EIRA'S POV ✦
I don't understand what is happening.
Why is Jake being so friendly with Adrain?
That doesn't make sense. Not at all.
My eyes kept shifting between them, trying to read something—anything—but Jake stood there like nothing was wrong. Calm. Relaxed. Smiling.
It felt wrong.
"Jake asked, 'Don't you like to drink?'" he said casually, lifting his wine glass before Adrain could respond.
Then he took a slow sip.
My brows furrowed.
Since when does Jake drink like that?
Something about his tone… his behavior… it wasn't him. Or at least not the him I knew.
Before I could think further—
Drek stepped forward.
His voice echoed through the hall.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Light of the Hall."
The grand chandeliers shimmered brighter as attention shifted toward him.
"And tonight," he continued, "we gather not just to celebrate—but to honor Mike and Elisa Blake."
A wave of applause swept through the hall.
Then it happened.
From the grand staircase, Mike and Elisa Blake descended.
Everything about them screamed power.
Wealth.
Control.
Grace sharpened into authority.
Elisa looked stunning—cold elegance wrapped in perfection. Mike beside her, composed, dangerous in a quiet way.
They moved like people who never had to ask permission for anything in life.
Pride filled the hall as they reached the stage.
They turned toward Adrain.
And for the first time, I saw something shift in him.
Not softness.
Not warmth.
Something heavier.
Control… and pressure.
Drek announced again, "And now—let the couple's dance begin."
The music changed.
Slower.
Softer.
People began pairing up.
And then—
Jake turned toward me.
"Dance with me," he said.
"No," I replied immediately.
But he didn't move.
"Eira, come on."
"I said no."
Again.
"Just one dance."
My hesitation lingered.
I didn't want to.
But the pressure… the eyes… the moment…
"Fine," I finally whispered.
His hand slid to my waist.
Warm.
Firm.
Too close.
And the moment we stepped into the dance—
I felt it.
A stare.
Heavy.
Burning through me like invisible fire.
I turned slightly.
And there he was.
Adrain.
Watching.
No expression.
No emotion.
Just stillness.
But somehow… it felt like everything inside him was screaming.
My breath caught.
Why does it feel like he's angry?
No.
Not angry.
Something worse.
✦ ADRAIN'S POV ✦
"Are you stupid?"
My voice was low as I turned to Drek.
"What is the need for this dance?"
Drek sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his chest.
"I can't miss seeing you like this," he said. "Relaxing. Smiling. Acting like a normal person."
My glare sharpened.
"And I want Eira to be happy," he added, more softly.
My jaw tightened.
"She looks happy," I said flatly.
But I wasn't looking at him anymore.
I was looking at her.
Jake's hands on her waist.
Too close.
Too familiar.
Something inside me snapped—but my face stayed calm.
Controlled.
Always controlled.
Then I saw him.
Jake pulling her slightly closer.
That was enough.
A cold smile touched my lips.
"Interesting," I murmured.
Then, without looking away from them, I spoke quietly to Drek—
"Begin it."
Drek frowned slightly. "Begin what?"
I tilted my head, eyes still fixed on the dance floor.
"Present the live werewolf."
Silence.
Drek's expression stiffened instantly.
"…Adrain."
But I was already moving.
"Let's see how long he can keep pretending."
✦ JAKE'S POV ✦
She felt warm in my arms.
Close.
Real.
For a moment… everything felt right.
"She will learn," I thought silently.
"She will learn to choose me."
But then—
A strange sensation burned across my skin.
Wrong.
My body stiffened.
What—
Pain shot through me.
My hand twitched.
Claws.
No.
Not here.
Not now.
My breath hitched.
"What is happening to me?" I muttered under my breath.
I turned—
And saw him.
Adrain.
Standing in the crowd.
Smiling.
That smile wasn't human.
It was a warning.
A curse.
My vision blurred for a second.
My body reacted on instinct.
Wolf.
Danger.
He did something.
He triggered me.
I forced myself to breathe.
Behind me… Eira's voice.
"Jake… what's happening?"
"I need to leave," I said quickly.
But before I could move—
A hand landed on my shoulder.
Cold.
Heavy.
Predatory.
"Where are you going, my friend?" Adrain's voice whispered near my ear.
My body froze.
His smile widened slightly.
"Party just started."
Then he leaned closer.
Lower.
Only I could hear him.
"And I haven't even said hello to your father yet."
My blood ran cold.
My eyes snapped forward.
And there he was.
Drek.
Standing beside my father.
Lucifer.
My jaw clenched so hard it hurt.
Adrain's voice turned almost playful.
"Funny, isn't it?"
