No.5

OLIVIA POV

And then he stepped forward.

He was nothing like Eric. Where Eric was all sunny looks and bright colors, this man was dark. Dressed head to toe in black leather and denim, his boots heavy on the floor. Tattoos snaked up his neck and over the hands that were shoved into his pockets. His hair was dark, long they fell on his shoulders, messy as if he's been running fingers through them, and his eyes… his eyes were the color of a winter storm, and they were fixed directly on me.

He aura was powerful, raw and untamed. He was danger made flesh.

He didn’t look at the stunned gate attendant. He didn’t acknowledge the frozen crowd. His gaze held mine, and in those stormy eyes, I didn’t see pity. I didn’t see curiosity.

I saw a cold, terrifying recognition.

He stopped beside me, his presence a shield against the staring world. He smelled of leather, night air, and cold, clean snow.

He looked at the attendant, his voice leaving no room for argument. “She will be my partner.”

He held out a ticket to the woman at the desk. The woman looked at the ticket, her eyes wide. She looked scared. She just nodded quickly and moved out of the way.

The dark man looked down at me. His face was hard, unreadable. He didn’t smile.

“Come on,” he said, his voice low. It wasn’t a suggestion.

I just stared at him. Who was he? Why was he helping me?

We entered the plane. The inside was huge and fancy, nothing like I had ever seen before. Soft lights, big comfortable-looking seats. It was made for Alphas and Lunas. For important people.

I didn't belong here.

I kept my head down, trying to hide behind the big, dark man walking beside me. My heart was still pounding from what happened at the gate. I could feel everyone looking at us. The air felt thick and quiet, like before a storm.

I dared a quick look around. I saw other pack leaders and their mates in their seats. Their talking had stopped. They were all watching us. But they weren't looking at me. Their eyes were locked on the man next to me. And in their eyes, I didn't see respect like they showed Eric.

I saw fear.

Then I saw them. Eric and Lupiter. They were sitting right in the middle of the plane, like a king and queen on their thrones. Lupiter had her hand on Eric's arm, laughing at something he said. She looked so happy, so sure of herself.

My stomach twisted into a painful knot.

Then Eric looked up.

His eyes first found me, and his face instantly got dark with confusion, then anger. His lips curled into a snarl. But then his eyes moved to the man beside me.

And Eric’s anger turned into pure shock. His face paled. His mouth actually fell open a little.

"Killian?" he said. The word came out like a curse. "Brother?"

My own breath caught in my throat. Killian?

I knew that name.

Everyone in the pack knew it, even if they whispered it. Eric's half-brother. The one who left. The one they called dangerous.

A dark Alpha who led not only a bike club, but owned the strongest pack. He was Eric's enemy.

The man who had just saved me was Killian Roosevelt.

I felt dizzy. This changed everything. He helped me but not out of kindness. I was just a piece in their fight. A way for Killian to hurt Eric.

My tiny spark of hope sputtered and almost died.

Next to Eric, Lupiter was staring too. But she wasn't looking at Eric or even at me. Her eyes were glued to Killian. And she didn't look scared like the others. She looked... interested. Like she wanted this dark, dangerous man for herself. It made me feel sick.

Killian didn't even answer Eric. He acted like he hadn't heard him at all. Like Eric was nothing. Just air.

Instead, he looked down at me. His dark eyes were impossible to read. He gently took my hand. His fingers were rough and warm. A shiver went up my arm.

He led me to two empty seats, away from Eric and Lupiter. He motioned for me to take the window seat.

"Sit," he said, his voice low. It wasn't a request.

I was too shocked and confused to argue. I slid into the soft leather seat, my body aching. I felt small next to him. He was so big and he filled the space around us with a cold, powerful energy.

Killian sat down beside me, blocking me from the rest of the plane. From Eric.

I could feel Eric's rage from across the cabin. It was like a heatwave. I didn't need to look to know he was furious. His brother had just taken his wife—the wife he hated—and claimed her in front of everyone. It was the biggest insult possible.

Lupiter was still staring, her pretty face now tight with jealousy. She wanted all the attention, always. And now Killian was giving it to me.

I folded my hands in my lap, trying to make myself even smaller. My mind was racing. What did Killian want from me? Why did he do this?

I was trapped. On one side was my horrible mate who hated me. On the other side was his dangerous, mysterious brother whom I knew nothing about.

The plane's engines started to hum, ready for takeoff. There was no getting off now.

I was flying into the unknown, stuck between two enemies. And I had no idea what was going to happen next.