I don't know how I ended up here. My mind is still stuck in the chaotic ballroom, the mess I left behind, but my body is already inside this luxurious, soundproof car with dark interiors.

A pure, powerful scent dominates the cabin, so strong it makes my head spin. Beside me, the man—Xavier—sits calmly, yet his dominant aura feels like it's pressing down on the air around me.

"You smell so sweet, Rose," the man murmurs softly.

He leans towards me. The distance between us is so slight I can feel the heat radiating from his powerful build. My heart is pounding wildly. It's not out of fear, but because of a sudden, wild instinct inside me demanding attention.

"Why... why did you take me away?" I whisper, my voice nearly vanishing as his molten gold eyes lock onto mine.

Xavier doesn't answer immediately. He reaches out, his long, warm fingers tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch sends an electric wave that makes me shiver.

"Because I don't like seeing what's mine standing among trash like your ex," his voice is low and husky, vibrating right down to my ribs.

"I am not yours," I protest weakly, even as my hand unconsciously grips his black shirt, pulling him closer because I can't bear the distance between us.

"Is that so?" Xavier lets out a soft chuckle, an intoxicatingly masculine sound. "Then why is your heart pounding like this when I touch you, Rose?"

He leans down, letting his nose brush against the sensitive skin of my neck. He inhales my scent deeply, as if I were the oxygen he needs to survive. His warm lips then move, placing soft kisses along my jawline to the corner of my mouth.

A primitive, chest-tightening passion suddenly explodes. Here I am, newly heartbroken, yet feeling an intense thirst for the touch of this stranger.

"Xavier..." I murmur unconsciously.

Hearing his name, he no longer holds back. He captures my lips in a deep, demanding kiss. This isn't a gentle kiss; it's the claim of an Alpha. His large hands creep to my waist, pulling my body until I'm seated on his lap.

I let out a soft moan as his tongue explores my mouth, entwining with mine in a hot, demanding dance. The intoxicating sweetness of his lips replaces the bitter taste of champagne in my mouth.

I place my hands at the nape of his neck, gently gripping his short hair and returning his kiss with equal intensity.

All my burdens melt away inside the car. The fire Xavier has ignited overshadows the wound David left. Our skin touching feels like lost pieces finally finding each other after being apart for so long.

He breaks the kiss for a moment, only to look at me with eyes darkened by desire. "I want you, Rose," he whispers right against my now-swollen lips.

I gaze into those gold eyes, feeling myself fall deeper. I don't know how to respond to his words. I am utterly enchanted by him.

Xavier gives a faint, possessive smile.

He leans down again, kissing my neck with small nips that make me arch my back and grip his sturdy shoulders.

A soft gasp escapes my lips as his sharp yet careful teeth deliver a pleasurable sting on the skin of my neck. My hands grip his shoulders more tightly, seeking an anchor amidst the storm of passion I've never felt before.

"Xavier... slow down," I whisper hoarsely, even as my body demands more.

Xavier pauses briefly, his face lifting from my neck. His hot breath fans against my face. His gold eyes now look darker, almost like the color of thick honey in the dim cabin light.

"I love your scent, Rose," he whispers before kissing my neck again.

Xavier's touch on my neck feels increasingly demanding. Each small nip and soft suction feels like he's mapping his territory on my body.

I moan, my hands sliding into his hair, pulling him closer until my heaving chest presses directly against the rigid plane of his.

"Xavier..." I whisper, my voice breaking from the surging passion.

His large hands move at my waist. One hand slowly rises, slipping behind my silk dress, caressing the skin of my back with a burning touch.

Warmth spreads through my nerves, making my wolf instinct thrash, wanting to surrender completely to this man. Xavier moves, kissing my jawline before devouring my lips again with deeper, wilder intensity.

The air in the car feels increasingly thin and hot. I can feel his power, the overwhelmingly dominant Alpha aura, enveloping me until I feel dizzy. We are almost losing control. My hands begin to move restlessly on his shoulders, while he continues to press my body against the car seat, applying pressure that makes my entire body tremble.

Suddenly, a loud ringing tone shatters the passion-filled silence.

Drrrtt... Drrrtt...

