✦ EIRA POV ✦
I stood in front of my wardrobe, chewing nervously on my lower lip as I stared at the mountain of clothes scattered across my bed.
What am I even supposed to wear?
If Peter saw me, he'd recognize me immediately.
I needed something that would hide me. Something that would let me blend into the crowd.
Something that wouldn't scream Eira.
But unfortunately, my wardrobe consisted mainly of things that screamed exactly that.
I groaned.
Then a thought struck me.
Andy.
She might have something.
Three quick knocks echoed against her door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Hi! Come inside," Andy called warmly.
I stepped in, forcing a smile.
"Sorry to disturb you but… do you have any cool dresses for a party?"
She immediately waved away my apology.
"Don't be silly—we're friends. No sorry needed. Wait, I'll show you."
Within seconds dresses began appearing everywhere.
Blue.
Black.
Silver.
Red.
Each one beautiful.
Each one elegant.
Yet none felt right.
Then my eyes landed on it.
A white knee-length dress.
Simple.
Graceful.
And attached to it—
A mask.
My breath caught.
Perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
"That one," I whispered.
My fingers immediately reached for it.
"This one is perfect."
Something flickered across Andy's face.
Concern.
Suspicion.
Maybe both.
"Are you sure?" she asked carefully.
"Don't you think it's a bit—"
"No."
I hugged the dress against my chest.
"It's perfect. I love it."
She studied me for a long moment before finally nodding.
But the look in her eyes told me she wasn't convinced.
Back in my room, I quickly changed.
The white fabric hugged me perfectly.
The mask covered enough of my face to make me nearly unrecognizable.
Good.
Exactly what I needed.
Because tonight...
I wasn't going there as Eira.
I was going there for Tessy.
And this time I would get proof.
Proof nobody could delete.
Proof nobody could deny.
An hour later the cab stopped.
I stepped out.
And immediately froze.
The club towered before me like some giant beast waiting to swallow people whole.
Lights flashed everywhere.
Music thundered from inside.
The line outside stretched endlessly.
For a moment my courage cracked.
Maybe this was a bad idea.
Maybe I should leave.
Maybe—
No.
Tessy's smiling face flashed through my mind.
I clenched my fists.
No.
I couldn't leave.
Not now.
Not after everything.
Taking a deep breath, I walked forward.
The guards barely glanced at me before letting me pass.
Relief flooded my body.
One obstacle down.
A hundred more to go.
The second I stepped inside, the music hit me like a physical force.
The bass vibrated through the floor.
People were everywhere.
Dancing.
Drinking.
Laughing.
Kissing.
Bodies moved beneath flashing lights while alcohol flowed like water.
The air felt suffocating.
Foreign.
Wrong.
My stomach twisted.
God.
I hated this place.
But I forced myself to continue.
For Tessy.
Only for Tessy.
Minutes turned into an hour.
An hour turned into frustration.
No Peter.
No evidence.
Nothing.
Then—
There.
My eyes widened.
Peter.
Standing in the far corner.
And in his arms—
A girl.
Not Tessy.
Not even close.
My stomach dropped.
Disgust crawled beneath my skin.
Even tonight.
Even after announcing his engagement.
Even after making Tessy look at him like he hung the stars.
He was here.
Cheating.
Again.
Monster.
My fingers shook as I pulled out my phone.
Record.
The camera captured everything.
His hands.
His kiss.
His lies.
Everything.
A small surge of victory rushed through me.
Finally.
Finally I had proof.
I slipped my phone back into my purse and turned toward the exit.
My mission was done.
I just needed to leave.
Then suddenly—
An arm wrapped around my waist.
My entire body froze.
The smell hit first.
Alcohol.
Strong.
Sour.
Disgusting.
My heart immediately began racing.
I slowly turned.
A boy stood behind me.
Around my age.
His eyes were glassy.
Unfocused.
Drunk.
His grin made my skin crawl.
"Let's dance."
"N-no, excuse me, I need to go."
I removed his hand and quickly stepped away.
But before I could escape—
His fingers locked around my arm.
Hard.
Pain shot through me.
The next second he yanked me backward.
My back slammed into the wall.
The impact stole my breath.
"Not so soon."
Terror exploded through my body.
"No—"
I shoved against him.
Nothing.
He didn't move.
Not even an inch.
His hands captured both of mine and pinned them above my head.
I struggled.
Kicked.
Twisted.
Fought.
But he was stronger.
And he knew it.
Panic clawed its way into my chest.
My breathing became frantic.
My vision blurred.
His face moved closer.
Closer.
Closer.
His lips were inches away.
My entire body trembled violently.
God.
Please.
Please.
Someone—
Anyone—
Help me.
