Chapter 4: Defiance

DRAKE’S POV

By the time night fell, the mate bond had turned into a constant pressure beneath my skin.

I had tried training, showering, and locking myself in my room. Nothing stopped Chloe’s scent from returning to my head or my wolf from demanding that I find her.

Soon, a knock sounded at my door.

“Come in,” I called.

Charles, my butler, stepped inside. “Your father asked me to inform you that he expects you in his study at eight tomorrow morning, promptly. He wishes to discuss important matters, including that of your future Luna before the university term begins.”

I waved him away, then he left.

There was nothing to settle. Prisca was the woman I had chosen, and no bond with Chloe Byrne was going to change that.

I grabbed my phone and texted Julian and Marcus to meet me at the club. If I couldn’t silence the bond, I could at least drink until I stopped hearing it.

Less than an hour later, I pulled up outside the Velvet Siren.

The neon pink sign that read 'The Velvet Siren' buzzed loudly against the dark, gritty street. I slammed the door of my SUV as I approached the entrance.

Julian and Marcus were standing nearby, laughing loudly.

The second Julian spotted me, he grinned and jogged over, raising his arms for a hug.

I walked right past him without a word. My jaw was locked tight as I stormed toward the doors.

Julian blinked and looked at Marcus. They hurried to catch up. "Whoa, hold on, man. What's wrong?" Marcus asked, matching my steps. "What's got you in such a dark mood?"

"Nothing," I barked, not bothering to slow down. "I'm just here to get fucking wasted and forget the day."

Julian whistled, a grin spreading across his face. "Say less. We're in."

We shoved past the bouncer, the doors swinging open to a wall of thumping bass, flashing lights, and the choking scent of alcohol and sweat.

We bypassed the crowded main floor, heading straight up the private VIP stairs to our usual booth overlooking the stage.

The alcohol arrived within minutes. Shots of burning whiskey, back-to-back, swallowed straight down.

I poured another, needing the numbness, needing the alcohol to blur the sharp edges of the bond and the humiliation of being tied to Chloe Byrne.

But it wasn't working.

The liquor hit my stomach, but it did nothing to subdue my wolf's voice and his impulsive urges.

‘Mine’, the beast clawed at the back of my mind. ‘Let’s find Mate. We need to touch her. Claim her.’

I gritted my teeth, gripping the edge of my seat hard, trying to force the voice back down into the dark.

The noise of graduation had distracted me for a while, but now that I was sitting still, the bond came rushing back stronger than before.

My senses felt hyper-sensitive and my blood ran hot, but the most agonizing was the persistent ache between my thighs.

I looked over to see I was as hard as a rock, my dick begging to be shown attention.

Across the booth, Julian and Marcus were already laughing loudly, talking over the music, completely oblivious to the fact that I was ready to crawl out of my own skin.

A couple minutes later, a dancer leaned over the back of the booth and ran a hand across my shoulder. I turned toward her, determined to prove my body could respond to someone who was not Chloe.

The moment her perfume filled my nose, my wolf recoiled. My stomach twisted, and I shoved her hand away.

"Not her," I snapped.

Julian laughed, but I ignored him. It was the perfume, I told myself. Nothing more.

When the club manager eventually came by to check on us, she greeted us with a familiar smile. We were regular VIPs at the club, so she knew us well.

I motioned for her to come closer, and once she was just inches away from me, I gave her a single, low command: "Prepare my private room."

She nodded, understanding exactly what I meant.

After a few minutes and without a word of goodbye to the guys, I stood up from the booth, and cut through the VIP hallway to my private room.

The moment the door shut behind me, I couldn't help but question myself.

What the hell am I doing?

I shouldn’t be here trying to burn the mate bond out of my body by fucking some random club girl. I should be fighting it.

I had already chosen Prisca. She was supposed to become my Luna, and sleeping with anyone else should have felt like a betrayal.

But this would mean nothing. The woman the manager sent would understand that, and when it was over, I could walk away.

If I satisfied the physical need once, maybe the bond would loosen its grip. Then I could reject Chloe tomorrow and return to the future I had already chosen.

I was not choosing another woman over Prisca. I was proving the Moon Goddess could not control me. At least, that was what I told myself.

Right now, my body was rebelling against me. I needed to get laid or I'm going to end up losing my mind.

As if on cue, a sharp, frantic knock echoed from behind the wooden door.

Must be the manager sending someone up.

I muttered curse words under my breath as I walked straight for the doorknob. I pulled open the door, ready to pull in whoever, to finally relieve myself, when suddenly, my gaze met a familiar set of deep brown eyes.

Standing in the dim hallway light, trembling violently, was Chloe.

She wore a silver-studded bra and matching underwear, her skin pale and clammy under the harsh lights.

Her long dark hair was completely disheveled, plastered against her damp neck, and her eyes were wide and swimming with panic.

She looked up at me, her chest heaving as a sob broke through her lips.

"Please," she choked out, her voice cracking as she clutched desperately at my doorway, tears spilling over her lashes. "Please… let me in."