"Animals like you… always think they can walk among humans."
His fingers tightened slightly on my shoulder.
"You wanted to show your true nature, right?"
A pause.
Then a whisper like poison.
"Then show it."
Adrain's silver eyes met Drek's across the ballroom.
A single nod.
That was all.
Drek swallowed hard.
Without drawing attention, he moved through the dancers and brushed past Lucifer. For the briefest second, the Eye of Veyl touched the werewolf leader's back.
Nothing happened.
Then everything happened.
Lucifer's body stiffened.
Jake saw it instantly.
His head snapped toward his father.
Then toward Adrain.
Pure rage filled his eyes.
"You..."
Adrain merely smiled.
Cold.
Victorious.
Then—
The lights went out.
The entire mansion plunged into darkness.
Gasps echoed through the hall.
Someone screamed.
For several long seconds, darkness swallowed everything.
Then the chandeliers blazed back to life.
The guests looked around in confusion.
Jake and Lucifer were gone.
Vanished.
Exactly as expected.
Across the hall, Drek returned to Adrain's side and simply shrugged.
Adrain smirked.
The wolf had run.
His gaze swept across the ballroom.
Then he saw her.
Eira.
Standing alone at the edge of the dance floor.
Her eyes searched the crowd.
Looking for Jake.
A faint sadness lingered on her face.
Something dark twisted violently inside Adrain's chest.
Why was she looking for him?
Why did she care?
Without thinking, he crossed the room.
People moved aside instinctively.
He stopped in front of her.
Before she could react—
His hand wrapped around her wrist.
Warm.
Soft.
His.
"Eira."
She looked up.
Surprised.
"Adrain—"
"Miss your boyfriend already?"
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
But his eyes burned.
"What?"
"Jake."
The name tasted bitter.
"You were looking for him."
"I was worried."
"Worried."
A humorless laugh escaped him.
The word irritated him more than it should have.
More than he wanted to admit.
Then a dangerous smile appeared.
"You forgot something."
Eira frowned.
"What?"
"My parents' anniversary."
He stepped closer.
"You haven't congratulated me."
Before she could respond—
Adrain pulled her forward.
Straight into his arms.
Her breath caught.
The world seemed to blur around them.
The music suddenly felt louder.
Closer.
More intimate.
One hand settled firmly against her waist.
The other captured hers.
Eira froze.
"Adrain!"
"Relax."
His voice dropped lower.
"I doubt your boyfriend would mind."
The music carried them into a slow dance
As though she belonged there.
As though she fit perfectly against him.
Eira's heartbeat stumbled.
Everything felt too close.
His scent.
His eyes.
Those impossible silver eyes that never seemed to leave her face.
For a moment there was only them.
Eira hated how aware she was of him.
Of every touch.
Every glance.
Every breath.
And Adrain hated how natural it felt.
Dangerously natural.
His gaze drifted across her face.
To the ballroom lights reflected in her eyes.
To the way she looked at him.
Not with fear.
Not with hatred.
Just confusion.
And something softer.
Something he wasn't ready to name.
Something inside his chest tightened.
Then—
Reality struck.
Jake.
Lucifer.
The Eye of Veyl.
The trap.
The war.
The reason he had arranged everything tonight.
His entire body stiffened.
What am I doing?
His jaw clenched.
Immediately, he released her hand.
Stepped back.
The warmth vanished from his eyes.
The mask returned.
Cold.
Distant.
Untouchable.
"I have work to do."
Eira stared at him.
Disbelief flashing across her face.
Something inside her finally snapped.
"Why?"
Adrain froze.
Her eyes searched his face.
Demanding answers.
"Why do you do this?"
His jaw tightened.
"One second you pull me close."
Her voice trembled.
"The next second you push me away."
A painful laugh escaped her.
"What do you want from me, Adrain?"
The question hit harder than any blade..
Because the truth was dangerous.
What do I want from her?
Why can't I stay away from you?
Why does seeing you with someone else make me lose my mind?
Why do your tears hurt more than my own wounds?
Why do I search every room for you before I even realize I'm doing it?
Why does holding you feel right?
The answers terrified him.
So he buried them.
Locked them away.
Where she could never hear them.
When he finally looked at her again, his expression was unreadable.
Cold.
And for the first time that night—
Adrain hated himself for it.
A flicker of regret crossed his eyes.
Gone an instant later.
Without another word, he stepped back.
Then he turned.
And walked away into the crowd.
Leaving Eira beneath the crystal lights.
With a hundred unanswered questions.
And leaving Adrain wondering why every step away from her felt like losing a battle he never wanted to fight.