Keith's POV
What the hell am I doing?
The thought hit me like a bucket of ice water the second my lips brushed hers. I jerked back like she'd burned me, my heart hammering like I'd just dodged a bullet.
The music cut off. The crowd erupted into screams and applause, but I was already striding offstage, my brothers flanking me like shadows.
Back in the dressing room, I ripped off the mask, chucked it at the mirror and washed the blonde dye off my hair.
Kieran was grinning like an idiot. "Holy shit, Keith. Didn't know you could grind on a stranger without vomiting."
Kayden nodded solemnly, miming wiping a tear—the traitor.
"this will be the first and last time." I bit out, yanking off the ridiculous outfit. "We're CEOs, not damn entertainers."
This whole thing had been a disaster waiting to happen. When the club owner begged us to fill in for his injured performers, that had gotten into an accident, I'd said no. Obviously. But Kieran, with his reckless optimism, had spun it into some "team-building exercise", and Kayden—traitor—had just shrugged and picked out masks.
I'd hoped it would be a train wreck. That the crowd would boo us offstage and we could leave.
But then I'd seen her.
Silver-white hair. Wide eyes that flickered between panic and something darker. And when my hands touched her.
My wolf purred.
"You felt it too."
Kieran's grin faded. "Her scent. Like honey. Yeah." His voice dropped, uncharacteristically serious. "I almost bit her."
The dressing room door swung open, and in strolled Damon. Our so-called "friend" and owner of this ridiculous club, clapping like we'd just solved world hunger instead of grinding on strangers.
"Bra-fucking-vo!" He whistled, leaning against the doorframe. "The ladies are already flooding my inbox asking when my 'three mystery studs' are performing again." He smirked. "Shame you're not actually strippers."
Kieran stretched, grinning. "I dunno, I kinda enjoyed—"
I shot him a glare while yanking on my shirt. "We're done."
Damon chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. "Offer still stands. Quit the corporate life, and I'll make you stars."
A growl rumbled in my chest before I could stop it.
"Relax." Damon held up his hands, still grinning.
"Don't let me use a silver whip on you."
Bastard. Of course he'd joke about it—he was one of the few humans who knew what we were. Hybrids. Not that the crowd tonight had a clue. To them, we were just three guys with questionable life choices and good rhythm.
Kayden rolled his eyes, tossing his mask into the trash with a thunk that said "Never again."
Damon's smirk faded slightly as he studied me. "Seriously though. You okay? You looked... intense out there."
"I'm fine," I snapped, shoving past Damon before he could press further.
Damon chuckled, clapping me on the back. "Well, I owe you three a favor now. Hell, I'll even be a stripper for you if you ever need one." He barked out a laugh at his own joke, completely unfazed by the glare I shot him.
We left the club in silence, the weight of what happened pressing down on me. The car ride back to the Vexxon estate was tense, the hum of the engine the only sound.
I stared out the window, my thoughts racing.
Vexxon Tech. Our empire. The company we built from nothing—through blood, sweat, and betrayal. The company that designed the most dangerous, most advanced race tracks in the world. We were kings in our own right.
When we reached the Vexxon estate—our sprawling fortress of glass and steel—I stormed inside, the weight of tonight pressing like a knife between my ribs.
Tonight, we'd been reduced to entertainment.
Kieran broke the silence first. "We need to investigate."
I didn't look at him. "Investigate what?"
"The woman," he said simply.
I clenched my jaw. "No."
Kieran's blue eyes burned with intensity. "Keith, we can't just ignore what happened. That pull—you felt it too."
I exhaled sharply. "We already have a mate, Kieran. Or have you forgotten?"
Our mate, the one fate had chosen for us. The one who was supposed to arrive in this country soon. The one who would complete our bond.
Kieran's jaw tightened. "What if it's possible for us to have two?"
Kayden, silent as always, tilted his head, his expression thoughtful.
I scoffed. "You know that's not how it works. A second mate only happens if the first dies. And she's human." The word tasted like ash. "Our kind doesn't bond with humans. Never has."
Kayden rubbed his temples and made a sharp cutting motion with his hand—enough. I'm done.
I seized the out. "This week's been hell. Next week's worse—racer applications start Monday. We need to be at the company." My tone left no room for argument. "No more... distractions."
Kieran opened his mouth, but Kayden grabbed his arm, shaking his head. With a frustrated growl, Kieran stomped toward the elevator.
I took the stairs.
The shower scalded my skin, but no amount of steam could erase her scent from my memory, clinging to my hands even after three rounds of soap.
It meant nothing.
I collapsed onto the bed, muscles screaming. My wolf whined, pacing beneath my skin.
"Shut up," I snarled. "We have a mate. A proper one."
We'd waited years for her. A noble-born hybrid from an elite bloodline. Reserved. Obedient. Everything our position demanded.
"You're just worked up," I muttered, turning onto my side. "Once she arrives, you can bond with her as much as you want."
The odds of seeing that woman again were nonexistent.
Tomorrow, we'd be back at Vexxon, back to business.
This would all fade into memory.
It had to.