Chapter 2 Gone?

Aveline POV

The moment I reached the hallway , I wiped my tears and forced myself to breathe. I didn't want anyone to see me, I didn't want anyone calling my name,  I didn't want anyone asking questions, I just wanted to leave and thankfully no one stopped me.

I stepped out of the manor!unnoticed and flagged down the first cab I saw,  “Just drive.” I told the driver as I sank into the back seat.

The city lights blurred past the window while I stared outside in silence, I wasn't crying anymore, at least not on the outside.

inside, It felt like someone had reached into my chest and ripped my heart apart.

After several minutes, bright neon lights caught my attention.

“Pull over” I say suddenly.

The driver glanced at me through the mirror but nodded.

The bar was lively but not crowded music drifted through the air while people sat in small groups laughing and talking.

I headed straight for the counter, “Give me whatever you have something strong.”

The bartender raised a brow, “tough night huh?”

“You have no idea.”

One drink became two, then three…not enough to erase what I’d seen.

But just enough to dull it, I was staring into my glass when a day before it broke in beside me.

“Mind if I sit here?”

I glanced up and forgot how to breathe, the man standing there was easily the most attractive man I've ever seen.

Tall

Broad shoulders

And very sharp face features, with the kind of eyes that seem to see right through people.

He had a commanding presence with a little touch of something dangerous yet strangely calm.

The kind of presence that made people instinctively move out of his way, I gulped down and came up with a response.

“Depends…” I managed to say

“On?”

“If you’re a serial killer.”

The corner of his mouth lifted, “You have nothing to be worried about. I left my serial killer license at home.”

A laugh escaped to him before I could stop it, “ then I suppose you can sit”

He took the empty seats beside me, for some reason, talking to him felt easy.

Natural, we exchange jokes, traded sarcastic remarks, for the first time all night I found myself genuinely smiling and laughing.

The stranger eventually lifted his glass, “ Name is Darius.”

I blinked, “Darius?”

“Darius Draven.””

The name hits me immediately and my eyes widened.

Everyone knew that  name.

The lycan King.

The most powerful Lycan alive.

Darius seem to notice my surprise, “ that looks never gets old.” he commented..

“ you don’t exactly have a forgettable name.” I replied and he chuckled.

“No, I suppose I don’t.”

Anyways, another round appeared in front of us. I wasn’t entirely sure who ordered it.

Our conversation continued, and somehow, despite who he was, Darius remained surprisingly easy to talk to.

What was I expecting? Some kind of tough… cold… conversation?

Hours passed or maybe minutes I honestly couldn’t tell anymore.

Eventually, Darius looked at me carefully.

“You should go home.”

I frowned.

“I’m perfectly fine.”

“ You can barely even focus on my face.” He laughed lowly.

“ I am totally and absolutely not drunk.” The words came out far less convincing than I intended.

He laughed, a rich warm sound.

“Right.”

“I mean it”

“Of course you do”

I pointed at him, “you’re laughing at me huh?”

“Maybe” he shrugged and I narrowed my eyes then laughed too.

The alcohol had left my head pleasantly light, Darius shook his head.

“ come on I’ll make sure I get home safely.” I paused and stared at him then burst out laughing.

“ You expect me to go home with a complete stranger?” I asked

His brow lifted, “ you spent the last hour talking to me.” He shrugged.

“Still a stranger, your highness.” I said with a small laugh at the end.

“Fair.” He nods slowly.

He stood and offered his hand, “ I promise I don’t make a habit of kidnapping women”

I eyed his hand suspiciously then took it.

His fingers crossed around mine, steady and warm.

Outside, the cold night air greeted us.

Darius turned me carefully toward a sleek black car parked nearby.

The moment I sat down, I leaned back with a sigh.

everything felt strangely quiet, safe.

Darius move to close the passenger door but paused.

For a brief moment, either of us spoke.

His gaze held mine. His teasing smile was gone and suddenly the space between us felt much smaller.

Like dangerous.

My pulse quickened.  I wasn’t sure whether it was the alcohol or him.

“Aveline..”

The way he say my name sent an unfamiliar flutter my chest.  My stomach did the flip.

His voice was low now, softer, I found myself staring at him.

At the sharp line of his jaw, at the silver in his eyes, and the way he was looking at me.

Like I was the only person in the world. For one reckless moment, I forgot everything else.

