Chapter 3

"Where the hell is she?!" Alexander roared, his voice cutting through the study like a block of ice.

The clock on the wall already read three in the morning. I had turned off my phone at midnight on purpose, forcing him to deploy his entire security detail to scour the city.

Meanwhile, inside the deafening thrum of the nightclub, my consciousness was slipping away. My head spun violently. The third drink I had downed earlier had triggered a sudden, scorching wave of heat through my body. My heart hammered frantically against my ribs, and an unsettling, frantic warmth began to crawl through my veins.

"Hey there, gorgeous. You look completely wasted. Come on, let's go," a strange voice whispered directly into my ear.

I turned my head slowly, blinking at an unfamiliar man in a black button-down shirt. Before I could utter a word, his hands clamped tightly around my waist. He hoisted me up from the couch and half-dragged me toward the quiet emergency exit at the back.

"Get off me! Take your hands off me, you bastard!" I slurred, attempting to wrench myself free. But my fingers possessed no strength. To make matters worse, his touch only seemed to ignite the raging heat inside me.

"Relax, we're going to have some fun in my car," the man said, flashing a sickening smile as he opened the door to his sedan in the dimly lit parking lot.

"I said let me go, you piece of trash!" I cried out, though the words came out quiet and broken. Tears of sheer frustration welled in my eyes as my body completely refused to cooperate.

Just as he was about to shove me into the passenger seat, a powerful grip slammed down on the stranger's shoulder. He was yanked backward violently, hitting the asphalt with a sickening thud.

"What the hell?! Who do you think you are?!" the stranger shrieked, groaning in pain.

Alexander stood there. The shadows of the night obscured his face, but his jaw was clenched tight. His chest heaved with heavy, rapid breaths, radiating a suffocating aura of pure rage.

"Get lost before I ruin your entire life," Alexander hissed.

Terrified, the stranger scrambled to his feet and sprinted away into the dark, leaving the parking lot behind. Alexander didn't bother chasing him. Instead, he turned sharply toward me as my knees finally gave out. With one swift movement, he scooped me up into his arms.

"Put me down! Let me go, you bastard! You're just like the rest of them!" I screamed, thrashing wildly. The chaos in my mind had mutated into pure panic. I balled my hands into fists, drumming them against his broad chest with what little strength I had left.

But then, Alexander's masculine scent washed over me, completely paralyzing what remained of my sanity. The drug in my system surged violently. Driven by the burning heat, my fingers abruptly clamped onto his collar. Instead of pulling away, my body moved on its own, pressing deeper into his warmth.

"So hot. I'm so hot." I whimpered.

I buried my face in the crook of his neck, frantically planting erratic, wild kisses against his skin. My nails dug into his shoulders, clawing for an anchor against the agonizing thirst consuming me. I licked and nipped at his neck, entirely stripped of my self-control.

I felt Alexander's entire frame freeze instantly. His stride halted for a single second, and his breath hitched right above my head.

"Stop it, Selena! It's me! Control yourself!" Alexander barked in a low, raspy growl, clearly fighting to master his own impulses.

"I hate you. But it burns. Let go." I babbled incoherently, ignoring his warning as I continued to press my lips against his neck.

Alexander didn't argue. He quickened his pace, threw open the car door, and placed me in the passenger seat with enough force to break our contact.

"Stay still," he commanded sharply as he buckled my seatbelt.

He vaulted into the driver's seat and slammed on the gas, tearing down the road at a dangerous speed. Throughout the drive, I writhed uncomfortably in my seat, clutching at my short dress to cope with the torturous heat.

"Hang on, we're almost there," Alexander muttered. His voice sounded incredibly strained as he reached for his phone with one hand. "Doctor Bram, get to my house immediately! It's an emergency!"

By the time the car screeched to a halt in front of the estate, my consciousness had nearly faded. I tried to reach for his neck again when he lifted me, but he easily pinned both of my wrists with one massive hand. He carried me up the stairs, strode into the bedroom, and laid me gently on the mattress.

Shortly after, Doctor Bram rushed into the room, medical bag in hand. He immediately checked my racing pulse and shone a penlight into my eyes. Alexander stood motionless at the foot of the bed, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes locked onto my face. The top button of his shirt was undone, revealing a faint flush on his neck from my earlier assault.

"What's her condition, Doctor?" Alexander demanded, his tone razor-sharp.

Doctor Bram let out a short sigh and looked at Alexander with a grim expression. "Selena didn't just consume alcohol, Alexander. Someone at the club spiked her drink with a high-dose stimulant. The drug induces hallucinations, a total loss of inhibition, and a drastic spike in body temperature. You brought her home just in time, before the full dosage could overwhelm her central nervous system."

Though my eyes were closed and my limbs felt like lead, I could still hear their conversation clearly as the antidote began to work through my system. The atmosphere in the bedroom instantly shifted, turning freezing and terrifyingly tense. I knew Alexander was suppressing a monstrous wave of fury.

"Are there any long-term complications?!" Alexander asked, his voice rising an octave, demanding a definitive answer.

"No, I've administered an antidote to neutralize the toxins. She just needs absolute rest until tomorrow afternoon to regain full awareness," Doctor Bram replied, quietly packing his things and stepping out of the room.

I heard the heavy thud of Alexander's footsteps slowly approaching my bedside. He stood over me in silence for a long moment, pulling the blanket up to cover my shoulders with a touch that was suddenly, surprisingly gentle. Then, he spun on his heel toward his men, who had been standing by the doorway, trembling in fear.

"Find whoever gave her that drink!"