Gone father

Aveline POV

The moment I reached the hallway, I wiped my tears and forced myself to breathe.

I didn’t want anyone to see me.

I didn’t want anyone calling my name.

I didn’t want anyone asking questions.

I just wanted to leave.

Thankfully, no one stopped me.

I slipped out of the manor unnoticed and flagged down the first cab I saw.

"Just drive," I told the driver as I sank into the back seat.

The city lights blurred past the window while I stared outside in silence.

I wasn’t crying anymore.

At least not on the outside.

Inside, it felt like someone had reached into my chest and ripped my heart apart.

After several minutes, bright neon lights caught my attention.

A bar.

"Pull over," I said suddenly.

The driver glanced at me through the mirror but nodded.

A few moments later, I paid the fare and stepped out.

The bar was lively but not crowded. Music drifted through the air while people sat in small groups, laughing and talking.

I headed straight for the counter.

"Something strong."

The bartender raised a brow.

"Tough night?"

"You have no idea."

One drink became two.

Then three.

Not enough to erase what I’d seen.

Just enough to dull it.

I was staring into my glass when a deep voice broke in beside me.

"Mind if I sit here?"

I glanced up.

And forgot how to breathe.

The man standing there was easily the most attractive man I’d ever seen.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

Dark hair.

Sharp features.

And eyes that seemed to see right through people.

He had a commanding presence.

Something dangerous.

Yet strangely calm.

The kind of presence that made people instinctively move out of his way.

"Depends," I replied.

"On?"

"If you’re a serial killer."

The corner of his mouth lifted.

"I left my serial killer license at home."

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

"Then I suppose you can sit."

He took the empty stool beside me.

For some reason, talking to him felt easy.

Natural.

We exchanged jokes.

Traded sarcastic remarks.

And for the first time all night, I found myself genuinely smiling.

The stranger eventually lifted his glass.

"Darius."

I blinked.

"Darius?"

"Darius Draven."

The name hit me immediately.

My eyes widened.

Everyone knew that name.

The Lycan King.

The most powerful Lycan alive.

Darius seemed to notice my surprise.

"That look never gets old."

"You don’t exactly have a forgettable name."

He chuckled.

"No. I suppose I don’t."

Another round appeared in front of us.

I wasn’t entirely sure who ordered it.

The conversation continued.

And somehow, despite who he was, Darius remained surprisingly easy to talk to.

Hours passed.

Or maybe minutes.

I honestly couldn’t tell anymore.

Eventually, Darius looked at me carefully.

"You should go home."

I frowned.

"I’m perfectly fine."

"You can barely focus on my face."

"I am totally and absolutely not drunk."

The words came out far less convincing than I’d intended.

Darius laughed.

A rich, warm sound.

"Right."

"I mean it."

"Of course you do."

I pointed at him.

"You’re laughing at me."

"Maybe."

I narrowed my eyes.

Then laughed too.

The alcohol had left my head pleasantly light.

Darius shook his head.

"Come on. I’ll make sure you get home safely."

I stared at him.

Then burst out laughing.

"You expect me to go home with a complete stranger?"

His brow lifted.

"You spent the last hour talking to me."

"Still a stranger."

"Fair."

He stood and offered his hand.

"I promise I don’t make a habit of kidnapping women."

I eyed his hand suspiciously.

Then took it.

His fingers closed around mine, steady and warm.

Outside, the cool night air greeted us.

Darius guided me carefully toward a sleek black car parked nearby.

The moment I sat down, I leaned back with a sigh.

Everything felt strangely quiet.

Safe.

Darius moved to close the passenger door but paused.

For a brief moment, neither of us spoke.

His gaze held mine.

The teasing smile was gone.

And suddenly, the space between us felt much smaller.

Much more dangerous.

My pulse quickened.

I wasn’t sure whether it was the alcohol.

Or him.

"Aveline."

The way he said my name sent an unfamiliar flutter through my chest.

His voice was lower now.

Softer.

I found myself staring at him.

At the sharp line of his jaw.

At the silver in his eyes.

At the way he was looking at me.

Like I was the only person in the world.

For one reckless moment, I forgot everything else.

The party.

The betrayal.

The pain.

Everything.

 His gaze locked onto mine.

The teasing smile he had shown all night disappeared.

Suddenly, the space between us felt smaller.

And more dangerous.

My pulse raced.

I wasn't sure if it was due to the alcohol or him.

"Aveline."

The way he said my name made my stomach flip.

His voice dropped, sounding rougher.

I swallowed hard.

Why was he looking at me like that?

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

City lights reflected faintly in his silver eyes as he stood by the open car door.

