Chapter 3 - Every guy's dream girl

ADRIAN

The party was wild, just the way I liked it..

Sweat and alcohol, mixed with the deep bass that shook the floors. Strobe lights flashed across swaying bodies, and several eyes drenched in seduction came my way, all of it inviting.

Any other night, I'd have indulged. Fuck, I'd have lost myself in all of it. 

Parties were my getaways. The one time where I let loose all responsibilities and just lived.

I had plans, plans that involved getting wasted, getting laid by two and not giving a damn.

But, she ruined everything.

That single kiss with her had wrecked me completely.

I could still taste her on my tongue, still remember how her soft lips were welcoming me one second, yet shattering my ego the next. 

The alcohol burned down my throat but it did nothing to shut out her words, 

“In fact, I reject this mate bond. I'm in love with Archer and I absolutely have no interest in being your mate. I chose him.”

That was a fucking first.

A woman, rejecting me.

I'd kissed countless women. Sometimes it ended with them in my bed, other times I had discarded them without a second thought.

It had always been on my terms. 

But Scarlett. She didn't just break a record, she fucking smashed my ego.

What was worse? She wasn't just any woman.

She was mine. My mate. 

The one woman I was supposed to claim wanted nothing to do with me.

And that? That pissed me the fuck off.

A manicured finger slowly ran down my torso, snapping me back to the present.

The blonde leaned in and against the loud bass, her sultry voice whispered to my hearing, 

“You look stressed Alpha, let me help you cool off”

I rolled my neck, in a bid to loosen anger when my gaze cut to her. She looked like everything I would have played along with tonight.

I needed a distraction. Anything to get my mind off Scarlett.

So I grabbed the blonde and kissed her.

Her lips were soft and eager, but the moment my mouth moved against hers all I could think about was

Scarlett.

All I could taste was her.

Those lips that tasted like honey, dark silky waves that had my hands lost in them…

Her defiant hazel glare…

Her strawberry scent still lingered, messing with my sanity…

A growl ripped through my throat, I ended up pushing Blondie away, her lips were swollen.

“What the hell?” She gasped, breathless.

”Get lost…” I gritted out.

She scoffed, shooting me a glare, she flipped her hair in annoyance and stormed off, but I didn't give a shit.

My blood was boiling, my grip squeezing the glass.

Scarlett was supposed to be the same.

After that kiss with her, I had every plan of taking her to bed. That's why I followed her out there.

But she had ended it before it began.

Because of him. 

Archer Blackwood. 

His name alone made rage burn through my veins.

Archer was the villain in my damn story. 

He had always been the competition I had never asked for.

Always looking forward to rip away whatever was mine, ever since his mum seduced her way into my father's heart.

He stole my father's affection.

Now he had already stolen Scarlett away before I even had the chance of calling her mine.

I clenched my jaw, trying to convince myself to brush it off.

I didn't do commitments. She shouldn't matter.

The rejection shouldn't sting me…

But it did.

“Earth to Adrain…” Future’s voice cut through my thoughts, as he dropped into the couch beside me, landing a cold beer in my hand.

“Man, where have you been the entire night?” 

Hardin, my gamma strolled in after him, arms raised in a welcoming manner.

I twisted off the cap and took a long swig of the beer, ignoring them. 

Hardin smirked, “What’s with the mood?”

“What look?” I spat, lodging a cigar between my lips.

Future snorted, “He's probably still hooked on her…”

I shot him a look. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

He let out a low whistle, “The girl you practically devoured on the dance floor.”

Something violent and harsh rushed through me at the thought of her.

I exhaled smoke, my glare hit nothing in particular “Why would I be thinking about her?”

“Because you're into her. The chemistry was too obvious bro…” that was Hardin.

My jaws instinctively clenched in anger.

That was what they thought. 

All they saw were two people kissing in the moment. They were completely oblivious to the bond between us.

Or the part she outright rejected me in the parking lot.

“I’m not. She was just another fling.” Even the way I said it, rubbed me off the wrong way.

