Madison's POV
I stood at the other end of the street, watching the light from the club spill through its windows and the muffled sounds coming from inside the building. I didn't want to be here. My mind calculated a thousand other things I'd rather be doing as I rocked from one foot to the other, and one of them was being curled up in bed, crying.
My life was currently a mess and even though everyone acted like it wasn't my fault, I couldn't help but blame myself. Maybe if I hadn't been away for too long, I would have noticed that the business was struggling, and maybe my father wouldn't have had to bear the burdens by himself till his last breath. Regardless of how many times I tried to forget about it, I couldn't get rid of the self-loathing and guilt that plagued my heart.
"I really do not want to be here, Sophie," I mumbled tiredly, turning away from the light, but her firm grip kept me from moving further.
"I understand, Maddy, but for how long are you going to be miserable?" she countered with worry flashing across her deep green eyes.
"I don't know, maybe for as long as it takes for the pain to go away," I choked on the tears forming in my throat.
It was difficult to explain how I was feeling to anyone, because no matter how much they pretended to understand, they never truly did. My father was everything to me, and I left him to chase after a stupid love affair that ended as a disaster. The anger on his face when I walked out of his office after our argument would permanently be imprinted on my mind and even worse that I never got the chance to apologise before he died.
"He'll only break your heart, Madison, trust me…"
His last words echoed in my mind, and he was right about that because Phil was the biggest jerk ever.
"Maddy, it has been three whole months already and I think you've punished yourself enough. Maybe it's time to let go, I don't think Dad blames you for anything,"
This time it was my brother speaking as he wrapped his arms around my shoulders and pulled me in for a hug.
I wrapped my hands around him and wept across his chest even though I was three years older than him. Andy had always been one of my biggest motivators and it was slightly relieving to know that he was still here.
"I miss him so much, Andy," I whispered softly, sniffling and trying to stop the tears from flowing.
"We all do," he consoled, stroking my hair fondly until I was calm again before letting me go.
Sophie reached for my hand almost immediately with a mischievous grin spread across her face.
"Now that we've gotten the tears out of the way, let's go party," she squealed excitedly, pulling me towards the entrance.
I turned to my brother silently praying he would come to my rescue but he just smiled and followed closely on our trail. I couldn't blame him though, Sophie was his high school heartthrob and he couldn't ever say no to her. As we entered into the dimly lit club, I concluded to myself that maybe I do need a little distraction for tonight.
Making my way to one of the bar stools, I ordered myself a glass of martini as Andy and Sophie disappeared almost immediately. So much for wanting me to have fun. Sophie worked the night shift at the Rebel Wolves club. While she served, Andy stood at the other end, acting like a protector. This was the kind of love story I envisioned for myself; a love where I finally felt secure, but I guess this kind of love was not reserved for people like me. At least not anymore, I am too broken for any kind of love.
As the music blared through the speakers, my phone chimed with a text and I stared at the screen for a few seconds unsure of what to do.
You can't stop me, Maddy. I have every power to crush you completely, so stand down now before it's too late.
I had received five threatening texts from my uncle today, and a small part of me was slowly beginning to waver. However, if there was one thing I knew for sure was that my father would never have backed down without a fight. Even though I didn't know how, Leonard Byers wasn't going to win this time.
"I've never seen anyone looking this miserable at a club," a husky voice interrupted my thoughts.
I whipped my head to the direction of the voice and was swept away by those eyes from the far end of the bar stool. It was hard to say if they were green or brown from the dim light in the bar, but I knew they made me feel slightly breathless.
“It is very rude to sneak up on people," I scowled, sipping my drink.
"It isn't called sneaking up if we're seated at a bar and I was just stating the obvious. No offence but you look like shit," he replied, this time moving to the stool beside me and I could clearly make out the outline of his face now.
His towering 6'3ft stature was complimented by broad shoulders and perfectly chiseled jaw . It was impossible to miss those beautiful hazel eyes with flecks of gold in them that made him even more mysterious. He was no doubt charming, but I wasn't one to be swayed by charms.
"Family issues?" he asked casually, throwing me off balance.
"It's none of your business, so excuse me," I answered, rising from my seat with my drink in hand.
"Are you always this rude or it's just to me," he called out with a stupid smirk on his face that only infuriated me.
"I could ask you the same question, jerk?" I barked in annoyance, hating myself for pouring my anger on him when he didn't exactly do anything wrong, and hating him for not minding his damn business.
He didn't respond, instead, ran his eyes trailed down the length of my dress carefully with a naughty smile playing on his lips. I nervously ran my hand over my glittery black dress and for the first time was grateful that Sophie had made me wear this.
"You are beautiful and fiesty at the same time, It makes me curious," he whispered calmly.
"I see that you're the flirty one, but I am uninterested in horny men looking for a little entertainment so please excuse me," I answered through tight lips, but his hands stopped me from making further movement.
