Seven Seconds of Stupid

~Soren~

I don't want to go to that party.

Let me just say that again for those still not hearing me: I. Do. Not. Want. To. Go.

But Indie has this superpower where she can guilt-trip you into committing to anything, and Jazz backs her up like they’re a tag-team of peer pressure.

"You’ve been moping all week," Indie says over lunch.

"I haven’t been moping."

"You literally sigh fourteen times during Communications class," Jazz adds. "I counted."

"That’s breathing."

“That’s called depression,” said Indie with a shake of her head. “And the cure is a party. There’s one tonight at Megan’s place. We’re going.”

“I’m not—”

“We’re going,” Jazz repeats, and that’s that.

So here I am. In Megan-whoever-she is’s apartment that’s crowded with college students, red solo cups, and awful music that’s too loud to think over.

Kyle texts to say he’s running late. Something about a family thing. Lucky him.

I'm nursing a cup of something that tastes like regret and bad decisions when Indie grabs my arm.

"Oh my God."

"What?"

"Don’t look—"

I look.

Felix.

Of course. He was just walking in with the rest of his usual squad — Carter (the pool idiot), Marcus (his best friend, i think?), plus two other dudes I don’t know. They have all that same energy: wealthy, cocky, infuriatingly good-looking.

Felix, however, is a different story.

He is in all black. 

Black t-shirt, black jeans, leather jacket. His hair is flawless, yet he appears to not try. And when he enters a room, people see him. 

Me too.

Damn it.

“Your stepbrother is here,” Jazz whisper-screams in my ear.

“I can tell.”

“Did you know he was coming?”

“Why would I know? We don’t exactly message each other about our social calendars.”

That’s a lie. He’s texting me twice today. I don’t respond to either one.

Felix's eyes glance around the room and rest on me.

And now I'm wondering who gave him my number.

Even from the other big end of the apartment I feel it. The bond. Pulling. Humming. Irritating.

He smirks.

I turn my gaze away first.

“This is going to be interesting,” Indie says, grinning as if chaos was her favorite flavor.

---

Half an hour later, somebody proposes truth or dare.

Because I guess we’re in middle school.

Everyone pools into the living room, making this haphazard circle of people that includes the couch, armchairs and the floor. I make to get away, but Jazz physically bars my way.

“Nope. You’re playing.”

“I hate you.”

“Love you too.”

I find myself sitting on the floor between Indie and a vacant chair. Felix, across from me, reclines on the couch as if he owns the place, legs stretched out, one arm thrown across the back.

He's watching me.

I ignore him. The vacant seat next to me remains unoccupied for a mere four seconds before Felix's friend Marcus takes a seat.

Wait.

No. 

If someone dares me to kiss the person to my left—

I look to the left.

Marcus nods at me kindly. “Hey, you can do this. Do not chicken out.”

"I wish I can."

He laughs. “Don’t act like you’re in kindergarten.”

"This is about as good as holding a skunk and being pretty sure it’s not going to spray you.”

"Actually—"

“Okay, everybody ready?” Megan is standing inside the circle with an empty bottle. "Standard rules. Truth or dare. You decline, you pay a $20 fine or take a shot.”

Great. Just great.

The game starts off too innocently for my liking. Someone admits they fail a test. Someone else has to call their ex. A guy has to do twenty push-ups.

Then it's Indie's turn, and she picks dare.

“Kiss someone in this circle.”

She grins, walks over to some guy she’s been flirting with all night, and gets one on him. Everyone cheers.

When she goes back and sits down, she's smiling like the cat who got the cream.

The bottle spins.

Lands on me.

Of course it does.

"Soren!" Megan claps. “Truth or dare?”

I should pick truth. Truth Is Safe.

I’m great at lying not good but I might get a C. 

But everyone’s eyes are on me, and I can feel Felix’s burning gaze on my skin, and my dumb pride flares up.

“Dare.”

Indie emits a warning-sounding let’s get this party started noise.

Too late.

Megan grins. “I dare you to kiss the person on your left.”

The room explodes in whistles and laughter.

I look left.

Marcus is there, mild entertained, mild uncomfortable.

I could pay the fine. Twenty dollars. Or take a shot.

But I’d be a pussy then.

