"Did you find the car keys?" Maya shouted from the hallway.

"No!" I called back-and immediately caught the hem of my trousers, crashing to the floor.

A loud stream of decidedly unladylike curses spilled from my perfectly painted lips. As if oversleeping for work wasn't bad enough-now this falls on top of it. I scrambled to my feet, dusted myself off, fixed my hair, and took my place by the front door, fully dressed and ready to go.

Maya was darting around the apartment like a trapped rabbit. I watched her for a moment, then sighed.

"What are you looking for?" I asked.

She froze, turned to me with wide, worried eyes, and said, "I think I left my purse at the hospital last night."

Great. Just great. After muttering a few choice swear words, we rushed out. Our delay would be noticed immediately-Maya was the head chef at the restaurant, and I was the manager. Basically, nothing started without us. We decided we'd go back for the purse after work.

The café, Peach Paradise, was already open. Maya slipped through the back door into the changing room while I went straight to my tiny office. My day was packed with paperwork, so I booted up the computer and began filling out delivery forms and invoices. Time flew.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," I said, setting the documents aside.

One of the waitresses, Lera, stepped inside.

"Vera, a customer is asking for you."

Great-trouble. Things had been so peaceful until now. I sighed and gave her a sharp look.

"What's going on? Who's serving that table?"

"I am," she said, "but I have no idea what the problem is."

"Let's go find out."

I followed her into the dining area. At one of the tables sat an attractive man in a suit and an elegant brunette. The man looked oddly familiar, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't place where I'd seen him before. Pushing the thought aside, I put on my professional smile.

"Good afternoon. I'm the manager, Vera. How can I help you?"

"Good afternoon," the brunette replied with a smile. "This pastry"-she gestured toward the plate-"is so wonderful that I simply couldn't leave without meeting the person who made it."

"Lera," I said to the waitress behind me, "would you please call the one who prepared that pastry?"

Then, turning back to the guests, I added, "We're so glad you liked it."

Before they could respond, another waitress called my name from across the room. I excused myself and stepped aside to take a call from one of our suppliers. While speaking on the phone, I kept my eyes on the table.

Where had I seen that man before?

Then I held my breath.

The pastry had been made by Maya. Her hands could turn dough into magic. I had to admit, my friend deserved every bit of praise coming her way. When I hung up, I allowed myself a small smile as I watched Maya's eyes sparkle while she spoke with the brunette.

My gaze shifted to the man.

He looked somewhat stern. His eyes moved slowly over Maya from head to toe, as though she were the dessert meant for him.

"Vera," my boss called from behind me, "come to my office."

"All right, Mr. Viktor," I replied, casting one last glance at my beaming friend before heading inside.

I closed the door behind me and sat down opposite his desk. Viktor sank heavily into his chair. The years were catching up with him; running the restaurant had become increasingly exhausting. Still, he stubbornly held on to the reins, waiting for his grandson to grow up so he could pass the business on.

"Vera," he began, using that deceptively gentle tone that always meant he was displeased, "how did you miss the dairy order? We had to remove half the menu today."

I sighed, bracing myself. "Mr. Viktor, I did warn you that this supplier was unreliable. Let me remind you-it was you who insisted on working with him."

After forty exhausting minutes of his lecture, I left his office feeling completely drained. The stress of the past few days needed to be dealt with-preferably with something sweet, and alone.

At the end of the day, Maya came to get me, and we headed home together.

The moment we stepped out of the café's back door, a wave of dread washed over me.

I froze, scanning the alley for its source. It was as quiet and empty as always. Maya noticed my unease, hooked her arm through mine, and tugged me forward.

"What's with you? You're looking around like a startled deer."

"I've got a bad feeling," I murmured.

"Don't worry," she said with a grin. "This time I'll make sure trouble doesn't get anywhere near you."

But my instincts were right.

At the end of the alley, two tall men in black suits appeared, blocking our path. Maya let go of my arm and took a cautious step back. I kept my eyes fixed on them. If they were ordinary men, I could take them down easily-but if they were werewolves...

