Chapter 3

Tessa POV

He was shirtless, his muscular body glistening under the lights around the ring, every inch of him carved like a warrior’s statue. Tattoos snakes caved across all over his back, with intricate colors that pulsed with a strange, primal energy. He was tall, at least six-foot-four, with dark hair falling into piercing eyes that scanned the crowd with a predator’s focus. He moved with  grace as he dispatched his opponent with a single, brutal strike.

The crowd erupted as I was amazed at this scene. My wolf stirred, drawn to his scent. He didn’t look like he was from Ironclaw or Icevein pack, he had the wild, untamed aura of a wandering wolf. As he stepped down from the ring, wiping blood from his knuckles.

I found myself standing, my drink forgotten. Maybe it was the alcohol I had consumed earlier or maybe it was the heartbreak, but I was captivated. Then, I approached.

“Hi…” I said, my words slurring slightly from behind him.

Perhaps my voice wasn’t loud enough. 

The bar was alive with chaos. Everything around me faded as my gaze locked onto the man who was a few metres from me. I moved closer, feeling both bold and reckless as I tried to balance my footsteps and my staggering steps. 

He stood with his back to me, my eyes landing on his back and then the tattoo snake head on his back. For some reason, it felt scary. His broad shoulders flexed as he toweled off sweat and blood off his body. His tattoos rippled with every movement, and I could smell his raw, earthy scent the more I got closer. It was intoxicating. My wolf, Lititi, stirred inside me, curious and drawn. Finally, I got to him and stood beside him.

“Hi,” I said, the words tumbling from my lips without hesitation.

He turned, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. His face was just as mesmerizing as his body. Sharp jawline, dark eyes that seemed to pierce through me, and full lips that quivered into coldness.

“Move away kid,” his husky emotionless voice replied.

What? Did he just call me a kid? 

“I’m not a kid. I’m 24 years old.” I snapped. He said no words as I watched him gulp the bottle water in his hands. 

“You look like one.” His cold words pierced through me. I looked at myself, weighing my looks. Hell no! There was no way I looked like a kid. I was only petite in size, nothing more. Well, I shook it off. I didn’t let his words get to me.

“What’s your name?” I asked boldly, stepping closer.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my directness. He didn’t respond.

“I’m Tessa,” I said without waiting for him to ask. His eyes filled with no interest. But then, I felt his gaze from my head to my toe and then paused at my chest. My dress was revealing. It’s a short black gown that barely reached my knees and the upper body around my chest area was slightly open from the zip.

 “Interesting name.” He muttered coldly and I could feel the heat in his gaze as it roamed over me and paused when they got to my eyes. I felt a shiver running down my spine as his eyes were locked to mine, as if he was lost searching for something, as if he was staring into my soul. But suddenly, he pulled away, walking out on me.

“Wait!” I called out, running after him. 

“I’ll advise you to stay away from me.” He ordered as I wondered. What did I do? 

“Why? You look so hot. Care for a drink? Or maybe a night.” Those words left my mouth freely, I couldn’t stop them. For some reason, I wanted this man. Those hot men I have heard about, I want to experience what it looked like.

This man looked emotionless, I could swear it that his cold glare into one’s soul was enough to reap a soul out. I knew I should walk away now. I should leave this place and forget the stranger who had somehow captivated me. But I didn’t. Instead, I became more confident with my words.

“Spending a night with you wouldn’t be bad.” I asked, my voice teasing.

He let out a short cold smirk that didn’t reach his eyes as he observed how my words slurred. “Looks like you’ve had plenty.” His emotionless voice filled the air.

Staggering closer, I leaned forward, staring right into his eyes seductively.

“Never hurts to have one more,” I replied.

He leaned in closer, pinning me to the wall as my body reacted to his touch. 

“What brings you to a place like this?” Without waiting for my reply, his eyes are already shit as he leaned in closer, inhaling my scent in a slow intense way as his hands made its way to my neck. It was painless.  “Your scent…” he groaned lowly as my eyes were studying his face and already closed eyes.

“Why are you here?” He growled again, as if restraining himself from pressing forward.

I hesitated. What was I supposed to say? That I was a broken woman running from the betrayal of my husband and my best friend? That I’d come here to drown my sorrows and forget? Instead, I shrugged. No words came out from my lips.

Lititi never stopped sneering inside me, the tension between us growing thicker. I could feel his gaze now on me, studying and assessing every contour of my face. His face, only one inch from mine.

The lightness of the moment didn’t last long. My wolf, Lititi, was restless, pacing within me. She wanted more. The urge to grab his lips and start kissing him passionately only intensified.

“Care to share a room with me?” I blurted out seductively, surprising even myself.

His eyebrows shot up, but he didn’t question it. 

The moment we made our way to the room, hungrily, he claimed my lips without warning, kissing me with so much passion as if he has been starved of kisses. 

The hairs on my skin stood, shivers running down my spine as I felt his breath against my skin. I shut my eyes, my body, reacting to his touch while I kissed him back, returning the energy. I have been craving for this anyways. And before I could second-guess myself, he pulled me even closer. His eyes flew open. They were solely on my face. He didn’t blink. As if staring deep into my soul.

Immediately, his lips crashed against mine again, hungry and demanding as his hands did its job, caressing every part of my body. I melted into him, my small hands sliding up his back, caressing every part with my both eyes shut, feeling every touch from him. Kissing sounds filled the room.

I felt his hands on my waist now, pulling me so close that my skin was touching his, as if he didn’t want to let go. His touch was possessive, yet gentle, as if he knew exactly how I craved so bad for them.

We stumbled toward the bed, as he undressed me hungrily.

“I can’t resist,” he murmured against my skin, his lips trailing down my neck.

Yes, this was it. This was how I wanted to feel. To be touched tenderly unlike Sebastian who only showed interest in my body every night for his own pleasure and didn’t bother what I really wanted and how I wanted it. Now? I wasn’t thinking about Sebastian or Lyra or the pain they’d caused. All I could think about was this strange man and the way he made me feel desired and whole.

‘They were right.’  I thought to myself in my head. ‘Hot men really are at this bar.’ 

My dress and his were already reaped out and were lying on the floor as I allowed pleasure to consume us both.

The next day, I woke to the sound of an angry voice filling the room. My heart sank as I struggled awake. With my sleepy eyes, I see him pacing the room, muttering under his breath. He was all dressed up and by the look of his expression, he wasn’t in a calm state.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he growled, slamming something against the wall.

I sat up, panicked as I watched, wondering what happened.

“What’s wrong?” I questioned but he said no words to me. Walking towards him, just as I was about to touch him, he turned to me, his eyes blazing with fury. “You used me,” he spat.

“What?”

He pointed to my neck, where the faint scare of the mating mark of I and Sabastiam still showed. “You have a mate. You’re married, and you didn’t think to mention that before dragging me into this?”

What? 

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done? I don’t get involved with mated wolves.”

“I’ll pay you,” I blurted out, “Whatever you want… mention any amount.”

I grabbed my purse and brought out my black card, stretching my hands towards him.

“Here. Take this.” I said.

“You think this is about money?”

“Stop being dramatic. Have this card. Just forget about everything. This card will go a long way.” 

“Here.” I added, my arms still stretched to give him the card but he ignored it. 

Coldly, he stepped closer, glaring directly at my eyes as shivers ran down my spine. He took another step forward and I took another backwards, his eyes still locked in mine. It happened twice. Reaching an inch from me, his cold husky voice broke the silence.

“This isn’t about money.” 

With that, he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.