The black Bentley was parked outside my building at exactly four o'clock.

I stood at my window and stared down at it. The car looked like it cost more than everything I owned combined. Maybe more than the entire building. It gleamed under the afternoon sun like something from a different world.

My phone buzzed.

I'm here.

Just two words from Adrian. No greeting. No pleasantries, wait why was I even expecting pleasantries

I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs. My hands were shaking again. They had been shaking on and off all week. Ever since I agreed to this insane plan.

The week had been strange. My senses felt sharper. I could hear conversations from across the diner that I should not be able to hear. Smells were stronger. My emotions kept swinging from anger to something else I could not name. And the dreams. Dreams of running through forests. Of hunting. Of teeth and claws and moonlight.

I blamed it on stress.

Adrian was leaning against the car when I walked outside. He wore black slacks and a dark gray shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. No tie. The first two buttons undone. He looked, God have mercy he looked like he stepped out of a magazine.

His eyes tracked me as I approached. That same intense stare from the classroom. Like he could see through my clothes. Through my skin. Straight into whatever I was trying to hide.

"Ready?" His voice was low. Smooth.

"Do I have a choice?"

"You always have a choice." He opened the passenger door. "But you already made it."

I slid into the car. The interior was all black leather and dark wood. It smelled expensive. Like money and something else. Something that made my skin feel too tight.

Adrian got in the driver's side and the engine purred to life. We pulled away from my building and headed into the city.

"Where are we going?" I asked after a few minutes of silence.

"My place. You need to get ready."

"I could have gotten ready at home."

"No. You could not." He glanced at me. "Trust me."

I did not trust him. Did not trust any of this. But I was already in the car so what choice did I have now.

We drove through the expensive part of the city. The part where buildings had doormen and the restaurants did not list prices on their menus. Adrian pulled into an underground garage beneath a building that looked like it touched the clouds.

He parked in a spot marked PRIVATE and got out. I followed him to an elevator that required a key card to operate. We rode up in silence. The numbers kept climbing. Twenty floors. Thirty. Forty.

The elevator opened directly into an apartment.

No. Not an apartment. A penthouse.

Floor to ceiling windows showed the entire city spread out below us. The space was massive. Open. Modern furniture in blacks and grays. Art on the walls that probably cost more than my college tuition. Everything was clean. Perfect. Like no one actually lived here.

"This is your place?" I stepped out of the elevator slowly.

"One of them." Adrian moved past me toward a hallway. "Come on. We do not have much time."

I followed him down the hall to a bedroom. It was bigger than my entire apartment. The bed was huge. Black sheets. More windows. A door that probably led to a bathroom the size of my kitchen.

On the bed was a dress.

I stopped in the doorway and stared at it. The fabric looked like liquid. Deep emerald green that seemed to shift in the light. It was beautiful. The kind of beautiful that made my chest hurt because I knew I could never afford something like that in a million years.

"That is for me?" My voice came out small.

"Obviously." Adrian was already moving to the closet. He pulled out a box and set it on the bed next to the dress. Shoes. Black heels with red soles. Another box. Smaller. He opened it to reveal jewelry. A necklace. Earrings. Everything sparkled.

"I cannot wear this." I shook my head. "This is too much. This probably costs-"

"I do not care what it costs." He turned to face me. "You are going to that wedding looking like you could buy and sell everyone in that room. Understood?"

"But I cannot"

"Freya." He said my name like a command. "Put on the dress."

We stared at each other. My heart was pounding. Everything about this felt wrong. Felt like I was making a deal I did not understand. But I also wanted to see Kelvin's face when I walked in wearing something this expensive. Wanted him to choke on his regret.

"Fine." I moved toward the bed. "But I need privacy."

Adrian's mouth curved into something that was not quite a smile. "I will be in the bathroom. Call me when you need help with the zipper."

He disappeared through the door before I could argue.

I stood alone in the massive bedroom and stared at the dress. My hands were shaking worse now. I stripped out of my jeans and tshirt. Left them in a pile on the floor. The dress felt like water when I picked it up. Cool. Smooth. I stepped into it and pulled it up.

It fit perfectly.

Too perfectly.

How did he know my size? How did he know any of this?

The zipper was in the back. I reached behind me and managed to get it halfway up before it stuck. I tried again. Nothing.

"Adrian?" I called out.