"I don't know why you're this uptight, but I need you to unwind a little. Just for tonight, pretend like life isn't so complicated," he muttered calmly and surprisingly his words cracked my defenses.
He was right. Tonight was supposed to be fun and I was ruining it because my mind wouldn't stop reminding me of the many things happening. Maybe just for tonight, I should pretend like I am that Madison who didn't have to deal with her uncle's looming threat, or the family's dying business. For tonight, I would be the Madison who was young and reckless; I definitely missed that girl.
"Why aren't you on the dance floor?" I asked weakly, settling into my seat in defeat as he ordered a shot of whiskey for me.
"I don't come to the club to dance. I prefer sitting back and looking out for beautiful side attractions, like you," he responded with a mischievous grin on his face.
“It's going to take more than being a flirt to sway me,” I teased, indulging him a little.
Leaning closer to me, I could feel his breath tickling my neck as he whispered in my ears." I can be so much more, depending on who is asking,”
His naughty grin shifted into a bright smile when my eyes grew wide in shock, and that was when I first noticed it. His eyes weren’t the only beautiful thing about his face. The slight dimple that spread on his left cheek when he smiled was fascinating, and even if the signs in my head were screaming red, I kept pushing further.
“What are you now?” I asked, sipping into my whiskey for courage.
He leaned closer and stared at me for a few minutes without saying a word. It was impossible to read the expression on his face.
“I’m just a young man looking to have fun with a beautiful woman, and I'm staring at one right now”
“Wanna know a secret?” he added, pulling in closer so that I could feel his breath on my neck.
“Yeah,” I answered, swallowing the lump in my throat.
"You're literally the most mysterious girl I've met in the club all week and I don't know how you're doing it, but you've caught my attention,"
Something in me stirred, and it was a good thing the club was dimly lit. That way, he couldn’t see the blush that rose up my cheeks. I had no idea what I was doing but for the first time, every other thought was banished from my mind and all I that mattered was being here with this stranger I had barely known for five minutes.
"Maybe you should try unfolding this mystery then," I whispered in response, surprised at how bold I was suddenly feeling. This was one of the most reckless things I've done in a while and would probably be the last time ever.
I had absolutely nothing to lose and no one said I had to ever see him again.
His grin grew wider as he downed his last shot of whisky from his glass. He reached for my hand and led me towards the exit with my heart drumming wildly in my chest, but my legs followed regardless. My eyes were fixed brown hair and black suit as I drowned further in the well of whatever desires or curiosity I was feeling at the moment.
“The club has a secured VIP room. It's not too late to turn back now, stranger,” he whispered as he led me up a steep stairway.
I turned back, hearing the music become more faint with every step we took and the rational part of me wanted to listen to the warning signs in my head.
“Run, Maddy, run and don't look back,” a voice screamed in my head.
Tyler's POVRebel Wolves was my safe haven and escape from the many dramas happening in my life. Reality was stifling, sometimes dressed as a tall blonde female called Brenda. On other days, it was my family and the responsibilities that came with being a Marshal; it was certainly not the greatest life."You're standing me up again, Babe," Brenda had texted earlier as I made my way out of the club with this beautiful stranger by my side. I heard my phone chime once more, but I ignored the text and continued towards the VIP room.This certainly wasn't the first time I had picked up a lady from the club. However, this was the first time I had met one with such a smart mouth. She was beautiful and fascinating no doubt, but something about her was off even if I couldn't wrap my hands around it.I unlocked the room, and led her carefully into the darkness when my phone chimed again in my pocket."You wanna answer that?" she asked with a concerned smile."It's nobody," I mumbled under my br
Madison's POVYesterday was a mistake. As I drove back home with Andy from the club, I tried to pretend like there was nothing wrong with what I did, but the regrets kept looming. I had prayed that the regrets would be gone by morning dissipated, but I lied. If anything, the wave of disgust I was feeling was overwhelming.My goals were clearly spelled out when I returned, and it definitely wasn't supposed to start with a one night stand with a stranger. A stranger that was forcing himself into my dreams, and gave me one of the best sexual experiences of my life. This was messed up and I had no one else to blame for it but myself. Maybe, I had a knack for screwing things up.The door of my room flew open, startling me from my thoughts as Gemina stood at the entrance; her face contoured into a scowl that made her deep blue eyes less kind."I don't think you should still be in bed by now, Maddy," she pouted.“I wasn't even asleep, Gem, and I don't think that's the best way to speak to yo
