Sophia pushed through the heavy wooden doors of the bar, her heart thudding in her chest as she spotted Luke standing near the bar counter. His arms were crossed, and his face was a thundercloud of frustration. *Oh no*, she thought, feeling the guilt of her lateness wash over her. But then she noticed something odd—Luke wasn’t looking at her. His gaze was fixed behind her, his jaw clenched tight.
Curiosity got the best of her, and she slowly turned to see what—or who—had Luke’s knickers in a twist. Her stomach dropped when she saw Ethan standing just inside the door, his tall frame radiating power. *Shit*, she thought, her mind racing. *He followed me in.*
Ethan didn’t even glance her way as he strode confidently past her, heading straight for Luke. Sophia froze, watching the tension between them build, the air almost crackling with something unspoken. Ethan moved with a force she couldn’t explain—like he wasn’t just walking but commanding the room around him. And Luke… Luke looked pissed.
Sophia took a deep breath, hoping to slip away unnoticed. I just need to freshen up, slide into work, and pretend like I’m not late. Without a word, she hurried toward the staff lockers, praying Ethan wouldn’t notice her retreat.
In the dim, cramped staff room, she quickly washed her face in the small sink, the cold water helping to clear her mind. She braided her long hair back, hands trembling slightly as the weight of the morning’s events pressed down on her. Ethan and Luke in the same room? What the hell is going on? She put on some deodorant, smoothed out her bar shirt, and took a moment to gather herself before heading back out. She couldn’t afford to mess up her job—not with her mum’s bills piling up and school still looming over her.
She grabbed a tray from behind the bar and immediately began collecting cups from the tables, hoping to disappear into the routine. But her attention kept drifting back to Ethan and Luke, who were standing closer to the bar now, their voices hushed but tense. She kept her head down, pretending to focus on the cups, but her ears were tuned to every word.
“…remember pack law, Luke,” Ethan growled, his voice low but commanding. “Do not interfere with the mating pull.”
Sophia’s heart skipped a beat. Mating pull? What on earth was he talking about?
Luke’s voice was just as harsh when he replied. “What are you going to do about it, Ethan? You know she still has a choice. She can still choose a life outside of your world.”
There was so much venom in Luke’s words, it sent a shiver down Sophia’s spine. Who are they talking about? Her mind raced, trying to piece together the conversation. It sounded like a fight over someone—someone important to both of them. But who?
Sophia kept her eyes down, busying herself with her tray, but the tension between Ethan and Luke was impossible to ignore. They knew each other—there was no mistaking the familiarity in their tone—but it was far from friendly. In fact, they sounded like they hated each other. But why? And what was this “pack law” Ethan had mentioned?
Her mind whirled as she risked a quick glance in their direction. Ethan’s bright blue eyes were locked on Luke, his muscular frame seeming to ripple with contained power. His thick brown hair curled slightly at the edges, and the stubble on his chin gave him that wild, untamed look. He looked like he belonged in the mountains, like he could survive in the wilderness without breaking a sweat. There was something about him that screamed danger, but in an exhilarating way—like a storm you couldn’t help but watch.
Luke, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. His short blonde hair was perfectly neat, his black-framed glasses giving him that sharp, intellectual edge. He was lean, but strong, his body built more for endurance than brute force. His piercing green eyes had an intensity that could cut through you, and when he was angry, like he was now, it sent a chill down her spine. He wasn’t someone you wanted to cross, but there was a warmth to him too—something that made people gravitate toward him when he smiled. Not that he’s smiling now, Sophia thought, feeling the weight of the confrontation.
As she moved behind the bar, collecting more glasses, she tried to shake off the confusing thoughts swirling in her mind. What is this "pack law"? And who’s this woman they’re fighting over? It sounded like she was pretty damn lucky to have both Ethan and Luke so riled up. They were both ridiculously attractive—Ethan, with his raw, rugged energy, and Luke, with his sharp, controlled presence. They couldn’t be more different, but there was something magnetic about each of them in their own way.
She couldn’t help but think how crazy it was that these two were fighting over some mystery woman. She had to have the best luck—or the worst, depending on how you looked at it. Sophia’s mind raced, her thoughts pinging between the cryptic conversation and the strange energy that had settled over the room. Who was this woman, and what did she have to do with Ethan's cryptic remarks from earlier?
Before she could lose herself in more speculation, Ethan’s voice cut through the air again. “I won’t let you ruin this, Luke. She’s mine.”
Sophia’s breath caught in her throat. The possessiveness in Ethan’s voice was impossible to miss. He was talking about the woman as if she didn’t have a say in the matter—as if the decision had already been made. But Luke wasn’t backing down.
“She’s not yours, Ethan,” Luke replied, his voice low and dangerous. “She can make her own choices, and I’m not going to let you force her into something she doesn’t want.”
Sophia’s pulse quickened. Force her into something? What the hell is going on?
She moved behind the bar, trying to keep her head down, but the tension between the two men was palpable, like the crackle of a storm just waiting to break. Something deep and primal was at play here, and Sophia had the unsettling feeling that she was standing at the edge of something far bigger than she could understand.
As Ethan and Luke’s conversation continued, Sophia’s mind raced with questions, but one thing was clear: there was a lot more going on beneath the surface, and whatever it was, it was pulling her deeper into Ethan’s world—a world she wasn’t sure she was ready for.