Nathaniel and I chatted as we nursed our drinks, one after the other. I've always had a good tolerance, and Nathaniel liked to joke that I drank booze like fish drink water. His words made me smirk, though my mind drifted back to the stranger who'd been watching me earlier. His intense gaze had stuck with me, sending a shiver down my spine that I couldn't shake.

Just as Nathaniel leaned in to ask me how I'd done on our last test, a scream pierced through the loud music, making both of us freeze. The club seemed to fall into an uneasy silence for a split second before the noise returned, and everyone ran. I glanced toward the entrance, and my heart dropped when I saw the stranger approaching, his face tight with urgency.

"Nate, did you see something?" he demanded, his voice sharp as his eyes flicked from Nathaniel to me.

Nathaniel sighed, rolling his eyes. "Ethan, how many times have I told you not to call me Nate? You know I hate that."

"That's highly irrelevant right now!" Ethan snapped, barely sparing Nathaniel a glance before grabbing my arm. His grip was firm, and before I could protest, he started pulling me toward the staircase.

"Hey! Let go of me!" I shouted, trying to pull my arm free. Panic flared in my chest as I glanced back at Nathaniel, who was following us without hesitation. "Who the hell are you?" I yelled at Ethan, struggling to keep up as he led me down a dark corridor on the second floor.

Ethan didn't answer, his pace relentless as he dragged me to an office at the end of the hallway. My breath came in shallow gasps, fear swirling in my stomach. He shoved me inside, and Nathaniel quickly followed, closing the door behind us.

"Nate, go sweep the club. Clear everyone outside," Ethan barked at Nathaniel, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Yes, sir!" Nathaniel replied without missing a beat, turning on his heel and rushing out of the room.

I stood there, staring at Ethan, trying to make sense of what was happening. He calmly walked to the door and locked it with a soft click, and my heart raced.

"Why are you locking the door? Who the fuck are you?" I demanded, my voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger.

Ethan turned toward me, his expression softening slightly. "Calm down," he said, his voice smooth and steady. "My name is Ethan. Nice to meet you." He stepped closer and reached for my hand, bringing it to his lips in a brief, polite kiss.

I yanked my hand away, glaring at him. "Enough with the formalities. Just tell me what the hell is going on," I said, my voice quieter now, exhaustion creeping in.

Ethan sighed and glanced at his phone. "We'll wait for Nathaniel to get back, and then I'll explain everything," he said, his eyes shifting to the door.

I didn't answer. Instead, I studied him, my mind racing as I tried to piece together what was happening. Ethan was tall, around 6'3", his dark raven hair slightly tousled, framing a chiseled face that could've been straight out of a magazine. His eyes were a deep, almost unnerving shade of blue, and the way his shirt stretched over his broad shoulders made it clear he wasn't just a pretty face. Under different circumstances, I might have admired him, but I was too freaked out to care right now.

Minutes felt like hours as I sat there in silence, my mind whirling with questions. What did they want with me? And why did Nathaniel seem so different?

Finally, there was a knock at the door. Ethan walked over and cracked it open slightly before letting Nathaniel back inside.

"Did you find anything?" Ethan asked, his tone all business.

Nathaniel shook his head, looking frustrated. "No. Nothing. I couldn't find her, but I smelled one of her minions nearby."

Her? Who were they talking about?

Ethan's jaw tightened. "Then it's time. We need to take her to the pack."

Nathaniel's face faltered. "She's not ready yet."

I stood frozen, trying to make sense of their conversation. Pack? Minions? None of this made any sense. I opened my mouth to ask what they were talking about, but Nathaniel turned to me, his expression serious, eyes pleading.

"Mer, I know you're freaking out right now," he said softly, taking a step toward me. "But I need you to trust me. Do you trust me?"

I hesitated, my heart pounding in my ears. The Nathaniel I knew, the one who'd been my friend for four years, who'd seen me through all my worst days, had never given me a reason to doubt him. But this? This was different.

"I don't know," I whispered, barely able to meet his eyes.

He took another step forward, his voice low. "You're going to have to trust me on this one."

After a long pause, I nodded. Whatever was going on, I had no choice but to follow him now. He never betrayed me before.

Nathaniel gently took my hand and led me out of the office. This time, we walked in silence, the tension thick between us. Outside, a black SUV waited. It wasn't Nathaniel's usual car, but he opened the back door for me as if nothing was out of the ordinary. I climbed inside, and Ethan slid in next to me, his presence looming in the small space.

Nathaniel got behind the wheel and pulled away from the curb. The city lights blurred past as we drove through the quiet streets.

I glanced at my phone - 2 a.m.

The night stretched on as I tried to keep my eyes open, but exhaustion finally took over. I leaned my head back against the seat, and before I knew it, the steady hum of the road lulled me into a restless sleep.

I've been standing here for nearly an hour, waiting for this ridiculous party to start. The surrounding humans are oblivious, buzzing with excitement as they line up outside the club. But I could feel her voice in my head, cold and commanding.

Get me that heart.

