Chapter 2

Aliyah's POV 

Leah wasn't having no for an answer. She tugged on my arm and led the way, a cab waiting just outside with its door open. Unlike most other students in Rising Moon, Leah always had an eye for the finer things, and what was more interesting was her ability to afford it.

Before I could voice that thought, she beamed. "We're splitting the bill. I've splurged enough for one semester."

"Or we could stay at home?" I offered, doing my best to change the night's outcome.

It was Becca that scoffed first. "You're not skipping your own birthday celebration, Ali. You're turning 21. That's a big deal."

I groaned. "It's not really a big deal. I got my wolf a year early. If I was going to find a mate, I would have done it already."

Kelly piped up. "We're voting tonight, anyway. So get in the damn cab and stop stalling."

Knowing I couldn't win against all three of them in this state of extreme determination, I bowed my head and sat in the back of the car. Leah sat beside me, and Becca rounded the car to sit by my left. That left Kelly calling shotgun.

By the time we arrived at the club they had chosen, my nerves were all over the place. This place was huge, and worse, it was freaking expensive. 

I sighed. "Guys, I don't think any of us can afford this place on a student budget."

Kelly produced a slim, black card from her gold purse. "Leave that to me."

"Where did you get that?" I asked, knowing a premium membership card even though I'd never been to a place like this.

She gave me an expression that screamed 'duh'. "Where else? At the club. It's owned by Elias' family."

"By Elias, do you mean your obsessive, stinking rich ex-boyfriend with anger issues and a daddy fetish?" Becca asked, the distaste evident in her voice.

Kelly's eyes rolled, but she wasn't taking offense. "It's not like we're together anymore. And to buy my silence, he can only behave."

She left us there and stormed over to the front of the building, stopping in front of two burly men who I assumed were bouncers.

They scanned her card, and she turned to wave us in. "Are you girls coming or not?"

We hurried into the club, taking the exterior in with wide eyes and a round of wows. I had never been in a place this extravagant before. 

Among the other girls in my room, I was the only one who didn't have a family, or wealth. So I wore more surprise than either of them did.

"Come on," Kelly urged. "We have a booth all to ourselves, courtesy of the birthday girl."

I frowned. "Me? I haven't been here before. How are they..."

"I have a premium membership card, you have a birthday. I informed them." She cut me off mid sentence.

Becca wiggled her brows at me and followed after Kelly, while Leah wrapped her arm in mine and leaned in. "Isn't this better than Jude Thurnbull?"

I swatted her arm away. "Do you have bipolar or something? You were just about ready to marry me off to him earlier."

She shrugged. "That was before I found out that he stole your first kiss. What a jerk!"

*********

"Truth or dare?" Kelly asked, pointing a finger at me to remind me it was my turn.

I, on the other hand, was struggling to just stay upright in my seat. The alcohol was swimming really fast through my bloodstream, and my head was hazy enough as it was.

"Dare," I managed weakly.

She smiled a proud smile. "I dare you to go over to the bar and steal a kiss from that handsome man over there."

I followed her line of sight, and sure enough, a familiar figure was sitting at the bar - at least, a familiar figure to me. I leaned forward and squinted. Was that Professor Deville? But why would he be at a club? And why does he have a bun? His hair is usually cut short. 

As I continued to stare, the man turned to me, familiar green eyes locking on mine from the distance. He winked at me, and his usually flat lips spread in a slow smile.

My body erupted in heat. Oh goddess. Was I hallucinating? Did alcohol make you see things that weren't there?

I shook my head. "No. I... can't."

"Why not?" Kelly probed. "You can find your mate tonight, you know?"

I almost laughed at the assumption that that man was my mate. He was at least two decades older than I was, and he was my professor too. The moon goddess wasn't that cruel.

I picked up a shot glass and turned the content down my throat, the burn of alcohol leaving a scorching trail in my chest.

The game carried on, Kelly made out with a waiter, Becca danced on a table in another private booth where only men sat, and Leah flirted with a rich looking man, and got his number as proof.

"Tonight is such a blast. The only person who hasn't done a dare yet is the birthday girl. Bummer." Kelly shouted into the space, the music almost drowning out her voice that was now weak from alcohol.

I turned to face her, eyes leaving Professor Deville's again. I hope no one had seen me ogling him. It would be a terrible idea if any of them asked me about my feelings for him right now.

"I'm going to take a piss. I'll be back soon." I excused myself from the table and hurried away as fast as I could given my jelly legs.

The girls' laughter followed after me until I turned the corner that led to the bathroom, my head throbbing and my mind racing. 

I'd wanted my history/literature professor since I was just a first year student, and now here he was seeking me out in a crowded bar and shooting me winks and smiles that make my insides melt.

"Ow!" I yelped as I collided with something warm and hard.

Fingers wrapped around my waist to stop me from toppling to the floor, and something cool spread against my shirt.

I looked down to see that a glass of alcohol had spilled into my shirt, and I was in someone's arms.

The smell of sandalwood and something fiery forced my eyes to move up, a tingling feeling starting in the pit of my stomach and working its way up my limbs. 

Green eyes met mine, and that wicked smile broke loose again, the full effect hitting me now that we were this close. 

I couldn't stop myself, I reached up and touched his face, letting my fingers linger along his jawline where short stubbles kissed my palms.

"Are you really here?" I slurred.

He chuckled, the sound vibrating through my body. "In flesh and blood."

I hummed low in my throat, or was that a moan? "Your arms feel just like I've always imagined they would."

One strong finger perched under my chin, tilting my head up to meet the familiar green. 

"Do you want us to go somewhere more private?"