The bathroom door opened immediately. Like he had been waiting.

He walked toward me and I felt my breath catch. There was something different about the way he moved. Predatory. Purposeful. He stopped behind me and I felt the heat of him against my back.

"Hold still." His voice was right by my ear.

His fingers brushed against my spine as he gripped the zipper. Slowly he pulled it up. Inch by inch. His knuckles dragged against my skin the whole way. I stopped breathing somewhere around the middle of my back.

The zipper reached the top and he did not move away.

"There." His breath was warm against my neck. "Perfect."

I could not move. Could not think. His hands were still on my waist. Firm. Possessive. Like he had every right to touch me.

"Adrian." I meant it to sound firm. It came out shaky instead.

"Turn around."

I should not have listened. Should have stepped away. But my body obeyed before my brain caught up. I turned to face him.

His eyes were different. Darker. The blue was almost gone. Swallowed by black.

"Beautiful." He said it quietly. Like he was talking to himself.

"The dress is beautiful," I corrected. My voice was barely a whisper.

"No." His hand came up and brushed hair back from my face. His fingers lingered against my cheek. "You are."

This was wrong. He was my professor. This was crossing about a hundred different lines. But I did not pull away. Did not tell him to stop. I just stood there frozen while his thumb traced along my jaw.

"We should finish getting ready." I finally managed to say.

He dropped his hand and stepped back. The darkness in his eyes faded a little. "Sit. I will do your hair."

"You are going to do my hair?"

"Do you want to argue about everything or do you want to make Kelvin regret his existence?"

I sat.

Adrian moved behind me again. His fingers slid into my hair and I felt electricity shoot down my spine. He was gentle. Surprisingly gentle. Gathering the strands and twisting them. Pinning them. I could see us in the mirror across the room. Him standing behind me. His hands in my hair. The focused look on his face.

"Where did you learn to do this?" I asked.

"I have sisters."

"You have sisters?"

"Had. Long time ago." Something flickered across his face. Gone before I could name it. "There. Done."

He had pulled my hair into something elegant. Loose curls pinned up with a few strands framing my face. It looked professional. Like I had spent hours at a salon.

"How did you-"

"Jewelry next." He picked up the necklace from the box. A simple pendant on a delicate chain. He moved in front of me and leaned down. His face was inches from mine. "Lift your hair."

I gathered the loose strands and held them up. He reached around my neck with the necklace. His fingers brushed against my throat as he fastened the clasp. I could smell him now. Something clean and dark. Something that made my head spin.

"Breathe, Freya." His mouth was right by my ear again.

"I am breathing."

"No. You are holding your breath." His hands slid down from my neck to my shoulders. "Relax."

How was I supposed to relax when he was touching me like this? When every brush of his fingers made my skin feel like it was on fire?

He stepped back and held out his hand. "Earrings."

I put them on myself. My hands were shaking so badly I almost dropped one.

Adrian watched me the whole time with that dark intense stare. When I finished he tilted his head. "Stand up. Let me see."

I stood. The dress hugged every curve. The heels made my legs look longer. The jewelry caught the light. I looked like someone else. Someone who belonged in penthouses and expensive cars.

"Perfect." Adrian circled me slowly. His eyes dragged over every inch. "Absolutely perfect."

"Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you want to..." I stopped myself.

"Like I want to what?" He stopped in front of me. Too close. "Say it."

"Nothing. We should go. The wedding starts soon."

"We have time." His hand came up and traced along the neckline of the dress. His fingers brushed against my collarbone. "You know what this dress does to me?"

I could not breathe again. "Adrian"

"It makes me want to rip it off you." His voice was low. Rough. "Makes me want to see what is underneath. Makes me want to put my hands all over you until you forget Kelvin ever existed."

Heat flooded through me. My face. My chest. Lower. "You cannot say things like that."

"Why not? It is the truth." His thumb traced along my throat. "Your heart is racing. I can see your pulse right here." He pressed gently against my neck. "You feel it too. This thing between us."

"There is nothing between us. You are my professor. This is just a deal. Just one night."

"Keep telling yourself that." He dropped his hand and stepped back. His eyes were completely black now. "But we both know you are lying."

I needed space. Needed air. Needed him to stop looking at me like he was about to devour me whole. "I need a minute."

"Take all the time you need. I will be in the living room." He turned and walked out.

