Chapter 3

Elena's POV

"I'd rather have your leftovers than nothing at all," Olivia hissed. She was enjoying this—the drama, the betrayal, the pain she thought she was causing me.

I forced my expression to remain neutral, almost bored. "You're welcome to my garbage, Olivia. Though I have to say, your standards are even lower than I thought."

The Silver Fang Bar's VIP room suddenly felt too small, too hot, too suffocating. I could feel Ethan's eyes on me, waiting for the tears, the begging, the breakdown. That's what he expected from me—sweet, compliant Elena who would forgive anything.

Olivia's face contorted with rage. "You think you're so much better than everyone else, don't you? With your sad little orphan story and your pathetic devotion to your alcoholic father? News flash, Elena—nobody cares! Ethan was just using you until something better came along."

I laughed, the sound cold and unfamiliar even to my own ears. "Something better? Is that what you call yourself?" I tilted my head, examining her like a curious specimen. "Congratulations on getting my hand-me-downs, Olivia. I hope you enjoy them as much as the rest of the campus already has."

Her face flushed crimson. This wasn't going the way she'd planned. She'd wanted to see me break. Instead, I was standing here, dry-eyed and sharp-tongued, refusing to give her the satisfaction.

"You bitch!" She lunged forward, only to be caught by Ethan's restraining arm.

"That's enough," Ethan growled, he turned to me, his eyes hardening. "Elena, you need to apologize to Olivia. Now."

The demand hit me like a physical blow. Apologize? I flashed back to the night three frat guys had cornered me at a party, how Ethan had stepped between us, how he'd promised to always protect me. Now here he was, demanding I apologize to the woman he'd cheated on me with.

The pain in my chest was sharp and sudden, but I kept my spine straight and my eyes cold.

"You're right," I said softly. "I do owe an apology." I paused, watching hope flicker across Olivia's face. "I'm sorry I wasn't honest enough or rude enough before. Because truly, Olivia is far more disgusting than I've been letting on."

Olivia's scream of rage was almost satisfying. "You'll regret this, Elena! I swear to God—"

"Save it," I cut her off, turning to leave. "You two deserve each other."

I was almost at the door when Ethan's hand clamped around my wrist, his grip painfully tight. His skin felt unnaturally hot against mine.

"Let go of me," I said, my voice dangerously quiet.

"Not until you apologize for real," he demanded, and there was that strange undertone in his voice again, almost like a growl.

I looked down at his hand on my arm, then back up to his face, my expression filled with contempt. "A strange man putting his hands on a woman who has nothing to do with him? I wonder what the campus police would call that. Sexual harassment? Assault?"

Ethan froze, shock crossing his features. I could see it in his eyes—he'd never really known me. In his mind, I was just quiet, sweet Elena who would forgive anything, who would cry and beg for him back. Who would provide the drama he and Olivia clearly craved.

Instead, he was facing someone with nothing left to lose and a spine made of steel.

I yanked my arm free and walked out, head high despite the rain still dripping from my hair and clothes.

---

It wasn't until I was a block away from the bar that the first tear fell.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. A text from Chloe: "Elder Ambrose called. He's coming tomorrow night. Mom says to wear something that shows your neck. Hope you've made your peace with it, blood bag."

What a fucking day. My father comatose in a hospital bed. My stepmother selling me to a vampire elder. My boyfriend—ex-boyfriend—screwing my roommate behind my back.

I had nowhere to go. Going home meant facing Elaine and Chloe's cruel taunts. Going back to my dorm meant risking running into Olivia. I couldn't burden my few remaining friends with this nightmare—what could they possibly do?

No, I needed to solve this myself. The thought of becoming blood cattle for some ancient, disgusting vampire made my skin crawl. I needed money—and I needed it fast.

But I was just a broke college student. Even with my three part-time jobs, I'd never be able to scrape together anything close to what Elder Ambrose was offering.

Tears and raindrops blurring my vision until I could barely see where I was going. The weight of hopelessness pressed against my chest until I could hardly breathe.

I stepped into the street, not bothering to check for traffic.

The sudden screech of brakes jerked me back to reality. Blinding headlights filled my vision, and for a split second, I wondered if this was how it would end—splattered across the asphalt of some random intersection, all my problems solved in one violent moment.

But the car stopped mere inches from me. A sleek, impossibly expensive luxury vehicle.

The driver's window rolled down, revealing a hard-faced man with close-cropped hair. He opened his mouth, likely to curse at me, but then he took in my appearance—

"God almighty. Where'd this pitiful creature come from?" he muttered.

A rich, magnetic voice came from the back seat. "Felix? What's the holdup?"

"Some poor soul nearly became roadkill," the driver Felix replied, his eyes still on me. "She's fine, though. Just spooked."

"Then let's go. We're already late."

Go. The word echoed in my head as I peered through the rain into the car's interior. In the back seat sat a man—no, not just a man. He was devastating in his beauty, with sharp features and an aura of absolute authority. His suit probably cost more than my entire tuition. His eyes, when they briefly met mine, were cold but intelligent.

Something sparked in my desperate brain. Money. Power. This man had both in abundance.

It was insanity. It was dangerous. It was possibly the stupidest thing I'd ever considered. But I was out of options and out of time.

"Wait!" I called, my voice shaking as I stepped closer to the car. "Sir... would you be willing to pay for my services?"