Her words echo through my mind, and a knot tightens in my chest. Being an underling for this arrogant but powerful witch is a small price to pay for my freedom. I'll do what she asks. I always do.

I watched as a couple bypassed the long line and strolled inside. I could feel them - they were wolves, or at least one of them was. But they weren't my concern. Nothing will stop me tonight.

Impatience thrummed through me as the bouncer lazily let people in, one by one. It felt like an eternity, but finally, I slipped past the threshold and into the club's pulsing chaos. The air inside was thick with the stench of sweat, alcohol, and smoke - the things these humans seemed to revel in. I moved through the crowd, barely noticing the crush of bodies and flashing lights. My mind focused on my task.

I was here for one thing: a witch's heart - a virgin witch, no less, from her bloodline. As I weaved through the crowd of dancers, I felt a strong presence, a powerful aura. I glanced toward one of the VIP areas and spotted an Alpha, a dangerous one. His energy was like a beacon, hard to miss. I made a mental note to keep my distance. Getting tangled up with wolves tonight wasn't part of the plan. I moved to the farthest place from him and searched for this witch.

I pushed farther into the crowd, and then I sensed her. It was like a shift in the air, subtle but unmistakable. My eyes zeroed in on her immediately. There she is.

She was young, not even 20 years old, and slim, with dark hair cascading over her shoulders. Her skin had a warm, deep tone, and her eyes... her eyes gave her away. A soft lilac hue glowed faintly in the club's dim light, betraying her nature. She's a witch. She looked delicate, almost innocent.

It's a shame, really.

I forced a smile, masking my true intentions, and made my way toward her. She noticed me, her lips curving into a coy grin. "Hey," I said, slipping into the smooth, seductive voice I've perfected over centuries. "I saw you dancing, and I couldn't help but notice... you're probably the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. Mind if I join you?"

Her smile widened, a feline glint in her eyes. She was interested. I could feel it - her desire rolling off her in waves. She nodded, and I stepped closer, wrapping an arm around her waist as we moved in sync with the music.

"Your accent is sexy," she whispered, her voice soft against my ear. "Where are you from?"

"Czech," I answered flatly, keeping it brief. There was no need for more conversation. She started babbling about how romantic Europe is and how she's always dreamed of visiting. She did not know her dream would die with her tonight.

We kept dancing, her body pressed eagerly against mine, but I knew I was running out of time. I needed to get her alone. She was panting already, barely able to keep still, and I knew it wouldn't take much more. Her desperation is obvious - written in every sway of her hips, every moan she lets slip as my hand grips her ass like I own it. She's just another girl who wants to feel wanted.

I leaned in, my lips brushing against hers, giving her exactly what she wanted - soft, slow, teasing. She melted immediately, lips parting, body arching into me like a fucking invitation. I took control, biting her lower lip, deepening the kiss with a roughness that made her gasp.

I grabbed her hip hard, fingers digging in, and murmured, "Let's get out of here."

She nodded fast, breathless and needy, and I didn't give her a second to rethink it. I guided her through the writhing bodies toward the back of the club. Down the hall, past the stinking bathrooms, into the dark corridor where the music faded and shadows eat the light. It was secluded here - perfect. She followed without hesitation, clearly desperate for touch, for attention. I almost pitied her. Almost.

I pushed her against the wall the second we were alone, my mouth at her throat, biting, licking, tasting the salt of her sweat. She moaned, loud and shameless, and I laughed under my breath. My hand slid up her thigh, lifting her skirt without ceremony. Her thong's already soaked. I yanked it aside and shoved two fingers inside her without warning. She cried out, more surprised than hurt, her hands clutching my shoulders as she spread her legs wider for me.

I fingered her hard, fast, curling my digits just right until she was squirming, panting, her hips bucking against my hand like she was chasing something. I slammed my mouth over hers to shut her up, silencing her cries as my thumb circled her clit with brutal precision. She was soaking, dripping into my palm, her body jerking with every thrust of my hand. It was almost laughable how easily she succumbed.

Her moans filled the narrow space as I moved faster, hitting the right spots with practiced precision. She was lost in the pleasure, utterly oblivious to the real danger she was in. When she finally screamed in ecstasy, I let her ride the wave of her release, her body sagging against mine, spent and vulnerable. Her panties were still shoved to the side, her skirt bunched up around her waist.

She gazed up at me, her eyes dazed. "What's your name, sexy stranger?" she breathed.

I remain silent, staring down at her with an expression she's too far gone to decipher.

"Don't be shy," she pressed, her voice playful.

"Unfortunately, it doesn't matter to you," I said, my voice dripping with venom.

I smiled coldly, removing my hand from her pussy and taking it to her chest.

"Why wouldn't it," her sentence was cut short in the middle as she screamed in pain.

My hand shot, and I plunged it into her ribcage with one swift motion. Her scream was short-lived as I grabbed her heart, the warmth of her blood spreading over my skin. Her eyes went wide with shock, and a gurgling sound escaped her throat as blood dripped from the corner of her mouth. I kissed her one last time, savoring the taste of her final breath.