I stood alone in the bedroom trying to remember how to breathe. My reflection stared back at me from the mirror. The dress. The hair. The jewelry. I looked like someone who belonged at a billionaire's wedding.

But underneath it all I was still just me. Still just Freya Reed who worked two jobs and could barely make rent. Still just the girl whose boyfriend cheated on her.

Except when Adrian looked at me I did not feel like that girl. I felt like something else. Something dangerous. Something powerful.

I walked out to the living room. Adrian was standing by the windows staring out at the city. He had put on a jacket now. Black. Perfectly tailored. He looked like every fantasy I had ever had and some I did not know I had.

"Ready?" He turned to face me.

"As ready as I will ever be."

"Then let's go show Kelvin what he lost." He held out his arm.

I took it. His muscles were hard under the fabric of his jacket. Solid. Real.

We rode the elevator down in silence. Got back in the Bentley. Adrian drove through the city as the sun started to set. The wedding venue was outside the city. Some massive estate with sprawling gardens and too much money.

"Nervous?" Adrian glanced at me.

"Terrified."

"Good. Use it." His hand moved from the gearshift to my thigh. Just rested there. Warm. Heavy. Possessive. "Remember. You are mine tonight. Act like it."

"Yours?"

"My date. My responsibility. Stay close to me. Do not wander off. There are people at this wedding who are not your friends."

"What does that mean?"

"It means Kelvin's family is dangerous in ways you do not understand yet. So stay. Close." His hand squeezed my thigh. "Understood?"

"Yes."

We pulled up to the venue. Valets rushed forward to take the car. Adrian got out and came around to my side. Opened my door. Held out his hand.

I took it and stepped out into the evening air. The dress shimmered in the fading light. People were staring already. Whispering.

Adrian pulled me against his side. His arm went around my waist. Possessive. Commanding.

"Showtime," he murmured against my ear.

We walked toward the entrance together. Every step felt like walking into a trap I did not understand. But Adrian's hand was firm on my waist. Anchoring me.

The doors opened and music floated out. Laughter. Voices.

Then I saw him.

Kelvin was standing near the entrance talking to someone. He looked up. Saw me. Saw Adrian.

His face went pale then red.

Adrian's hand tightened on my waist. I felt him lean down. His mouth brushed against my ear.

"Wave to him, baby. Let him know exactly what he lost."

Baby. The word sent heat spiraling through me. This was fake. Just pretend. But the way Adrian said it made me want it to be real.

I lifted my hand and gave Kelvin a small wave. A smile that did not reach my eyes.

Kelvin looked like he had been punched in the gut.

Adrian chuckled low in his chest. The sound vibrated against my side. "Good girl. Now let's make him suffer."

We walked inside together and I realized something terrifying.

I had no idea what I just walked into.

But some dark part of me wanted to find out.

The reception hall was massive.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling like frozen waterfalls. White flowers covered every surface. Round tables draped in silk surrounded a dance floor that reflected the light like ice. Everything screamed money. Old money. The kind that did not need to prove anything because everyone already knew.

Adrian's hand was firm on my waist as we walked in. Every head turned. Conversations stopped mid sentence. Eyes tracked us across the room.

"They are staring," I whispered.

"Let them." His voice was low against my ear. "You look like you could buy this entire wedding. Act like it."

A waiter appeared with champagne. Adrian took two glasses and handed me one. His fingers brushed mine. That same electric feeling shot up my arm.

"To revenge," he murmured and raised his glass.

I clinked mine against his. "To revenge."

The champagne was expensive. I could tell by the way it tasted like nothing I had ever had before. Smooth. Perfect. Probably cost more per bottle than I made in a week.

"Professor Metcalfe."

We both turned. A man in his fifties approached us. Silver hair. Expensive suit. Cold gray eyes that reminded me of a snake.

Adrian's hand tightened on my waist. "Asher."

My stomach dropped. This was Kelvin's father. The man Adrian had warned me about.

"I did not expect to see you here." Asher's smile did not reach his eyes. "I was not aware you knew the Brooks family."

"I know many people." Adrian's voice was perfectly polite. Perfectly cold. "Asher Brooks, this is Freya Reed. My date."

Asher's eyes slid to me. Something flickered in them. Recognition maybe. Or calculation. "Miss Reed. How lovely to meet you."

"You too." The lie tasted bitter.

