010

Dove POV

tracing it across the room.

Many people talk and drink at a low volume, entertained by their company. I admire the leather furniture they lounge and lean on, as well as the stacks of coloured alcohol bottles above the small bar.

My attention strays too far to the side, seeing a group of people at the corner of the room whose acts have my lips parting, my breath catching in my throat.

One man has another on his knees before him, watching as his cock is worshipped by the man's mouth. His expression is contorted in pleasure, his hips jutting forward a he forces himself deeper into the man's throat.

Next to him is a woman pressed against the wall, a man fucking her from behind. His hand is on the back of her neck, while the other is one her hips, pressing her back to meet each thrust.

My skin heats at the sight. It takes a physical toll on me to tug my stare from them.Only for it to catch on someone staring directly at me.

My entire body stiffens as my blood chills. I know exactly whose weighted observation has found me.

He leans back in his leather seat, looking like a man unafraid to take up space. His powerful arms are braced on the arms of the chair, his hand clutching a short glass which he twists around slowly. I can practically hear the ice clinking, see the lethargic way the liquid moves.

He wears all black. From his trousers to his perfectly tailored jacket. His button up shirt looks made of pure silk, half the buttons undone, revealing a taunting strip of muscled chest.

"Oh my..." I breathe.

His gaze has me pinned as effectively as rope would to a bedpost. His eyes are unusual, as black as night, as pure as obsidian. His eyes are half lidded, as I imagine they would be after a rigorous night of pleasure, and yet they keenly "What is it, love?" Claude asks, his hand resting high up on my thigh, but I'm too distracted to care.

"That's Alpha Varian."

There is no doubting it. His presence is like a magnet. In some ways he draws in everyone around it, as if they exist in his space rather than their own. Yet, in others, he repels them, reminding all that no one can compare to the raw power leaking off him.

Two fingers are suddenly pressed against my jaw, forcing my attention back upon Claude.

"Tonight your eyes stay on me, alright? At least until Varian has chosen who he desires for the night." His breath coasts against my lips, almost a threat in itself.

I'm so painfully tempted to look back at the Alpha. I can feel his presence calling to me, daring me to put my gaze upon him once more.

"I don't want him...I'm scared of him,"Varian is seated only a few paces away, he can't hear me.

I've never been scared of Matthias. Awed by his power and beauty, maybe, but never bone chillingly terrified.

There is something unspeakable about Alpha Varian, and I've garnered that from a glance alone.

"No need," Claude assures me breezily. "I'll protect you from his wrath as long as you stay where you are."

His grip on my hip tightens imperceptibly, while his hand on my thigh appears to feel heavier.

When he turns his head to drink from his glass, I dare my eyes to venture back to Alpha Varian. I figured his appraisal of me was a fluke, but he's continuing to watch me, angling his head ever so slightly to the side.

"Why is he staring?" I ask Claude softly.

"You're dressed differently to everyone else. It's what pulled my eye." He fluffs a layer of my dress up, the soft fabric sighing.

"This dress was all I had," I admit sheepishly. "We don't wear red where I'm from, and nor black unless we are grieving."

Claude's breath traces my ear as he leans close. "I like your dress just fine. I'm enjoying the wait. The tease—"

I press a hand to his chest, my heart thumping in my own. His eyelids are heavy, and his breath smells faintly like cigarettes and liquor.

"I'm not going to sleep with you, Claude. I came here tonight to dance, to have fun then to retire back to my humble cottage," I murmur lowly, the music nearly carrying my words away.

A muscle below Claude's eye twitches as he draws a breath in deep.

For a moment I'm convinced he's going to unceremoniously dump me off his lap and tell me I've wasted his time. Instead, a predatory smile curves his lips upward."I realise I've been so incredibly rude. I haven't asked for your name," he says.

I consider lying, but there doesn't seem much point now.

"It's Dove."

"Well Dove, let me ask only one thing of you tonight." He tilts his head, the red light staining his almost white hair. "Do not deny yourself pleasure. There is no shame in indulging, even where you think it to be a sin."

I swear his hand is slowly bunching my dress up, dragging the fabric up my legs. I shift uncomfortably, trying not to brush my backside against his crotch while I do so.

"I'm not ashamed," I mumble, although I very much am.

