CHAPTER 5

WAS I DREAMING?

I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I took in the man before me. 

The Alpha of Red's pack. 

Luca's father! 

Even with the flashing lights dancing across his face, there was no mistaking him. The strong jawline, the sharp glint in his eyes, the way his presence commanded attention without him even trying.

I couldn't breathe.

My eyes roamed carelessly over him. He looked much more handsome from a closer view, almost impossible to believe he had a son as grown as Luca.

But I couldn't let him know who I was. Not tonight. Not like this.

How would I explain myself if he did? Your son cheated on me, so I'm here to do the same by losing my priceless virginity to a stranger? Hell, no! 

I forced a coy smile, tilting my head just slightly, pretending to be just another girl at the bar. Someone he’d never met before. "You scared my company away," I purred, my voice lower than usual, hoping the makeup and the change in my hair were enough to throw him off.

His dark gaze ran over me slowly, drinking me in, and for a moment I thought—no, hoped—he hadn’t recognized me. 

There was something else in his eyes though, curiosity mingled with desire. "He wasn't worth your time," he said simply, his voice deep and rough, cutting right through the deafening music. 

I swallowed, hoping he couldn't see how nervous he was making me. 

I shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "And you are?"

He glanced at me, stepping closer, his body radiating heat and dominance. "That's something for you to find out for yourself." His voice had that same authoritative touch, but tonight, it sounded extremely hot. 

There was this dare in his voice that made me want to do as he said, but I held back. This is not why I'm here. Well, I'm here to flirt with a man and seduce him into spending the night with me, but not my arranged mate's father. 

I looked away, taking a huge sip of my drink. I was hoping if I stayed silent, and acted boring, he would go away, but he didn't.

“What's your name?" He demanded.

I held my breath. Oh no! Think fast, Raven. "Anna.” The name rolled off my tongue.

"Anna!” He breathed, making the name sound so damn sexy. "Beautiful name.”

Another long sip. "And what's your name, Alpha?” I blurted out, before I could stop myself.

He turned to me, his eyes burning yet enticing. "Is it that obvious?” He asked.

I held his eyes. "Yes. Only an Alpha exudes this enthralling aura, it makes me so nervous.” I don't know where the courage was coming from.

For the first time in the few minutes we met, his lips curved up into a smirk. Even that was extremely seductive. “It's the first time I don't mind that title.” He edged closer, "I want to hear you say it when you're pinned over the wall." 

Every nerve in my body became on edge. This was dangerous—he was dangerous—but for once, I wanted to be reckless. I wanted to forget everything, to drown in something other than betrayal and heartbreak.

I bit the corner of my lips subconsciously, “I can do that." I mumbled flirtatiously. 

His blue eyes bored into me, making bumps crawl on my skin. “I can also replace that nervous feeling with something else… something more intense… more pleasurable.” 

I swallowed. This is it, there's no going back now. “Why don't you?" 

Without a word, I let him take my hand, his grip firm yet careful, like he knew I might run if he held on too tight. He led me through the crowded bar, out into the cool night air, the music fading behind us.

He finally let go of my hand, and the next minute, he shifted. A gasp escaped my lips as his wolf came into view, black fur that shone like the night. And those eyes retained their black-hole quality—I couldn't look away. 

“Hop on!" I heard his voice in my mind.

I didn't hesitate. His fur was as soft as it looked, so comfortable I wanted to remain there forever. “Hold on tight, Anna." 

He began racing, my heart doing the run with him. The tension was thick between us. Each step into the woods felt like crossing a line I could never uncross, but I didn’t care. Not tonight.

Soon, a small cabin came into view, half-hidden by the trees, the soft glow of candlelight flickering through the window. It was simple, secluded — perfect.

He shifted back to his human form to open the door, standing aside to let me in first. My heart hammered in my chest as I stepped inside. The scent of woodsmoke and earth filled the air, grounding me just enough to keep me from trembling.

The door clicked shut behind us.

I turned to face him, every wall I had left crumbling under the weight of his gaze. My eyes fell on his bare chest, and I felt a pool beneath my legs. There was no pretense now, no need for words. I stepped into him, my hands sliding up his chest, feeling the hard muscle beneath his shirt.

He cupped my face, his thumb tracing my bottom lip, his touch sending a jolt straight through me. "Who are you?" he asked softly, the question hanging between us.

"No one," I whispered, my voice cracking slightly. "Just a girl who needed to escape."

He didn’t push for more. Instead, he kissed me.

It was gentle at first, almost hesitant, but the moment I responded—the moment I clung to him like he was the only thing keeping me upright—it turned desperate.

Clothes disappeared in a blur of hands and heat, my back pressing against the worn wooden wall as his mouth claimed mine again and again. Every touch, every kiss, every breath was laced with something primal, something neither of us could control.

He pinned me across the wall, making an extremely pleasurable assault on my neck. I moaned loudly, my legs turning to jelly.

“Call me Alpha!" He growled in my ears.

My legs pressed against each other, as I felt my arousal. “Alpha!" I cooed. 

He let out another growl. The next second, he lifted me effortlessly, my legs wrapping around his waist, and carried me to the small bed in the corner. There was no hesitation, no second guessing—only desire.

The world outside didn’t exist. It was only us.

For the first time in so long, I felt wanted. Needed. Like I wasn’t invisible.

I lost myself in him—in the way he whispered against my skin, in the way his hands knew exactly where to touch, in the way he made me forget every single heartbreak that brought me here.

It didn't even feel like my first time, I mean the pain everyone talked about, but it was surely the most special moment of my life. 

And when it was over, when we lay tangled together in the dim light, his arm heavy across my waist, I let myself believe—just for a second—that maybe I could be someone else.

But morning came too soon.

The soft light filtering through the window illuminated the room, and as the haze of sleep faded, reality crashed down on me.

I turned my head slowly, my heart stopping when I saw him—my Alpha—asleep beside me.

My eyes widened in shock. My Alpha.

My mate's father.

My body went cold, my mind spinning as the weight of what I had done settled over me like a stone.

What the hell have I done?