Chapter 4

Bas POV

"Is there something you'd like to share with me?" I inquired, my gaze probing Roger's eyes for any hidden truths. "Just the usual, nothing new," he replied, his voice carrying an undercurrent of fear that clung to the air like an unspoken secret. It was a haunting reminder of my father's teachings, instilling in us the belief that we were superior beings, predators navigating a world meant for prey.

"You know I won't lie to you," Roger stammered, his eyes reflecting the fear that words failed to convey. A supposed leader of humans, he fidgeted in our presence, a puppet whose strings were pulled by a force stronger than himself.

"What a weakling," Austin scoffed, his disdain evident as he nodded in reluctant agreement that Roger might indeed be telling the truth.

"We should report to the alpha," I subtly nodded, acknowledging the unspoken decision.

"Nice chatting, Mr. President," Austin said with a mocking tone

As we left the room, her father stood at the entrance, his gaze meeting mine as he gave a subtle nod. Behind the carefully crafted facade, I sensed a man who dreaded me for taking away his child, the silent torment etched in the lines of his face.

In the confines of the car, my thoughts echoed with unanswered questions. If we were the predators, why did we interrogate the humans with such aggression? The strength in our questioning felt like a reflection of my father's deep-seated fear of them, an unspoken anxiety that lingered in the air like an ominous fog.

"We should go partying," Austin suggested as we navigated through the night. The city lights flickered like distant stars, The wind whispered softly, car horns echoed in the distance, footsteps created a rhythmic melody, a distant baby's cry added an element of vulnerability, and the laughter of friends painted a picture of normalcy. Yet, beneath the surface, I could feel hearts pounding, pulses racing, and an ominous fear lingering in the air.

"Do you have anything better to do than party?" Tom retorted, the weariness evident in his voice.

"Come on, guys, it's been ages since we had fun," Austin insisted, his eagerness to break free from the monotony apparent.

"If last week is ages, then you need help," Tom remarked, his words dripping with sarcasm. "Boring; we're werewolves, the big guys. We can do whatever we want," Austin asserted, a sentiment echoed in the rebellious howls of the night.

"Help a guy out, Bas. I know you need this," Austin appealed, his voice a blend of camaraderie and understanding.

"A little party won't hurt," I finally conceded, the allure of a drink promising a temporary reprieve from the relentless questions that gnawed at my thoughts.

The room pulsated with loud music as we entered, drawing everyone's attention despite the vibrant atmosphere. "This is more like it," Austin exclaimed amid the beats.

"The music, alcohol, and the human babes—it all satisfies us. You can thank me now," he quipped, earning an eye roll from Tom.

"I've just found my target," Austin declared, striding towards a lady who had been casting flirtatious glances our way since we arrived.

"You okay?" Tom asked.

"Yeah," I replied, taking a shot of alcohol, the burn coursing through my throat. Unlike humans, alcohol had no effect on us; we couldn't get drunk, no matter how much we drank.

"That explains why he wanted us here," Tom observed as our attention shifted to Austin, already entangled with a girl on the dance floor. I chuckled and took another drink.

"You should have fun," I encouraged Tom.

"Don't let Austin's words get to you." he said

"No, he's right; a little fun won't kill. And right now, yours is headed your way," I said, noticing the red-haired lady approaching us.

"Don't go," Tom whispered with a plea in his eyes. I smiled at him, walking away and leaving him with the approaching lady.

I found an empty seat in the midst of a room filled with people exuding desire. They seemed happy, but beneath the surface, they danced away their pain, seeking refuge in liquor from the hardships they faced. I wished for the same distraction. Could this liquor erase the unfamiliar emotions within me—guilt, anger, hatred, pain? No, it was something else, something I couldn't admit. It was sympathy. I couldn't harbor such emotions; we were the predators. This party wasn't helping.

"Hi," a brunette approached me. "What's a handsome guy doing all alone?" she flirted.

I smirked, exactly what I needed—a distraction. "Maybe I was waiting for a bold lady to make a move," I replied, flirting back. Gaining confidence, she sat close to me, the scent of alcohol lingering around her.

"Guess I earned some points," she said, batting her eyes. I smirked again, taking another drink. Then I heard her, yelling from a distance in the forest, "Why don't you face me, show that foolish face of yours!" she screamed in anger.

Ignoring the distant commotion, I turned to the beautiful lady beside me. "How about we find a secluded place?"

