Time races away, like the hearts beating in our chests, as we dance across the hard wooden dance floor. The loud music vibrates into our bones with every bass drop. Some grind themselves onto one another, while others casually sway their hips to the music. The smell of alcohol and sweat is pungent in the air. But I didn't care. We were here to forget and to have fun.

I managed to swivel through the chaotic crowd with Kenzie's help. As the night went on, we danced together without a care in the world. Above all, we danced away the frustration and weariness from this week.

As the music blared loudly into my rapidly deafening ears, I noticed Kenzie was gone. I look around for Kenz, but I don't see her. I turned every which way but there was no sign of her. Maybe she went to the bar to get more drinks? I push through the engulfing crowd to get a glimpse of the old wooden bar. A mob of people line the edges of the bar, desperate for drinks and each other's attention. But there's no Kenz.

With alcohol flowing through my system, it's getting harder and harder to keep myself level to the ground. So, I stumbled to the bathroom with strong hope that she was there, but she wasn't. I can't find her. Where is she? I started to consider the possibility she went home with someone. She is a gorgeous woman and catching the eye of any man is not a difficult task. She's done it before—leaving me to go fuck some hot guy she just met, but I was much more sober and wasn't in a bar scattered with wolves.

Ryder. I need to find Ryder. Maybe he is still here. I made my way out of the bathroom after shoving through the long line of women, and made the trek back to the table through the crowd. I didn't see him on the dance floor, so maybe that's where he was? As the booth came into focus, I realized it was empty. The only thing sitting at the booth was emptied shot glasses with lipstick rings around a few of them. No signs of either Ryder or Kenzie. Did they just leave me? In a bar swarming with wolves? By myself?

Well shit, I thought to myself. The bastards left. I hope they have a great time with whoever.

I let out an exasperated sigh. I want to go back to their apartment. I want to crawl back under the sheets. I've had enough fun for one night. As I turn to leave, I feel my body crashing against another. It was the same feeling I had when I accidentally ran into that wolf at Luigi's. I stumble backwards, spitting out apologies left and right while keeping my eyes trained to the floor from embarrassment.

"It's okay, beautiful." A dark male voice says to me. I look up to see a man staring me down from a staggering height. The amber eyes which stare into mine are dark and emotionless—soulless. Air and words cannot pass my throat as I stand there paralyzed in an unshakable fear but I force down a hard gulp. A sly smirk curves his lips as a sparkle of danger glistens in his eyes. Alcohol reeks like a dump site from his mouth. The hair on the back of my neck stands up. He's one of them. He has to be. Most humans are not that abnormally muscular.

"I-I was just leaving." I stutter before attempting to bypass him to leave. His callous hand grabs my arm and tugs me back. He leans his head down to my ear. The scruff of his wild beard tickles my neck as he whispers,

"Come on, we just met. Why don't you stay a while. Come dance with me." He places a hand around my waist and slowly hooks his fingers into my flesh.

"I really s-shouldn't. I n-need to get h-home." My heart begins to race away as intense fear and panic strike like a wildfire in my chest.

The man pulls away, cupping a warm hand around my face and begins to stroke his thumb across my cheek. Those dark amber eyes wander around my face before plunging lower to my chest. I shift uncomfortably under his touch, but it doesn't phase him. Jagged canines appear as he separates his thin lips. I need to get away, and go home. As I try to pull away, his hand snakes around my neck and clamps down. Hard.

Oh shit. My face immediately begins to warm from lack of oxygen and blood flow. I gasp for air but every time I do, he tightens his grip. I look into his cold, lustful eyes as he enjoys watching me suffer. My eyes begin to water and I feel an immense pressure building within the walls of my skull. His rough fingers dig deep into my throat, almost completely closing off my air supply. It hurts so much! A whimper escapes my lungs as a tear rolls down my cheek. Does no one see this?!

"That wasn't a question, my dear." His voice lowers as he watches me suffocate in his grasp. My hands loop around his and try to pull them away. My attempts fail but I still continue to try and fight him off.

Immediately, a large hand wraps around the guy's wrist. The man's eyes widened in alarm as he let go of my neck, groaning in pain while being forced to his knees. As soon as I feel his grubby hands release themselves, I inhale loudly and try to regain air into my lungs. My heart pulses in my temples as the overwhelming relief consumes my body. Suddenly, the chilling sound of cracking bones fills the air around us and the man lets out a cry of pain.

