Chapter 2

Mo's Pov

“I know. Just sit tight with your seat belt, Mo. We'll be there soon.” He answered, less concerned. 

“You better give me an answer now, Radek.” I yelled. 

“Calm down. You'll hurt yourself before the fun even starts.” His hands pressed tightly on the wheel and the car sped faster. 

“What the hell is wrong with you!? If you can't drive or take me home, why agree to drive me in the first place?” I snapped, yelling and screaming. 

“Radek, stop the car.” I warned. 

He ignored my protest and increased the pace. 

“I swear I'll kill you.” My voice shaky, I held onto my bag. Fear gripped me. Was he trying to kill me? The environment was getting dark and there was not a single sound. 

The car suddenly stopped, and he turned back. “You can come down now. We're here.” 

I breathed in heavily. The building didn't seem anything like my house, there was no sign of a single being. 

“Radek, where are we?” I asked, ready to unleash my wolf. 

“Okay, here's the truth.” He said, stepping back as I lunged towards him.

“Stay calm and listen, Mo.” 

I growled, moving closer as he stepped back. “Where did you bring me? To kill me?” I jumped on him. He fell to the ground, still trying to talk..

“Daren asked me to bring you to the party. He knew you wouldn't listen if he had just asked you to come.” 

I paused, still boiling with anger. “So you tricked me?” I screamed and cut him on his face. 

I stood still, frozen and scared. Blood dripped from his face. 

“I'm sorry. I…I'm sorry. I didn't…I really didn't mean to—” 

“That's okay.” He said, cleaning off the blood stain and staring like nothing happened. 

“Are you guys done bickering?” Daren walked out of the building, holding a cup of what looked like tequila in his hands. 

Radek smiled and vanished. I glared at Daren who had a mischievous smile on his face. 

“You asked him to bring me here without my permission?” I asked, 

“Yes, I did. Now that you know, come on in and have some fun. Father's out of town for a few days and won't be back until the mating ceremony.” He announced. 

I didn't care about that. My mind wandered to Radek. He was hurt and it was my fault. 

“You look messed up already.” Daren said, dragging me into the enclosed building. 

I didn't hear a single sound until the door was shut behind us. I never knew a place like that ever existed in Redwood town. 

Red and blue neon lights were hung along the walls, glowing just enough to show moving bodies. The music was loud, but somehow muffled, like the place swallowed sound.

I stayed by the door, my arms crossed and my bag still clutched. My heart was slowing down, but my head was spinning. Radek wasn’t in sight, and Daren had disappeared into the crowd with his stupid tequila grin as soon as I walked in there.

I should have turned back. I should’ve shifted and ran all the way home barefoot if I had to. But I stood there, frozen like I wasn’t sure who I was anymore.

“Nice dress,” a girl said beside me, sipping something blue from a glass. I didn’t know her. She looked familiar, maybe from the Omega council or one of the Ravenmont middle rank families. Her eyes were on me for too long, like she recognized me.

I gave a tight nod and turned away.

The floor vibrated under my feet. The room was filling up fast and most wore masks already, even though the masquerade ball was two days away. I pulled my phone from my purse and there was no signal, no network, just a blank bar.

Perfect! Totally perfect. I slammed my palm on my face and looked around. I didn’t bother going after Daren, he was probably having fun with the whores that he kept around. He had made it clear he would rather throw me to the world than let me stay home with my books. He knew I hated crowds, hated surprises, and hated Radek, especially Radek.

And yet… the only thing I could think about was the blood on his face. My claws and his voice, the way he said, “That’s okay.”

Why didn’t he fight back?

“Hey sexy” A voice called out behind me and it wasn't Radek.

I turned slowly. Three guys stood by the corner, laughing like something was funny but their eyes were on me. One held a bottle, and another held a glass. The third just stared like I was a prize. I ignored them and turned into the hallway. I didn't know where I was going, I just walked through a more quiet space. 

The music got quieter as I walked down a long corridor. The walls were dark, narrow, nothing like the front room. Doors lined both sides. Some shut, some cracked open but I didn’t stop.

I found a side exit and pushed through. The air outside hit me hard. It was cold and sharp. I breathed in, leaning against the wall, letting my thoughts settle.

I didn’t cry, I thought I was going to but I didn't. My wolf was stronger than that, except it burned.

I sat on the low step, staring at nothing, until I heard the door creak behind me.

“Don’t scream,” someone whispered.

I turned to see the same guy from earlier. The one with the glass, but this time he wasn't smiling. 

Did he follow me?

I stood up quickly. “Back off.”

He raised his hands. “Just making sure you’re okay. You look... alone.”

“I’m fine.”

“No need to act tough,” he said, stepping closer. “I saw what happened earlier. Pretty brutal. You’re not like your brother, are you? I heard the Ravens are brutal and you just confirmed it. How about you show me again?”

I kept my back straight. “I said back off.”

His hand grabbed my wrist. “You know, you should try smiling more. Girls like you look better that way.”

I moved fast, ripping my arm free, ready to shift if I had to. But before I could act, someone else did.

The guy was yanked back hard, slammed into the wall so fast I didn’t even see the blur that moved.

Radek’s hand was on the guy’s throat, pinning him up against the brick like it was nothing.

“She said back off,” he growled.

The guy stammered, “It’s not what it looked like—”

Radek tightened his grip. “I could kill you right now, and not one person would dare question it.”

I stepped back and my hands were shaking.

Radek let go. The guy crumbled, gasping, stumbling down the steps before running off like the coward he was.

I stood frozen.

“You okay?” Radek asked, 

I looked at him. “Why did you follow me?”

“You were taking too long to come in. And I was right.”

I wanted to argue. I wanted to tell him I didn’t need saving, but the words didn’t come.

He looked at my wrist. “Did he hurt you?”

“No.”

I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me.

“Don’t go back in there.”

“Why not?”

“You can't be alone and Daren’s drunk. He won’t notice anything until it’s too late.”

I swallowed. “Then take me home.”

“Daren wants you to let loose.” 

“He doesn't control my life! I want to go home.” I insisted. Radek silently nodded and led me back to the car. 

The ride back was quiet. We had no conversations and he didn't try to say a word either. I kept staring at the scar on his face. He seemed fine with it. 

When we got to the house, I opened the car door before he could say anything.

“Monique—”

“Don’t.”