face to face with the devil

Chapter 1

Sheila's POV

I ordered three shots of tequila, flashing a faint smile at the bartender. He returned a weak smile, filling the shots and placing them in front of me. I sat close to the bar counter in a Pythagorean bar, a drink house with a weird name, expectedly stocked with crazy people - humans and werewolves alike. The werewolf world is a complex one. A world where power and control rules leaving the weaklings to suffer in turmoil.

As I gulped the first shot, I enjoyed the hot, savory taste on the roof of my mouth. The bar was filled with sweet scents of daisies. My heart skipped a beat as I fidgeted, my mind racing with thoughts of the future.I counted down the hours to my birthday, thinking about all the things I would do, experience, and explore. The thrill of the unknown sent a shiver down my spine, and I smiled to myself.

I brought out my phone and visited some dating sites, hoping to find my mate or something. Suddenly, I heard a muffled whistle and turned. A man in a gray hoodie sat between two women - strip teasers practically dipping their hands into his pants. "Ewww!" Arya, my brave and cold inner wolf, reacted. I frowned, my eyes squinting, and tore my gaze away. He wasn't my type, and his human scent disqualified him as my mate.

I took up my second shot, refocusing on my phone. And then my last shot.

The whistle came again. And again and again , piercing the air making me stick my earbuds into my ears.

A firm hand clutched my shoulder tightly a few moments later forcing me to pivot my head above the shoulder where the external force threatened to dislocate my joints.

“Hola." The same man beamed at me,the skin around his eyes wrinkling to how hard he beamed. I immediately wriggled my shoulder out of his cold grip. He sat beside me. His chapped lips curled into a wryly sinister smile. His bushy beard made him look like a nuisance. He adjusted his hoodie.

I turned back to the direction where he originally sat only to realize that the strip teasers were with another dude. I grimaced my face . —- fucking bar girls.

I returned my gaze to the man and observed him lubricate his lower lip with his tongue.

I took off one of my pods and returned it to its case.

“What brings you here? ." I asked bluntly, my tone sharp and unfriendly, seemingly annoyed that I was starting my evening with the wrong guy.

“Samuel by the way. Sammy for short.” He introduced himself,stretching out his hand to me for a handshake__ a friendly handshake I suppose.

I rolled my eyes at his hand without returning his handshake.

“And? How may I be of help to you?." I asked impatiently ,my blood boiling in disgust. I took off my other earbud.

" Been observing you for a while.” He grinned with diminishing confidence. His lips curled and he nervously pinched on his nose.

" And?.” I asked with a scoff. This wasn't the kind of night I envisaged.

“I wanted to ask you for your contact. You seem like a reserved lady.." He said delightfully, making me raise a brow and chuckle.

“okay?." I asked, massaging my temples exhaustedly.

“I want us to be friends. Let's hang out tonight. Together. It'd be fun, you know?." He asked, adjusting with uneasiness on the barstool he sat.

“I don't know. " I said and sucked on my teeth In frustration.

“I'd be best if you leave me alone." I muttered , forcing a smile.

“But –” he said and paused when I dilated my pupils.

" Sammy or whatever the fuck___ I need personal space. “ I asserted." Please.” I said through a husky tone and gritted teeth.

" You didn't tell me your name." Samuel pressed on with his voice a deep baritone .

“My name isn't some newsline. Just go. Find someone else. This user is not available__."

" Don't you think you are being too harsh?.” Samuel asked with a hint of disappointment in his voice.

“I can make it worth your while.” He leaned in and said to me, His hot breath fanned my cheek.

I jerked away,my heart racing wildly.

“ fuck off Sammy.” I blazed. My voice is firm.

Sammy's eyes flashed with anger but he didn't move. “You’re not as sweet as you look." He sneered.

I stood up, ready to leave but Sammy grabbed my arm, his grip tight and itchy.

“You are not going anywhere." He growled.

That's when Luca appeared ,his presence commanding attention.

“Let her go, you bastard." He ordered,his voice emotionless and laced in anger.