Hardin raised an amused brow, “Come on, we've been friends for over a decade. You really think I don't know when you're into someone?” 

Future leaned forward grinning, “I mean, we thought after that intense kiss, you would be halfway pounding into her by now” his grin widened, “or did she deny you some booty call?“

I shot him a sharp glare.

Hardin laughed, “Shit. That explains why you've been sulking the whole night.”

“Quit talking shit both of you...”

Future smirked, “Just saying…”

Hardin took a slow sip of his beer watching me,

“So what's your plan with the chick? She looked too hot to pass by..”

I frowned, glaring at nothing in particular.

“There is no plan.”

Future sat up in reflex, “Woah, dude, it's ‘the Scarlett’ we're talking about.” 

He pulled up his phone, scrolling through it,

“The Beta's daughter. The one girl topping the charts of the most gorgeous girls at Edgewood? I mean look at her, She's literally every guy's dream girl.”

I inhaled sharply, something violent and possessive whirling in my chest.

 “And how did you know all this about her?”

He showed me his phone, “The internet bruh. After that steamy kiss with you, she's literally trending.”

“Did you know she was screwing Archer?” he added slyly as I stumbled upon a picture of them together.

My blood ran hot.

Of course she fucking was.

I tossed the phone back to Future, gritting my teeth. “She can screw anyone she wants.”

Hardin snorted, “Yeah, coming from someone who kissed her senseless a few moments back, very believable.” 

My fists instinctively tightened as I fought the urge to lash out.

I ran a hand through my hair, breathing through the frustration before it got the better of me, Instead, I forced my focus elsewhere, 

“Any word from Agrest yet?” 

Hardin nodded, “He’s setting up a meeting…..” 

“Hey hey hey, come on guys” Future cut in, arms spreading wide as he pulled a girl into his laps. 

“There's enough time for work later. Right now…” his fingers trailed up her thigh as she giggled, leaning into him, “We focus on the entertainment for tonight…”

He didn't even finish the sentence before his lips smashed on hers, and Hardin chuckled as he sipped his beer.

I watched them for half a second before exhaling sharply and pushing off the couch.

“You guys have fun,I need to catch my air…”

The balcony was quiet, the chaos of the party had dulled away.

But even here, I was still conflicted.

I'd emptied the beer in my hold, but I still couldn't forget.

Future was right. I should be chilling tonight. 

Enjoying the fun while it lasts.

We were currently in the middle of a college crowd that didn't even know what real danger felt like.

But we weren't here for them.

We were back on call for the borders, for the pack, for the wolves who disappeared without a trace.

I thought it was the only thing I was coming back to deal with; the mystery, the mission, protecting what was mine.

Until she happened.

I never asked for a second-chance mate. 

Never wanted one after her.

Adeline had taught me the mate bond was a cruel joke. It only made you weak. Made you let someone in, only to have them ripped from you, leaving the worst scar possible.

That was when I decided I was done with commitments.

And now, the moon goddess threw Scarlett my way.

I couldn't help another swig of beer.

But she chose him.

Her heart already belonged with Archer.

And yet, I couldn't get that kiss off my mind. 

The memory of how well her lips moulded against mine. How for that brief moment, it had made me forget about the past, Adeline and just everything.

I don't know why she happened.

But I know this much, the moon goddess doesn't give second chances without a reason.

And as much as I was tempted to pretend she didn't happen, there was something about Scarlett that I couldn't let go of.

My gaze flickered downstairs.

There she was.

Hands on the taxi door, she was about to leave.

Then she stopped. 

Like she felt me, her gaze snapped to mine.

A slow smirk tugged at my lips.

Then she did the most unexpected thing.

She flipped me the bird.

And fuck, the gesture went straight to my cock.

Her feistiness turned me the fuck on.

I loved challenges.

And Scarlett was a fucking inviting challenge.

One I would definitely be taking on.

She could reject me. Deny me all she wanted.

But she was mine now.

Whether she liked it or not.