Chapter 35

Matt

I tried to read Jack’s face as he loomed over me, the dim light from the porch lamp casting shadows that deepened the anger in his eyes. I had never seen him this upset, and knowing it was because of me stirred a pot of anxiety in my stomach.

“You think you're some kind of hero, don’t you?” Jack sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Stepping in to be the knight in shining armor for my little sister.”

“It’s not about being a hero,” I responded, trying to keep my voice steady. “I just don’t understand why you’re so harsh with her. She’s an adult, too, you know. And she’s your little sister. Why do you treat her the way that you do?”

“Celeste is my family, not yours,” Jack retorted sharply, his posture tense. “You have no idea what goes on in our home, the history and the issues we’ve faced. You’re just an outsider looking in.”

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words. “I respect that she’s your family, Jack, but friends look out for each other too. And you’re my friend, which means that she is, too, by extension.”

He leaned closer, his breath hot on my face. “You’re playing with fire here, Matt. Celeste isn’t your concern. You’re only seeing a fraction of the picture. And she’s not your friend.”

My mind raced, trying to process his words. What could possibly justify the way he treated Celeste?

“Look, I get it,” I began cautiously. “Families have issues. But she’s terrified of you, man. What could she have possibly done to deserve that?”

Jack looked momentarily taken aback. His expression softened just a tad. “You really don’t get it, do you? It’s not about what she’s done; it’s about protecting her.”

I frowned, taken aback by this revelation. “Protecting her? By treating her like that?”

Jack looked away, his jaw clenching. “There are things you don’t know. Dangers she’s not aware of. My methods may not be gentle, but they keep her out of harm’s way.”

A heavy silence settled between us. While I wasn’t entirely convinced, I had to admit that there was depth to Jack’s behavior that I hadn’t previously considered. The thought was oddly sobering.

“Just...” Jack continued, his voice roughened by emotion, “promise me you’ll stay out of our business. You don’t know the whole story, and I don’t want her—or you—getting hurt because of it.”

I nodded slowly. “Alright, Jack. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude.”

Jack let out a long sigh that almost sounded like a hiss. “It’s fine, man,” he murmured. “See you later.”

“See you.”

With that, I turned and walked away, my mind swirling with a million different thoughts.

My steps were heavy as I began the walk home. The events of the evening replayed in my mind, each detail, each word exchanged.

I reached into my pocket, fingers brushing against the cold metal of the necklace. The delicate chain, the unique pendant; this was my only link to the mystery girl who had captured my heart. I held it in the palm of my hand, the moonlight glinting off of its surface.

Everywhere I went over the past few weeks, I had hoped to catch a glimpse of her. The library, the bookstore, the park—places that I thought she might frequent. At the very least, I wanted to give her necklace back to her.

But all my searches were in vain. It was as if she had vanished from the face of the earth. And the abrupt way that she had blocked me online only deepened the mystery.

A few minutes later, the campus came back into view. My dorm loomed up ahead, a towering structure of brick and concrete. I climbed the stairs two at a time, eager to be back in the solitude of my room. I fished out my keys, unlocked the door, and let myself in, dropping my bag by the entrance.

Ever since my old roommate, James, turned out to be a traitor and disappeared during the Crescent attack on the campus, I had lived alone in this dorm. The dean never assigned me a new roommate, and I was glad for it.

The events of that whole war left me more introspective than I had ever been, and I craved my alone time.

The room was dimly lit, the sole light source coming from a streetlamp outside my window. The familiar scent of old books and fresh laundry greeted me. In this sanctuary of mine, I felt the weight of the world drop from my shoulders.

I kicked off my shoes and sat on the edge of the bed, my hands resting on my knees. But my thoughts weren’t here in this room; they were still lost in the enchanting night of the ball.

It had been weeks ago now, but I still remembered her blue dress—the way it sparkled under the ballroom lights, flowing gracefully around her every time she moved. The gown had captured the deep shade of the night sky, making her look like she was made of stars.

Then there was her mask—a delicate piece of artistry that shielded her identity but heightened her allure. It added an element of intrigue, of tantalizing secrecy, making her eyes the sole window to her soul.

Those blue eyes had danced with mirth and excitement, pulling me into their depths.

I smiled as I recalled our dance. She had moved with an elegance and confidence that had left me in awe. It was as if the music had wrapped around her, guiding her every step.

Her fingers had felt delicate in my grasp, her laughter melodious, echoing even now in the corners of my mind.

But what lingered most, what made my heart race even now, was the memory of our kiss. The softness of her lips, the taste of champagne and strawberries, and the promise of something more. A connection, a spark—one that had vanished into the night as mysteriously as it had appeared.

With a sigh, I lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. While the night held many questions and uncertainties, one thing was clear: I was undeniably smitten by the girl in the blue dress. The mystery girl who had left behind only a necklace and a heart full of yearning.

“Why?” I murmured to myself, letting out a wry chuckle. “You’ve never cared this much before, Matt.”

It was true. Before I met this mysterious girl, I had only ever cared to hook up with girls. Even those instances were relatively few and far between, as I had…. Better things to worry about, like working with my pack to keep the campus safe as well as take over as the new hockey captain now that Enzo was moving on up in the world.

But something about that girl drew me to her like a moth to a flame. I couldn’t explain it, and I sure as hell couldn’t forget it.

Resigned, I pulled out my phone. It was high time I took a different approach. I snapped a picture of the necklace and uploaded it on my social media with the caption: “Trying to find the owner of this necklace. If it’s yours, please DM.”

Within minutes, notifications started pouring in. My heart raced with every ping, hoping that the mystery girl would reveal herself. Instead, I was met with a barrage of comments and messages from various girls claiming ownership.

I rolled my eyes, recognizing the ploys to gain my attention.

The more I scrolled, the more disheartened I became. It was apparent that the real owner wasn’t coming forward. I was about to delete the post when a message caught my eye. It was from Sabrina.

“I can help you find her,” it read. “Meet me at The Blue Lagoon Bar on Friday. Let’s talk.”

Sabrina. The girl who seemed to have all the answers, with strings always attached. I hesitated. My last encounter with her hadn’t been the most pleasant. She had been pretty clear about what she wanted from me. But now, I was desperate.

With a resigned sigh, I typed out a hesitant reply.

“Alright. Friday it is.”

I hit send, and immediately tossed my phone down on the bed with a frown. Sabrina’s proposal was risky—I knew that—but it might be my only chance to find the girl who had captured my heart.

And as the evening wore on, I realized that sometimes, to find the truth, one has to dance with the devil.