IRIA

The moment I stepped into the party, I knew I’d made a mistake.

Everything about it felt wrong. The air was thick with alcohol and sweat, the bass of the music thumped so hard it rattled my chest, and the laughter spilling from every corner felt loud and unwelcoming. I didn’t belong here.

I stuck close to Clara like a lifeline. She was glowing, her smile brighter than I’d ever seen, and she seemed to know everyone in the room. While she thrived, I shrank. My skin prickled with discomfort, and my head already ached from the pounding music.

I tugged at her arm, raising my voice over the chaos. “Clara!”

She turned with a drink in her hand, her cheeks flushed. “What?” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Isn’t this amazing? This is the kind of party you remember forever. I told you it would be fun!” She laughed, spinning a little with her cup raised.

I just stared at her, baffled. Fun? This? I shook my head, irritation prickling at the back of my throat. “Clara, I don’t feel comfortable. I think I want to ”

Before I could finish, her eyes lit up. “Lucas!” she squealed. “Come on, my mate’s here. He brought some of his friends too.”

She didn’t wait for me to answer. Her hand closed around mine, and suddenly I was being dragged through the crowd.

Lucas stood tall with two other guys beside him, and Clara threw herself into his arms like no one else existed. Their lips locked instantly, and I looked away, awkwardness crawling up my spine. The two men with him didn’t even blink, as if this display was a normal thing they’d witnessed countless times.

I shifted uncomfortably, trying to focus on the floor, when an arm wrapped around my shoulders. My body stiffened.

I turned, and one of Lucas’s friends was grinning at me. I didn’t even know his name.

“Hey, Iria,” he said, his voice warm but his grip too familiar.

I forced a polite smile and tried to wriggle free, but he held me tighter. He wasn’t hurting me, but he wasn’t letting go either.

“Hi,” I said flatly, hoping he’d take the hint.

“You don’t have to act so cold,” he teased. “I’m a friend of Clara and Lucas. I’m not dangerous.” He chuckled at his own words, as if he’d said something clever.

I glanced at Clara, but she and Lucas were completely lost in each other. They might as well have been alone in the room.

The stranger leaned closer. “I’m Kent. I’ve actually admired you for a while.”

I blinked. “Me? You admire me?” The disbelief in my voice slipped out before I could stop it.

What on earth could he possibly admire?

“Yes,” he said, grinning. “After the way you stood up to Ben… no one’s ever dared to push back against him. He’s a bully, and everyone here knows it.”

My stomach twisted. “So all of you just let him torment people because you didn’t care? Or because the people he picked on didn’t matter to you?” My words came out sharper than I intended, but I couldn’t help it.

Kent’s grin only widened, as if my anger amused him. “All I know is you did what no one else would. That makes you pretty amazing.” He tilted his head toward the dance floor. “Come on, let’s dance. Clara and Lucas are already out there. Might as well join them.”

I glanced around, but Clara was nowhere to be seen anymore. She had disappeared into the crowd with Lucas. My chest tightened.

“I don’t really feel like dancing,” I said, trying to move away.

Kent’s smile faltered, but only for a second. “Come on, don’t be shy. We had fun. Who knows? Maybe we’ll even feel a spark and the Moon Goddess will decide you’re my mate.” He winked.

I froze. The casual way he spoke about something as sacred as a mate bond made my skin crawl.

I thought of Clara. Did Lucas treat her the same way? Did he make light of their bond too? My stomach soured at the thought.

“Well, maybe later,” I said, desperate to get away from him.

But Kent didn’t move. His hand pressed harder against my shoulder, keeping me in place. His tone sharpened with insistence. “Why not now? Stop resisting. You’ll enjoy it, I promise.”

Fear prickled across my skin. His grip wasn’t playful anymore, it was controlling. I tried to twist free, but his fingers dug in harder.

“Kent, I ”

Before I could finish, he was ripped away from me.

The force was so sudden that Kent stumbled back. My breath caught in my throat when I saw who had pulled him away.

Grey.

His cold gaze locked on Kent, his jaw tight, every muscle in his body coiled with anger.

“She said no,” Grey snapped. His voice was low but lethal. “Let go of her.”

Kent regained his balance, glaring. “What’s your problem, man? I was just asking her to dance. She doesn’t need a bodyguard.”

Grey stepped closer, his eyes hard as steel. “You were harassing her. That makes it my problem. If you’re looking for a fight, I’ll gladly give you one.”

The air between them crackled with tension. Kent’s eyes darted to me, then back to Grey. For a moment, he looked like he might take the challenge. But then he scoffed, raising his hands in mock surrender.

“Whatever. She’s not worth it.”

The words hit me like a slap. Not worth it? I hadn’t even done anything. My chest tightened with a mix of humiliation and fury.

Kent turned on his heel and stormed off, disappearing into the crowd.

The music thumped on, laughter and shouts surrounding me, but all I could focus on was Grey standing there, his expression unreadable.

And the wild pounding of my own heart.