"Then relax. I'm handsome, am I not?" The fabric inches higher.

I look down at his lips, full and enticing. I bet he's a good kisser, and an even and it would feel so good to experience something new.

"I suppose..."

"Then let's see where this night takes us."

As much as I want to focus on Claude, I can't shake the weight of Varian's stare. When I risk another look in his direction, I confirm he's continuing to watch me with rapt interest as he sips slowly from his glass.

Clive appears in front of me suddenly, handing me a glass of water. I take it tentatively, pausing before I drink from it.

I doubt Claude would drug me, but that could be a naïve assumption...

"Part of the fun for me is the chase, the hunt and the game of seduction," he purrs in my ear, sensing my unease. "Why ply you with drugs when I have my willing pick of an entire party?"

The softest laugh pulls my attention to Varian."Lay off it, Claude," he mutters.

His voice drifts across my skin like brazen fingertips, featherlight in a way that leaves tiny bumps on my skin. I can hear that classic husky accent, noting the sultry undertones that have seduced many into his bed.

"Is there a problem?" Claude's grip on me tightens.

He taps his fingertip against the rim of his glass, the gentlest curve to his lips. "Your dreadful flirting tactic is ruining a perfectly good night."

Claude may allege to be friend of the Alpha, but he's stiff beneath me. I feel as though I've been thrust into a powerful man's scope of attention and I want nothing more than to slink back into the shadows.

"Tactic?"

"Where you make her feel so lucky to have been selected by you for the night in hopes she'll fall into bed with you," he deadpans.His blatant manner of speaking is familiar. Matthias is the same, afraid of no one. With Varian, however, it seems there's a darker undertone that has me so afraid I can't move.

"Don't ruin my fun, Varian," Claude grits out.

Varian shakes his head, looking away. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Claude plucks my half drunk glass of water from my hand, setting it down before he shifts me to look at him. My body is so wrought with nerves that I'm trembling, having lost a decent amount of control over my body.

"Anyway, I can't stop imaging how you look under this stuffy, hideous little dress —"

"What do you think of all this, Dove?"

Varian yanks my gaze back to him.

"Excuse me, sir?" I sound breathless.to encompass the room. "What do you think?"

Is this a trap? Claude is looking between us, his eyes grave. The Alpha is speaking to me and I fear I've become a disposable pawn in a fucked up game of power and sin.

"It's a bit much," I murmur, ignoring the dig Claude's fingertips into the flesh of my thigh.

"A bit much." Varian's brows raise. "Interesting."

After being in Matthias's acquaintance for some time, I know how Alpha's operate. They can sense deception on your lips before you even speak, and they don't favour it, even if it's a compliment to them.

Claude's lips brush against the shell of my ear. "If you have any brains in that pretty head of yours, you'll watch your tongue."

I bristle. Is Varian going to kill me?

"Do you intend to allow my friend to fuck you tonight, Dove?" The Alpha asks, shadows licking up the strongly angles of his face.

"I...I haven't decided," I stammer.

Varian draws in a breath, ignoring the challenging glare coming from his friend.

"Come sit beside me," he instructs, motioning to the vacant chair to his left.

"Varian. Stop fucking around," Claude bites out, his hand splaying out against my thigh possessively.

I think I might have kissed Claude and possibly danced with him before sneaking away before I fell in too deep. With Varian's attention on me, I'm thinking otherwise.

"Dove. Come sit next to me," he instructs smoothly, dipping his head toward the empty leather chair.

"Next to...or—" My eyes drift to his lap.

"On this very chair." The slightest smirk on his lips weakens my legs as I forcemyself up from Claude's lap.

He reluctantly pulls his hands off me, letting me walk a few paces, sinking down into the chair next to Varian. This suddenly shift pulls attention from every corner of the room.

"Go get her another glass of water, Claude."

His brows crease. "Me?"

"Go on."

Claude stares his Alpha down for a few painful moments, his fingertips tapping rhythmically against the arm of his chair, anger stirring in his arctic blue eyes. Eventually he stands, reluctance making his movements stiff as he approaches the bar.

I release a slow breath, my cheeks shamefully warm.

Glancing to my left, I see the Alpha's full attention has settled on me, and never in my life have I felt so terrified.