"Are you a student at the university?" Asher asked.

"She is." Adrian answered before I could. "One of my brightest actually."

"How nice." Asher's smile widened. "Kelvin mentioned he had a girlfriend who attended there. Small world."

"Very small." Adrian's tone could have cut glass.

The two men stared at each other. The air between them felt thick. Dangerous. Like watching two animals size each other up before a fight.

"Well. Enjoy the evening." Asher nodded and walked away.

I released a breath I did not know I was holding. "That was Kelvin's father?"

"Yes."

"He seems-"

"Dangerous. He is." Adrian turned me toward the dance floor. "Come on. We need to be visible."

"Visible?"

"That is the whole point. Remember?" His hand slid lower on my waist. Almost to my hip. "Making Kelvin suffer."

He led me onto the dance floor just as the music shifted to something slow. His hand found mine. The other stayed on my waist. We started moving and I realized Adrian knew how to dance. Really dance. Not the awkward shuffling I was used to.

"Where did you learn this?" I asked.

"I am old fashioned." His eyes were dark again. That same look from the penthouse. "There are a lot of things I could teach you."

Heat crawled up my neck. "Adrian-"

"Yes?"

"You need to stop saying things like that."

"Why? Does it make you uncomfortable?" His hand slid lower. Right at the curve of my hip. "Or does it make you want things you should not want?"

Both. Definitely both.

I spotted Kelvin across the room. He was watching us. His jaw was tight. His hands were clenched at his sides. The woman next to him in the white dress must have been Vanessa. She was beautiful. Cold. She did not even look at Kelvin. Just stared at something across the room with bored eyes.

"He is watching," I said quietly.

"Good." Adrian pulled me closer. Our bodies were pressed together now. I could feel every hard line of him through the thin fabric of my dress. "Wave at him again."

"What?"

"Smile. Wave. Make him think you are having the time of your life."

I looked over Adrian's shoulder and caught Kelvin's eye. Gave him a bright smile. A little wave.

Kelvin's face went red.

Adrian's chest rumbled with a laugh. "Perfect. You are a natural at this."

"At what? Torturing my ex?"

"At making men want what they cannot have." His mouth was right by my ear now. "Every male in this room is watching you. Wishing they were me. Wishing they could touch you the way I am touching you."

My breath caught. "You are doing this on purpose."

"Obviously." His hand squeezed my hip. "But I am also telling you the truth. You have no idea how beautiful you are. How desirable."

"Stop."

"Why? Because it makes you nervous? Because you are not used to a man telling you what you are worth?"

Yes. Exactly that.

The song ended. Adrian did not let me go. Just stood there holding me in the middle of the dance floor while people moved around us.

"Adrian. People are staring."

"Let them stare." But he finally released me. Took my hand instead. "Come on. Let's get you something to eat."

We moved to one of the tables. Food was laid out like art. Tiny perfect portions of things I could not name. Adrian filled a plate and handed it to me.

I was not hungry but I took it anyway. Picked at something that might have been fish.

That was when I started noticing things.

The way some of the guests moved. Too smooth. Too graceful. Like they were gliding instead of walking.

The way their eyes caught the light. Reflecting it back for just a second before going normal again.

The way they watched each other. And me. Especially me.

"Adrian." I set down my plate. "Something feels wrong."

"What do you mean?"

"The people here. They are..." I could not find the words. "Different."

His expression did not change but something flickered in his eyes. "Different how?"

"I do not know. Just different. The way they move. The way they look at things." I rubbed my arms. "Is that crazy? Am I being paranoid?"

"No." He took my hand. His grip was firm. "You are not crazy. Just observant. That is good. Keep watching. Tell me if anyone makes you uncomfortable."

"Anyone?"

"Anyone besides me."

Before I could respond someone called my name.

"Freya?"

I turned. Clara was walking toward us. She wore a dark blue dress and looked completely out of place. Her eyes were wide when she saw Adrian.

"Clara? What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing." Her eyes darted between me and Adrian. "You came with Professor Metcalfe?"

"Yes. We-" I glanced at Adrian. "It is complicated."

"Clearly." Clara's voice was sharp. She looked at Adrian. "Can I borrow her for a minute?"

"No." Adrian's tone left no room for argument.

"Excuse me?"

"I said no. Freya stays with me."

Clara's jaw tightened. "I just want to talk to my friend."