A sound behind us made me spin around.

A few steps away stood the man from the café-the same one who had been sitting with the brunette. My friend was slung over his shoulder, unconscious.

Now I remembered where I'd seen him before.

He was the werewolf we had encountered at the hospital the night before.

"Let her go!" I shouted.

The man smiled-or rather, bared his teeth.

"I wish I could," he said, "but she's mine now. As for you... Well, we can't have any witnesses."

Fear surged through me. Werewolves never hesitated to erase their tracks. I glanced behind me; the two men were still standing there, watching.

Slowly, I reached for my purse.

The man noticed and sneered.

"Don't do anything stupid. I doubt there's anything in that purse that could help you."

My fingers trembled as I opened it, pulled out a small spray can, and pointed it at him.

He burst out laughing.

"And what exactly are you planning to do with that?"

“Oh, hell no! I’m not handing my friend over to you fang-faced bastards!” I shouted, spraying the contents of the bottle straight into the man’s face.

At first, he inhaled slowly through his nose with exaggerated composure—but within seconds, he clutched at his throat and dropped to one knee, still gripping his burden.

The men behind him stirred, and without hesitation, I spun around and sprayed them too.

None of them had expected that kind of reaction from an ordinary spray. Of course they hadn’t.

I had been hiding from werewolves for nearly two years now—my defenses were designed specifically for them, not for humans.

The first one was already recovering from the tranquilizer, so I didn’t waste any time. I yanked my friend off his shoulder.

The man snarled, fury blazing in his eyes, and the first ripples of partial transformation spread across his arms.

That wasn’t good.

Dragging my friend a few steps back, I tried to hoist her over my shoulder—but the world suddenly tilted.

A second later, I found myself hanging upside down over a broad, muscular shoulder.

The bottle of precious liquid slipped from my fingers and struck the pavement with a dull, tragic clink.

Clenching my fists, I kicked wildly and hurled every curse I knew.

They shoved me into a black SUV.

Remarkably, not a single person on the street reacted—no one attempted to stop a group of men abducting two women in broad daylight.

Two massive men flanked me in the back seat, boxing me in. The engine roared to life, and the car pulled away.

The man who had forced me inside took the passenger seat beside the driver. I didn’t dare make another sound.

A quick glance around confirmed what I already suspected—werewolves.

Each one of them was large, powerfully built, radiating danger.

“What do you want from us?” I finally managed to ask.

The man in the passenger seat turned around and gave me a slow, deliberate once-over—from head to toe.

For the first time, I could see him clearly: dark eyes framed by thick lashes, a straight nose, full lips faintly flushed, and a shadow of stubble along his jaw.

He looked strikingly similar to the one who had grabbed my friend—but younger.

Brothers, most likely.

He offered a lazy smile and said, “Judging by that mysterious spray you used on my brother, you already know our world exists. Your friend—she’s the true mate of our Alpha.”

Oh, wonderful. Maya had truly hit the jackpot this time. The Alpha himself. She would never be free of him now—not in a hundred years.

Lost in my thoughts, I began mapping out possible escape routes—where we could run, how we could disappear.

The man watched me the entire time.

“So tell me, sweetheart,” he said with a crooked grin, “how exactly do you know about werewolves? You smell human—but not entirely.”

I met his gaze, choosing my words carefully.

“I’ve encountered your kind before,” I replied evenly. “It wasn’t a pleasant experience.”

The glare I gave him didn’t unsettle him in the slightest—if anything, his amusement deepened.

“Why did you take me?” I demanded.

“For company. Once we’re certain you won’t talk, we’ll let you go.”

“And if Maya doesn’t want to stay—will you let her go too?” I asked, masking my tension with feigned innocence.

He chuckled softly. “Didn’t you say you understood our world? How many Alphas do you think allow their mates to walk away?”

“I won’t let you hurt her,” I said firmly, a sharp edge entering my voice.

He threw his head back and laughed.

