Chapter- 1 " Spiritual Dream "

Alice POV

***

In the darkness of night, the city lights shine brighter, like stars scattered across the universe.

Normally, it’s too late for girls to be out because parents rarely allow late-night outings. You could call it my lucky day.

A huge line of party-goers stretches outside the club. Laughter and chatter fill the air, hitting my ears. The sharp smell of alcohol and cigarettes invades my nostrils, making my wolf gag at my choice of place.

Tonight, I'm on a double date with my new boyfriend, Vick, and my high school best friends, Nathan and Kara—the hottest and cutest couple, according to college gossip groups.

Don’t get me wrong, I love them both. It’s just that the whole serious relationship drama isn’t my thing.

To me, it’s a waste of time and energy. I prefer to keep things casual, which is why I stick to one-night stands—no feelings, no attachments, and no baggage.

Vick is my current boy toy. He’s handsome, with bright blue eyes, blonde hair, and a messy hairstyle. He’s a foot taller than me, and his charming smile makes him perfectly my type. He also shares my no-strings philosophy, so there’s no heartbreak aftermath to worry about.

Inside the club, the music blasts so loudly that there’s no point in trying to gossip with my friends.

Don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with them—whether it’s parties, study groups, or just hanging out. But tonight, I want to lose myself in the music. Besides, they have each other for company.

First things first, I need a drink to keep me sane. Vick and Nathan volunteer to grab drinks for us, while Kara and I settle on a black leather lounge near the bar.

I scan the room to make sure no one recognizes me. After last month’s horrible incident at Witching Hour—a nightclub in Los Angeles—I prefer to stay on alert.

Being from a royal family is troublesome most days. It's even worse when you’re the only heir to the throne of the realm of werewolves and Lycans.

A man sitting at a nearby table has been ogling us since we walked in. He’s tall, with tanned skin and glassy dark eyes. His aura screams “Alpha” loud and clear. Beside him sits a blonde girl, glaring daggers at me for no reason. Beside them is another man, built like the Alpha but with less authority in his aura—probably his Beta.

They don’t seem to be from any nearby territory, but I decide to ignore them. My plate is already full for the night.

I shift my gaze to Vick, who seems to be struggling to keep his composure. A girl at the bar is flirting with him, leaning into his space and sliding her arms around his neck. Poor Vick—he enjoys attention but can’t handle anyone trying to take control over him.

Classic male wolf problem.

He’s still new to this game and tries to gently push her away, but she isn’t taking the hint. She leans in closer, murmuring something into his ear, and starts kissing his neck.

Miss Blondie clearly has her eyes set on claiming him tonight.

I sigh and walk over, pushing her away from Vick—not gently. The girl shoots me a death glare and hisses, “What the—”

I cut her off mid-sentence with a low, commanding voice, laced with Alpha authority. “Stay away, bitch.”

She shudders.

Without sparing her another glance, I turn to Vick and ask, “You okay?”

He nods and mutters, “Thanks, babe,” before leaning forward and planting a quick peck on my lips. His arm slides around my waist, and he grins.

“Let’s go,” he says.

“Wait,” I interrupt, grabbing three shots from the bar. Gulping them down one after the other, I grab the last one, smiling and replying, “Okay, now we can go.”

He chuckles, shaking his head as he leads the way back to the table where Kara and Nathan don't seem to care much for drinks—or us.

My gaze shifts from them to the bunch sitting next to them, and my eyes meet that Alpha from earlier.

His eyes were on me when I entered the club, and now it’s starting to annoy me.

He smiles my way right before standing from his seat and moving toward me. My wolf growls a warning, and I freeze, wondering if he recognized me.

Before I can react, out of the blue, a hand grabs my wrist.

I whip my head around, glaring at the hand holding me. My free hand instinctively reaches for my drink, ready to hurl it, but the man starts dragging me toward the dance floor.

He’s strong—stronger than me—and takes me by surprise. I struggle, shouting over the music, “How dare y—”

The rest of the words stick in my throat when I look up.

Dark green eyes stare back at me, and my body freezes in place.

I should feel anger or humiliation at being manhandled, rage rising inside me, but also a strange sense of satisfaction settles over me for an unknown reason.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Normally, I hate when someone crosses my boundaries. I’ve fought countless times to protect my pride. But something about this guy is different.

Is he my mate?

No. Impossible. Werewolves don’t find their mates until they turn twenty, and I’m not there yet.

Still, I can’t look away.

The man towers over me, at least 6’4”, with a strong, muscular build. His raven-black hair and sharp jawline give him a god-like presence. His lips curve into a faint smile, and I feel a wave of embarrassment at how blatantly I’m staring.

I raise my chin, determined to meet his gaze with confidence, but my breath hitches when I notice the intensity of his eyes.

Every instinct screams at me to walk away. Run. Hide. But I stay still, forgetting how to breathe.

He leans closer, his voice a low, husky whisper. “It’s about time we met.”

My eyes widen.

His hand slides to the small of my back, sending an overwhelming heat rushing through me.

The world around me seems to disappear. The music, the chatter—everything fades. All I can hear is the thunderous pounding of my heart.

And then—

---

I wake up with a gasp, my heart racing like a bullet train. My body is drenched in sweat, and my head throbs painfully.

I look around, taking in the familiar pale walls of my room. Slowly, realization sinks in.

It was just a dream.

No. Not just a dream.

It was the first memory.

Of him.

The devil. The nightmare of my past.

My fated mate.