"Then talk here." Adrian pulled me against his side. Possessive. Commanding. "I am not letting her out of my sight."

The two of them stared at each other. Some kind of silent communication passed between them that I did not understand.

Finally Clara looked at me. "Be careful. Please."

"Careful of what?"

"Just be careful." She turned and disappeared back into the crowd.

"What was that about?" I asked Adrian.

"Nothing. She is just protective." His hand was still on my waist. Tight. "Do not wander off. Stay close to me."

"You keep saying that. Why?"

"Because I..." He stopped. Looked over my shoulder. His expression went cold. "Kelvin. Incoming."

I turned just as Kelvin pushed through the crowd toward us. His face was red. His tie was loose. He looked drunk or angry or both.

"Freya. We need to talk." He did not even acknowledge Adrian. Just stared at me with wild eyes.

"I do not think we do." I kept my voice steady.

"Yes. We do." He grabbed my arm. "Now."

Adrian moved so fast I barely saw it. One second Kelvin was holding my arm. The next he was stumbling backward with Adrian between us.

"Touch her again and I will break your hand." Adrian's voice was quiet. Deadly. "Actually. Touch her again and I will break a lot more than that."

Kelvin straightened. Tried to look tough. Failed. "She is my girlfriend."

"Ex girlfriend." I stepped around Adrian. "And I came here with someone else. So leave me alone."

"You came here with him?" Kelvin's voice cracked. "With Professor Metcalfe? Are you serious right now?"

"Very serious."

"How long has this been going on? Have you been cheating on me?"

I almost laughed. "You are joking right? You cheated on me. Multiple times. Then told me you were getting married. So do not stand there and act like I am the problem."

"That was different."

"How?"

"My family arranged it. I did not have a choice."

"You had a choice when you slept with other women in our bed." I stepped closer to him. "You had a choice when you lied to me for months. So do not talk to me about choices."

Kelvin's hands clenched. "He is using you. Whatever he told you is a lie. He does not care about you."

"And you did?" I laughed. Actually laughed. "You could not even be faithful for a week. So save your concern. I do not need it."

"Freya..."

"Walk away Kelvin." Adrian's voice cut through whatever Kelvin was about to say. "Before I make you walk away."

Kelvin looked at Adrian. Really looked at him. Something passed over his face. Fear maybe. He took a step back. Then another. "This is not over."

"Yes it is." I turned my back on him. Faced Adrian. "Let's go."

Adrian's eyes were completely black now. His jaw was tight. He looked like he wanted to tear Kelvin apart with his bare hands.

"Adrian. Let's just go."

He blinked. The darkness faded a little. "You want to leave?"

"I want air. Can we go outside?"

"Yes." He took my hand and led me toward the doors that opened onto the gardens.

The night air was cool against my skin. I breathed deep and tried to stop shaking. That confrontation with Kelvin had left me feeling raw. Exposed.

"You did well in there," Adrian said quietly.

"I wanted to hit him."

"I would have paid to see that." He smiled. Actually smiled. "But what you said was better. Hurt him more than your fist could."

"Good." I wrapped my arms around myself. "I know I should not care. I know he is not worth it. But seeing him in there with her. Acting like I never mattered..."

"He is a fool." Adrian turned me to face him. His hands framed my face. "An absolute fool. And he will spend the rest of his life regretting what he lost."

"You do not know that."

"Yes. I do." His thumb traced along my jaw. "Because I would burn the world down before I let you go."

My heart stopped. "Adrian..."

"I know. This is supposed to be fake. Just one night. But nothing about this feels fake to me." His forehead pressed against mine. "Tell me you feel it too. This thing between us."

I did. God help me I did. But I could not say it. Could not give voice to whatever this was growing between us.

"We should go back inside," I whispered.

"Not yet." His hands slid down to my waist. "Just give me one more minute. One more minute of pretending you are really mine."

"I am not yours."

"Not yet." He said it so quietly I almost missed it. "But you will be."

Before I could respond I heard voices. Male voices. Coming from around the corner of the building.

"...getting too close. He knows something."

"Metcalfe is always sniffing around where he does not belong. It does not matter. After tonight we move forward with the plan."

I recognized one of the voices. Kelvin.

The other voice was older. Rougher. "You should have handled her mother better. Made it look like an accident."

My blood turned to ice.