I should have looked away.

But I didn’t.

I studied every detail of his face.

The sharp line of his jaw.

The dark strands of hair falling over his forehead.

The faint shadow of stubble on his cheeks.

He was unfairly attractive.

Dangerously so.

For the first time that night, I wasn't thinking about Ethan.

I wasn't thinking about the engagement party.

Or the humiliation.

Or the heartbreak.

I only focused on the man in front of me.

My gaze dropped briefly to his lips.

That was a mistake.

When I looked back up, his eyes had darkened.

My breath caught.

"Aveline," he said again, this time quieter.

It was like a warning.

As if he already knew where my thoughts were going.

I should stop this.

I knew I should.

But my hand lifted.

Slowly.

Carefully.

My fingertips brushed his jaw.

Warm.

Solid.

Real.

Darius froze.

The air around us felt thicker.

His eyes stayed on mine.

"Aveline," he repeated.

Definitely a warning this time.

But there was something more beneath it.

Something that made my heart race even faster.

"What?" I whispered.

His jaw tightened.

"You've had too much to drink."

I laughed softly.

Maybe I had.

Maybe I hadn’t.

In that moment, I didn't care.

For the first time that night, the heavy ache in my chest eased.

For the first time that night, I wasn't focused on what I had lost.

I was focused on what was right in front of me. Before I could talk myself out of it, I leaned in.  The second my lips touched his, every thought vanished.

For a heartbeat, neither of us moved.

Then his hand found my waist.

The touch sent a shiver through me.

My fingers tangled in his hair as the kiss deepened, slow and deliberate.

My pulse hammered. His hand tightened slightly against my side. Not enough to hurt. Just enough to remind me of his presence.

Of how close we were.

How easily I could lose myself in the moment.

The world outside the car faded away.

All I heard was our breathing.

All I felt was the warmth between us.

Then my phone rang.

The shrill sound shattered everything.

I pulled back immediately.

Breathing hard.

Blinking.

Confused.

For a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was.

Then reality crashed back in.

My purse.

My phone.

The screen.

Mom.

Every trace of warmth left my body.

I answered instantly.

"Mom?"

"Aveline!"

Her voice shook.

My heart sank.

"Mom? What’s wrong?"

"You need to come home."

The panic in her voice hit me hard.

I sat upright.

"What happened?"

"Aveline, please. Just come home."

Was she crying?

Fear gripped my chest.

Real fear.

The kind that sobers you up in seconds.

The call ended moments later.

I stared at the screen.

Then at Darius.

My stomach twisted.

"I have to go."

Concern spread across his face.

"Aveline—"

"I have to leave."

I grabbed my purse with shaking hands. Something was wrong.  Very wrong.

And suddenly, what had happened between us didn’t matter.

"Hey," Darius called as I opened the door. "At least let me drive you—"

"No."

My answer came too quickly.

Too panicked.

I stumbled out of the car. 

Darius stepped forward.

"Aveline."

But I was already backing away.

My heart raced.

My hands shook.

Whatever awaited me at home felt far worse than the nightmare I had already lived through that night.

The first cab I saw slowed beside the curb.

I climbed in without hesitation.

"Please," I whispered as tears filled my eyes again. "Just drive."

The closer the cab got to my house, the tighter my chest felt.

Something was wrong.

Terribly wrong.

My mother's voice kept echoing in my head.

Come home.

Please, just come home.

When we turned onto my street, my stomach dropped.

Blue and red lights flashed against the darkness.

My heart stopped.

Several police cars were parked outside our house.

Officers were everywhere.

Neighbors gathered in small groups, whispering to each other.

“What…” I whispered.

The cab hadn't even come to a complete stop when I flung the door open and jumped out.

“Mom?”

My eyes scanned the area.

Then I saw her.

My mother was kneeling in our front yard, tears streaming down her face.

“Mom!”

I rushed to her side.

She looked up as soon as she heard my voice.

“Aveline…”

The moment she said my name, she broke down completely.

Fear gripped my heart.

I dropped to my knees next to her.

“Mom, what's wrong? You left the party already too?” My voice shook. “Where's Dad?”

Her lips quivered.

She tried to speak.

But nothing came out.

Then finally—

“They took him.”

I froze.

“What?”

“They took your father.”

The world around me fell silent.

“What do you mean they took him?”

My mother sobbed.

“They arrested him.”

The words hit me like a punch.

Arrested?

No.

That didn’t make sense.

My father?

Damien Hale?

The Alpha who protected our pack?

The man who wouldn’t hurt anyone unless he had to?

I shook my head quickly.

“No, that’s not possible.”

“He’s gone.” She added.