"Elena, get your ass home right now," my mom's voice shrieked through the speaker. "Today is Taylor's wedding. She needs her sister."
I wanted to hang up. After that night, I hadn't answered a single call from my family. I'd moved in with my friend Maribel instead.
A week had passed. But they hadn't forgotten me. In their eyes, my teenage drama wasn't worth more than the family's reputation. They didn't want to explain my absence in front of heavyweight guests.
But Maribel snatched the phone from my trembling hand, pressed the button, and held it up like she was brandishing a weapon.
She stood in the middle of the bedroom, cheeks flushed, her messy hair framing her face. "Hi, Mrs. Hale, this is Maribel. Elena won't be coming home tonight."
Silence on the other end. Then my father's heavy, unyielding voice cut through: "She must. She's a bridesmaid."
Maribel's brown eyes sparkled. "But sir, my parents just flew back from Switzerland today. They want me and Lina to help them prepare for tomorrow's charity gala. You know what charity galas mean, right? That's right-plenty of rich people."
The line went dead quiet.
Too quiet.
I slowly lifted my gaze to Maribel's face. She didn't even blink.
When Mom finally spoke again, her tone was buttery soft, like toast slathered in butter. "Oh. Well. You've got a point. We can't let Elena miss out on meeting rich men. She's useless-she needs to snag one to secure her future."
Dad cleared his throat and agreed, "If she's helping the Mayfields, that's fine. But she'll still come to the reception, right?"
"She'll try," Maribel said sweetly. Her thumb hovered over the end-call button. "Unless, of course, a billionaire proposes to Elena on the spot and whisks her away on a surprise honeymoon."
"Absolutely not," Mom snapped. "So, we'll see her at the chapel."
Click.
Maribel tossed my phone onto the bed. I lunged at her instantly. "Maribel, you're fucking insane! If my parents find out you lied, they'll kill me."
"Relax." She flashed a sly smile. "As long as you don't show up to that bitch's wedding, we win."
A shaky laugh slipped out of me. "You're scary sometimes."
She plopped down cross-legged beside me, her perfume warm and sweet in the air. "Scary but effective. Now quit looking like somebody ran over your cat. You're staying here. We're salvaging the last scraps of your dignity."
"I can't-" I started to protest automatically. I didn't believe there was anything we could do.
"You can. You will. I know just the place." She grinned, finalizing the matter.
The club pulsed with heavy bass. Red and gold lights strobed over the crowd as it swayed like liquid.
I sat at a corner table, stirring the untouched drink in front of me, misery written all over me, while Maribel swayed to the music.
"Come on, Elena! Loosen up!" she shouted over the beat. "You need this."
But my body felt heavy. Something was off. I turned, eyes scanning-until I saw him.
God. I had never seen a man so devastatingly handsome. His features were sharp and perfect, like a marble statue carved by some divine hand. He leaned against the bar, tall and broad-shouldered, his chest straining against a fitted black T-shirt. When he lifted his drink, the muscles in his arms flexed, and I imagined those big hands on my skin, sending shivers through me.
He noticed me. And when his eyes locked with mine, I felt like my soul had been seized in his grasp.
The music vanished. The air disappeared from my lungs. A prickle ran up my neck, static sparking down my spine-like I belonged to him.
It was insane. Why would I even think that? Ash, my boyfriend, had never once made me feel like I was his.
I couldn't look away. Worse, I couldn't breathe.
"Elena!"
Maribel's voice pierced the haze. She grabbed my arm, shaking me. "Hello? Earth to Elena. What the hell was that?"
I tore my gaze away, but I still felt his stare burning against my skin.
"Who is that?" Maribel whispered, following my eyes. Then her lips curled into a wicked grin. "Oh my God. He's hot. And the way you two just eye-fucked? I'm shocked this place isn't already on fire."
"I-I wasn't-"
"You were. I know that look. You need to go talk to him." She smirked, winking.
"No way," I said with a nervous laugh. "Absolutely not."
"Absolutely yes." Before I could stop her, she shoved me forward.
I stumbled right into a wall of muscle.
Strong, warm hands steadied me at the waist. I looked up-and froze, my lips just inches from his. His head dipped, eyes dark and burning.
"Mine," he murmured, voice low and rough.
My breath hitched, heat flooding my cheeks. "Yours?"
"That's right." His thumb brushed over my lips, slow and deliberate. "You belong to me."
My heart pounded. My voice shook. "We just met. Why would you say that? I don't even know your name."
"Dax," he said, his gaze softening for only a second. "You wouldn't understand."
"Try me." I snapped, kicking back against his arrogance. I was done with cocky men.
"It's. complicated."
"Make it simple!" I demanded, fists clenched at my sides.
He exhaled hard, leaning back with a growl. "You're human."
Was he some kind of sexy lunatic? That face could claim to be a clown, and women would still drop their panties.
"Oh my God, genius. You figured out I'm human," I laughed. "So what now-you gonna bite me like some wild beast?"
His irises flared red. He leaned in, teeth grazing my neck. "Do you want me to bite you, baby?" he rasped.
Heat from his lips seared my skin. A soft moan escaped me, pain forgotten-my parents, Ash, all of it vanished. Was I really about to have a one-night stand? My parents would lose their minds. They'd always wanted me to trade my virginity for a better future.
I gripped his thick arm tightly. "Why not?" I moaned.
His eyes blazed crimson. I could feel them stripping me bare. I swallowed hard. His big hands seized my arms, scooping me up effortlessly.
"My suite," he growled, as the crowd parted like the Red Sea.
He ran faster than any athlete I'd ever seen, but all I could think about was the way his hands would mark me.
The second we reached his luxury suite, he slammed me onto the bed without hesitation. His mouth crashed against mine with feral hunger, his scorching tongue dominating mine, devouring every inch of me. Still unsatisfied, he shredded my clothes with his teeth until I was completely bare-
His red eyes roamed over me: lips, throat, breasts-down to my core.
"Sunshine, you're beautiful. I bet you're soaking wet already," he rasped.
My eyes widened, heart racing. "Want a taste?" I teased.
"Spread your legs," he commanded.
I sucked in a shaky breath, then opened myself to him. His growl rumbled deep-
"Good girl." A dangerous smile flickered before he dove between my thighs, tongue hot and greedy as he licked and swallowed every drop.
"Oh God!" My head fell back, body arching closer to him, unable to stop.
That night, he was inhumanly strong. Again and again, we drowned in endless passion and need. When I was nearly delirious, his sharp teeth sank into my neck once more as he growled, raw and possessive: "Mine."
And in that moment, I felt something I'd never known before-satisfaction, wholeness, like he truly had claimed my soul.
