#Chapter 1: A Broken Heart and Several Shots

[Elara’s POV]

Tonight was the night I was going to lose my virginity. Everything was perfect as I waited for my boyfriend Brad.

I'd stayed up for three sleepless nights, planning Brad's birthday party. I scanned the party spot—everything was set up and ready for him. My fingers nervously straightened the sexy little number I had on under my dress.

It was all part of the plan.

When Brad finally showed up, I cheered, “Surprise!” along with all his friends.

I moved in to hug him, whispering in his ear, “My room, ten p.m. You'll have me. All of me.”

But he wasn't even listening; instead, his eyes were locked on my best friend, Jasmine, across the room, muttering ‘mate’.

Just as I was about to question him, Brad was across the room with his arms wrapped around her. The two locked lips in a passionate embrace, right in front of everyone.

The scene had me frozen in place. I was convinced this had to be some kind of nightmare. Before I could even process it, Brad pulled away from Jasmine just enough to announce to the crowd, “I've found my fated girl.”

The entire room—everyone but me—erupted in cheers and applause.

I tried explaining to the guy beside me, “I'm Brad's girlfriend. I'm the one who invited you all...”

He just rolled his eyes and looked away. As did everyone else. One of them even told me, with something sounding a lot like pity, “You should just go. You don't belong here.”

The room began to fill up with more of Brad’s friends. They all wore looks of prideful happiness and rowdy excitement for their friend.

“Thatta boy, Brad!”

“Good on you, man! You finally found her!”

“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”

What the hell was going on?!! No!!

My heart ceased in my chest as I watched my own boyfriend lean in and openly kiss Jasmine with a passion that not even I had ever met. And to think that these people were actually cheering as though it was something to celebrate.

It was all wrong. Days ago, Brad was whispering how badly he wanted to take our relationship further. I planned this perfect birthday party for my boyfriend. Me. Now I was ready, and he publicly claimed my best friend instead! How could they do this to me?!

Everyone was cheering for them like they were meant to be, while I—the actual girlfriend—ended up looking like the other woman.

I couldn’t bear the public humiliation any longer. When I moved to confront Brad, Jasmine got to me first—holding his arm. With her long blonde hair and pouty lips, she looked doll-like, perfect. And Brad was the campus king. It made me sick how right they looked together.

“What the actual hell is your problem?!” I hissed. Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes. “How could you treat me this way after all the time we spent together? How could you treat me this way?”

Jasmine was quicker. She stepped in front of Brad, all fake sympathy. “I'm so sorry, Elara. Please don't blame Brad—blame me. You're still my friend, I never wanted to hurt you, but we're just... meant to be.”

Brad cut her off, saying he needed to talk to me alone, and pulled me into a corner. He hardly showed an ounce of remorse. He shrugged his shoulders while flickering his gaze over to Jasmine. “Look, Elara...This isn’t something that someone like you would understand. Jasmine and I, we’re fated.”

Someone like me??

His half-assed explanation only sent my anger spiraling even further. I couldn’t believe it.

"You were the one who pursued me first..."

"Yeah, well, it's over now."

I’d always felt like the odd one out at Fairmont University. A majority of the student body consistently used terms that I never understood and mainly kept to the tight-knit cliques that they formed. When I came to be in a relationship with Brad, I was willing to accommodate his extroverted lifestyle.

I was willing to change for him...And this was what I got in return.

The words slipped past my lips. “You’re such an asshole,” I cried. “Everything I did for you...”

Brad gave me one last fleeting look before walking away to rejoin Jasmine as though I was nothing more than another stranger. My heart felt like it was going to fall out of my chest and hit the floor in a million pieces.

Glancing around, through blurred vision, not a single one of Brad’s rude friends seemed to even notice me. I suddenly felt like the lone outsider once again. Without so much as a word, I grabbed my bag and left.

I wiped the tears from my eyes and pushed down the ugly thoughts that threatened to take over my mind.

Why has every good thing in my life been taken away from me?

Upon returning to my dorm room, my roommate Ava was startled to see me return so early. She caught sight of my tears and immediately got up from her desk to comfort me with a much-needed hug.

I told her what happened with Brad and Jasmine. Ava didn’t seem all that surprised by what went down, which only made me feel more insecure.

“Honestly, I never trusted that Jasmine," she said. "She barely even knows you, yet she's been clinging to you like a shadow. It always felt calculated, like she was just using you to get to Brad. Don't waste another thought on someone like that.”

“Why wasn’t I enough for Brad?!”

Ava merely shook her head and wrapped a supportive arm over my shoulder. “You were enough, Elara. You just haven’t found your fated one yet. But I know you will, one day.”

I cringed with irritation.

“Ugh! I’m so sick of hearing that damn phrase,” I groaned. “Why the hell does everyone at this damn university talk like that?”

I never really wanted to attend Fairmont University in the first place, but had reluctantly agreed on account of my father. Our relationship had always been strained.

Ava must have noticed my worsening state and stood up. “Well, I don’t think we should let an outfit like that go to waste,” she stated. “We are going somewhere fun.”

I wasn’t really in the mood to go out, but I begrudgingly followed my friend out of our dorm to a hidden pub spot in town. The lighting was warmly dimmed, and my eyes were instantly drawn to all the tall, broad men who were hanging around the place.

Good God. Some of them were even bigger than the guys on campus.

Ava giggled. “Forget about Brad. Perhaps, you’ll find a more mature man here tonight.”

She skillfully guided us through the crowd and up to the bar. My initial thought was to order a milder drink. But my frustration was still buzzing beneath my skin.

“Two shots, please.”

Maybe I can drown my sorrows instead.

“Ooo, that guy over there is looking at you,” she hummed.

“Ava, I’m not interested in dealing with another guy right now,” I sighed. “The last thing I need to do is deal with another potential mistake.”

Ava headed off to the restroom, leaving me to my own ugly devices. After the first two shots, I came upon another one...and then possibly another.

The growing buzz dulled some of the ache in my chest, but it wasn’t enough to make me forget about what took place.

I wanted to forget about Brad and the way he so easily threw me away.

“My, my, aren’t you a pretty little human,” a greasy voice slurred from beside me.

I gave him the dry side-eye and tried to ignore him, but the man was annoyingly persistent. His hand slid closer to where mine was resting on the bartop.

“Leave me alone,” I said tightly. “I’m not looking for any company at the moment.”

The man chuckled; his cheeks burning red from all the beer he’d consumed. He moved closer, causing my senses to become invaded by his overpowering, unpleasant cologne.

“Aw, come on. There’s no need to play hard to get with me,” he hummed. “I can tell when a woman is looking for a quick and needy fuck.”

My stomach churned. I watched his hand try to reach out for me; however, the guy was viciously yanked back and tumbled to the floor. As I quickly got up from my seat, the room began to spin.

I lost my balance and felt my knees go weak. Before I could catch myself, a large set of hands curled around my waist and me close against a hard, warm chest.

Utterly dazed, I glanced up at the large figure who held me like some coveted possession. I couldn’t believe it. Looming over me, with the familiar honey-colored eyes I hadn’t seen in years, was my dad's best friend and my childhood crush.

My breathing was staggered. “...Killian?”