"Don't. Ever. Touch. Her. Again." A familiar and husky voice angrily commands before tossing him to the ground. The guy attempts to stand, but suddenly a dark and daunting growl echoes loudly through the bar. He cowers low to the ground, bowing his head in submission. The music abruptly shut off and everyone got quiet. Their curious eyes fall onto the spectacle unfolding before them. I can hear my own heart still thumping in my temples through the cutthroat silence.

My gaze follows the cold voice and to my surprise, I find the wolf I ran into last night standing next to me. Uncontrollable and furious flames engulf his now golden eyes with a passion I've never seen in anyone. A thirst for death glazes his eyes, which are fixated on the jerk he threw to the ground. His jaw clenched tightly as he stared the man down. The power radiating off of him is more fierce and dominating than the night before. Quickly, he places a warm hand around my small wrist and pulls me behind him, leading me out of the crowded bar. The touch of his hand ignites every nerve in my body and it feels so good. I willingly follow him after witnessing his violent outburst. I don't want to upset him at all.

As he pushes the door open, a refreshing and cool gust of the night air washes over us. It feels so good against my warm skin. Once we're far enough away from the entryway, he halts and abruptly spins me around. He firmly grabs a hold of my arms and stares me down with those infuriated golden eyes.

"Are you stupid?! You could've gotten killed in there. That's a werewolf bar. You're too weak against them. If I hadn't been here tonight, you would've gotten hurt, or worse!" He raises his husky voice, which is saturated in undeniable rage, scolding me like a child. I clench my jaw and try to jerk myself out of his grasp. If I wanted to be lectured, I'd go back to class.

"Let me go." I demand, struggling to get out of his strong clutch.

"Are you not listening? You could've died!" He frustratingly reiterates.

"No, you're not listening! I said let me go!" I hardened my glare to match his. He rolls his eyes and groans as he reluctantly releases me. I stumble backwards a little but I manage to stabilize myself.

"I had everything under control."

"Yeah right. That jerk was ready to pulverize you." His observations were not incorrect, however I didn't want to come off as a weak and helpless damsel in distress.

I pull every ounce of false confidence I have at this moment to say, "Maybe I wanted him to pulverize me. Ever cross your mind, hero?"

"Give me a break. I can still smell the fear seething off of you." He scoffs. I furrow my brows, upset and angry that he isn't buying it. Of course he can smell fear, you moron. I cross my arms over my chest with pure defiance, holding strongly to my statement and pushing the hilarious facade that I was fearless.

"I want him to take me home and pulverize me." I slur stubbornly with a venomous and smug smirk. I'm not going home with a lowlife who enjoys strangling women, but he doesn't need to know that. A low and frightening growl rumbles like loud thunder in a dark storm through the night. He inches his way closer and closer to me, narrowing those paralyzing golden orbs into mine. He's so close, I can feel his warm breath kissing my skin. My heart begins to beat a little harder and faster as fear overcomes the defiance I was so bravely showing.

"What's your address?" He growls through clenched teeth. I'm not going to give my actual address out to a stranger! I also do not remember Kenzie's address either, so, um, there's that.

"What's yours?" I playfully wink at him out of impulse but I have the feeling my flirtatious appeal came off as an epileptic seizure. He opens his mouth to speak, but shuts it just as quickly. Seconds later, an exasperated sigh huffs through his nostrils, while his lips form a tight line.

"That's it. Get in the car." Evident frustration consumes his face as he grabs my arm and pulls me towards a dark truck nearby.

"Where are we going?" I ask innocently as he drags me behind him. "Oh, am I going home with you?!"

He flings open the passenger door and thrusts me into the seat.

"I'm taking you home." He says immediately before slamming the door shut. He then quickly walks to the drivers side, jumps in and starts the engine, which roared to life.

"But you don't know where I live." I cautiously glared at the flustered hunk next to me.

"That's why you are going to tell me so I can take you there and no more freaks try to hurt you." He says through gritted teeth. I lean over, zeroing my eyes on him, and warily whisper,

"Are you going to hurt me?"

"What? No!" Shock enveloped his eyes as they flickered back and forth from golden embers to the captivating green eyes which took my breath away. "Why would you ask that?"

"You could be a psychopath," I shrug before sliding back in my seat. "You could've rescued me just to torture me."

"If I wanted to hurt you, I would've done it already." The wolf looks over at me with an annoyed brow raised. He drives the truck up to the entrance of the parking lot but stops before going any further. "Now, for the last time, where do you live?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." I flick his nose with the tip of my finger, scrunching my own nose for an exaggerated effect. He responds with another aggravated sigh but remains silent.

"Hey! I have an idea!" A devious smirk slicks across my lips. "Why don't I go home with you?"