"I did the best I could. She was asking too many questions. Getting too close to the truth."

"And now the girl is awakening. Do you understand what that means? If she completes the transformation everything we worked for is ruined."

"So what do we do?"

"What we should have done years ago. We end her. Tonight if possible."

Adrian's hand clamped over my mouth before I could make a sound. He pulled me back against the wall. Into the shadows. His body was rigid. Tense.

The voices kept talking.

"Metcalfe will not let you near her."

"Then we deal with Metcalfe too. I have people in position. The moment they leave this venue we move."

"Your call Father. But if this goes wrong..."

"It will not go wrong. Now get back inside before someone notices you are gone."

Footsteps. Moving away.

Adrian slowly removed his hand from my mouth. I was shaking so hard my teeth were chattering.

" Did I just hear my mother." The words came out broken. " Was I the one they were talking about, They said they killed my mother."

"I know." Adrian turned me to face him. His eyes were black again. Completely black. "I know baby. But we need to leave. Right now. They are planning something and we need to get you somewhere safe."

"Safe? They just said they were going to kill me." My voice was rising. Panic clawing up my throat. "What is happening? What transformation? What are they talking about?"

"I will explain everything. I promise. But first we need to move." He grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the parking area.

"Wait. My bag. It is inside."

"Forget it. We need to go now."

We were halfway to the car when I heard it.

A howl.

Long. Low. Echoing across the gardens.

I stopped dead. "What was that?"

Adrian's face had gone pale. "Run."

"What?"

"Run. Now."

Another howl answered the first. Closer this time.

Then I saw them.

Shapes moving through the darkness. Too big to be dogs. Too fast to be human.

Wolves.

Massive wolves with eyes that glowed in the moonlight.

And they were running straight toward us.

The wolves were massive.

Bigger than any animal I had ever seen. Their eyes glowed yellow in the darkness. Teeth flashed white. They moved fast. Too fast.

"Get behind me." Adrian shoved me backward. His voice did not sound right anymore. Deeper. Rougher.

"What are those things?"

"Just stay behind me."

Three of them circled us. Growling. Snarling. Muscles rippling under dark fur. They looked like they wanted to tear us apart.

One lunged.

Adrian moved faster than should be possible. He caught the wolf mid air and threw it. Actually threw it. The animal hit a tree twenty feet away with a sickening crack.

"Run to the car." Adrian did not look at me. His eyes were locked on the other two wolves. "Now Freya."

"I am not leaving you."

"I said run."

The second wolf attacked. Adrian grabbed it by the throat. His hands looked different. Bigger. His nails were longer. Sharper. He squeezed and the wolf made a choking sound.

The third one went for me.

I screamed and stumbled backward. Hit the ground hard. The wolf was on top of me in seconds. Hot breath on my face. Saliva dripping. Yellow eyes staring into mine.

Then Adrian was there. He ripped the wolf off me and slammed it into the ground. Bones crunched. The animal went limp.

Adrian turned to face me. His eyes were glowing blue. Actual glowing. His body was bigger. Muscles straining against his shirt. His teeth were pointed when he opened his mouth.

"What are you?" The words came out as a whisper.

He did not answer. Just grabbed my hand and pulled me up. Started dragging me toward the parking lot.

The first wolf was getting back up. Shaking its head. Blood dripped from its mouth but it was not dead. It started moving toward us again.

"Get in the car." Adrian shoved me toward the Bentley. "Lock the doors. Do not open them for anyone but me."

"What are you going to do?"

"What I should have done the moment we got here."

His body started changing. I watched in horror as his bones shifted. His skin rippled. Fur sprouted along his arms. His face elongated. His hands became claws.

Within seconds Adrian was gone.

In his place stood a wolf. Bigger than the others. Black fur. Blue eyes that still glowed.

The wolf looked at me once. Then turned and ran straight at the three attackers.

I scrambled into the car and locked the doors with shaking hands. Through the window I watched Adrian fight. Watched him tear into the other wolves with teeth and claws. Blood splattered across the grass. Snarling filled the air.

This was not real. Could not be real. People did not turn into wolves. Wolves did not attack weddings. None of this made sense.

One of the attacking wolves went down. Did not get back up.

Another ran. Disappeared into the trees.

The third one kept fighting. It was smaller than Adrian but fast. It dodged his attacks and went for his throat.