"Dear, didn't your mother ever tell you not to talk to strangers?" I whispered mockingly as she choked on her own blood.

With one final pull, I ripped her heart from her chest, the life draining from her eyes as her body crumpled to the floor. I stared at the still-beating organ in my hand, feeling nothing but satisfaction.

It's been too long since she screamed. The wolves will be here soon. No matter. I clicked my fingers, and in an instant, I vanished into thin air.

I woke up with a jolt, the sensation of warmth and weight pressing against my shoulder. It took me a moment to realize my head was resting against someone. I sat up too quickly, and my forehead bumped against Ethan's. I winced as he shifted slightly, barely acknowledging the impact. Did I sleep the whole time on his shoulder? I glanced down at my phone, and it was 6 a.m. The pale light of dawn crept over the horizon, casting a soft glow through the trees outside the window. We were surrounded by forest, endless and unfamiliar.

"Where are we?" I asked, my voice thick with grogginess.

"We're heading to my childhood home," Nathaniel replied, his tone casual, like that's a perfectly normal explanation. But nothing about this felt normal anymore.

I turned back to the window, watching as we drove for another hour, and the dense trees gave way to something more structured - a gate. A massive iron gate loomed ahead as Nathaniel nodded to a guard who opened it without question. As we drove down a long road, the landscape shifted again. Neatly lined townhouses appeared on either side, some large, some smaller, but all pristine and peaceful. Its serenity struck me in a way I couldn't fully describe. It was the kind of place that belonged in magazines or fairy tales, far removed from the chaos of the life I knew. My life, which has always felt so temporary, so unstable.

Nathaniel parked the car near what I could only describe as a mansion. No, scratch that, it was practically a palace. The kind of place I never thought I'd set foot in. He got out, handing the keys to a man who approached swiftly, as if this was routine. "Park it," Nathaniel said, like this is all normal. For him, maybe it is.

Ethan caught my gaze for a moment before stepping out and holding the door open for me. His hand was extended, offering help, but I hesitated. There was something in his eyes that made me wary, so I ignored the gesture and climbed out on my own. I straightened up and took in the full view of this place. It was breathtaking. A town nestled within a forest, with this massive house rising in the center of it all. The air felt cleaner here, untouched by the noise of the outside world.

"This is your home?" I asked Nathaniel, my voice rising in disbelief.

He chuckled softly, a sound that felt almost out of place at the moment's enormity. "Yeah, something like that," he replied with a shrug, as if the sheer grandeur of it all was no big deal to him.

Before I could say more, I noticed Ethan had already stalked off, disappearing into the house without another word. His presence lingered like a shadow, dark and unsettling.

"Come on, I'll show you around," Nathaniel said, his tone lighter now. He led me inside, and my senses were immediately overwhelmed. The place was enormous, larger than anything I could've imagined. High ceilings, sweeping staircases, rooms I can barely process because I was too lost in my head, trying to make sense of everything that happened last night.

We passed a living room so big it could fit my entire apartment multiple times, then a library that looked like it belonged in a movie. I caught glimpses of a private movie theater and an indoor pool, places I won't remember how to get to later, no matter how hard I tried to focus. Everything felt like a blur, and my mind couldn't grasp anything solid.

He eventually brought me back to the living room and turned left to show me the dining room - it was huge and could fit dozens of people. There wasn't just one kitchen, but multiple, all gleaming with state-of-the-art appliances. He introduced me to the cook, Agatha, a sweet-looking old lady with a warm smile. I tried to remember her name, but the weight of the night, the uncertainty of everything, made it hard to focus.

Agatha prepared breakfast for us, omelets, bacon, pancakes. It smelled delicious, but my stomach was in knots. I rarely ate breakfast anyway, and now? Now, I couldn't even stomach the thought of food. I nibbled at my omelet, more out of politeness than hunger.

Nathaniel watched me in silence, and though the room was quiet, there was a heavy tension between us. There were so many questions swirling in my head, questions I was terrified to ask because I was not sure whether I would like the answers. I stayed quiet, chewing slowly, my thoughts far too loud for me to hear anything else.

After breakfast, Nathaniel took our plates to the sink and then led me upstairs to the second floor, walking me down a long hallway until we reached a door. He opened it, revealing an enormous bedroom - far too luxurious for someone like me. A queen-sized bed dominated the center of the room, the kind you'd sink into and never want to leave. There were two more doors off to the side.

"One leads to the bathroom, and the other to the closet," Nathaniel explained. He walked over to the closet, pulling out a set of pajamas from one of the drawers. When he handed them to me, his expression softened. "Get some rest. We'll talk later."

I nodded, unable to find the words to respond. I watched as he left the room, the sound of the door clicking softly shut behind him. The moment I was alone, exhaustion hit me like a wave. The events of the last 24 hours pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. My legs felt heavy as I stripped out of my clothes and pulled on the pajamas he gave me.

I collapsed onto the bed, sinking into its softness. My mind was still spinning, trying to process where I was, what was happening, but sleep pulled me under before I could make sense of any of it.