Beneath the Fire

Chapter One: The Party

Serena Calloway never liked parties.

At least, not the kind Lily dragged her to—the wild, overcrowded house parties where music pounded through the walls and the air smelled like cheap beer and bad decisions. She would have been perfectly happy curled up at home, watching old movies, but Lily had insisted.

"You never do anything fun," Lily had whined, tugging at Serena's arm. "You need to loosen up, and this is the last big party before graduation."

So here she was, wedged between a sweaty couple making out against the staircase and a group of football players playing some drinking game she didn't understand. The heat of too many bodies pressed together made the air thick, and the music vibrated through her chest.

"Having fun yet?" Lily grinned, handing her a red cup filled with something fruity and suspiciously strong.

Serena forced a smile and took a small sip, the alcohol burning her throat. "Tons," she deadpanned.

Lily laughed and threw an arm around her shoulder. "That's the spirit! Now, let's find Ethan before he drinks himself into a coma."

Ethan Montgomery, Lily's younger brother, was a freshman and had a habit of getting into trouble when he tagged along to these things. They pushed their way through the crowded living room, dodging drunk classmates and avoiding eye contact with Ryan Carter—Serena's ex, who was leaning against the wall, eyeing her like she was his next drink.

And then—she saw him.

Jaxon Wolfe.

Leaning lazily against the kitchen counter, a bottle of beer dangling from his tattooed fingers, dark eyes scanning the crowd like he wasn't impressed by any of it.

Serena's stomach twisted.

Jax was everything Lily hated. Her estranged older brother, the one she never talked about unless she was cursing his name. He had a reputation—troublemaker, womanizer, the kind of guy parents warned their daughters about. He'd been kicked out of the house years ago, after a falling-out with his family that Lily refused to discuss.

And yet, here he was.

Older. Rougher. More dangerous than Serena remembered.

She hadn't seen him in years, but time had only made him sharper—dark stubble along his jaw, his black t-shirt stretched over broad shoulders, tattoos peeking from under the sleeves. He had that effortless arrogance about him, the kind that made girls stupid. And he was looking at her.

No. Watching her.

Heat bloomed under her skin, and she immediately looked away.

Lily hadn't noticed him yet, too busy yelling at Ethan across the room.

Serena turned to follow her, but then—

"Well, well," a voice drawled behind her. Low. Rough. Amused.

She knew who it was before she turned.

Jax stood there, closer than she expected, his lips curling into a slow smirk.

"Little Serena Calloway," he said, tilting his head. "Didn't expect to see you here."

Her pulse stuttered.

"Didn't expect to see you here either," she shot back, folding her arms.

His smirk widened. "I go where the fun is." He leaned in slightly, and she caught the scent of something dark and intoxicating—whiskey and leather. "Didn't know you were the party type."

"I'm not," she muttered.

"That explains why you look like you want to escape."

Her eyes narrowed. "And you? Just here to cause trouble?"

He chuckled, a low, rich sound. "Trouble always finds me, sweetheart."

Her stomach flipped, and she hated the way her body reacted to him.

She needed to walk away. Now.

But before she could, Lily's voice cut through the air.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

Serena turned just in time to see Lily storming toward them, her expression murderous.

Jax just grinned. "Nice to see you too, sis."

And Serena?

She was trapped between them, heat creeping up her neck, knowing—deep down—this was only the beginning.