Bella's POV:
I look up at the stranger. His fingers shamefully squeeze my bare shoulders, the pearls of my dress slipping against each other with a faint click.
"Hey, little girl,"
he murmurs, his voice low, hot breath fanning across my ear with the sour smell of alcohol. The sick scent of lilies overwhelmed my senses.
I try to push him off, but he doesn't budge. His grip turns painful, my face twisting as I squeeze my eyes shut.
"Please… let me go!"
My voice cracks, desperate.
Suddenly, the grip disappears.
I blink my eyes open—he's gone. Eh? I glance around, heart hammering. Was I imagining him? Was it the drink? I look down at my glass, reaching for it to check if it was spiked, but before I can, a large gloved hand covers it. Long fingers, veins bulging beneath the leather. A shiver shoots down my spine.
It's him. Isn't he?
Another gloved hand lands on the other side of the counter, trapping me in. His body is close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from him.
"You scared?"
a deep voice says from behind. It was so deep that my stomach fluttered.
"No need."
I jump. Definitely not the first stranger—the voice is deeper, steadier. But still a predator's voice. My instincts scream at me to run.
I start to rise, but his hand grips my waist and pushes me back down, firm and unyielding.
"I can smell your fear."
That sentence hits something inside me. My stomach flutters—not with excitement, but with danger. Instinct takes over. I spin around and slap him across the face, hard. The glass on the counter tips and shatters.
His head jerks to the side, a faint hand print blooming on his cheek. His black ears that were once hidden under his hair popped out. My eyes widen. The popular guy?! What is he doing here?
And God—he's hot. Pitch-black hair falling into his eyes, sharp jawline cutting through the low light. Cute panther ears. My heart stumbles. I shove his hand away and run, vision blurring. Was I crying? No—hell no.
I turn a corner and press myself against the wall, my pulse pounding in my ears. Footsteps echo closer, my heart hammering faster.
He's near.
A sharp crack explodes next to my ear. He's punched the wall—his knuckles embedded in the plaster. Fear surges through me.
I open one eye. He's inches from my face, ultramarine eyes burning with rage. Vanilla—sweet, heady—washes over me. Pheromones. Is he trying to control me? Only Alphas do that to mates. Is he…? No.
His large hand wraps around my neck, squeezing. My face reddens, breath coming in gasps.
"Knox, stop…" My voice is ragged, barely there.
"You sound good begging,"
he whispers, grip tightening. White dots explode behind my eyes. I push against him, uselessly.
Finally, he releases me. I slam my fists against his chest, but he only catches my wrist, smirking.
"What is your problem?!"
My voice is croaky, my eyes wet, anger bubbling up.
What he says next leaves me speechless.
"You have ten seconds to run, bunny."
I flinch at the word bunny, but seize the chance and bolt. Each step I take, I glance back. He stands where I left him, hands in his pockets, that red aura curling around him.
Why am I waiting for him to move? Am I insane?
He steps forward. That's my cue. I run. His chuckle follows me, low and dark.
I burst onto the dance floor, bodies pressing and swaying. Maybe I can lose him here. I weave through the crowd, heart in my throat.
I glance back—he's already spotted me. Our eyes meet. Panic claws up my chest.
I squeeze between people, shoulders bumping mine, but his size makes it effortless for him. He moves through them like water.
I catch sight of Noah. I stretch my arm out, fingers reaching for his hand. It's so close—
But I'm yanked backward, slamming into a hard chest. A growl rumbles in my ear. A strong arm snakes around my waist, the grip like iron.
I tried calling Noah, but the music swallowed my voice whole.
"It took a while to hunt you down,"
he murmured in my ear. Fucking psycho.
"Are you crazy?"
I snapped, turning to find his face inches from mine. His grip pinned me like a vice.
"I may be crazy… for you."
He'd gone too far this time. Fury rose inside me, but an idea sparked. I stopped struggling and let my body soften, my eyes going submissive.
Confusion flickered across his face. His grip slackened—just enough. I slid from under his arm and bolted, running straight into Mia's embrace. She blinked at me in surprise as I whispered the whole story in her ear.
When I turned to point out Knox… he was gone. Vanished, like smoke.
"Let's go home,"
I pleaded. Mia's lips pressed together; she'd wanted to dance longer, but even she felt the weight of my panic. Noah stood nearby, glaring at the alphas who'd been watching Mia dance. Poor guy.
Later that night:
The house was quiet. I crept upstairs on tiptoe, my hand trembling on my bedroom door. I always felt watched. As if a ghost was waiting for my weakness to strike.
I turned. No one.
I brushed it off, slipped inside, and locked the door behind me. My forehead pressed against the cool wood, my heart still racing. Something about tonight clung to me like a second skin.
Never mind. A bath. That would calm me.
I peeled off my clothes, tossing them into the basket. In the mirror, a strange mark caught my eye—a small red dot spreading beneath the skin, veins threading out like cracks in glass. A reminder. A curse. I touch the mark gently it was right where Knox had looked at earlier.