Chapter 2

Liora's POV

My heart leaped at the sound of Calyx's voice.

That deep and possessive growl sliced through the tension like a blade. He was here. He had come for me. Despite all the barbs he'd thrown my way.

The cold dismissals and the way he'd made me feel like I was nothing more than a temporary amusement.

This had to mean something.

Maybe the bond we had shared had pulled him back. A ray of hope flashed nside me. I turned toward the door. My lips parted in a hopeful smile.

"Calyx," I breathed. My voice was barely above a whisper. It was laced with relief. "You... you came."

He stood there in the doorway. His broad frame silhouetted against the dim hall light.

His eyes narrowed and flashed with that familiar alpha dominance. “Yes.”

He stepped inside, and his gaze flicked from me to the stranger. A smirk curled his lips.

Not the protective one I'd imagined, but the cruel one I knew all too well.

"But not for you. Don't flatter yourself, Liora. I smelled your pathetic scent all the way down the hall. It reeked of desperation. Thought I'd better intervene before you embarrass us both further."

The excitement in my chest morphed into a familiar ache. His words landed like punches. I shrank back a step.

My cheeks burnt, but he wasn't done. His eyes locked onto the stranger, who hadn't moved from his spot in the light.

"And you," Calyx snarled, pointing a finger at him, "whoever the hell you are, stay away from her. She's no good. Used up, clingy, and barely worth the air she breathes. Trust me, you'd be doing yourself a favor by walking away now."

The room went deathly quiet.

I felt small, and insignificant. It was like I had dissolved under Calyx's glare. But then the stranger shifted, and straightened to his full height with a grace that made my pulse stutter.

His dark and intense eyes met Calyx's without flinching.

"Used up? No good? Funny, coming from a spineless pup who hides behind insults instead of facing his own failures. If she's so bad,' why are you here snarling like a jealous whelp? Afraid someone might see her worth where you couldn't?"

Calyx's face reddened. His fists clenched at his sides. "Watch your mouth, scar-face. You don't know who you're dealing with. She's mine to claim or discard.”

"Claim?" The stranger barked. He laughed and stepped closer. His power flared in a way that made the hairs on my arms stand up. "A real alpha builds, protects. You're just a bully playing at dominance. Get out before I make you."

They stood toe-to-toe. Calyx's jaw tightened. His eyes darted to me for a split second.

He was filled with something. It looked almost like a regret, or maybe just spite. He spat on the floor and turned on his heel.

"Fine. Keep the trash," he muttered, then slammed the door behind him so hard the walls shook.

The silence that followed was deafening. I sank onto the edge of the nearest chair. My excitement from moments ago shattered into sharp pieces.

Sadness washed over me. Hot and heavy tears pricked at my eyes. Why did I always hope?

Why did Calyx's words still cut so deep? I was exactly what he said-no good and unworthy?

"Hey," The stranger's voice softened as he knelt in front of me.

His scarred face close enough that I could see the faint lines of old battles etched into his skin.

He reached out, and gently tilted my chin up with a finger.

His touch was warm and tender. "Don't let that fool dim your light, You're not trash. You're awesome.”

He sat beside me. “ I've seen enough broken souls to know strength when it stares back at me. You've got it in spades. Whatever he said, that's his poison, not your truth. You're worth more than he could ever understand... and if you'll let me, I'd like to show you just how much."

I slumped onto a worn barstool. My cloak was still damp from the forest's wetness. I shoved my bag between my feet as I anticipated alcohol to drown my emotions. My hands shook with exhaustion.

I waved the bartender over. He had a scar slashed across his cheek. His yellowed eyes flicked over me.

They narrowed slightly as they regarded me.

"What would you like?"

“Whiskey,” I muttered. My voice was hoarse from crying. He slid a shot glass across the counter. The amber liquid sloshed as I picked it up. I downed it in one gulp. The burn seared my throat. It dulled the ache of Calyx’s betrayal.

I signaled for another. The bartender’s wary glance told me to slow down. But this was exactly why I came here. To lose myself.

He poured slower this time. Subtly, he sized me up.

The stranger settled onto the stool next to mine.

