CHAPTER 2

Claws. The name of the club highlighted in neon lights screamed out at me as it cut through the darkness. I got out of my car, the bass from inside the building already thrumming in my veins. I sighed and looked around, the line of people at the door, making me frown. It was a long line but I had a way to get in quickly. Plus, it was on neutral ground for all packs. I could let loose here without anyone noticing me.

"One pass, please," I said to the massive bouncer as soon as I walked up to him, cutting the line.

The Beta looked down at me, his nostrils flaring as he scented me. His expression shifted from neutral to dismissive. I should have known. I couldn’t hide my status as having no wolf even though I was in a completely different territory. The only difference now was that anyone could treat me like shit.

"Wolfless?" He growled. "This is a wolf club. No entry for hybrids."

The wolves in line snickered.

"Did she really think she could get in?" "Maybe she's looking for scraps?"

I refused to back down. Not tonight.

"I have money."

"Money? You think we care about your money? No wolf, no entry."

"Five hundred dollars," I said, pulling out bills from my purse.

The bouncer's eyes flickered with interest.

"A thousand, and you stay on the first floor only. If anyone complains, you're out."

I frowned. A thousand dollars for a ticket. It was nearly everything I'd saved but what did it matter anymore.

"Deal."

I handed him the cash and slipped in, the sounds of displeasure from the people on the line dissipating and being replaced by the loud boom of the speakers. I looked around, partially regretting my decision to be here. Sweaty bodies moved together and eyes shone golden, emerald, brown and red as wolves of different calibers allowed their primal instincts guide them. It was all on display. Claws, fangs and fur.

I was the only one who looked completely human. I saw someone handing out masks and picked one, putting it on to fit in with the masquerade theme of the night. I didn’t need anyone knowing who I was.

I sighed and pushed through to the bar.

"Whiskey on the rocks." I ordered as soon as I sat down.

The bartender raised an eyebrow.

"I paid to be in here didn’t I? Just give me the damn drink."

Without a word, he did as I asked and I downed it in one gulp, the burn becoming a welcome distraction.

"Another."

Before the second drink arrived, a voice interrupted, face hidden and eyes glowing green. An omega.

"Hey there, sweetheart. You look like you could use some company. I heard you're the wolfless one who bought her way in. Must be pretty desperate." He poked but I rolled my eyes.

"Not interested."

His hand landed on my lower back making a shiver of disgust run up my spine.

"Come on. Not everyone would touch a defective girl like you, but I'm feeling generous. Maybe I'll even mark you. Give you some status."

Rage. The same rage that had been building all night exploded.

"I said I'm not interested!"

I stood up, threw my drink in his face and kneed him hard between his legs. He howled, then snarled, fangs extending. "You bitch!"

I ran, pushing through the crowd into a hallway lined with private rooms. I needed to circle back to the exit and leave but before I could a strong hand grabbed my hair and slammed me against the wall, my head throbbing with pain. The same wolf, his eyes burning with anger.

"You think you can humiliate me and walk away?" He pinned my arms, grabbing at my shirt. "I'm going to teach you what happens to wolfless bitches who don't know their place."

I struggled, but without any wolf strength, I was helpless. Tears streamed down my face as he tore my shirt open, revealing my bra.

"Stop."

A voice commanded, drawing both out attention. I looked up to see a massive man, easily six feet with dark hair and tattoos running up his arms. I couldn’t see his face but it was his eyes that held me captive; a sharp silver, holding an intensity that screamed Alpha.

And not just any Alpha. The aura that rolled off him was power on a level I'd never felt before.

"Move along," he said casually, but the threat beneath made my blood run cold. "Now."

"She's just a wolf…" My attacker tried to say but the mystery man was quicker.

He moved in a blur, lifting my attacker by the throat, as he bared his fangs, eyes turning a shade of red. I was right. He was an Alpha.

"I said move along."

He threw the wolf down the hallway like a rag doll, the sight shocking me. The Omega scrambled away without looking back.

"Are you hurt?"

