Chapter 4: A stranger in the Dark

Kiera’s pov

I stood outside Susan’s house, staring down at my phone. The screen was turned off now and my fingers tightened slightly before I exhaled shakily.

Everything inside me felt… wrong. Empty and cold. Or maybe—I had just changed.

Because the girl who had driven away from the pack house, crying and shaking and barely able to breathe… she didn’t feel like me anymore. That version of me had shattered somewhere along the road.

And what was left? I didn’t recognize her yet.

I swallowed hard, forcing my expression to look calm because no one could know. No one could know how badly I had messed up. How close I was to losing everything. How much I had already lost.

Before I could change my mind, the door in front of me opened and I saw Susan standing there.

“What’s wrong?” she asked immediately.

I shook my head quickly, forcing a small smile. “Nothing. I’m fine.”

She didn’t believe me. I could see it in the way her eyes narrowed, but for once… she didn’t push. Instead, she let out a quiet sigh and stepped aside.

“Come in,” she said.

I walked past her and the moment I stepped inside, I realized how quiet it was, and that made it worse. Because now there was nothing to distract me or stop my mind from going back to it.

To them. Rafael and Alice, having sex on my table.

I clenched my fists and swallowed painfully.

How did I not see it? How?

My father had warned me. And even Susan had never liked him. Not once.

“Something about him feels off,” she had said more than once.

And I had ignored her because I had been too caught up in how he made me feel.

I laughed softly under my breath, but there was no humor in it. “God, I was stupid…”

“Kiera?”

I blinked, realizing Susan was watching me again.

I straightened and forced my expression to relax. “Hmm?”

She tilted her head, studying me like she was trying to piece something together. Then, just like that, she changed the subject.

“I actually wanted to invite you somewhere,” she said.

I blinked, caught off guard. “Where?”

“The new club opening tonight,” she replied. “My family’s hosting it.”

A club?

I almost said no immediately because that was what I always did. I didn’t go anywhere without Rafael knowing and without his approval. It had become… my normal.

Susan even snorted lightly, like she already knew what I was going to say. “Actually, forget it,” she added with a smile. “There’s no point asking you. You’d say no unless your precious mate allows it.”

Something inside me snapped at her words. Because that version of me… the one who waited, the one who needed his permission—she suddenly felt… pathetic and weak.

And I didn’t want to be her anymore.

“I’ll come,” the words left my mouth before I could second-guess them.

Susan froze. “…Wait. What?”

“I said I’ll come,” I repeated.

She stared at me for a second, clearly shocked. Then a smile spread across her face.

She definitely knew something was wrong. I could see it in her eyes, but she also understood something else—I didn’t want questions. Not yet. I just wanted… to get away and escape for the night.

“Alright,” she said finally. “I’ll dress you up. Let’s go.”

—

The club was loud, overwhelming, and perfect. Because no one knew me here, no one was watching, and no one was expecting anything from me.

Even better—it was a costume night, so everyone was wearing a disguise.

“This is perfect,” Susan said, clearly pleased.

She had already handed me a dress before we left. It was tight and bold. Nothing like what I usually wore.

I had hesitated when I saw it.

“This is too much,” I had argued, but Susan had rolled her eyes. “It’s not too much. It’s exactly what you need.”

“I don’t wear things like this,” I muttered.

“Exactly,” she shot back. “Which is why you should.”

I looked at my reflection again, unsure.

“You look amazing,” she added, softer this time.

I didn’t fully believe her, but for once… I didn’t argue. Because I didn’t want to be the usual Kiera. Not tonight. In fact, not anymore.

Now, standing at the entrance of the club, I took a slow breath as the music hit me. It felt like stepping into another world. A world where I wasn’t weak. Where I wasn’t trapped, where I wasn’t Kiera, the betrayed mate.

I took a step forward, adjusting slightly in the ridiculously high heels Susan had forced me into.

And then—I bumped right into someone.

My breath caught instantly as I stumbled slightly, my hand instinctively reaching out to steady myself. But the person didn’t move, not at all. It was like hitting a solid, unmoving wall.

“I’m so—” I started, looking up.

And froze, because the man standing in front of me was… different.

Even with half his face covered by a mask, there was no missing it. It wasn’t just that he was attractive, it wasn’t just that he looked powerful. There was something else. There was something wrong with him.

The air around him felt heavier and thicker, like it was pressing down on me. My chest tightened and my instincts screamed at me. Not in curiosity or attraction… but in warning.

My wolf, which was usually quiet, weak, and almost nonexistent—began to shiver.

And for the first time in my life… I understood what fear was. Real fear.

The man’s eyes locked on mine in a predatory way, like he had already seen through me. Like he had already decided I was prey, and he had already chosen to hunt me.

My entire body went still, but one thought echoed in my mind: Run! KIERA RUN!

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, trying to step back.

But before I could move…. his hand shot out and wrapped around my wrist.

My breath hitched as alarm bells exploded in my head, and every instinct I had screamed at me…. that something was very, very wrong.