Chapter 4

Ava’s Pov

“Can you get in the car?” Zayne asked, his piercing silver eyes locking onto mine.  

Just looking at him made my wolf stir. Something about him felt different from his brothers—was this the mate bond everyone talked about? I wasn’t sure, especially after last night. I hadn’t had time to figure anything out before I was being chased by whoever Vanessa, their insane sister, had sent after me.  

“It’s okay. No one’s going to hurt you. Please, get in,” Steve said softly, his gentle eyes meeting mine as he took my hand.  

The moment his hand touched mine, a strange sense of calm came over me. It felt like I could tell him my darkest secrets, and he wouldn’t judge me for any of them. His hand was soft yet firm, grounding me in a way I didn’t expect. My wolf stirred again, even stronger this time, just from the brief contact. I didn’t want him to let go.  

For some reason, I felt like I could trust him—unlike his brother, Zayne, whose stern and unapproachable look made me uneasy.  

“Okay,” I murmured, blinking as I climbed into the car. Iris, the one with blonde hair, got into the driver’s seat, while the other brothers got into their own cars and followed us. 

I wanted to ask questions, but from the look on Iris’s face, I couldn’t tell if it was the right time—or if questions were even allowed.  

Still, I couldn’t stop myself from stealing glances at him as he drove. Everything about him was… interesting.  

His sharp side profile was stunning, almost unfairly handsome. The way his blonde hair fell over his face, his hands gripping the steering wheel, veins standing out—it was probably the sexiest thing I’d ever seen. My thoughts wandered without permission, and before I could stop myself, I was imagining things I shouldn’t.  

What would it feel like to have that hand pinning mine above my head, holding me down on a bed, leaving me completely at his mercy? To feel his lips trailing kisses from the side of my neck, down to my chest? Those lips—God, what would they taste like?  

I snapped out of it, shaking my head to clear the shameful thoughts. What was wrong with me? Why was I fantasizing about someone I barely knew, let alone the brother of my enemy?  

Disgust bubbled up inside me. I couldn’t believe I was thinking like this.

Was this what the mate bond did? Did it make you think of the dirtiest things? I chewed on my nails nervously, trying to silence the questions swirling in my mind.  

“You seem bothered by something,” Iris finally said, his deep, velvety voice making me feel things.  

I glanced at him briefly, and when our eyes met, my breath caught. His ocean-blue eyes were so mesmerizing, it felt like they could drown me.  

My cheeks burned as I quickly turned my gaze forward, my heart pounding in my chest. “Wh... wh... where are you taking me?” I stammered, finally asking the question that had been on my mind.  

He sighed softly, his voice calm. “Just somewhere we can talk. Besides, we couldn’t leave you back there to let my sister and the rest of the students treat you the way they have been.”  

I took a deep breath, unsure of what to say. The tension in the car was almost unbearable, but his presence made me feel both nervous and oddly safe.  

“Why does your sister hate me so much?” I finally asked, my voice quiet.  

“I wish I knew,” he admitted, his eyes focused on the road. “Vanessa has always been… difficult. But with you, it’s different. It’s almost like it’s personal. Do you have any idea why?”  

I shook my head. “I don’t. I have tried to stay out of her way, but she finds every reason to make my life miserable.”  

As he listened, his jaw tightened slightly, the veins on his hands becoming more pronounced as he gripped the steering wheel. I couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly sexy he looked. His calm yet protective behavior was intoxicating. My mind wandered again, imagining what it would feel like if those hands brushed against my skin or if his lips—God, those lips—pressed against mine.  

I bit my lip, trying to focus on the conversation, but every little thing about him gave me butterflies. From the way his hair fell over his forehead to his low soothing voice, Iris was too attractive. And it terrified me.

The car pulled up in front of what looked like a massive mansion. I stared out the window, taking a deep breath, before turning my attention back to Iris.  

He was already looking at me. His piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, my heart forgot how to beat. Those eyes—they were like oceans, endless.  

“Wh… wh… where are we?” I stammered, feeling my cheeks flush under his intense stare.  

He glanced out the window behind me, his eyes briefly scanning the mansion before returning to mine. “Just a little property my brothers and I own,” he said casually.  

Little? There was nothing little about this house. It was grand, intimidating, and screamed wealth.  

I swallowed hard, unsure what to say, before blurting out, “If you men are planning to reject me, you might as well do it now. There’s no need for all these formalities.”  

“Reject you?” Iris raised a brow, the corner of his lips twitching into an amused smile. Then he let out a low laugh, one that sent shivers down my spine. His perfect white teeth flashed, and I swore it was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen.  

“Now, why would we want to reject someone as… interesting as you?” he asked, his voice soft but filled with something that made my stomach flutter.  

Before I could process his words, his hand reached out, gently brushing against mine. The touch was light, but it set my nerves on fire. My heart raced, and I bit my lower lip, trying to steady my breathing.  

What was he going to do next? I couldn’t  stop myself from imagining what it would feel like if he leaned in closer. If those strong hands slid across my skin. If those lips—so full, so tempting—touched mine.  

There was a pull between us that made it impossible to look away from him. Every second spent in his presence made it harder to breathe, harder to think. And I wasn’t sure if I wanted it to stop.

His fingertips brushed softly against the side of my face, a touch so light that made my heart race. I tried to hold his stare, but the way he looked at me made my face drop instinctively, too overwhelmed to keep looking at him.  

But he wasn’t having it. Gently, he lifted my chin with his fingers, forcing me to meet his gaze again.  

My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest. Then, his thumb traced a slow line from my chin to the corner of my lips, gently parting them. The small, intimate action was enough to make my mind spin, leaving me desperate for more but too flustered to move.  

His eyes stayed on my lips. It was like he was wrestling with himself, torn between holding himself back  and giving in to the temptation right in front of him. 

I could tell that every second felt like a silent battle in his mind, and I was the cause of it. I could feel he was barely holding back from finding out what my lips tasted like.  

“Wh… what are you doing?” I whispered, my voice shaky but desperate for an answer.  

He lifted his eyes to mine, and I felt like I might melt under his gaze. My heart kept racing as he replied, “Nothing…” His voice was low, almost a murmur, as his eyes fell back to my lips. “Just this…”  

Before I could process his words, he leaned in. His lips were suddenly so close to mine that my breath stopped. My heart stopped entirely, wondering if he was going to... kiss me?