Those storm-gray eyes locked onto me. They glinted with a predator’s intensity. Sharp and unyielding. His dark hair fell in loose waves. A faint scar curved along his jaw. It hinted at fights he didn't walk away from.

My wolf stirred. It was restless and drawn to the musky scent that rolled off this stranger. Wild and dangerous. I gripped my glass tighter. Heat crept up my spine but I fought it.

“You’re running from that freak, huh?” His voice was low and rough.

It cut through the jukebox’s wail. He leaned an elbow on the counter and his body angled toward me. He was close enough that I could feel the warmth that radiated from him.

The bartender slid a fresh drink my way. It was in courtesy of the stranger. I bristled. My pride prickled even as my wolf hummed with curiosity.

“Maybe I just like bad whiskey,” I shot back, meeting his gaze despite the way it pinned me.

His lips twitched. Not quite a smile, but something that made my pulse jump.

“Bad whiskey and bad decisions,” he murmured.

His fingers grazed my wrist as he pushed the glass closer. The touch was electric. It sparked a feral heat that surged through me. My wolf clawed closer to the surface. I sucked in a breath.

My control frayed as his scent wrapped around me. It pulled me in. The bar’s noise faded. The clink of glasses, the drunken laughter all faded until it was just us.

I leaned closer. I was drawn to the danger in his eyes. My heart pounded. Damn! My wolf begged me to answer his call.

The stranger’s hand lingered on my wrist. "You mind?"

His touch created a spark that set my skin ablaze.

"No," I whispered.

His storm-gray eyes held mine. They dared me to pull away, but my wolf surged. It was hungry and reckless. I wanted this.

“Come with me." His voice a low growl that vibrated through me.

My breath hitched. Okay. I nodded. I didn't mind doing something fun and freaky for tonight.

My body moved in cooperation. But my mind was reluctant. I obeyed my body.

He stood. He was taller than I was. He led me through the crowd. His grip was firm but not forceful. We walked toward a narrow hallway at the back of the bar.

The door to a small dimly lit room creaked open. A storage space, maybe. It was cluttered with crates and a sagging mattress.

Dust and the faint smell of spilled liquor coursed through the air. He shut the door behind us. The click of the latch sealed us in.

My heart pounded. My wolf clawed at the edges of my control. Her heat flooded my veins.

I should’ve been afraid. But the whiskey and his scent drowned out reason.

He stepped closer. His body was inches from mine.

His heat pressed against me in the cramped space.

His breath was warm against my ear. His fingers brushed my jaw. He tilted my face up, and those gray eyes searched mine. My heart thumped as I noticed his lips drifting closer to mine.

I shivered. My hands found his chest. The hard planes of muscle under his shirt excited me. They stoked the fire inside me. I was ready to forget all about Calyx tonight and have fun.

"Do you want this?" He breathed against my cheeks.

“Yeah,” I whispered. "I can't wait."

My voice cracked with emotion. I didn't expect to get swept up my feet in this bar, but it was a great way to spend the night after what my boyfriend and my step-sister did to me.

The stranger's lips grazed my throat and his hands stroked my arms. His touches sent jolts through me. My control snapped. I pulled him closer. My fingers tangled in his dark hair as our mouths crashed together. The kiss was desperate and raw. His hands roamed my sides.

Damn it! They slipped under my shirt. His calloused fingers ignited every nerve. My whole body was on fire.

I arched into him. The mattress creaked as we stumbled onto it. Our bodies pressed so close I could feel his heartbeat. Our clothes fell away in a frenzy.

My cloak, his shirt, and my boots were kicked aside.

His skin was warm against mine. My nails raked his back as he pressed me down. Thrill pulsed in my blood.

His mouth moved lower. It trailed across my collarbone and stomach until I gasped. My hips rose to meet his lips. After minutes of making me wet with his mouth, he slid into me. The world blurred into heat and instinct. Our breaths and mingled bodies moved in a rhythm that felt ancient. It was unstoppable. I bit my lip, and stifled a cry as pleasure surged within me.

My wolf howled inside. She was so close to breaking free. I gripped the sheets and shuddered as waves of bliss washed over me.

Why does it feel like I’d just gotten myself into a deep mess?