright wicked.

Fueled by the alcohol and their encouragement, I rose from my seat, claws flashing as I tore a slit into the front of my gown. My long hair cascaded down as I released it from its tight bun, earning cheers from my friends.

“I’m going to dance and get under someone who at least knows how to kiss,” I declared, making a gagging face. 

“Better knows how to eat you up and please a woman,” Elena whispered in my ear, making me giggle. “You go girl, we will prepare a surprise for you.” Her voice told me that it was something naughty, but I didn’t resist this time.

Every pair of eyes in the bar seemed to land on me, their curiosity palpable. Good. Let them stare. Tonight, I wasn’t the obedient daughter or the dutiful fiancée. Tonight, I was free.

The bass from the speakers pulsed through me as I moved to the center of the dance floor. I let the rhythm take over, swaying my hips and losing myself in the beat. For the first time in years, I felt alive.

But the sensation of being watched prickled at the back of my neck, sending a thrill down my spine. I turned, catching the piercing gaze of a man across the room. He was stunning, his teal-blue eyes smoldering as they locked onto me over the rim of his glass.

Before I could gather my thoughts, a stranger’s hands gripped my waist, pulling me against him.

“Hey, gorgeous,” he murmured, his breath hot against my ear as he moved with me. He was raking of alcohol, making me feel nauseous. 

“Take your hands off me,” I said, my voice low and warning. But instead of retreating, he tightened his grip, his hand sliding lower.

“You’ve got a lot of attitude for someone this sexy,” he said with a smirk, his fingers trailing places they had no right to be.

Fury ignited in my chest. I was about to spin around and claw him to shreds when a scent hit me—a dark, woodsy aroma mixed with dark chocolate. My wolf stirred, alert and yearning. Maybe she would come forth tonight to protect me, and I would finally shift...

“Let her go.”

The voice was low, commanding, and enough to make the air in the room shift. The man behind me stilled, his bravado evaporating as he took a step back.

I turned to face my rescuer, and my breath hitched. It was the same stranger, his presence powerful and magnetic. He stood close, his towering frame shielding me from the crowd. I looked at his chiseled jaw in awe, my fingers yearning to trace his jawline. His square face turned toward me, and I met the most gorgeous teal-blue eyes. My heart skipped a beat when he smirked down at me, and his cheeks flexed his dimples. 

“Are you okay?” His voice was softer now, laced with concern.

I nodded, unable to find my voice.

“Good,” he said, smirking as he leaned in just enough for only me to hear. “Such a gorgeous woman shouldn’t be alone on the dance floor.”

I flushed, my heart racing as his scent surrounded me.

“Who are you?” I asked in a breathless voice, failing to get hold of me. 

“You have a bad habit of staring at strangers, then,” he smirked. 

Without waiting for a response, he scooped me into his arms effortlessly.

“Wait—what are you doing?” I gasped, glancing around to see Sophia and Elena grinning and blowing kisses from across the room.

‘You’re welcome, babe,’ Sophia mind-linked with a giggle.

‘Enjoy your night with Mr. Sexy,’ Elena added.

I didn’t protest. Instead, I let my fingers trace the hard line of his jaw, marveling at how warm his skin felt. He carried me into a private room, the door clicking shut behind us.

“Strip,” I demanded boldly, surprising even myself as he threw me on the bed. I was determined to do the exact opposite of what I was told to do. My father told me to be submissive, but I won’t for tonight. He told me to be a good girl and not to go to the night clubs, but here I was with a call boy. 

“That should have been my word.” His lips quirked into a cocky grin.

I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow. “Do I look like I repeat myself?”

He chuckled, his amusement evident, before ripping off his shirt in one fluid motion. My breath caught at the sight of his sculpted torso, every muscle defined and gleaming under the dim light.

“Happy?” he asked, his voice rich with amusement. “You have driven me crazy, darling. I want those hips,” he paused and grabbed my thigh from the slit, pulling me closer and adding, “grinding against mine.” 

His touch tingled the sparks in my body, awakening those non-existent butterflies in my stomach I never had in my six months of relationship. 

I didn’t reply, my gaze fixed on him as he leaned closer, his hand cupping my face. Sparks ignited where his skin met mine, sending shivers down my spine.

“Tell me I’m your first, baby,” he said, pinning me under him possessively in a swift move. Sheldon had never gone beyond making out with me but I was glad now that he didn’t. 

My heart was galloping in my chest. I nodded, my heart pounding as his lips claimed mine in a searing kiss, leaving no room for hesitation. His lips moved swiftly, savoring my lips before tugging at the corner of my mouth, seeking an entrance inside. 

His hands tore away the remnants of my gown, discarding it with a careless flick. His half-lidded eyes locked on mine as he whispered, “It will hurt a little, so hold me tight, baby. I promise to be gentle.” 

Why was my wolf going crazy? It was the first time she had reacted to someone because she was mostly nonchalant about the surroundings and others.