The phone in my small bag vibrates intensely. Its sound feels thunderous in the confined space, as if dousing my entire body with ice water. I jerk, trying to catch my breath, which feels stifled.

"Ignore it," Xavier growls low against the curve of my neck. His breath is still ragged, reluctant to release his claim.

"I... I have to answer it," I say hoarsely, trying to push his shoulder slightly.

Xavier growls in annoyance, a sound of frustration at the interruption. He looks at me with eyes still darkened, full of unresolved desire.

I reach into my bag with trembling hands and look at the phone screen. Mom.

Thoughts of the chaos at David's party, the recording I replayed, and the fact that I'm sitting on a stranger's lap suddenly hit me hard. My awareness returns fully.

"I have to go, Xavier," I say, this time with a steadier voice.

I quickly move from his lap back to my seat, straightening my slightly disheveled dress.

"Rose, wait." Xavier grabs my arm. His grip isn't painful, but it's very firm. "You can't just leave like this after what happened earlier."

I look at him, trying to steady my breathing. "My mind is a mess. Too much has happened tonight. I can't do this right now."

Xavier stares at me sharply, as if weighing whether to let me go or take me away with him. Finally, he lets out a long sigh and slowly releases my arm.

"Alright," he murmurs, though there's a note of disappointment in his voice.

"Maybe we'll meet again," I say, my hand already on the car door handle. "But not tonight."

Xavier doesn't reply. Instead, he reaches into his pants pocket and pulls out an elegant black card with embossed gold lettering. He extends it to me.

"Take this," he commands, leaving no room for argument. "Contact me soon."

I take the card and immediately get out of the car before my defenses crumble again. I don't look back as I walk away, but I can feel the gaze of his gold eyes watching me until I disappear into the darkness of the night.

I look at the card in my hand. Xavier Sterling.

"Sterling?"

Thud!

My heart seems to sink into my stomach. Xavier Sterling is the apex predator in the business world and the supreme leader of the Sterling clan. Xavier Sterling, the Alpha of all Alphas, wields immense power over this continent. I just kissed the most dangerous man in the werewolf world.

***

My phone screen lights up, displaying hundreds of notifications, as if trying to make it explode.

Someone has made the party video public. With my face on display, everyone recognises me as the woman David abandoned for someone from his past. Everyone has identified the woman in that video as me.

"Dammit, who leaked it?" I whisper, trembling.

I throw the phone onto the sofa, rubbing my face in frustration.

Reporters have swarmed the entrance to my apartment building like a school of piranhas, drawn by the scent of blood. Yet, my fear of the cameras is nothing compared to the dread seeping into my marrow when I think of Xavier Sterling.

Every time I inhale, the memory of his cedarwood and musk scent invades my senses, as if he were standing right behind me. My hybrid blood surges, defying my rationality. His touch in the car that night wasn't just ordinary passion; it was the call of a predator recognising its prey.

I couldn't stay. If reporters managed to locate me, it would only take Xavier a mere flick of his fingers to drag me back into his enslavement. I had to leave. I couldn't be associated with a man who could make every werewolf clan on this continent tremble.

***

I arrived on the southern coast under a gloomy sky, as if I were mourning the chaos of my life. This fishing village is extremely remote, silent, and hidden and still largely unknown to the world. This island was the ideal location for my escape from the David scandal and the looming threat of Xavier Sterling.

I gaze at the vast, beautiful, mesmerising ocean before me. But my heart is too numb to appreciate it.

The wooden cabin I rented stands in silence on the shore, facing the roaring expanse of the sea directly.

Here, I hoped the solitude would be a balm. But I was wrong. The silence only amplified the madness in my head.

Nights on the beach feel like endless torture. Every time I close my eyes, the sound of the waves transforms into the husky baritone of Xavier's whispers.

I'm transported back to that car cabin, feeling the intoxicating heat of his body, his demanding tongue, and the small nips on my neck that felt like they were tearing my soul out.

My dreams become wild and uncontrollable. In my sleep, I see myself with him under silvery moonlight, surrendering all my dignity under his dominant hold.

I wake with a violent start. I wake up gasping for breath, my sheets damp with cold sweat, and an intense thirst seeping through every nerve, especially in my pulsing core.