Madison’s POV My heart raced with uncertainty as I entered the dimly lit street, leaving the noisy club behind. Tyler, who had dropped a bombshell on my family, stood beside me, his expression oddly remorseful. I felt like punching him in the face. I mean, I would have, but his cuteness was his saving grace, he looked like there was nothing wrong with what he did. I mean, my siblings were going to kill me! “Tyler, you had no right to drop such a bombshell on them,” I hissed, my voice trembling with frustration. “I knew this was a crazy idea, but this… this is beyond insane!” Running a hand through his chestnut hair, Tyler sighed in exasperation. “Maddy, I honestly didn’t think it would hurt them that much.” My anger simmered, but his remorse seemed genuine. “You should’ve thought about that before blurting it out like that. And I can’t believe you didn’t even warn me.” He winced, my anger weighing him down. “I’m sorry. I should’ve told you before we came here, but I just wanted t
Tyler's POV The quiet aftermath of Madison's departure weighed heavily on me. Her form receding in the distance left an indescribable emptiness, a gap that I hadn't anticipated. I found myself pondering over the unexplainable force that drew me to her. It was more than mere physical attraction; it was as though some invisible bond tethered us together. Behind the wheel of my car, I retraced the path back home, but my thoughts remained trapped in the club, replaying every second of our unexpected alliance. Each revelation seemed to strike me like thunder, leaving me entangled in a storm of emotion. Alongside the excitement, fear lurked, for I couldn't escape the daunting prospect of confronting my parents. As I continued to drive, my thoughts were fixated on the impending storm I'd face with my parents. I knew my mother, in particular, would not take this revelation lightly. She had always held Brenda in high regard, and marrying Madison was certainly not part of her grand plan. How
Madison’s POV The reflection in the mirror seemed like a scene from a movie, and I was the protagonist playing a role far grander than my reality. Dressed in a deep blue satin gown, I was the picture of elegance, but the unease in my heart made it feel out of place. The knee-length dress accentuated my figure, a choice Tyler insisted on, as if he wanted to make a statement to his mother. The anticipation of the evening weighed on me. Would Tyler's mother appreciate my effort or find it excessive? This dinner meant more than clothes; it was about acceptance. Brenda, his previous girlfriend, had left behind an almost mythical presence, and the pressure to live up to her was overwhelming. As I adjusted the delicate straps of my dress, I couldn't escape the self-doubt. The ring of my phone interrupted my thoughts, and I hurried to answer Tyler's call, feeling the tremor in his voice. "I'm outside," he said. “Just that?” I thought to myself. He couldn't even make it nicer, at least,
Tyler’s POV The silence that followed Madison’s abrupt departure was thick with tension, like a storm brewing on the horizon. My mother’s disapproving gaze bore into me, her unspoken disapproval casting a long shadow over the room. In that charged moment, I couldn’t contain the torrent of emotions that surged within me. I pushed my chair back abruptly, its legs scraping harshly against the floor, the sound a jarring contrast to the hushed atmosphere. My mother’s words, echoing her thinly veiled threat, reverberated in my mind. “You will lose your entire inheritance if you move an inch,” she had warned. For a brief, heart-stopping moment, I was struck by the weight of her words. The inheritance had always been the safety net, the ultimate insurance policy that had made me tread carefully around my family’s expectations. It had been the invisible shackle that tied me to their plans and desires. However, in that pivotal moment, I could no longer be held hostage by the promise of weal
Madison's POV The car sat parked in the dimly lit driveway of Tyler's family mansion, our world confined to the intimate space inside. Angry words filled the air as I unleashed the pent-up frustration I had been harboring. I was angry, at rage and at that point I just wanted to pour it all out. Tyler sat beside me, guilt and regret etched across his face. We'd been married in a nasty manner, and now I was forced to face the judgment of his family, and who knew how they would react. I had been thrown into a maelstrom of emotions, and I couldn't find an escape. At that point, I started having regrets, I wish I had not been been unlucky in life. Thinks we're going smoothly before, not until my father died, my uncle started showing his true colors and my mum developed a critical heart condition. I knew I had to be strong as the first born, but it is quite overwhelming. Now, fate has brought Tyler into my life and ever since then , it has been another roller coaster ride on all over
Madison's POV The following morning, I found myself in Tyler’s lavish and unfamiliar home. As my eyes fluttered open, I couldn’t help but marvel at the grandeur that surrounded me. This was my first time here, and it was nothing short of impressive. The luxury of the place left me in awe. Tyler’s bedroom exuded luxury and grandeur. The centerpiece was an enormous intricately carved wooden bed draped with silk curtains. A chandelier cast a warm glow, illuminating elegant artwork adorning the walls. The room was pristine and designed for relaxation. Plush armchairs by large windows offered a cozy spot, and a mahogany dressing table showcased Tyler’s refined taste and love for the finer things in life. It was a world far from my own, now unexpectedly entwined with my life. My initial surprise was quickly replaced by a realization. I had passed out the night before out of sheer exhaustion, following the intense make-out session we’d shared. Despite the chaos and heartache from the pr