Dare

“So Isla, please don’t tell me that you got scared of Liam Lockwood’s beauty,” Miranda teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief as Isla rejoined the group. The atmosphere was still buzzing with laughter and chatter, but Isla felt a sudden wave of self-consciousness wash over her.

“Scared? No way!” Isla replied, trying to sound nonchalant as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I just needed a moment to breathe, that’s all.”

Taylor, perched on the edge of her seat with her thick arched brows raised, chimed in, “Come on, just accept it. We all have seen girls drooling over him. And this one here,” she pointed at a girl next to her, who was nursing a drink with a look of disappointment etched on her face, “was looking forward to sleeping with him tonight, but he ignored her and went over there.”

Isla followed Taylor’s gaze to where Liam was mingling with a few men, his laughter ringing out like music. He looked effortlessly charming, his presence commanding the attention of everyone around him.

The disappointed girl sighed dramatically. “God, I’ve been trying to get into his pants for so long, but it’s so hard. He’s the one man I’m unable to sway.”

“Stop it, Mathy! It’s disgusting,” Miranda interjected, shaking her head. “Never try to chase; we girls should attract men, not chase them down like prey.”

Isla nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Miranda’s words. “Exactly! It’s all about confidence and allure,” she added, trying to sound more assured than she felt.

Miranda shot her a playful look. “Oh, please, Isla. You shouldn’t speak as if you’re the queen of confidence when you were practically tongue-tied in front of Liam. You should go talk to him!”

Isla’s heart raced at the suggestion. “What? I have nothing to actually speak with him. That's why I stayed silent.”

“Oh! We don't believe you,” Taylor pressed, leaning forward with a smirk. “You’re not going to convince us you’re a confident woman if you can’t even approach him. You’re just an insecure girl hiding behind your pretty dress—just prove yourself to us, honey. I dare you to do this.”

“Me too,” Miranda joined in. “I dare you to speak with Liam Lockwood.”

“Dare… dare… dare…” the other girls chirped, holding shot glasses.

Oh my! Was Isla back in high school again?! 

Yet, she felt a surge of determination to accomplish the dare. She didn’t want to be seen as insecure, especially not in front of these girls who had welcomed her into their circle.

“Fine! I’ll do it,” she declared, surprising even herself with her boldness. “I accept the dare.”

“Now you’re talking!” Miranda cheered, clapping her hands together. 

Isla took a deep breath, her heart pounding as she stood up. “Okay, here goes nothing,” she muttered, trying to quell the fluttering in her stomach. 

‘Just remember, he’s just a beautiful man. I can do this! I'm a werewolf in my heart too,’ Isla said to herself. 

As Isla approached Liam, she noticed his friends subtly stepping back, as if they were parting a sea to give her space. It was a small gesture, but it made her heart race. She could feel the weight of Miranda and Taylor’s eyes on her from across the room, their silent encouragement pushing her forward.

“Okay, Isla, you’ve got this,” she whispered to herself, forcing a confident smile onto her face. But as she stood before him, the intensity of his striking blue eyes made her falter. They were so captivating, so deep, that she found it impossible to hold his gaze. Instead, she focused on the tousled brown hair that framed his face, a distraction that allowed her to maintain her composure.

“Hey, Isla,” Liam said, his voice smooth and inviting. “So, Miranda and Taylor dared you to speak with me, huh?”

Isla felt a rush of heat at being caught, but she didn’t deny it. She simply nodded, knowing that Liam’s heightened werewolf senses could easily pick up on her nervousness. Ever since her wolf had died, she had missed the acute awareness that came with it—the ability to sense emotions, to hear gossip from a 10 metres distance and read the room with a mere glance.

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity,” she said, her voice steady despite the fluttering in her stomach. “You are so generous, you know what I mean?”

Liam raised one of his thick brows, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. Isla couldn’t help but marvel at how graceful it looked on him, as if he were a king surveying his kingdom. “You think it was me who gave you the opportunity?” he asked, his tone teasing.

Isla stayed silent, caught off guard by his question. She had expected him to brush off her gratitude, but instead, he leaned in slightly, his expression shifting to one of intrigue. “Of course it was me,” he continued, his voice low and sensual. “I pulled the strings and made you a Victoria’s Secret Angel.”

“Thank you,” Isla said, her heart racing. “Thank you for saving my life from the fire, and the three million dollars, and this… you are very generous.”

Liam’s gaze lingered on her, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “And how else were you planning to thank me?” he asked, his tone shifting to something more suggestive.

Isla blinked, momentarily taken aback. “I… I had no idea how to thank you,” she stammered, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. “You’re Liam Lockwood, the richest man in New York, and I just got a big break.”

He looked her up and down, his gaze lingering on her low neckline and the way her skirt hugged her long legs. “Well, you can really thank me in other ways too, you know,” he said, his voice dropping to a sultry whisper.

Isla froze, her heart pounding in her chest. Was he actually hitting on her? And admiring her body, just like she was admiring his?! The realization sent a jolt of electricity through her, and she felt a mix of excitement and panic. She had never been in a situation like this before, and the thought of Liam Lockwood wanting her was both thrilling and terrifying.

“I—uh,” she stammered, trying to regain her composure. “I think it’s not a wise decision, Mr. Lockwood.”

Liam’s expression shifted, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. “Not a wise decision?” he echoed, as if the words were foreign to him. “Did I just get busted by a girl? This is the first time. Man!”