"Dammit..." I curse, my voice hoarse and strange to my ears.

I scramble out of bed, my steps unsteady as if the earth were shaking. In the bathroom, I splash my face with cold water repeatedly, trying to extinguish the fire burning beneath my skin.

I stare at my reflection in the foggy mirror. My eyes glitter strangely, with an unusual flush on my cheeks.

The cause is the heat. This is an unbearable phase of arousal, a pain I have never experienced in my three years with David.

The magic stone seal on my neck feels warm. I can see hairline cracks on its surface. That brief encounter with Xavier has damaged my defences, awakening my long-dormant animal instincts.

"I must be going insane," I whisper to my reflection, my trembling fingers touching my lips that still feel the phantom pressure of Xavier's. "This can't be. I cannot succumb to my instincts. I have to forget him! He's dangerous, Rose. He is your ruin!"

I grip the edge of the sink until my knuckles turn white. I hate the reality that while my common sense screams danger, my body is thrashing, yearning for the predator I'm supposed to avoid.

***

That morning, I try to find a sliver of peace by walking along the shoreline. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks should be a soothing melody, but my hybrid instinct remains on high alert, sensing something is wrong.

The cold sea wind hits my face but does nothing to cool the fire blazing under my skin. The wet sand slips between my toes, offering a small sense of reality amidst my fading sanity.

Suddenly, my steps halt.

The air around me abruptly changes. The atmospheric pressure feels heavy, as though the presence of something massive has just sucked out the oxygen here. My sense of smell, now ten times sharper due to the cracked seal, picks up a scent.

It's a strong, cold aroma, mixed with an overwhelmingly dominant masculine fragrance. Cedarwood and musk. This scent has been tormenting me in my dreams for several nights.

"Impossible..." I whisper, my heart pounding so hard it's painful.

I slowly turn towards the rocky cliff at the edge of the beach. There stands a figure whose presence can dim the morning sunlight.

Xavier Sterling.

He stands there arrogantly, his unbuttoned white shirt billowing in the sea breeze, revealing a glimpse of the broad chest that kept me awake with desire last night.

"Hey, how could he be here?" The danger instinct inside me screams. Before he notices me, I have to leave.

I immediately turn and walk away, hoping he hasn't noticed my presence.

Regrettably, just as I'm about to arrive at my cabin, a voice abruptly stops me.

"Finally, I found you, Rose."

Thud.

My body freezes. Just hearing his voice, I already know who stands behind me.

Calm down, Rose, calm down. Act normal and pretend to be surprised.

I turn around and see Xavier standing a few steps behind me.

"M-Mr? Goodness, it's a small world, isn't it? To think we'd meet again here." I try to stay calm, accompanied by a forced, unnatural laugh.

His sharp gold eyes lock onto my gaze. He doesn't reply to my foolish words. He just walks slowly, erasing the distance between us. Each step has the rhythm of a predator who knows his prey has no escape left.

The wind carries his heavy baritone voice, "A rather far escape, Rose", right to the pit of my stomach.

My feet feel rooted to the ground, despite my desire to run. Violent tremors begin to attack my knees. "Ha ha... escape? "From what?" I know my dry laughter sounds very suspicious.

Xavier stops right in front of me. The distance is so close I can feel the radiating heat from his powerful body. He leans his face down, inhaling the air around my neck in an intensely possessive manner.

"I don't know. From what?" he whispers in a voice that sends shivers down my spine.

***

His breath against the skin of my neck makes all my remaining defenses crumble in an instant. I close my eyes, attempting to swallow the lump that has formed in my throat.

The arousal from the heat phase I had tried to suppress now explodes again, demanding satisfaction that only the man before me can provide.

"Maybe running from this torturous thirst?" Xavier whispers again. This time, his lips don't just brush my earlobe; they release a warm breath that makes the hairs on my nape stand up.

His large, warm hand creeps slowly to my waist. He doesn't grip me roughly. Instead, he pulls me with a gentle yet certain pressure, as if giving my body time to choose. And damn it, my body betrays me by moving closer, as if pulled by a magnet into his embrace.