The party, Ethan, the pain and everything.

I swallowed hard, why was he looking at me like that?

I found myself studying the faint shadow of stubble on his cheeks. He was unfairly attractive oh moon goddess!

I wasn’t thinking about the man who had betrayed me. I was only focused on the man in front of me, and then my gaze dropped briefly to his lips.

That was a mistake.

When I looked back up, his eyes had darkened.

“Aveline.” He said again, this time quieter.

It sounded like a warning.

As if he already knew where my thoughts were going, I should stop this. I knew I should, but my hand lifted slow slowly, carefully my fingertips brushed his jaw, warm, solid, real as fuck!.

Darius froze.

The air around us felt thicker, his eyes stayed on mine.

“Aveline” he repeated.

Definitely a warning this time but there was something more beneath it, something that made my heart race even faster.

“What..?” I whispered, his jaw tightened.

“ you’ve had too much drink Lady.” I laughed softly maybe I had and maybe I hadn’t.

In that moment, I didn’t care.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I leaned in.

The second my lips touched his, every thought vanished.

For a heartbeat, neither of us moved.

Then his hand found my waist, the touch sent a  shiver through me.

My fingers tangled in his hair as the kiss deepened, slow and deliberate

My pulse hammered, his hand tightened slightly against my side. Not enough to hurt but just enough to remind me of his presence.

Of how close we were.

How easily I could loose myself in the moment.

The world outside the car faded away, all I heard was our breathing.

All I felt was the warmth between us.

Then my phone rang. The shrill sound shattered everything.

I pulled back immediately, breathing hardy

Blinking, confused…

I couldn’t even remember where I was for a second.

Then reality crashed back in, my purse,  my phone,  the screen and mom boldly on my screen.

I answered instantly, every trace of warmth left my body.

”mom?”

“Aveline!”

Her voice shook and my heart sank immediately.

“mom, what’s wrong?”

“ You need to come home” the panic in the voice hit me hard and I sat up right, “what…what happened?”

“Aveline, please just come home.”

Was she crying?

fear gripped my chest… real fear.

The kind that sobers you up in seconds.

The call ended moments later I stared at the screen, then at Darius.

My stomach twisted as I spoke, “ I have to go”

Concern spread across his face, “Aveline—”

“No, I have to leave now.”

I grabbed my purse with shaking hands. Something was wrong… very wrong.

suddenly, what happened between us didn’t matter anymore.

“Hey!” Darius called as I opened the door.

“At least let me drive you—”

“No.”

My answer came too quickly, too panicked.

I stumbled out of the car, Darius stepped forward.

“Aveline.”

I was already backing away. My heart raced, my hands, shook ….whatever awaited me at home felt worse than the nightmare I had already lived through this night.

The first cab I saw slowed beside the curb. I climbed it without hesitation.

“Please.” I whispered as tears filled my eyes again, “just drive.”

The closer the cab got to my house,  the tighter my chest felt…something was wrong, like very wrong. My Mother’s voice kept echoing in my head.

Come home

Please just come home.

When we turned onto my street, my stomach dropped.

Blue and red light flashed against the darkness, my heart stopped.

Several police cars were parked outside our house.  officers were everywhere.

I could see some neighbors gathered in small groups whispering to each other.

“What…” I whispered

The car didn’t even come to complete stop when I flung the door open and jumped out.

“Mom??” I yelled as my eyes scanned everywhere.

Then I saw her my mother was laying in front of her yard, tears streaming down her face.

“Mom!”

I rushed to her side, she looked up as soon as she heard my voice.

“Aveline-”

The moment she said my name, she broke down completely. Fear gripped my heart and I  dropped to my knees next to her.

What had she seen? What happened?

“ Mum was wrong. You left the party already too.” My voice shook.

“Where’s dad?” Her lips quivered as she tried to speak but nothing came out.

Then finally, “they took him.”

I froze, “what?”

“They took your father.”

The world around me fell silent. “What do you mean they took him?”

My mother sobbed, “they arrested him.”

The words hit me like a punch,

Arrested?

No

My father?

Damien Hale?

That didn’t make any sense

The alpha who protected our pack?

The man who wouldn’t hurt anyone unless he had to?

I shook my head quickly, “no that’s not possible.”

“He’s gone Ava.” She cried.