Chapter 5 | A sense of longing

Pain greets me the moment I wake.

It slithers through my body like molten lead, my muscles numb yet aching, screaming in protest at even the smallest movement. Just the thought of shifting sends a fresh wave of agony rippling through me, pinning me to my back. A high-pitched ringing buzzes in my ears, drowning out all else.

I crack my eyes open, only to be assaulted by an unforgiving brightness. The light stabs into my pupils with ruthless intensity, forcing me to squint against the onslaught. My senses take their time settling. The resinous scent of pine sap lingers in the air, mingling with something sharper-acrid.

Smoke.

My heart lurches. I jolt upright, ignoring the fiery protest of my limbs, and take in my surroundings.

I'm in a bedroom.

A massive king-size bed cradles me, its velvet sheets whispering against my skin. The frame glows subtly under the flickering light of a fire, golden accents catching in the dimness. The chimney itself is a stark contrast-deep obsidian brick that seems to vanish into the shadows of the wall. The rest of the room, though lavish, is understated. Ordinary furniture, but expensive. Refined.

Then I see him.

A man sits in the center of the room, his presence as commanding as the fire crackling behind him. My body freezes the moment our gaze meets.

Forest green eyes.

A deep, simmering rage flickers behind them like a flame starved of air, waiting for something-anything-to ignite it into an inferno. My throat tightens. He watches me with the predatory stillness of a hawk, his sharp gaze tracking my every breath.

I part my lips to speak, but the words die on my tongue.

His snarl shoots ice in my veins. "Do you know who I am?"

A shudder wracks my body. The realization slams into me like a punch to the gut. This... this is Jace Weston.

The Alpha's son.

My thoughts swirl into a chaotic mess, panic and confusion tangling into a suffocating knot. My pulse hammers against my ribs, desperate for escape.

"I-I-" My voice barely forms around the words.

"Do you know who I am!?"

His voice drops an octave, deep and thunderous, the sheer weight of it pressing against my chest until breathing becomes a struggle.

I manage to stammer out a reply. "Jace. You're Jace Weston-s-son of Alpha Xavier."

The room seems to tighten around us. He stills, his fingers idly toying with a thick ring on his thumb, but his eyes never leave me. He's watching. Calculating.

Then something stirs.

A strange presence presses against the edges of my mind, something foreign yet achingly familiar. It calls to me, sending a shiver down my spine. My wolf stirs, a low, eager howl reverberating through my core.

Pleasure.

For a fraction of a second, my gaze shifts in confusion. Jace growls, the sound sharp and possessive. My eyes snap back to his, my breath frozen in my throat.

A storm of questions crashes through my mind, each more terrifying than the last.

What happened? What does he want from me? What did he do while I was asleep?

I part my lips to speak, bracing myself for his reaction. "Wh-where am-"

"I ask the questions here, girl."

His venom-laced words slice through me like a dagger. The sharpness of his tone knocks the breath from my lungs, and my throat tightens. Tears sting at the corners of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I can't bear to look away, terrified he would lunge at me at any given opportunity.

"You will only speak when spoken to. Otherwise, you keep your mouth shut." I nod, obediently. But deep within me, something stirs.

My wolf.

A slow, burning heat swells in my chest, spreading like wildfire. Is she... angry? The sensation is unfamiliar, foreign-like something awakening from a long slumber. But before I can grasp onto it, my fear crashes down, snuffing it out like a candle in the wind.

Silence thickens the air, stretching endlessly between us until Jace finally speaks again. "Do you know why you are here?"

I swallow hard, my voice barely a whisper. "No. I-I don't remember... anything."

The admission sends another wave of panic rolling beneath my skin, feeding the suffocating fear gripping my chest. My mind races. Where is my dress-?

The thought alone makes bile rise in my throat.

My lips part instinctively, but I bite back my words at the last second, shoving them down with a trembling hand. Instead, I pull the quilt up to my chin as if it might shield me. My eyes sting harder, the pressure of unshed tears unbearable.

Jace watches me, his head tilting slightly. His expression remains unreadable-cold, calculating.

"Stand up."

Fear claws at my ribs. My body remains frozen, but when his gaze hardens, the command in his tone pressing down on me like an iron weight, I force my legs to move. Slowly, unsteadily, I rise to my feet.

Silence.

He studies me, his eyes dragging over my form with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine. Then, without warning, he stands.

I gasp.

Even without shifting, his presence alone is overwhelming. He's massive-towering over me with a physique carved from pure strength. The firelight casts shadows over the sharp planes of his face, accentuating the raw power simmering beneath his skin.

My gaze betrays me, trailing down the broad span of his chest, the way his muscles shift beneath the fabric of his shirt. Heat rushes to my cheeks, burning.

He steps forward.

Closer.

So close, I feel the warmth of his breath ghosting over my face.

My legs tremble. My body refuses to move, refuses to breathe.

Then, he lifts a hand.

I flinch.

But his touch-when it comes-is... gentle.

His fingers curl under my chin, his thumb brushing against my skin in slow, deliberate strokes. I stare up at him, my breath caught in my throat. And that's when I see it-the shift in his eyes.

Beneath the hardened surface, something lurks.

Something softer.

Admiration. Desire.