I can feel his powerful chest pressing against my sensitive breasts. Every friction of his shirt fabric sends electric sensations shooting through my nerves, making my knees feel like jelly.

"I've been waiting for you to contact me, but you ran away here instead," he murmurs softly. There's no anger in his voice, only a possessive, intimidating tone, like a predator praising its prey's cleverness before the pounce.

I try to brace my hands against his chest to create distance. But my fingers end up clutching the fine fabric of his white shirt, feeling the intoxicating heat of his body. "Sir, please... let me go. This is a public place."

Xavier lets out a low chuckle. The vibration of his voice travels from his chest straight to my palm, making my heart beat even more wildly. He slowly tilts my chin up with his index finger and thumb, forcing me to look into the molten gold of his eyes.

"A public place? Didn't you usually care about the place? Wherever it was," he taunts in a lowered voice, reminding me of the wild passion that nearly erupted in the car that night.

Instead of pulling away, Xavier lowers his head a little more. He doesn't kiss me. He just lets the tip of his nose graze the skin of my neck, inhaling my scent deeply as if I were the drug he needs.

"You know, Rose..." he whispers right at the pulse point on my neck that makes my hair stand on end. "This magic stone of yours... it's tired of working so hard to hold back something that truly wants to come out."

He places a feather-light kiss near the stone seal, just a whisper of a touch from his lips, yet it feels more explosive than a rough kiss.

His hand slowly rises from my waist, gently stroking my back in a circular motion that simultaneously soothes and ignites my skin.

"I won't force you," he murmurs, his lips now grazing my jaw as he speaks. "I'll just stand here until you yourself beg me not to stop."

This man is truly dangerous. He doesn't use his physical strength to hold me. Instead, he uses his pheromones and temptations that attack the very core of my hybrid instinct. I should get away from him, but every part of my being screams for surrender, wanting to drown in his captivity.

Staring into his darkened eyes, I search for the last remnants of my sanity, swept away by the waves. "Mr. Sterling, this is not right."

"Then why does your body say it's so right?" he asks with a faint smirk, his fingers now touching strands of my hair, while his cedarwood scent completely paralyzes my logic.

"I..." I struggle to find the right words. I wish to assert that this is merely a biological response to this intense heat wave, yet each time his fingers make contact with my hair, the words seem to vanish.

Xavier doesn't stop. He only reduces the distance further, letting our bodies press together until I can feel his calm yet strong heartbeat clashing with my frantic one. He slips his hand to my nape, supporting my head gently, while his thumb slowly, torturously, strokes my trembling lips.

"Be honest, Rose," he whispers, his voice now sounding like dark, deep velvet. "You want me desperately, don't you?"

That question deeply penetrates my heart. I try to turn my face away, but his gentle grip on my chin keeps me locked on his molten gold eyes.

"Look at me, Rose. Tell me your body is screaming for my touch," he urges again, his voice growing husky with the desire now spreading from me. "Tell me my scent makes you want to surrender right now."

The touch of his pheromones grows denser, filling my lungs, making my head dizzy with a pleasure I've never known. I can feel the cracks in my magic stone widening, releasing a warm sensation that spreads through my chest. I want to lie. I want to say no. But the betrayal of my body is far more honest than my lips.

"Xavier, I beg you..." I moan unconsciously. I don't even know if I'm begging him to leave or to end this sweet torture with a union immediately.

Xavier only smirks, his gleaming gold eyes watching me with a look of both adoration and hunger. "Begging for what, Rose? Say it clearly. I don't like guessing people's desires."

His fingers, which were at my nape, now slowly descend, tracing the line of my neck until they stop right over my wildly racing pulse. The roaring waves behind us completely sweep away the last shreds of my sanity.

"Say it," he urges once more, his voice low and filled with logic-destroying temptation. "Admit it, Rose. Admit that you want me as much as I want you."

I stare at his lips, then back into his gold eyes. My defenses collapse completely. That cedarwood scent is no longer a threat but an addiction I want to savor forever.

With trembling hands, I grip the collar of his shirt, pulling him to erase the last distance between us.

"Yes..." I finally whisper, a confession that brings a victorious smirk to his handsome face. "I want you, Xavier."

***