I blinked and turned to him, taken aback that he was still by my side and even asking about me no less. People with his power never bothered with people like me.

"No, I’m fine.” I whispered, pulling my torn shirt closer to my body.

He studied me with those eyes. I couldn’t see his face fully, but damn was he hot.

"You should have protected yourself from that omega.” He said, making me blink in confusion.

How did he not know that I was wolfless? I glanced around, realizing that a lot of pheromones were being released at this party, probably coating my lack of it. He may have not realized that I was the exception to that rule.

"My bad. I just wanted one night to forget." I muttered, turning away.

"I have a room," he said, gesturing nearby without asking any probing questions. "You can rest there. I'll find somewhere else."

He took out a keycard and handed it to me before turning to leave but I grabbed his arm to stop him.

"Why help me?" I asked, pulling away.

"You needed help. So, I helped.” He answered with a shrug.

He took my hand in his and swiped the keycard, the door opening on command.

“Don’t come out until sunrise. The fool might still be hanging around to cause some damage.” He said before trying to leave again but something reckless stirred inside me. Something so unlike the obedient Andrea I'd been.

"Wait."

He stopped, turning back.

"Would you like to come inside?"

His eyes widened slightly.

"You've had a traumatic evening…"

"I know what I'm asking," I interrupted. "This isn't about owing you.”

A small smile tugged at his mouth.

"Are you certain?"

Instead of answering, I walked to him and pulled his face down to kiss him. He hesitated, then wrapped his arm around my waist and kissed me back. Deeply. Hungrily.

He lifted me effortlessly, carrying me into the room and kicking the door shut. He set me down on the bed gently.

"Last chance to change your mind, wolf."

I watched him closely, taking in all his features, sure that I wanted this.

"I'm not changing my mind."

His eyes darkened to pure silver.

"Then I'll make sure you remember this night."

Before I could speak again, he crashed his lips into mine, my body melting into his touch. I moaned into the kiss as his hands traced patterns on my skin making me shiver with lust. It didn’t take long for our clothes to fall off, leaving only our masks to hide our identities. He moved to take mine off but I stopped him.

“Why?”

“I want to keep up the mystery of this.” I answered, wrapping my legs around him and inviting him in.

Without hesitation, my knight in shining armor entered me, my eyes rolling to the back of my head at the size of him. I grabbed onto him, feeling my sanity unravel as pleasure took over. As our bodies moved together, something shifted inside me. Something primal. The hollow ache I'd carried for years began to fill with something warm, something real.

The mystery man’s control started to slip and his eyes flickered between red and pure silver, his breathing ragged.

"I need…" he growled against my neck, his fangs extending. "I need to mark you."

"What?" I gasped, barely able to form words.

"My wolf... wants to claim you. To mark you as mine." His voice was strained, fighting for control. "But I need your permission. Once I mark you, it's permanent. You'll be mine, and I'll be yours. The bond can't be broken."

Maybe it was the pleasure clouding my judgment. Maybe it was the desperate need to belong to someone who actually wanted me. Maybe it was nothing special but at that moment, I accepted.

"Yes," I whispered, grabbing a fist full of his hair as I led him to my neck. "Mark me."

With a growl that vibrated through my entire body, his fangs sank into the junction between my neck and shoulder. Pain bloomed from the spot, my vision spotting before transforming into something else entirely. Pleasure mixed with something more magnificent happened when I felt a bond snap into place, like a thread connecting our souls together.

My back arched, a cry tearing from my throat as the mark seared itself into my skin and a wave of intense pleasure ripped through me. As I came down from the high I could feel his emotions. Pleasure and pride.

When he pulled back, his lips were stained with my blood, and his eyes held a fierce pride.

"Mine," he growled. "You're mine now."

He pulled away and laid down, pulling me into his embrace as we breathed in unison and stared at the ceiling. He held me like I was something fragile and I allowed it. Slowly but surely, my body drained of energy and sleep called to me.

As I drifted off, something deep inside me, in a place I thought was empty, stirred. A presence that had been sleeping my entire life. Like my wolf.

But that was impossible, wasn't it?