His gaze drops-to my lips. My breath hitches.

Jace leans in, his expression glazed, entranced. His lips part slightly, as if drawn by something beyond his control. The space between us shrinks until I can feel the heat radiating from him, until his breath dances over the bridge of my mouth.

Then-he freezes.

His expression ices over in an instant. That flicker of warmth vanishes, replaced by something dark.

He growls.

His nails extend-sharpening into claws that prick against my skin. Fear surges through me, snapping me out of my daze. My pulse skyrockets, my body tensing as my heart pounds against my ribs.

Then-he shoves me back.

The sudden force makes me stumble, barely catching myself on the edge of the bed. Without another word, Jace turns sharply on his heel, striding toward the door. His movements are stiff, almost unsteady, as if fighting something within himself.

The door slams shut behind him and the room plunges into silence.

I stand there, heart racing, mind reeling.

What the fuck just happened?

My legs give out, and I collapse onto the bed, pressing a shaky palm against my forehead. My skin is damp with sweat, my entire body wracked with shivers. But the worst part-the most unnerving part-is the emptiness curling in my chest.

I don't know how long I lay there, staring blankly at the ceiling, before a sudden knock at the door jolts me upright. My head snaps toward the sound just as the door creaks open, and a woman peeks inside.

Bright red hair. Wide, concerned eyes.

"Hello?" Her gaze locks onto me, and her expression morphs into shock. "Oh, dear! Are you alright, sweetheart?"

Cherry-red heels click sharply against the floor as she rushes to my side, scanning me from head to toe, searching for signs of harm.

I open my mouth-

But no words come out.

I gasp when she suddenly clasps her hands onto my cheeks. "I'm okay-" is all I managed to answer through a squished mouth.

Her brows furrow. "What has he done to you? Where did he hurt you?

- W-who?

- Jace of course! That kid has no idea how to treat a lady." She replies starchily.

I shake my head, still torn as to what I'd witnessed. A shudder ripples through my skin, leaving a bad taste in my mouth as I think of what could have happened- perhaps I was lucky this woman came in when she did.

"Hm, remind me to have a word with him," she muses, standing gracefully before pulling me up with her.

"I'm Alexandra, but you may call me Alex."

Her cherry-red lips curl into a dazzling smile, revealing perfect pearly whites. She extends a hand, and as I take it, I blink-momentarily stunned. She's gorgeous.

I catch myself blushing, my gaze tracing her high cheekbones, flawless skin, and striking emerald eyes. There's an effortless elegance to her, an energy so contagious that I can't help but return her smile. A small giggle escapes me, unexpected but welcome.

"I'm Ava," I manage, still slightly breathless. "But it's really not necessary for Jace, I assure you. He didn't lay a finger on me."

Alex raises a perfectly arched brow but ultimately shrugs. "As you wish, dear."

With a playful swish of her hips, she prances toward the wardrobe and throws open the doors with a dramatic flourish. "Do feel free to call me if he ever needs a good ass-kicking, though. I've been itching for a reason to put him in his place."

She rummages through the vast selection of clothing, flicking through hangers like a woman on a mission. Her lips move as she silently counts, her fingers pausing on a sleek, azure mermaid dress.

"This should be your size!" she declares triumphantly.

I hesitate, my gaze drifting over the gown.

It's elegant in its simplicity-sleeveless, with a pronounced V-cut dipping dangerously low at the front. The fabric hugs every curve, designed to flatter a woman with pronounced features. Someone like... Alex.

I lift a brow. "For me?"

She nods, eyes twinkling. "Of course! A lady such as yourself needs to look her best for dinner with the Alpha."

The words barely register before my heart plummets.

Dinner. With the Alpha.

All warmth drains from my body. My lungs seize, my vision tunneling as panic slams into me with brutal force. Why? What does he want with me? Did I offend him? Am I in trouble?

My legs wobble, the weight of the moment pressing down on my chest. I clutch at my sternum, struggling to breathe.

A gentle hand on my shoulder pulls me back.

"Ava?" I blink rapidly, reality snapping into focus. Alex stands before me, brows furrowed, concerned about softening her sharp features. "Are you alright, sweetheart?"

I swallow hard. "I... I'm sorry. I zoned out." My fists clench at my sides, frustration bubbling beneath my skin.

She studies me for a moment, suspicion flickering in her emerald gaze before it melts into something far kinder. Her hands move to my shoulders, thumbs rubbing soothing circles into my skin.

"Take it from me, dear-you have nothing to worry about." Her voice is low, reassuring. "No one will lay a finger on that pretty face of yours. Not while I'm around."

Then, with a playful glint, she boops my nose with a dainty finger.

I blink, startled-then, unexpectedly, I smile. A warmth spreads through my chest, something solid and grounding. Confidence.

I nod.

She grins, satisfied, and with that, she guides me toward the bathroom. The moment I step inside, I'm greeted by pristine white tiles, gleaming porcelain, and a deep claw-foot tub that looks as luxurious as everything else in this mansion.

The water steams, the soft scent of lavender and vanilla curling through the air as I sink into a warm bubble bath.

I close my eyes, willing myself to relax.

Because soon-I will be dining with the Alpha.

And I have no idea what awaits me.