Chapter 06
Adrian Valehart
The city felt louder than usual, more alive somehow—but inside the car, silence ruled.
My fingers tapped the steering wheel with restrained irritation.
The bet had been stupid.
And I lost.
The idiots I called friends were laughing in the back seat, nudging each other like schoolboys, far too excited about the “punishment” they had planned for me.
Like it was funny to drag me into one of 'those' places…
Where humans and wolves lost themselves in leather, liquor, and the thick scent of heat.
“You’re gonna have fun, Alpha,” Cedric grinned, flashing that same stupid smile. “Maybe after you finally get laid, you’ll drop that constant scowl.”
“I told you to stop calling me that... And I’m not going for fun. I’m going because I keep my promises,” I growled, voice low and sharp.
“Ooh, the man of his word,” Cael teased from the back. “Let’s see if your ice-cold mask can handle the heat in that bar…”
I ignored them.
Truth was, I hated places like that.
Too loud. Too crowded.
The stench of sweat, cheap perfume, stale booze… and desperation.
But they weren’t wrong about one thing:
I was never seen with women.
Not because I didn’t want to.
But because none of them made me feel 'anything'.
Human or wolf—didn’t matter.
They all smelled the same. Looked the same. Spoke the same lines.
I didn’t want boring little toys.
I was done with that shit.
Throwing themselves at me like I was a winning lottery ticket—
I knew exactly what they were after.
They didn’t want 'me'. They wanted the power. The name.
\---
When we stepped into the bar, I was the last one through the door.
The decor was dark, heavy. Red lights pulsed softly through the gloom, reflecting off black leather furniture.
The music throbbed low and slow—like a heartbeat.
Ridiculous.
I paused at the entrance, my eyes scanning the room with ice-cold judgment.
People on leashes.
Some kneeling.
Others tied up.
Humans and wolves playing pretend—pretending their instincts were just part of the game.
“For fuck’s sake…” I muttered. “This place is a pathetic circus.”
I found the darkest corner of the room and sat down, arms crossed.
My so-called friends vanished into the crowd, already mingling with the girls who clearly knew them by name.
And me?
I stayed still.
Observing.
Judging.
Nothing in that room tempted me.
Not the bodies, not the play.
Everything reeked of desperation and performance.
Until I 'sensed' her.
A scent.
Not like the others.
Sweet. Addictive.
It hit my tongue like a forbidden taste I couldn’t name.
The door opened.
Two women walked in—heels clicking sharply against the floor.
One was painted up, loud in her movements, like she’d been born for this world.
The other…
She was silence in human form.
Steel in heels.
Tall. Poised.
Dark hair pulled back in a way that looked accidental—but wasn’t.
And her eyes—
Cold. Dangerous.
Sharp enough to cut.
For a moment, the whole bar vanished.
My attention locked on her.
She saw me.
Met my gaze for two full seconds—then looked away.
Like I was nothing.
My jaw tightened.
Offended.
No one looked at me like that.
No woman.
No wolf.
Not even other Alphas.
“Did you see that?” Cedric muttered, suddenly beside me with a drink in hand. “That new girl didn’t look away because she was scared. She looked away because she didn’t give a damn.”
“Oh, I saw it,” Cael said, laughing under his breath. “She’s perfect for our Ice Prince right here.”
“No,” I snapped.
But it was already too late.
They were moving toward the two women.
I stayed seated, my eyes locked on the woman who challenged every fiber of my instinct.
The wolf inside me growled—low and restless.
Not with anger.
With curiosity.
She smelled… different.
Not human.
Not pure wolf either.
A hybrid?
Hidden?
Whatever she was, it lit a fire in me I hadn’t felt in years.
Not even Cael or Cedric seemed to notice.
And she—she didn’t seem to know who she was.
Or who I was.
And yet… she ignored me.
I exhaled, irritated.
Most half-bloods had no idea what they were—clueless about the truth of our kind.
They walked through life like regular humans, blind in a world made for wolves.
It always pissed me off.
Still… maybe this one was worth watching.
Just to see how far it would go.
Just to figure out why she made my blood stir like this.
Yes... I would keep watching.
Only because of that.