Then suddenly—
The pressure disappeared.
The boy was ripped away from me so violently he nearly crashed into a nearby table.
I gasped.
My head snapped up.
And everything inside me stopped.
Adrain.
He stood there.
Like a storm.
Like death itself.
His eyes burned with a fury so terrifying it made even me shiver.
The drunk glared at him.
"What's your problem, man?"
Adrain didn't even blink.
Didn't even hesitate.
"She's with me."
His voice was low.
Deadly.
Final.
The kind of voice that didn't allow arguments.
The kind that made people obey.
Before I could speak—
His hand wrapped around my arm.
And he dragged me away.
Straight through the crowd.
Straight through the flashing lights.
Straight through the pounding music.
Without a single word.
Without a single glance.
And somehow...
His silence frightened me far more than his anger ever could.
✦ ADRAIN POV ✦
I climbed through Andy's window already irritated.
The room looked like a battlefield.
Clothes everywhere.
Books everywhere.
Chaos.
Exactly what I expected.
"What were you doing?" I asked.
Andy looked up.
"Oh, Eira needed a dress for a party."
Everything inside me froze.
Eira.
Dress.
Party.
My stomach dropped.
A horrible feeling settled in my chest.
"What?"
I was already standing.
"Where is she?"
Andy frowned.
Confused.
"She didn't say. Why? Is there a problem?"
Problem?
A very big one.
Because I knew exactly what she was planning.
And exactly how reckless she could be.
I was gone before Andy could say another word.
The forest blurred around me.
Trees became streaks of green and black.
Wind tore past my face.
My heart pounded harder with every second.
This girl.
This impossible.
Stubborn.
Infuriating girl.
She was going to be the death of me.
✦ EIRA POV ✦
The moment we reached the parking lot, Adrain spun around.
His grip tightened.
And suddenly my back hit the side of his car.
Hard.
The cold metal pressed against my spine.
His arms caged me in immediately.
No escape.
No distance.
No mercy.
His entire body radiated fury.
His chest rose and fell sharply.
His jaw was clenched so tightly I thought it might break.
His eyes—
God.
His eyes looked murderous.
I swallowed.
Slowly.
Carefully.
I was in trouble.
Serious trouble.
"Wh-who are you, sir?" I whispered.
Trying desperately to disguise my voice.
His lips curled into a cold smile.
A smile completely devoid of humor.
"Don't you dare."
The warning sent chills through me.
Then—
He ripped the mask away.
His gaze crashed into mine.
Fire meeting fire.
Storm meeting storm.
"What the hell were you doing in there?"
The words exploded from him.
Raw.
Furious.
Terrified.
And somehow that last emotion scared me the most.
"I... I could ask you the same!"
I shot back.
Trying to sound brave.
Failing miserably.
His laugh was dark.
Dangerous.
Disbelieving.
"Don't play with me, Eira."
He stepped closer.
Close enough that I could feel the heat of him.
"Do you have any idea what could have happened if I wasn't there?"
His voice cracked.
Just slightly.
But I heard it.
And for a moment...
It sounded less like anger.
And more like fear.
"Do you?"
I couldn't answer.
Because the truth was—
I did.
Now.
"I'm thankful... truly."
The words barely escaped my lips.
"I don't need your thanks."
His hand slammed against the car beside my head.
I jumped.
"I need the truth."
"It's none of your business."
The second I said it, regret hit me.
Because his eyes darkened.
Dangerously.
He leaned closer.
Until the space between us almost disappeared.
"Don't test my patience, Eira."
My resolve shattered.
Completely.
"I came... to collect proof against Peter."
Silence.
Then—
Rage.
Pure rage.
His eyes closed briefly.
A harsh breath escaped him.
Then he dragged a hand through his hair.
"Are you insane?"
His voice rose.
"You came to a place like that alone for proof?"
Every word dripped with disbelief.
With anger.
With something deeper.
Something that felt terrifyingly close to concern.
"What if I hadn't been there?"
I lowered my head.
Unable to answer.
Because for the first time all night...
I realized exactly how badly things could have ended.
Without another word he yanked the car door open.
"Get in."
I obeyed instantly.
For once not arguing.
Not fighting.
Not teasing.
Just obeying.
Because beneath all that fury...
I had seen something in his eyes.
Something that shook me.
Something that made my heart beat strangely.
As though losing me tonight had frightened him more than he would ever admit.
I climbed into the passenger seat.
Then froze.
My blood ran cold.
Peter.
He was standing nearby.
Watching.
His narrowed eyes fixed directly on me.
And for one terrible moment—
I knew.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.
The engine roared.
And Adrain drove us into the darkness.
While Peter continued watching.
His gaze following us long after we disappeared into the night.