Sammy released my arm but his eyes never left mine.

“This isn't over." He snarled and went away.

I signaled the bartender for another shot of tequila , hoping to drown my frustrations with Samuel's advances.

Luca sat down beside me.

Then I felt something. A bond. An attraction. I looked up . And what was he doing next to me?

I stared at the 6’7 foot Alpha with black hair that formed curls on his forehead. His sharp jawlines, deepest brown eyes and a sinister smile on his slim lips made him intimidating. His cold aura made my stomach churn.

His signature scent hit my nose. Lavender.

Another man sat beside him. Hardin. His beta. The guards they came with stood somewhat far from them Inorder not to drag a lot of attention.

“I told you this scent was leading us somewhere.” Luca said to Hardin who smiled with a neutral impassive face.

“What do you want?." I asked with a daring facial expression.

“That's no way to speak to an Alpha. Someone who saved your ass from being whipped."

He growled with a cold demeanor. Luca's presence seemed to fill the room. His broad shoulders and piercing gaze commanded a lot of attention.

“You are not my Alpha. Tell me why you are here wrecking my peace." I asked,unshaken by his fierce glare. I locked eyes with him, daring him to be the first to break eye contact but he didn't.

On a normal day I'd be scared of him because of his evil but I wasn't. I stared at his feisty eyes.

“ such a nice bar. Haven't stopped here before.”Luca said while scanning the bar with his eyes. He was momentarily sightseeing. A small smile tugged on his lips as he marveled at the opulent interior design in front of his very eyes.

" Answer my question.” I demanded, my tone harsh with sarcasm.

" Don't be harsh Sweetie.” He said. His voice was enchanting . His eyes stared lovingly at me and I twitched my lips.

" Don't call me that.” I warned with steely eyes.

" Alright __ fine.” Luca said and raised his hands in surrender.

" Let's get straight to the point shall we, Love?”.

" In earnest before I die from an allergy reaction.” I answered with dry humor.

“ Do you feel our mate bond?”.Luca asked, his eyes dilating.

" Don't talk gibberish!.” I warned,my heart racing. I forced a smile and I shrugged.

" I can sense your denial.” He smiled.

" I need you to leave me alone.” I requested, unwilling to hear about my bond to a beast.

" I can feel the attraction." He smirked.

“Isn't it a fact that your third Luna escaped just like the first two did? Shouldn't that teach you a lesson? Shouldn't you be resting or better still take corrections?.” I asked and shrugged.

" I guess members of the Dark Moon pack are all abnormal. Just as it was rumored.” My lips stretched out to a thin line.

Luca chuckled dryly.

“What makes you think that?." He questioned with enthusiasm.

“Get away from me or I'll call the cops." I belted.

" I dare you, Sweetie. “ He said softly. His word's laced with danger.

I faked a smile and gulped another shot.

As Luca leaned in closer, his breath fanning my ear, A shiver traveled down my spine immediately. "I want to make you my Luna. You are going to be mine." Luca's voice dripped with menace. His tone made my skin crawl.

" Don't get your hopes up, Love.” I said, duplicating his choice word ‘Love’.

I forced a laugh, trying to sound confident. "Such a nice fantasy." But inside, Arya’s energy surged forward , her presence crackling like electricity.

"No," I whispered, trying to calm her down. But Arya's agitation only grew, her energy coursing through my veins like adrenaline.

Luca's eyes constrained, his gaze intensifying like a laser beam. "What's wrong, Sheila?" he asked, his voice low and husky.

I shook my head, trying to clear the fog. "Nothing. Just leave me alone."

But Luca's gaze only intensified. "I can sense it," he said, his voice dripping with excitement. "The bond between us. You can't deny it."

Arya snarled, her presence surging forward like a wave. I gritted my teeth, trying to hold her back.

And then, in a flash of movement, Luca's hand shot out, his fingers wrapping around my wrist like a vice.

"Time to go," he said, his voice cold and menacing.

I tried to pull away, but his grip was like steel. And before I could react, the syringe was jabbed into my neck, and everything went black.