\---
Sofia Bliss
The car stopped in front of the bar.
It was drizzling—like the sky was whispering some warning.
But I had already made my choice.
Letícia paid the driver and glanced back at me one last time before opening the door.
"Remember what I told you…" she murmured.
I nodded silently.
Took a deep breath.
The moment I stepped out of that car...
Sofia Bliss would no longer exist.
I closed my eyes.
Said goodbye to the poor, scared girl who smelled like old books and faded dreams of college.
And when I opened them again, I was someone else.
My hand reached for the door, and my feet hit the ground with purpose.
The heels clicked sharply against the wet pavement.
The night air bit at my bare skin, but I didn’t flinch.
I was going to be someone new.
Someone strong.
Someone who couldn’t afford to hesitate anymore.
Letícia walked beside me, graceful, experienced.
As we climbed the short steps to the entrance, she spoke without looking at me:
“The rooms are upstairs.”
“No one asks questions in there—unless you let them.”
“The clients… well… some are normal. Others… not exactly.”
I frowned. “What do you mean ‘not exactly’?”
She hesitated.
“I’ll explain later. Just… stay alert. Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, it probably is.”
Before I could push her for more, the door opened.
And the air changed.
Low music. Thick, sensual.
The scent of perfume, alcohol, and something else—something wild.
Dark walls. Velvet furniture. Crimson lighting.
It felt like stepping into another world.
And the moment I crossed that threshold… I felt it.
A shiver.
Like something—or someone—was watching me from the shadows.
Waiting.
Hunting.
I lifted my eyes slowly.
Did a full scan of the room, just like Letícia taught me.
And then… I saw him.
Sitting alone in a nearly invisible corner of the lounge.
Messy dark hair.
An immaculate suit — open, like it was choking him.
He was beautiful. Intensely so.
But what really caught me… was his stare.
Predatory eyes.
Like a wild animal sizing up its prey.
He didn’t smile.
Didn’t move.
He looked like he hated being there.
And the second our eyes met, something inside me shivered.
It wasn’t fear.
It was something else.
Something darker.
I looked away — cold, composed.
Like it meant nothing.
If I was going to play this game, I’d play it right.
Letícia and I moved toward the side of the room. She wanted to show me the dressing rooms, the reserved spaces, and explain how the “appointments” worked.
But before we got there, two men stopped us — way too cheerful for the middle of the night.
“Hey, ladies,” said the blond one, flashing a wide smile. “You look stunning.”
The other didn’t waste time.
“She’s new?” he asked, pointing at me and looking me over like I was a product. “How much for her?”
Letícia stepped in front of me, blocking his view with her body.
“She is new,” she said firmly, “but she’s just observing tonight. No offers.”
They exchanged a quick glance. The taller one pushed.
“Come on… it’s a special occasion.”
“A gift,” the blond added.
“For a friend of ours. He needs to be taught a few lessons.”
“No,” Letícia snapped.
“We’ll pay triple,” the other insisted. “Just for an hour. Nothing crazy. Just… enough.”
I looked at her.
Letícia shook her head.
A clear 'no'.
But my mind…
My mind saw my father in that hospital bed.
My aunt counting coins.
My name slipping away from any kind of future.
And then… my mouth spoke before reason could stop it.
“I accept.”
Letícia turned to me, stunned.
“Sofia…”
“I came here for money,” I whispered close to her ear, steady. “I’ll make it happen.”
I took a deep breath.
Swallowed my pride.
And put on the mask I’d crafted for myself.
“Who's your friend?” I asked the men. “And what do you want me to do?”
They smiled wide, excited like little boys.
“There he is,” one of them pointed.
I turned my head.
And saw him.
The man with the cold stare.
The silent predator.
“He needs to be put in his place,” the blond whispered in my ear. “Thinks he’s always in control. Always serious. Always untouchable.”
“But he loves to be dominated.”
“Our little secret? The Ice Wolf loves to crawl.”
“We want you to break him.”
“Treat him like the beast he is.”
Ice Wolf?
Was that some kind of nickname or something?
What kind of strange people were they?
For a second, I almost hesitated.
But I didn’t back down.
I couldn’t.
Because now… it was too damn late to turn back.