I made my way to the bar, my eyes scanning the crowded room as I went. There were people everywhere, laughing and drinking and dancing, and for a moment, I felt like I was in a different world. A world where nothing hurt, where nothing mattered, except the present moment.
The bartender, a friendly-looking woman, approached me with a warm smile. "What can I get for you?" she asked.
"The strongest drink you have," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
The bartender's expression softened, and she placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay?" she asked.
I shook my head, not trusting myself to speak. The tears threatened to spill over, and I turned away from her, not wanting to show my vulnerability to a stranger.
Without another word, the bartender went to work, mixing together various alcohols until she had created a potent concoction. She placed it in front of me, and I downed it in one gulp, relishing the burn as it made its way down my throat.
I signaled for another, and another after that, until I lost count of how many I had consumed. The alcohol numbed the pain, at least temporarily, and I welcomed the escape it provided.
The bar was a frenzied whirlwind of emotions, brimming with people celebrating the peace treaty that had finally been achieved after years of bloodshed and battle.
Matt had made the decision for our pack to surrender and accept the peace treaty, a decision I initially didn't agree with. However, deep down, I knew it was the best thing for us. Our pack had been desperately seeking peace for years, and we had no chance of winning the war. As much as it pained me to accept, surrender was our only option.
As the laughter and chatter swirled around me, I couldn't help but hear Alex's name being whispered over and over again. Alex, from the Blackwood pack, was the embodiment of power and strength. He was a hero on the battlefield, admired by all for his unwavering bravery and unmatched ferocity.
He had led his pack to countless victories against ours. Despite his young age, he was known to be invincible in the battlefield, and his name was on everyone's lips.
Matt had always been resentful towards him. and the mere mention of his name was enough to send him into a fit of rage.
But the girls at the bar seemed to hold a different opinion. "And yet he's so sexy," one of them gossiped and giggled. "The best alpha ever," her friend chimed in, starry-eyed, "I wonder what he's like in bed. You know, the strongest alpha. Does he also like taking control and dominating girls in bed? Just as well as he was at fighting." "You're so horny."
The girls' laughter echoed through the bar, and their conversation about Alex continued to pique my interest. His name had been on everyone's lips for so long, and I had yet to lay eyes on him. When was he supposed to arrive? Tomorrow, maybe? My memory was hazy from the drinks I had consumed earlier, but I knew he was coming to discuss the peace treaty with Matt.
As I scanned the room, my eyes were drawn to a solitary figure seated in the corner. His striking good looks were hard to ignore, and the low lighting of the bar only heightened his appeal. His face was cast in shadow, but his calm gaze held my attention.
His chiseled, rugged jawline, and his tousled hair only added to his sex appeal. His piercing blue eyes seemed to stare straight into my soul, and I felt a rush of heat flood my cheeks as he caught me staring.
What was I doing? I just got heartbroken because of Matt. I should gather myself, and the last thing I needed now was a fling. I never did flings. I avoided the man's gaze and stumbled towards the bathroom, hoping that some cold water and fresh air could help calm me down.
But then a stranger suddenly grabbed my arm and stopped me.
"Where are you going, beauty? Do you need me to walk you?" he slurred, reeking of alcohol and arrogance.
I tried to break free, but he tightened his grip on my arm. "I've been watching you for the whole night," he said, his words barely coherent. "Why don't you join me? I'm sure I can help you enjoy some good time."
I screamed, "let me go!" but the man only tightened his grip on my arm, pulling me closer to him. The stench of his putrid breath made me feel sick to my stomach. Panic set in as I realized I had no one to turn to for help.
Matt was out of the question, and my wolf had always been weak and helpless since I first saw her. I fought with all my might as his hand slid down to my ass, feeling completely vulnerable and alone.
Just when I thought all was lost, I felt a powerful presence behind me. A commanding voice cut through the chaos, "You heard her. Let her go." I turned to see a man, tall and confident, standing up for me. His piercing gaze made the drunk man back off and release his grip on me.
The man from the corner table!
I looked back and saw the man from the corner table. Up close, he was even more charismatic and imposing, his lush eyelashes covering his deep blue eyes like the waves of an ocean.
"Who are you?!" the drunk guy was clearly unhappy about the intrusion. "She is mine."
"Not anymore," the stranger replied calmly, his voice like velvet. "Let her go, or I'll make you regret it."
"Please, help me!" I turned to him, my voice trembling with fear. His eyes softened as he looked down at me, and his tall frame towered over me. Despite being strangers, his presence gave me a sense of safety I desperately needed in that moment.
The drunk guy refused to let go, and he tried to pull me towards him. The stranger effortlessly grabbed his wrist and twisted it until it snapped like a twig. The drunk guy shrieked in pain and begged to be let go. "Please! Don't hurt me!"
"Don't make me repeat myself. Let her go," the stranger's voice was cold and commanding, making it impossible to argue with him.
The drunk guy released me and fled, leaving me alone with the stranger. I couldn't help but feel wary of him as he lowered his head towards me. Memories of his sharp tone echoed in my head, and I took a step back, trying to put some distance between us.
But his warm fingers gently touched my arm, and he asked, "Are you okay?" His hot breath tickled my skin, making me feel itchy.
I pulled away from him and looked down at my arm, realizing the drunk guy had left a nasty bruise. "I'm fine. Thank you," I muttered, still feeling shaken from the encounter.
"Good," he said, studying my face and somehow I registered mixed feelings in his eyes.
Was he searching for someone else in my features, or was I just too drunk to tell? Before he could leave, I blurted out, "Why did you help me?"
He froze and turned back, "Because you remind me of someone else," he replied, his voice laced with emotion. "Your scent is so special."
"Someone important to you?" I asked.
"Very important. But she chose someone else."
"That's a sad story. She should have had better taste," I replied, trying to lift his spirits.
"You really think so?" He leaned closer, and I was engulfed in his wild, fresh scent, like a deep forest infused with mint and cedar. "Not many people like me. They fear me."
"I don't," I said, my eyes locked onto his. Despite my nerves, I felt myself getting lost in his blue ocean eyes.
"What's your story then?" He pulled up a chair beside me, taking me off guard. "You don't seem like the kind of girl who frequents bars. You look lost, like an innocent sheep walking among wolves. Bad ones."
"My boyfriend cheated on me," I confessed, feeling a pang of sadness, "He was all I had and all I wanted. But now I'm all alone."
"I'm familiar with that feeling," he said, his eyes softening.
"What feeling?" I asked.
He replied with a bitter smile, "Unwanted and abandoned." As he handed me a glass, he said, "We should drink to that."
As we raised our glasses, I gulped down the wine, feeling it burn all the way down my throat. Damn, I thought, alcohol was never my thing. I coughed and coughed, my face turning beet red.
"Here, let me..." he said, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the wine from my lips. As his thumb brushed against my lips, I felt a jolt of excitement course through me, and I knew he felt it too.
Our eyes locked, and time seemed to stand still as his hand caressed my lips. With each passing second, my breathing grew more ragged, and an unfamiliar excitement washed over me.
"You're so pretty," he whispered, his voice barely audible as it tickled my heart.
"Let's get out of here," I said, my voice trembling with anticipation.