She smiled at me grabbing my hands and leading me away from the crowd and into a dim light.

Suddenly I could hear her. The mockery laughter filled in the woods. They surrounded her. I couldn't care. She got herself there she should get herself out. Deciding to shout out the voices in my head.i turned to my distraction and gently pushed her against the wall and crashed my lips on hers. A soft moan escaped her lips

as our kiss deepened. The world around us seemed to fade away, replaced by an electrifying connection that crackled between us. In that moment, nothing else mattered but the touch of her lips against mine, the way her body pressed against the wall.

As our moans echoed through the room, I could still hear her voice. "I guess I will live to see another day," she said with a sly smile. I couldn't help but chuckle at her boldness. Suddenly, the brunette woman pushed me down onto the couch and straddled me. Her hips rolled against mine as she commanded, "You should focus on me." But I couldn't resist teasing her back, replying with a smirk, "Who says I wasn't?" In one swift move, I flipped us over so that I was on top, determined to show her just how focused I could be.

Our lips began to devour each other as our bodies moved in perfect sync.

Her delicate hands trailed down my chest, unbuttoning my shirt with skilled fingers. My lips found their way to her neck, leaving a trail of fiery kisses as she let out a soft moan. It was the perfect distraction from the thoughts consuming me. But then I felt it - her pain, her gasp for air

This wasn't my business, I reminded myself as I focused on the woman in front of me. I was here for pleasure, and I intended to make the most of it. With swift movements, her shirt joined mine on the floor and she stood before me, bare and beautiful.

I could sense my hesitation, but before I could act on it, she closed the distance between us with a kiss. A curse escaped my lips as I broke away, my mind racing with conflicting emotions. "What's wrong?" she asked, confusion etched on her features.

"I have to go," I said through gritted teeth as I turned and walked out, slamming the door behind me without looking back. Sometimes desires needed to be put aside for priorities, and this was definitely one of those moments.

I could hear her stirring in the bed, her footsteps signaling her awakening. As I approached the room, my hand hovering over the doorknob, I could sense her fear. I couldn't blame her - waking up in a strange place can be terrifying.

I slowly opened the door and saw her clutching a snow globe tightly. In one swift movement, I pinned her against the wall, causing the globe to fall and shatter on the floor. The room fell silent except for the tinkling of glass.

Her eyes widened in shock at my sudden aggression.

As we stood there, just inches apart, I noticed for the first time how bright and mesmerizing her eyes were.

"Do you plan on pinning me like this?" she gritted through clenched teeth, clearly angry at being caught off guard.

I could feel her gaze burning into me, filled with a deep-seated hatred that she made no effort to hide. She was like a caged animal, ready to lash out at any moment. Slowly, deliberately, I released my grip on her hands and took a step back, creating some much-needed distance between us.

"Next time, try something stronger," I quipped, my eyes flicking down to the shattered remains of the snowball on the floor.

Ignoring my comment, she spat out defiantly, "I could have handled it," referring to the previous night's events.

I scoffed at her words. "You'd be dead by now" I retorted.

She lifted her chin, meeting my gaze with a confident smirk. The corners of her mouth turned up in a teasing challenge as she spoke, "It's better than being stuck here with you." Her fiery eyes held a glimmer of mischief, daring me to argue with her statement.

I couldn't help but admire her, standing tall and confident, unlike most humans who would fidget under my gaze. But I refused to give her the satisfaction she wanted, so I turned to leave. Before heading out, I couldn't resist one last jab.

"Clean up and come downstairs," I said coldly.

She ignored me and went to grab her bags. I quickly grabbed her hands, stopping her in her tracks.

"Where do you think you're going?" I asked with a hint of anger in my voice.

She flung her hand from my grip and retorted, "Just because you marked me doesn't make me your puppet. Last I checked, I'll only be yours when I turn 21."

Her words stung, but there was some truth in them. As much as I wanted to deny it, she was right.

"You're hurt," I said gently as I noticed a slight limp in her step.

She scoffed and replied, "Don't try to be the savior that you're not."

And with that, she walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

My mind was lost in thought until my phone rang, jolting me back to reality. I glanced at the screen and saw that it was Tom calling.

"What's up?" I answered, trying to sound calm.

"He knows," came his reply. I let out a heavy sigh, feeling defeated. Just when I thought today couldn't get any worse.

"Get everyone together," I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the uneasiness creeping in.