“Hurt her? No one is going to hurt her. The only danger she faces is too much pleasure. Trust me—Kirill knows exactly how to handle a woman’s body.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I lowered my gaze to my lap and fell silent.

An uneasy silence settled over the car, though it didn’t last long.

“What’s your name, beautiful?” he asked again.

His smug tone grated on my nerves. I had to swallow a cutting reply.

“Vera,” I said curtly, turning to stare out the window.

We left the city behind and entered a suburban district—rows of expensive cottages flashing past in the fading light.

Eventually, the SUV veered into the woods and came to a stop in front of a massive two-story house surrounded by a tall fence.

They locked me in a small guest room and told me to get some sleep.

Every attempt I made to ask about Maya was ignored.

Through the window, I spotted several large werewolves patrolling the grounds.

Escape? Impossible.

There was a shower in the room, so I washed up and lay down on the bed.

Sleep refused to come. Every faint sound made my body jolt.

Sometime after midnight, I rose and crept toward the door.

To my surprise, it wasn’t locked.

I turned the handle carefully and peered into the hallway.

Empty. Silent.

Barefoot, I padded down the corridor. Voices drifted from somewhere ahead.

I stopped, straining to listen. It was them—the werewolves.

“Tell me,” one voice said, “why are you here drinking with me instead of… studying your mate’s body?”

“I didn’t want to frighten her. My story already shocked her enough, so I gave her a sedative. Let her rest.

But you—you’ve created another problem. Why the hell did you bring that second girl here? The guys could’ve buried her in the woods and spared us the hassle.”

My heart sank.

They had truly intended to kill me.

God, how I hated them. Werewolves always played by their own rules, and humans were collateral at best.

I clenched my teeth, forcing my anger down.

Lost in thought, I failed to notice when the voices fell silent.

Then, right beside my ear, a low voice murmured,

“Aren’t good girls supposed to be in bed right now?”

My entire body went rigid. Slowly, I turned—and met glowing yellow eyes in the darkness.

A chill traced its way down my spine.

“Would you like me to walk you back?”

Before I could respond, he seized my arm just above the elbow and escorted me back to the room.

This time, he locked the door behind me.

There was nothing left to do but lie down—and pretend to sleep.

Of course, I didn’t fall asleep.

Thoughts kept circling in my head, refusing to let me drift off or relax.

I woke up early and made it my mission to see my friend and talk to her—no matter what it took.

Pacing from corner to corner, I felt my patience wearing thin.

My first attempt to knock on the door and call out for someone was met with silence.

So was the second. And the third.

By noon, footsteps echoed outside, and a key turned in the lock.

I sat on the bed, staring straight at the door.

At first glance, I might have seemed calm and composed—but in reality, I was a live wire, burning from the inside out.

Every muscle in my body was coiled tight, ready to spring into action the moment my mind gave the command.

The door opened.

A man stood on the threshold, hesitating before stepping inside.

Apparently, my calm posture didn’t fool him.

He crossed his arms over his chest and studied me with a serious expression.

“With that look on your face, there’s no way I’m taking you to lunch,” he said dryly. “I’d probably choke on my food.”

I snorted and turned away.

“What do you want?” I asked irritably.

“I came to invite you to lunch. We didn’t exactly get a proper introduction yesterday.”

“Where’s Maya?”

“Your friend is fine.”

“I want to see her.”

“If you have lunch with me,” he said with a faint smile, “I might be persuaded to ask my brother to let you meet her.”

I let out an exaggerated sigh, clicked my tongue in protest, and stood up.

He stepped aside, gesturing for me to follow.

“My name’s Max,” he said as we walked down the hallway.

“Fine,” I replied with a sly smile. “It suits you. I used to have a dog named Max.”

“You’re bold, aren’t you, beautiful?” he chuckled. “Just don’t try that joke in front of my brother, or he’ll kill you where you stand.”

A pang of guilt struck me. I lowered my gaze and walked the rest of the way in silence.

