Chapter 10

William's POV

I lay sprawled across my king-sized bed, staring at the invitation card between my fingers.

Jessica and her friends were probably waiting for me at Howling Moon, ready for the wild night I had promised.

However, my mother's words echoed in my mind. Perhaps I should really reconsider my attitude toward relationships?

After all, my eighteenth birthday was approaching—the day I might find my fated mate.

William! You're just chickening out! Thalos taunted in my mind. Since when did you become such a sentimental fool?

"Shut up," I muttered, flicking the invitation card out my open window.

It fluttered away on the evening breeze like my resolve.

My phone vibrated against the nightstand. Benjamin's name flashed on the screen.

"Hey, my Alpha," his voice came through, nearly drowned by thumping music and drunken laughter. "Is the little ceremony with your mom still not finished? Don't forget our wild night!"

I could hear females giggling in the background, followed by what sounded distinctly like a moan.

So they'd already started without me.

"I think I'll pass tonight," I replied, surprising even myself.

A brief silence followed before Benjamin's incredulous voice returned: "Wait, did Luna Mia lecture you about your extracurricular activities? Come on, man! You don't want to miss what's happening here tonight."

"What's so special about tonight?" I asked, feigning disinterest while rolling onto my side.

Benjamin's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "One word: Green."

My body tensed instantly.

Those emerald eyes flashed in my memory, sending a jolt of electricity through me.

Go! Thalos urged, suddenly alert. Now!

I was off the bed in seconds, grabbing my keys and wallet. "I'll be there in fifteen."

Ten, Thalos corrected.

Creeping past my mother's office, I winced at every creaking floorboard.

"Sorry, Mom," I thought.

I know I just promised you I should be less promiscuous, but this girl... she's different.

You don't even know her name, Thalos reminded me.

"I'm working on that," I muttered, slipping out the front door.

As I approached Howling Moon, the bouncer nodded respectfully, letting me bypass the line stretching around the block.

Inside, the club pulsed with energy—bodies writhing on the dance floor, the air thick with alcohol and desire.

I wore my favorite dark jeans and a fitted black button-up shirt that emphasized my broad shoulders and chest.

My hair was pulled back in a loose knot, and I'd trimmed my beard to perfection.

Benjamin spotted me from the bar and raised his glass in greeting. Before I could reach him, three females intercepted me—Jessica among them. She pressed herself against me like a cat in heat, while another ran her hand over my ass.

"I knew you'd come," Jessica purred, her hand sliding down my stomach toward my belt. "We've been waiting for you. All three of us."

I caught her wrist. "Not tonight, sweetheart."

Her face fell. "But you promised—"

"Plans change," I said, gently but firmly pushing past the trio toward Benjamin.

My friend was already entertaining a curvy redhead, his hand casually cupping her breast. When he saw me approaching, he smirked.

"Took you long enough," he said. "Looking for someone?"

I tried to appear nonchalant. "Maybe. Where is she?"

Benjamin nodded toward the other side of the club. "Over there with James and some other warriors."

My eyes followed his direction, and there she was—the green-eyed beauty who'd haunted my thoughts since our encounter at school.

She wore a pink wrap top that tied around her ribs, showcasing her toned midriff and perfect cleavage. Low-rise black jeans hugged her hips, and pink heels made her legs look miles long.

She was scanning the room, her eyes eventually landing on me. That same electric current shot through my body the moment our gazes locked.

Thalos rose to attention in my mind, a low growl rumbling through my consciousness.

She saw us. She knows we're here. I watched as she leaned over to say something to James. He turned to look in my direction, then back at her with a concerned expression.

"So, they're talking about me," I said with a smirk.

"What?" Benjamin asked, momentarily distracted from the redhead.

"Nothing."

Jessica clearly misinterpreted my smile as encouragement, pressing against me again and sliding her hand over my crotch. I gently removed it, despite the fact that I was already hard—though not for her.

The green-eyed girl and Zoey—one of our pack's warriors—headed to the dance floor.

When the beat dropped, she began to move, her body swaying hypnotically to the rhythm. Her hips rolled in perfect time with the music, drawing the attention of every male in the vicinity.

"Fuck, she's incredible," I thought, my jeans suddenly feeling too tight.

Thalos paced restlessly in my mind.

I don't like this. She shouldn't be dancing like that for everyone to see. She should only move like that for us.

For once, I completely agreed with my wolf.

I watched as Zoey leaned in to whisper something in her ear. Whatever she said made my mystery girl respond with what looked like a heated explanation.

Zoey's eyes widened in surprise before she glanced over at me with... was that disappointment?

What had she told her about me?

I was about to stride onto the dance floor when the mystery girl turned and headed back toward James at the bar.

I pushed through the crowd, muttering, "Excuse me, ladies," to Jessica and her friends who were circling me like vultures again.

"Going for the hunt?" Benjamin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I just need to know who she is," I admitted. "There's something about her..."

Every few steps, some female pack members tried to curry favor with me. By the time I'd politely extricated myself from the fifth such encounter, the DJ's voice boomed over the speakers.

"Let's dedicate this next track to Silver Moon's Little Savage!"

The entire club erupted in cheers, especially our pack's warriors.

My mystery girl stopped in her tracks, shaking her head at the DJ with mock exasperation. As a heavy rock beat filled the club, she blew the DJ a playful kiss, then raised her arms and rejoined the girls in the center of the dance floor.

Everyone knew her.

Almost every! Single! Person! Except me, apparently.

"Little Savage?" That nickname sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn't place it.

A hand clapped on my shoulder.

I turned to find Alpha Ethan standing beside me, his eyes fixed on the dance floor—specifically, on my green-eyed girl.

"She's something special, isn't she?" he said, his voice casual but his eyes intense.

Even Ethan knew her? What the fuck was going on?

"Yeah, she is," I agreed, unwilling to reveal my ignorance.

As the music's tempo increased, she began moving her hips faster, the motion so provocative my cock strained painfully against my jeans.

I could vividly imagine her riding me with that same rhythm, those green eyes locked on mine.

"Control yourself," I warned mentally, though Thalos was practically salivating.

Ethan took a swig of his beer, his gaze never leaving her.

"You're lucky to have someone like her in your pack," he said, then turned to look directly at me. "But just so you know, I plan to steal her away at the first opportunity."

The possessive growl that rose in my throat surprised even me.

Who was this girl, and why did Ethan want to steal her away?

As if sensing our attention, she glanced over.

But it wasn't me she was looking at—it was Ethan. And then she winked at him.

Something primal and angry surged through me.

She's mine, Thalos snarled in my head. And for once, I didn't argue.