3. Sophia

                          "Soph, what's wrong?" 

I blink, looking at Reagan then back at the entrance of Cipher where I saw Kaden. But there's no one there. Was I hallucinating? Am I pining after a man so much that I've started conjuring him up? He looked so real. Older, different, and... Yeah, that was so not him. The guy I thought I saw looked at the car. At me. But Kaden couldn't have looked at me because he was born blind. This only goes to show how much I need to get over him. 

"Let's go," I say getting out of the car. This obsession I have with that man ends today. I refuse to be a slave to these feelings. Before I left, Kaden had found his mate. The Alpha was over the moon because his son had finally found his other half. I remember wanting the earth to open up and swallow me. There I was, building a future in my head with a man that wasn't meant to be mine. I felt so stupid and heartbroken that I didn't say goodbye to him before I left. After spending hours crying and begging LC, she finally gave in and packed our things. I purposely let slip to Rina that we were leaving. She was Kaden's cousin and knew we were friends. I know she would have told him about it. 

A small part of me thought he'd come to see me off. I know how consuming the mate bond can be. How enamored they would have been with each other but I still hoped he would remember me. I hoped... I hoped for a lot of things that never happened. I'm a grown-up now. It's time to let go and start over. After Reagan pays the driver, we enter the club. The sound of loud music assaults our eardrums but it's the scents filling the place that makes me come alive. Alcohol, sweat, arousal, and sex. Who knew those smells could be so potent when mixed together? 

"Wow, let's get a drink first" I pull Reagan toward the bar. We find a spot in the corner and motion for the bartender to serve us. 

"What can I get you, ladies?" 

"Cloudy eclipse for two please" he nods and leaves to start working on our drinks. 

"So what are you looking for exactly?" 

"Someone hot" 

"Soph, being hot doesn't guarantee they'll be good in bed. And if you're trying to forget a certain man, I think you need someone who'll blow your brains away" 

"You're right. But how do I know if they're good on not? Do you have a magical device that will point me in the right direction?" 

"We should have found a witch before coming. I'm sure there's a spell out there that can do that" 

"Right? Goddess, what I wouldn't give to erase him from my mind" 

"And heart? Shouldn't you start from there?" 

"I fucking hate you. You know that?" I groan leaning forward to see if our bartender is done with our drinks. I'm in need of liquid courage. Werewolf drinks are different from human alcohol. For us to get drunk, the drinks have to be laced with wolfsbane. Depending on the amount, it could get you drunk or kill you. I notice the stares directed at us, sure that most of them are looking at Reagan. I see a guy start to approach us but halfway through, he shakes his head and starts going in another direction. Weird. 

"Here you go, beautiful. Enjoy" 

"Thank you" we both murmur. I lift my glass to my mouth and gulp down half of it. As I'm placing it on the table, I notice another guy coming toward us. He's tall, has long shoulder-length hair, and the grey t-shirt he's wearing clings to his chest and arms. I discreetly kick Reagan, motioning to the guy with my eyes but when he's a few feet away from us, his eyes change. They're unfocused the way someone would be when they're talking to another person through the link. Then to my surprise, he also shakes his head, turns around, and leaves. Without talking to us. I was pretty sure he was heading our way. Why did he leave? Am I seeing things? 

"What's wrong?" 

"Turn around. Pick any guy and give him clear signals that you're interested in him. I'll do the same" 

"Why?" 

"Because I think I'm losing my mind" first Kaden, then these two guys who changed their minds before talking to us. What the hell is going on? Did someone get inside my head? My gaze runs over the club and stops at a guy who is already looking at me. There are two women beside him but the second we lock eyes, he pushes them aside and gets up. I see the way he drops his eyes to my chest and then smirks. Cocky bastard, is he? Although, I can't deny that he's hot. Blonde hair, blue eyes, banging body, and a mouth that is too confident it can please any woman. The way he swaggers, expertly avoiding other women who try to stop him tells me everything I need to know. He's good in bed. A bit arrogant but good. It's not like I'm going to mate with him so I don't care about anything past his expertise in bed. 

"Well would you look at that," he says stopping in front of me "A rare beauty. I've never seen you around. Are you new?" 

Translation; I'm a regular here and have slept with almost every woman in this club. In one word, manwhore. 

I remind myself that I'm only after his dick and nothing else "I don't go out much. I'm Sophia" 

"Logan" 

"Nice to meet you, Logan. Let's not waste time with useless chitchat. Your place or hotel?" 

"I know a hotel that's five minutes away from here" 

"Let's go then" I place my empty glass on the counter. Opening my purse, I take out a few bills and slide them to the bartender who's already moving toward us. Thinking that maybe I was imagining things. I turn to Reagan to tell her I'm leaving only to find her eyes trained past me. 

"What's wrong with him?" 

"Who?" I follow her gaze to see Logan bent over, holding his head as if he's in pain. His claws come out, followed by fur sprouting on the back of his hand. 

"Yeah, you don't want someone who can't keep his beast in check," Reagan says wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me close to her. Two men push people aside and stop beside Logan. 

"Alpha, what's wrong?" One of them asks. So Logan is an Alpha? I wonder which pack is his. They each take his hand and carry him out of the club. 

"There goes my hook-up" I sigh, leaning back to rest my head on Reagan's shoulder. 

"You dodged a bullet," the bartender says taking the money "He's an ass" 

"He is?" 

"Have you two never heard of Alpha Logan? Sick sadistic bastard. Unless you're into weird kinks, stay away from him" 

"Okay. I thought he was just arrogant" I say and Reagan asks, 

"What just happened to him? It looked like he was trying really hard not to shift"   before the bartender can answer, someone, bellows for a refill. He only shakes his head then moves to the demanding customer. I feel defeated. It's like I can't even get laid in peace. Over the years, I've slept with a few guys here and there but clearly, it wasn't enough to get Kaden out of my system. Now I can't even find a one-night stand. It's as if the goddess is finding a way to punish me. I fell in love with the wrong person and I'm doomed forever. 

From the second we arrived, men have been devouring us with their eyes. Most of them are interested in Reagan but I saw a few look my way. Why aren't they making any moves? If something is not holding them back, why not approach me? Should I just make the first move? I look around. Trying to find one man to fuck tonight. But no one is interested in us. It's like a switch has been turned and we're now invisible. 

"Time to hit another club," I tell Reagan straightening "I will not stop until I find someone" 

"Not happening. We're going home" 

(Yes, you're going home. You'll forget about finding another man) 

A voice in my head says. I'm pretty sure it's not mine but it's in my head. Who else could it belong to? My link isn't open and the only person who can force their way inside pack members is the Alpha. So if this voice isn't mine, who does it belong to? How did they get in there? 

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