Nova
The next evening arrived faster than I expected. My body still ached from the night before, my skin sore in places that shouldn't it be, and my heart… my heart was a mess of emotions I refused to unpack. There was no time to break down. No time to feel. I shoved it all deep down, locking it away like I always did.
Cami worked with practiced precision, sweeping her brush across my skin, layering foundation until every trace of last night's bruises vanished. Stroke after stroke, the evidence of my suffering disappeared, leaving behind an illusion of perfection.
"There, now you look like yourself again," she said, smiling as she leaned back to admire her work.
But I didn't.
The reflection in the mirror was unfamiliar—blonde, bold, untouchable. I didn't recognize this version of myself, but I couldn't deny that I liked her. She wasn't weak. She wasn't fragile. And that feeling was foreign…dangerously foreign.
Cami moved on to my eyes, blending dark shadows and liner with expert ease, sculpting the perfect sultry look.
"Stop blinking so much," she huffed, swatting lightly at my arm. "You're making it harder for both of us."
I chuckled softly but obeyed, letting her finish the look with a final mist of setting spray. She studied me for a second before nodding, satisfied.
"All done. What do you think?" she asked, waiting for my approval.
I tilted my head, examining myself in the mirror. "I love it," I admitted, keeping my smile small to avoid creasing the makeup.
As she moved to brush through my hair, a thought wormed its way into my mind. The confidence I felt looking at myself wasn't real. It was borrowed. Temporary. I hesitated before speaking.
"Hey… I was thinking maybe I should just dye it back to black." My voice was quieter than I intended, my fingers toying with the hem of my top as I avoided her gaze.
Cami froze mid-brush, her brows pulling together.
"What?" she said, her tone laced with disbelief. "Why? You love your new look. I know you do."
I swallowed. "Yeah, but… I don't know. It just—" I sighed. "It attracts all the wrong attention."
As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted them.
Cami's expression softened, her lips pressing into a thin line.
She was giving me that look again
"Oh, Nova." She exhaled, reaching out as if to hug me but stopping short. "I can't hug you. Don't wanna smudge the makeup," she muttered before meeting my eyes again. "Listen to me. What happened last night was not your fault. And it sure as hell wasn't because of your hair color. The only people responsible for what happened are your parents. That's it."
"I know, but—" I started
"No buts," she cut me off. "Look, if you really wanna dye it back, that's fine. But don't do it because of them. Don't let them take something from you. Not again."
She was right. I did like my blonde hair. It was the only thing that felt like mine—the only change I had chosen for myself.
And the girl staring back at me in the mirror? She wasn't weak. She fought back.
A slow smile tugged at my lips. "Fine," I said, my voice lighter. "I'll keep the blonde."
Cami grinned. "Damn right you will."
++++++++++
The ride to the venue was suffocatingly silent. Outside the window, the world blurred past familiar run-down streets giving way to manicured lawns and towering mansions. The shift from poverty to wealth was stark, jarring, like stepping into an entirely different world.
Cami kept glancing at me, waiting. Waiting for me to crack. To realize this was too much. To
back out.
But that moment wasn't coming.
I needed this. I needed to prove to myself that I could do this, that I could keep moving forward.
That he didn't break me.
The car pulled into a circular driveway lined with sleek, high-end vehicles. The house in front of us was massive—too big for one person, too extravagant for one life. Cami's secondhand sedan stuck out like a sore thumb among the luxury cars, but she barely seemed to care.
"This house is insane," she muttered, throwing the gear into park. "And Beta Marcus lives here alone? Such a waste. I mean, if I had a house like this…" She trailed off as she dialed a number on her phone.
Of course she knew the gossip. She always did. Even about the Beta.
A brief call with the party organizers confirmed what we already suspected—the Alpha and his Beta weren't here yet. They were running late. But that didn't stop the party from starting without them.
"What kind of bachelor's party starts without the bachelor to be wedded?" I asked, arching a brow.
Cami smirked, already moving toward the front steps. "Honey, bachelor parties aren't really about the bachelor. It's usually just a bunch of married men looking for an excuse to cheat."
I exhaled sharply, shaking my head as we walked up the stairs toward the grand double doors.
This was going to be a long night.
The front door was already open, laughter and loud voices spilling out into the cool night air. The moment we stepped inside, all conversation stopped.
Dozens of eyes turned toward us.
Tension coiled in the air, thick and heavy. There was supposed to be more girls—there is usually more girls at parties like this. But tonight, there was only two of us.
"Where's the rest of them?" one of the men asked, a large, dark-haired wolf leaning against the bar. His eyes flicked over us, slow and assessing.
"There are no others," Cami answered smoothly, stepping forward. "It's just us tonight."
A few of them chuckled, amused. Others looked skeptical.
"Well, shit," another wolf muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Guess we'll have to make do."
The music changed, a deep, pulsing bass vibrating through the air. Cami caught my gaze and nodded. Show time.
She moved first, sauntering toward one of the couches, her hips swaying with every step. The man she approached—tall, broad, already slightly tipsy—grinned as she
lowered herself onto his lap.
I followed her lead.
A man with dark stubble and piercing gray eyes was seated near the bar, watching me intently. He didn't smile, didn't shift, just waited.
I walked toward him slowly, letting him take m me in, savor the anticipation. When I reached him, I didn't sit right away. Instead, I trailed my fingers along his jaw, tilting his face up to mine.
"Relax," I murmured. "You look tense."
A flicker of something crossed his eyes.
Amusement?
Lust? I didn't care.
I turned, lowering myself onto his lap, my back pressing against his firm chest as I rolled my hips, slow, teasing. He inhaled sharply.
That was all the encouragement I needed.
The party continued around us, the men drinking, laughing, shouting crude comments as Cami and I danced, entertaining them, teasing them.
The man beneath me leaned in, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. "You're good at this."
I smirked, trailing my nails along the back of his neck. "I know."
He chuckled, his hands tightening on my hips. "Why don't we take this upstairs?"
I tensed.
I wasn't surprised—this was always where these parties led. A lap dance was just the start. If I wanted real money, I had to take it further. And I needed the money. Desperately.
But my body recoiled at the thought.
"Come on," he coaxed, his voice low, smooth. "I'll make it worth your while."
I hesitated.A hundred things ran through my mind.Cami and Dalia whispering last night, worrying about money. My aunt thrown in me out like I was nothing.
I was already here. Already dancing on him.
What was the difference between this and going upstairs?
I exhaled, forcing my body to relax. "Alright," I murmured, sliding off his lap.
He grinned, standing up beside me. "That's my girl."
I turned toward the hallway, toward the stairs that led up to the bedrooms.
And then—
The air changed.
It was subtle at first. A shift in the atmosphere, a sudden pressure that hadn't been there before. The wolves in the room stiffened, their eyes darting toward the entrance.
A presence.
Powerful. Overwhelming.
The front door opened.
And then, he walked in.
For a moment, the world shrank, the sounds of the party fading into nothing.
I barely registered anything beyond him—his presence, his scent, the sheer force of him filling the room like a violent storm.
The Alpha.
He wasn't dressed like the others. While they had all loosened their ties, unbuttoned their shirts, he was still pristine—black button down, sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal forearms dusted with dark hair. His sharp jaw was clenched, his expression unreadable.
But his eyes—
They locked onto mine.
And everything inside me shattered.
I had found my mate