"What? Why?" He quirks a surprised brow. It's not fair that Kenzie and Ryder get to go home with someone. Might as well go home with him.

"Why not?" I crawl closer to him. "Let me go home with you and I'll show you what I've been dying to do all night."

My eyes quickly glance at his soft lips then back into the soul piercing golden orbs fixated on me, chewing on my lower lip. I can see in his eyes the intense fight between his honorable morality and desirable lust. He pulls his eyes away from me, staring at the almost empty street, then a weary sigh bellows out of him.

"I'm not gonna take advantage of you when you're like this." He states firmly. The knife of his rejection penetrates my heart with vigorous force. I guess I'm not as 'seductive' as I thought. I settled back down in my seat and huffed out a sigh. If Kenzie and Ryder can do it, so can I.

"Fine. Then we're not going anywhere." Like a child's tantrum, I stubbornly fold my arms over my chest and sink myself further into the passenger seat. He turns back to me, his brows furrowed with surprise, while a sparkle of frustration still deeply burns in his canary eyes.

"Are you always such a little brat?" He scoffs. Those perfect shades of iridescent golden orbs gaze back into mine. I can see a small smirk barely curve the ends of those beautiful lips.

"Are you always a fun sucking lifeless dick?" I roll my eyes and dramatically toss my hands in the air.

"Only when little girls act like brats." A sarcastic grin emerges on his face as he mockingly pokes my nose like I did his just moments before. A scowl wrinkles my face as I look at his perfect features.

"You're mean." An annoyed breath puffs out of my lungs. As I shift in my seat, I can feel the alcohol taking its effect. My head feels like it's sloshing around like a freshly made slushy. I sway back and forth. I rest my head against the hard leather headrest and close my eyes.

"That stuff is too strong for you. It's not meant for humans." He says but I ignore him. I am done talking to jerks for two nights in a row.

After a brief few moments of silence, he sighs. I feel the truck slowly move before jerking right. I wait a few minutes before opening my eyes. The glowing orange street lights and LED headlights from other cars make it hard for me to regain clear vision. I blink a couple of times, trying to readjust my eyes.

I give the wolf a side glare. His eyes are fixated on the road. He appears to be in deep thought from the furrowed brows and concentrated look on his face. I turn my attention back to our surroundings. We pass every illuminated building I passed earlier going to the bar with Ryder and Kenz. Shortly after, we pass the same exit ramp we took to get onto this road. It then hits me that he isn't taking me to the apartment, and he certainly isn't taking me home. A ping of regret pricks my heart as I thoroughly understand what the hell I just did.

After a while, the four lane road merged into a two lane, surrounded by thick woods. The bustling town life diminishes as we press forward. He drives further and further before taking a left onto a gravel dirt road. Small lights shine sporadically through various trees, illuminating the path. Soon enough, a massive home comes into view.

He parks the giant truck then turns to me, "Come on."

We got out, and I followed close behind him as he led the way to the house. Without another word, he guides me through a massive foyer, up a flight of stairs, and finally down a long hallway. At the end of the hallway is a large wooden door. Ornamental accents are carved around a giant wolf's head. He places his hand on the black knob and twists the door open. Darkness enveloped us as he searched the wall for the light switch. As the room slowly begins to brighten, I stand there in awe at how massive this room is. The white ceiling has to be at least ten feet tall.

"You'll sleep in the bed." He says sternly, going to a slick dark dresser and shuffling through it. He then pulls out an over-sized grey T-shirt along with a pair of thin black shorts, and tosses it at me. "You can wear these."

He gently glides the large dresser drawer back into its place before walking towards me. He tucks his fingers into the front pockets of his dark wash jeans and shifts onto his hip. The thin black t-shirt gripping to his large and muscular body only heightens my sexual attraction to him. Why does he have to be so damn hot?

"I have some papers I must tend to before calling it quits for the night, so you can get dressed in peace. I won't be too far. Just down the hall if you need me." A soft smile curls the ends of his lips as he gazes into my eyes. Those intense glowing golden orbs of frustration had shifted back to pure jungle green and I haven't noticed til now. Honey golden flakes scatter like stars in the night through his captivating eyes. I could stare into them forever.

"Thanks." A petite smile softly curves my lips as gingerly he places a hand on my cheek, tenderly brushing his thumb against it. His touch is so soothing, so pleasurable. With every stroke, the nerves in my body light up like fireworks on Fourth of July. My heart beats against my chest feverishly. I never want to leave him again.

A/N

What do y'all think? I'm excited for the future of this book.Please let me know in the comments what you think so far! ❤️

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