Adrian caught it. Bit down. The wolf yelped and went still.

Silence.

Adrian stood over the bodies. Blood on his muzzle. His chest heaving. Then he started changing again. Bones cracking. Fur receding. Within seconds he was human again.

Naked.

He walked to the car and knocked on the window. "Open the door Freya."

My hands would not move. I just stared at him through the glass.

"Freya. Open. The. Door."

Slowly I unlocked it. He got in. There was blood on his hands. On his chest. He smelled like copper and something wild.

"Drive." He reached into the back seat and pulled out a bag I had not noticed before. Started pulling on clothes. "We need to leave before more show up."

"More?"

"Yes more. Now drive."

"I cannot drive this car. I can barely drive my own car."

He cursed under his breath and climbed over me into the driver's seat. I scrambled into the passenger side. He started the engine and we peeled out of the parking lot.

Neither of us spoke for several minutes. I watched the city lights blur past the window. Tried to process what I just saw. Failed completely.

"You turned into a wolf." My voice sounded distant. Like it belonged to someone else.

"Yes."

"That is not possible."

"Clearly it is."

"What are you?" I turned to look at him. "What were those things?"

"Werewolves." He said it simply. Like he was telling me the weather. "They are werewolves. I am a werewolf. This world has a lot more in it than you thought."

Werewolves. The word sounded insane even in my head. "That is not real. Werewolves are not real."

"You just watched me shift and kill three of them. Still think they are not real?"

I did not have an answer for that.

We pulled into the underground garage of his building. Adrian parked and got out. Came around to my side and opened the door. I did not move.

"Come on. We need to get inside."

"I want to go home."

"Your home is not safe. Neither is anywhere else right now except with me." He held out his hand. "Please Freya. Trust me."

"Trust you? You just turned into a wolf. You lied to me about everything."

"I did not lie. I just did not tell you the whole truth yet." His hand stayed extended. "But I will tell you now. Everything. Just come inside."

I did not want to go with him. Wanted to run. Wanted to wake up from whatever nightmare this was. But the memory of those wolves chasing us was too fresh. The fear was too real.

I took his hand.

We rode the elevator up in silence. My mind was racing. Werewolves existed. Adrian was one. Those things at the wedding were trying to kill us. Kill me. And somehow this all connected to what I overheard. To my mother.

The elevator opened into his penthouse. Adrian led me to the living room and pointed at the couch. "Sit."

I sat. Watched him move to the bar and pour two drinks. He came back and handed me one. Whiskey. I downed it in one gulp. The burn felt good. Real.

"Start talking." I set the glass down hard. "Tell me everything."

Adrian sat across from me. Leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. "Werewolves are real. We have been around for thousands of years. Living alongside humans. Hiding what we are."

"Why?"

"Because humans fear what they do not understand. And fear makes them dangerous." He ran a hand through his hair. "There are packs all over the world. Families. Hierarchies. Laws. We have our own society hidden inside yours."

"And you are one of them."

"Yes. I am an Alpha. Leader of one of the largest packs in this region."

Alpha. The word stirred something in my chest. Something that felt like recognition. "What does that mean?"

"It means I am in charge. I make the rules. I protect my pack." His eyes met mine. "And I protect what is mine."

"I am not yours."

"Yes Freya. You are." He said it with such certainty. Such finality. "You are my mate."

The word hit me like cold water. "Your what?"

"My mate. My destined partner. The one person in the world meant for me." He leaned closer. "I have been searching for you for years. And three weeks ago when you turned nineteen I finally found you."

"That is insane."

"It is the truth. Werewolves have fated mates. We can smell them. Feel them. The bond pulls us together." His hand reached out and touched my face. I flinched but did not pull away. "I knew the moment your scent reached me. You are mine. And I am yours."

"Stop saying that." I stood up fast. Started pacing. "I am not a werewolf. I am human. This is crazy."

"You are not human Freya."

I stopped. Turned to stare at him. "What?"

"You are not human. You are a werewolf. Like me." He stood and moved toward me. "Your mother bound your wolf when you were born. Hid it with magic so no one would know what you were. But the binding is breaking. You are awakening."

No. No no no. "You are lying."

"I am not. Think about it. The dreams you have been having. Running through forests. Hunting. The way your senses have been sharper this week. The way you can hear things you should not hear. Smell things you should not smell." He was right in front of me now. "That is your wolf trying to break free."

