Sofia leaned close again. "You do know he’s coming over, right?"
She tilted her head. "Lord Frederick."
And as if on cue, I felt the shift in the air. That slight silence, the hush of curious eyes... and then I smelled his scent—subtle but unmistakable.
I turned just in time to see him approach. The way he moved made it feel like the entire room adjusted around him.
"Olivia," he said with a soft smile, his voice rich and smooth as ever. "You look... radiant tonight."
I dipped my head politely. "Thank you, Lord Frederick."
He gently reached for my hand, and before I could even react, he raised it to his lips and kissed the back of it. His cool lips brushed my skin, and the gesture was so regal it felt straight out of a different century.
Then he turned to Sofia. "It’s good to see you again, Sofia."
She smiled warmly. "Happy birthday, Frederick."
"Thank you." He nodded, then looked between us both. "I hope you two will stay for a while tonight. I’d be honored to have you here."
"We were planning to," Sofia said smoothly.
Frederick’s gaze flicked back to me, and there was something in his eyes—admiration, maybe. Or something else I couldn’t quite name.
"I hope you’ll enjoy the celebration. There’s still more to come," he said. Then, with one last nod, he turned and disappeared into the crowd, already being pulled into conversation by another elder vampire.
Sofia raised a brow at me once he was gone. "Well. That was... princely."
I looked down at my hand, still slightly cold from his touch. "He’s very... dramatic."
"Old vampires usually are." She smirked. "But not all of them give you that much attention."
I ignored her teasing and sipped from my glass.
After a few moments of silence, Sofia’s eyes flicked past me, and her expression shifted.
She gave a little smile. "There’s a man walking over. He’s cute."
I turned slightly, and sure enough, a tall, well-dressed man with dark hair and warm eyes was approaching. His posture was confident but respectful as he came up to Sofia.
"Forgive the interruption," he said with a charming smile. "Would you honor me with a dance?"
Sofia glanced at me, then back at him. "I’d love to."
She squeezed my hand briefly. "I won’t be long."
And just like that, she glided away with him onto the dance floor.
I stood there alone, holding my glass.
People had asked me to dance earlier—more than a few—but I’d declined each one with a fake smile. I wasn’t in the mood for strangers touching me, even politely. I wasn’t here for romance or attention.
I was here because I didn’t want Sofia to come alone.
Still, the loneliness settled in fast.
A man I hadn’t seen before walked up beside me, his voice friendly and calm. "You look like you need a second drink."
I offered a tight smile. "I’m alright, thank you."
He chuckled. "Let me guess—you don’t like parties?"
"Not the kind where everyone’s watching me like I’m going to sprout wings."
He laughed softly. "Fair enough."
As a waiter passed, he reached out and took two glasses from the tray. One was a pale pink, the other clear and fizzy. He handed me the pink one.
I hesitated—but took it.
"Cheers," he said, clinking our glasses together gently.
We talked for a few minutes—nothing deep, just surface-level chatter about music and how long the party might last. But as the minutes ticked by, I noticed something strange.
The lights seemed a little brighter.
My vision blurred slightly, and I blinked, trying to steady myself.
My chest rose and fell too fast.
My skin tingled—and not in a good way.
What’s wrong with me?
I reached for my wolf. What’s happening?
Her voice was sharp. Alert.
"You’ve been drugged."
"You need to get out of there, Olivia. Now."
Without hesitation, I focused every ounce of energy I had and teleported.
I landed in my bedroom with a gasp, stumbling onto the floor. My glass slipped from my hand and shattered.
The heat in my body only intensified.
I couldn’t think straight.
My wolf growled, "We need to find our mates. Their scent might stabilize you."
I didn’t think. I couldn’t.
I teleported again, guided by instinct.
And suddenly—I was in a dimly lit room, standing unsteadily in front of Lennox.
He was seated at his desk, scribbling something into a book.
He looked up, his eyes wide with surprise when he saw me.
His voice was rough, laced with concern. "What—what are you doing here? What’s wrong?"
But I couldn’t speak.
The only thing I could feel... was him.
And the undeniable pull that snapped something loose inside me.
The moment I saw Lennox, I rushed forward, nearly tripping over my own feet. My body was burning, shaking, desperate. I didn’t care about anything else.
I crashed into him, my hands on his face, my lips on his before he could even say another word.
And he kissed me back.
But only for a moment.
Then he pulled away, breathless, gripping my arms as if trying to hold me steady.
"Olivia... what happened? Who drugged you?"
"I don’t know," I whispered, my voice trembling as my fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt. "I just—I need you. Please. Touch me."
His hands caught mine, stopping me.
"No!" I said, my voice rising with frustration and need. "Don’t tell me to calm down, please. Just—please..."
I kissed him again, more desperate than before, trying to melt into him.
He groaned against my mouth, torn, his hold on me trembling.
But just as he began to give in—
"Lennox—" Levi’s voice froze mid-sentence as he and Louis stepped inside.
Their eyes widened at the sight of me—flushed, disoriented, practically clinging to their brother.
"She’s been drugged," Lennox said immediately, his tone tight, angry.
Louis’s eyes darkened. "By who?"
"I don’t know," Lennox growled, his jaw clenched. "She showed up —teleported straight here."
Then, unexpectedly, Lennox pushed me gently but firmly toward Levi.
Levi caught me, holding me carefully.
"What are you doing?" I asked breathlessly, confused.
"You know what to do," Lennox said to him, backing away. "Help her."
I reached out, grabbing Lennox’s sleeve. "Where are you going?"
His eyes met mine, something unreadable flickering there.
"I’m going to get you water. You need to cool down."
But it felt like a lie.
Something in his voice.
Something in his eyes.
"You’re lying." I said breathlessly.
Lennox nodded, not even denying it. "If I stay, I’ll lose control."
He turned quickly and left the room, shutting the door behind him.
I barely had time to process it because the moment he was gone, Levi cupped my face gently.
And then he kissed me.
And just like that... my thoughts spiraled away—chased off by the heat of his mouth, the safety of his hands, the scent I’d always known as home.
And all I could feel... was him.