Chapter 2: Ambush

Kylie's POV

There was a long silence, the world shutting itself from my ears.

All I could hear was his cold voice, demanding that we literally cut ties. I couldn't believe it. My heart clenched in my chest, as if a hand was tightly squeezing it. His frosty expression, hatred-filled eyes, and the way he looked at me with that superior gaze stirred complicated emotions within me.

I thought he would be my safe world.

But somehow, he was now entangled with the woman who broke my family. He let her destroy us.

Soon enough, the mate bond appeared, a shimmering red thread tying mine and Cole's wrists together.

He raised his chin, demanding compliance. “Accept the rejection.”

My eyes flitted to that whore, who was smiling at me as she nestled in his arm, her hand drawing circles on his chest.

She had always been a good gamer, and she won again.

'Don’t cut it... Please don’t—'

"Rain..." I choked, my wolf’s panicked voice begging me not to heed his words.

His rejection hurt both of us, but could we really pretend things were normal after this?

‘Please, I beg you... Don’t—Kylie, don’t—'

"I'm sorry." I could only repeat again, trying not to break down as I felt a lump in my throat.

"You betrayed me," I said, looking up at the man I had dedicated five years of my life to. My chest felt stuffier as I remembered all his sweet promises.

It felt like yesterday when he promised me the world. But now, he was pushing me out of his world. "We don’t have all day. Hurry up and accept my rejection. From now on, we’ll have nothing to do with each other."

I clenched my fists. And finally, I made my decision.

I had already been cheated on. I wouldn’t let myself be disrespected too.

I however did a terrible job at hiding the tremble in my voice.

“I, Kylie Edwards, accept your rejection, Cole King."

The thread binding our wrists swayed for a moment, then snapped into two and completely vanished.

All I could hear in my head at that moment was Rain’s shrill, painful cry. I felt my heart and soul shatter along. Breaking the mate bond hurts, especially for the rejected partner. But I never thought it would silence my wolf.

After that final cry, she completely disappeared.

“Rain?"

"Rain?"

I called her again, but there was no response. I couldn’t feel her presence anymore.

What’s going on?

What’s happening?

I had no idea.

I glanced at Cole, who was now engaged in a passionate kiss with my stepmother. He seemed completely fine.

‘Bastard…‘ I cursed. 'I swear I will make you pay for this.'

And with that, I walked out of the garden, knowing I had already lost enough dignity.

I didn’t want to see anyone.

I ran to my car, jumped in, and drove out of the lot.

I just wanted to leave this place.

“Rain...?" I kept calling out to my wolf, but she never responded.

“ARGHHHHHHH!!!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, wishing someone would respond to me and tell me what my sin was. "WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?!"

I drove aimlessly, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly like I wanted to shatter it. I could barely focus on the road, my mind was constantly replaying everything.

I swore I would make the two regret doing this to me.

I had no idea how long I had been driving before I realized I’d crossed into a a different territory. The streetlights were brighter, and I could hear music bursting from afar.

In the distance, I saw a bold neon sign: The Yepp Way Bar.

I didn’t even know where I was going, so I might as well pull over and have a few drinks. I needed a break, anything to drown the fury threatening to consume me.

I parked and stepped out of the car, the cool night air caressing my exposed skin. My dress was off-shoulder, and I clicked my tongue as goosebumps crawled across my arms.

Entering the bar, loud music greeted me and I couldn't help but frown slightly. I never liked the atmosphere, but sometimes, you just wanna exist. And places like this somehow made me feel alive.

The bartender glanced at me as I took a seat and ordered. "Whiskey. Straight.”

A glass was soon placed in front of me. I took a long sip, feeling the burn in my throat. I closed my eyes and savored it.

“Another," I said.

I chugged down the first completely, and the second one was placed in front of me just in time.

The plan was to finish ten, like usual. But after just the first, I felt light-headed. As I was about to pick up the second, I felt someone’s gaze on me. My head whipped to the side.

No one.

I scanned the room cautiously for a while before giving up.

Maybe I was imagining things?

I leisurely enjoyed the second glass, taking slow sips while trying to sort out my thoughts. But by the time I reached the third glass, I couldn’t even think.

That’s when it hit me.

I, who could down ten glasses of whiskey and still remember the name of every member in my family could now barely stand after three.

"The bartender… Why did he have two heads?"

I managed to pay my bill then stumbled to the front desk.

Once I was handed my key card, I stumbled into the elevator.

‘It wouldn’t be good if I was ambushed by anyone here…’ I thought, leaning against the wall.

But in the end, I was the one who did the ambushing.

The moment I entered my room, I collapsed onto the bed with a thud.

It was big, plush, and soft. It smelled something like tobacco too. I buried my face in it and sighed while placing a pillow under my head.

"Ahhh, so comfortable," I murmured.

I was about to close my eyes when I heard some footsteps.

It was slow and confident, clearly belonging to a man.

My eyes instantly snapped open. I sat up so fast the room blurred for a moment, but I forced my gaze toward the bathroom door.

That was when a man stepped out.

And I froze.

He was tall, definitely six foot something. He had broad shoulders and a frame that screamed strength and sin. Water still clung to his smooth skin, droplets gliding down those chiseled abs. His muscles flexed with each step, hard and honed like that of a Greek god. A white towel hung dangerously low on his hips, clinging to that tantalizing V-line. I swallowed as a droplet disappeared into that towel.

Slowly, I raised my head, meeting his gaze. And I stilled.

His eyes were piercing icy blue, they locked with mine across the room.

A long silence descended around us.

My mouth was dry. I didn’t know if it was from the whiskey or the walking sculpture standing in front of me. Probably both.

'He's hot… too hot.’ My mind echoed dumbly, and before I could stop myself, my eyes shamelessly trailed down his body again, memorizing every cut of his muscular frame.

I feared that even Cole whose physique I used to admire wouldn't hold a candle against this guy.

“You are?" His voice came — calm and slightly amused, with a rich, deep tone that made my hole weak. Oh no, that could my whole week.

I blinked. "Why are you in my room?" I demanded, trying to sound firm but slurred at the end as I forgot the question I was asking in the first place.

He quirked a brow, then turned toward the closet and pulled out a black shirt, casually slipping it on those glistening shoulders.

“I'm not," he said simply.

I stared at him, my foggy mind trying to catch up.

He turned slightly, giving me another side view of that strong chest before he continued, "You're in my room."

"...Huh?"

I felt sober for a brief moment, and instantly grabbed the room card I had dropped earlier. Squinting at it, I couldn't see.

But I somewhat knew he wasn't lying since he was here first, and wait… I didn't open the door with the card, actually!

“Shit," I mumbled under my breath. My cheeks turned red, but it wasn’t from the alcohol this time.

"Don’t worry," he said, still watching me with those unreadable blue eyes, "you’re not the first drunk person to stumble into the wrong suite... but you might be the prettiest."

I froze.

Was that a compliment?

Silly. Of course it was.

“Want me to call the front desk?" he offered with a smile.

Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was the ache in my chest. Or maybe it was the way he was looking at me now, with those mesmerizing eyes.

But I didn’t say yes.

I didn’t say no either.

My silence said enough.

Then he changed the subject. "I saw you earlier."