I shook my head. Backed away. "My mother was human. She died in a car accident. She was just a regular person."

"Your mother was human yes. But your father was not. He was an Alpha. A powerful one. And when you were born their enemies came for you. So your mother used ancient magic to bind your wolf. To hide you." His voice went soft. "And then those same enemies killed her to keep their secret safe."

The room spun. I grabbed the back of the couch to steady myself. "Kelvin."

"Yes. Kelvin killed your mother under his father's orders." Adrian's jaw clenched. "Asher Brooks wanted your bloodline erased. Your father created laws that Asher hated. Laws against humans and werewolves mating. When your mother had you despite those laws Asher saw it as the ultimate betrayal."

"So he killed her." The words came out flat. Empty. "And he wants to kill me too."

"Yes. But he will not succeed. Because you are mine and I protect what is mine."

"Stop saying that." I wanted to scream. Wanted to cry. Wanted to break something. "I am not yours. I am not a werewolf. This is not real."

"Freya-"

"No." I moved toward the elevator. "I need to leave. I need to think. I need-"

"You cannot leave. It is not safe."

"I do not care." I hit the elevator button. "Let me go."

"No."

"Adrian I swear if you do not let me leave right now-"

"What? What will you do?" He moved in front of the elevator. Blocked my path. "Run back to your apartment where Asher's people are probably waiting? Run to Clara who has been reporting your every move to me for two years? Where exactly do you think you can go?"

Clara. The betrayal hit fresh. "She works for you?"

"She is part of my pack. I asked her to watch over you. To keep you safe until you awakened." His expression softened. "She cares about you Freya. That part was real. But yes she reports to me."

Everyone had lied. Everyone had used me. "Get out of my way."

"No."

"Move Adrian."

"Make me."

We stared at each other. The air between us felt electric. Dangerous. Part of me wanted to hit him. Part of me wanted to kiss him. I did not understand any of it.

"Please." My voice cracked. "Please just let me go. I cannot breathe in here. I cannot think. I need space."

Something flickered in his eyes. Pain maybe. He stepped aside. "Fine. But you are not going alone."

"I do not want you with me."

"Too bad. You are my mate and my responsibility. If you leave you leave with protection." He pulled out his phone and sent a text. "Marcus will meet you downstairs. He will take you wherever you want to go and keep you safe."

"I do not want your protection."

"You have it anyway." He moved to the elevator and held the door open. "Go. But Freya. You cannot run from what you are. And you cannot run from me. Not forever."

I stepped into the elevator. Watched him standing there looking like everything I wanted and everything I feared. The doors started closing.

"I will find you." His voice was quiet. "When you are ready. I will be there."

The doors closed.

I rode down alone. My chest was tight. My hands were shaking. My whole world had exploded in the span of an hour.

Werewolves. Mates. Murder. Magic.

None of it made sense.

But the worst part was that some deep part of me believed him. Believed all of it. Because it explained the dreams. The strange feelings. The way I felt pulled toward Adrian like gravity.

The elevator opened. A man stood in the garage. Tall. Dark hair. Eyes that glowed slightly in the dim light.

"Miss Reed. I am Marcus." His voice was gentle. "Where would you like to go?"

I did not answer. Just walked past him toward the exit. Toward the street. Toward anywhere that was not here.

"Miss Reed wait. It is not safe."

I did not wait. Did not stop. Just kept walking.

Behind me I heard him curse and follow. Heard him calling someone. Probably Adrian.

I did not care.

I turned the corner and started running.

Away from the werewolves. Away from the lies. Away from the man who claimed I belonged to him.

I ran until my lungs burned. Until my feet ached in the stupid expensive heels. Until I could not run anymore.

Then I collapsed on a bench in some park I did not recognize and let myself finally break.

Tears came hot and fast. Sobs tore through my chest. Everything hurt. Everything was wrong.

My mother was murdered. I was not human. Adrian was a werewolf who thought I was his destined mate. And somewhere in the city people were hunting me.

I did not know what to do. Did not know where to go. Did not know anything anymore.

All I knew was that I could not go back. Not to Adrian. Not to that penthouse. Not to the life I thought I had.

So I sat on that bench in my expensive dress and cried until there was nothing left.

And tried very hard not to think about the blue eyed wolf who promised he would find me.