We ended up in a cozy kitchen, where a middle-aged woman was bustling about.

When she saw us, she smiled warmly.

“Took you long enough to feed your guest, Max. Kirill’s already brought his girl two trays this morning.”

“Mrs. Nina, please,” Max said with a grin. “Kirill’s girl is the future lady of the house. Mine’s just a hostage. No need to feed her that often.”

To say his words offended me would have been an understatement.

Clenching my jaw, I looked around the kitchen instead of responding.

Nina came over, gently took my hand, and led me to the table.

“Don’t mind him, dear. The brothers were never known for their manners. Just eat—you’re skin and bones.”

“Thank you,” I said politely, returning her smile.

While I devoured a salad and a cutlet with obvious pleasure, Max sipped his coffee and watched me in silence.

Once I’d eaten my fill, I picked up my cup and finally decided to speak.

“How long are you planning to keep me here?”

“Don’t worry. As soon as we figure out how to make sure you stay quiet, you’ll be free to go.”

“Let Maya go, and I’ll stay quiet.”

“I’m afraid Kirill won’t agree to that.”

After tea, Max walked me back to my room.

Just as he was about to lock the door, I grabbed his wrist.

His gaze dropped to my fingers wrapped around him, then lifted to my face—pausing briefly on my lips.

Damn. Awkward.

I quickly pulled my hand back and said, “Our deal.”

“What deal?” He raised an eyebrow.

“If I had lunch with you, I’d get to see my friend.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

The door slammed shut in my face, and the key turned in the lock.

Left alone, I finally allowed myself to relax a little.

The moment I lay down, exhaustion from a sleepless night crashed over me.

There was no point in fighting it. I closed my eyes and drifted off.

A faint rustling sound woke me.

The sky outside had turned orange with sunset.

“How much drool did you manage to get on that pillow?” a voice drawled behind me.

I gasped and spun around.

Max was lying on his side, watching my startled reaction with an amused smirk.

Honestly—did he ever get tired of smiling like that?

“What are you doing here?” I snapped.

“I live here,” he said simply, getting to his feet. “I came to take you to your friend, but clearly, you’re not thrilled to see me.”

He moved toward the door, ready to leave.

“Wait!” I called, rushing over and grabbing his arm again.

Another awkward pause. His eyes drifted to my lips once more, lingering longer this time.

I let go and took a step back.

“Let’s go,” he said quietly, leading the way out.

When I saw Maya—safe, unharmed, smiling—I ran to her with open arms.

She did the same, but our reunion was cut short by a massive wall of muscle.

Or rather, an Alpha built like one.

“One more step, crazy woman, and there won’t be any conversation,” he growled.

“Crazy woman”? That was new.

If looks could kill, the beast would already be writhing in agony.

“Come on, brother,” Max intervened, slinging an arm over the Alpha’s shoulder. “Let’s give the ladies some space.”

He guided him out of the room.

I hugged Maya tightly. She looked happy—too happy for someone being held captive.

“He didn’t hurt you, did he?” I asked anxiously.

“No, he’s been kind. Though… his motives do make me wonder.”

She blushed and lowered her gaze.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you believe in love at first sight?”

“Oh no, don’t start. Please don’t tell me that nonsense. No, I don’t. What did he say to make you melt like that?”

“Vera, he didn’t promise me anything. I just… didn’t tell you. We met yesterday morning at the restaurant. The moment I saw him, my heart started pounding.”

I stared at her in disbelief.

This couldn’t be Maya talking.

But then again—she was his fated mate. Maybe she truly couldn’t resist him. Damn it.

“You want to stay with him, don’t you?” I asked quietly.

“I… I don’t know,” she murmured dreamily.

Yes, she did. And it stung.

Why did these wolves always take the people I cared about most?

A lump of despair rose in my throat.

Before I could say something I’d regret, I turned and stormed out.

I heard Maya calling after me, but I didn’t stop.

Max caught up with me near my room.

I shot him one last furious look, went inside, and slammed the door in his face.