And I can feel Felix watching. “Um,” Marcus starts, “you don’t have to—” 

"It's fine," I say, brushing it off. I rise to my feet. My heart is pounding out of my chest.

Marcus stands as well, and I’m just about to get it over with — a quick peck, no big deal —

"Wait."

The sound of Felix’s voice cuts through.

Silence falls over everyone.

He stands up, and the energy in the room shifts. He approaches, and I’m perplexed until he sets his eyes on Marcus.

“Switch seats with me.”

Marcus blinks. “What?”

“Switch. Seats.”

It’s not a request.

Marcus glances between us, then the circle, then to Felix. "Dude, are you—"

“Now.”

Marcus raises his hands and makes for where Felix was seated.

Felix slumps down in the vacant seat beside me.

On my left.

Oh no.

“Problem solved,” says Felix casually as he turns to Megan. "She can kiss the person to her left. That’s me now.”

The room explodes.

"WHAT—"

"Oh my GOD—"

"Is he serious?"

"The Alpha's son never does this stuff —"

I'm frozen. I'm actually frozen.

Felix looks at me, his eyes are doing that thing where they change between blue and gold. His wolf is right there.

"So?" he says quietly, just for me. “You’re playing dare or paying up, Siren?”

“This is crazy,” I whisper.

"You chose dare." He leans in closer. "So dare."

My choices: Make out with my stepbrother/fated mate in front of fifty people, or be a coward and run off. 

I’m going to kill Indie for dragging me out here.

“Fine,” I snap.

I grab his shirt and yank him down.

It’s supposed to be fast. A peck. Not much. Just enough to complete the dare and get on with my life.

That’s not what happens.

The second my lips meet his, Felix’s hand comes up to hold the back of my head, and he kisses me like he’s been starving for it.

Like we’re not in a room full of people.

Like the mate bond just locks into place and ignites everything.

His mouth is demanding and hungry and I forget how to breathe. Forget where I am. Forget everything I know that makes this a horrible idea.

I kiss him back.

His other hand slides around to pull me closer at the waist, and someone in the room whoops but it sounds far away. Everything sounds far away except my heartbeat and the bond screaming MINE MINE MINE.

When he finally pulls back, I’m dizzy.

His eyes are solid gold.

The silence in the chamber is complete for exactly two seconds.

Then—

“HOLY SHIT! ”

“Did that just—”

“Felix Dimitri just——”

“I need another drink—”

Reality crashes back in. 

I just kiss Felix. In front of everyone. And he kisses me back like—

Oh God. Oh God.

I shove away from him and bolt.

"Soren—" Indie calls.

I don't stop.

I press my way through the crowd, through the kitchen, out the front door and into the cool night air.

My face is on fire. My lips are tingling.My wolf is doing backflips.

What did I just do?

I’m speed-walking down the sidewalk, no destination but just AWAY, when I crash into something solid.

Someone.

Strong hands catch my arms, steadying me.

"Whoa. You okay?" 

I look up.

And up.

Because this guy is tall.

Dark hair, sharp jawline. Leather jacket. He has the same menacing look Felix has but different. Darker. His eyes are storm-grey and piercing- as if he could see right through me.

He is standing next to a motorcycle. Another one. Matte black with silver details. 

“I–sorry,” I stutter. “I wasn’t looking–”

“Of course.” His voice is deep, velvety. He’s still grasping my arms, looking at me with a look I can’t figure out. “You running from something?”

“More like someone."

His mouth quirks. Almost a smile. “Been there.”

He lets go, and I immediately miss the solidness.

“I’m Kai,” he says. " 

“Soren."

 “Soren." He says my name as if he is tasting it. “Interesting name for a girl.”

“Yeah, I get that a lot.”

“I meant it as a compliment.”

I blink.

He's definitely flirting.

And he’s definitely hot, like freaking hot.

And I’m definitely still reeling from kissing Felix thirty seconds ago.

“You go to Eastmoore?” Kai asks, propped up on his bike like he has all the time in the world.

“Yeah, you?”

I should leave, but his presence is so comforting.

"Sometimes." That almost-smile again. “I’m more of a… free spirit.”

Before I can answer, I hear it.

“SOREN!”

Felix’s voice.

I turn.

He’s standing in the doorway of the apartment building, jaw clenched, eyes fixed on me.

Then he sees Kai.

And everything changes.