Chapter 4 The Dare

I stood between the both of them, confused.

Jason's grip on me tightened; Ryder's gaze was fixed on me, and he didn't look like he was backing down anytime soon.

Ryder's gaze hardened; his eyes were stormy, piercing, and intense as he glared at Jason.

Jason, on his part, wasn't yielding. What on earth was happening? I couldn't say a word; it was like I was in a trance.

"Look who is back, Wolfless Jasmine." Stephanie's voice made them divert their gaze. She was flaunting her ring in my face.

I scoffed. "Happy engagement to my grumpy brother. You both suit each other." With a stern glare, I removed my hands from Jason.

"Jasmine, wait!" Frustration flickered in his eyes as he called after me. A pang of guilt was present on his face. I could swear that I saw that.

"How about that dance, Ryder?" I offered my hand to Ryder, and he brushed it with his lips, wrapping his hands around my tiny waist as he pulled me to the dance floor.

I could feel Jason's intense gaze on us, but not like I cared. He rejected me, he humiliated me, and he never for once showed me love.

Ryder's hands on my waist pulled me closer to his firm masculine body. His intoxicating cologne of Midnight Eclipse drew me in with its dark, seductive scent, like a moth to a flame, making my heart race and my senses tingle.

"I could be your chaperone all day if you don't want to talk to him," his low, husky whisper sent shivers coursing through my veins like chilled wine.

I chuckled. "I'm not paying you for it, but thanks for offering."

A low, throaty chuckle rumbled from his chest, soothing me. He swung me to the left, following suit as he caught me in his hands, the soft music still playing.

"So, tell me, what was a Lycan King, who I suppose was meant to be in the VIP section, doing out there in the dark?" I asked, trying to build a conversation as we danced. I wasn't just going to pretend I hadn't seen him there.

"Same reason a beautiful damsel was there. Do you believe she had the guts to attack a Lycan King? If that isn't calling for a fight between two packs, I wonder what it is." he swirled me, his voice whispering in my ear as he pulled me closer to his body.

I stilled, realization dawning on me. Was it a threat? Had I started a fight without knowing? I mean, I didn't know he was a Lycan King before attacking; I did whatever I did out of self-defense.

"You wouldn't tell on me, would you?" I pleaded, my eyes narrowing at his.

His lips curled into a devilish smirk, those mischievous looks present in his eyes.

"On one condition," he winked at me. Something in me knew there was more to his condition. Who was this guy? Just in a short span, he made me realize that I had a silent wolf, and now he was threatening me to strike a deal with him?

"What's that?" Brave or foolish, I found myself asking.

He swirled me again and then pulled me closer. This time, he tilted my chin up to look at him.

His firm hands rested on my waist, his cologne messing with my head, and his eyes enchanting me into his woven spell.

"Be mine!" he muttered, the two words ringing in my ears.

Cold shivers ran down my spine. There was something about those two words he had just spoken. Possessiveness, dominance, that was what it portrayed.

I really couldn't tell if it was his seductive cologne that had me captured or his enchanting eyes. All I could picture at that moment were his firm lips on mine, claiming mine and taking me right there.

The music suddenly came to a halt, bringing me back to my senses.

He leaned close, "I'll leave you to think about it, Vixen!" His hands disengaged from my waist.

I stopped him. "I'm not a commodity, Ryder! I don't need to think about it." My response was strict as I walked away from the dance floor, leaving him stunned.

I had come back to have a nice time here, not to be caught in all this. I wouldn't let my time here be ruined.

I stopped in time when I sighted Ruby with other girls, drinking and chattering.

"Hey, Ruby?"

"You're back. I saw you having a nice time with that Lycan over there." Ruby winked at me, and the girls jeered.

"He looks so handsome. I mean, I would do anything to have a night with him," Doris, one of the girls, spoke. I felt my jaw tighten at such a statement.

"Relax, honey, we aren't taking him from you. It's just Doris doing her thing!" Ruby spoke. I didn't realize my anger was that visible.

I shook my head and decided to leave them to their fun.

"How about you join us for a truth and dare?" Jane, one of the girls, voiced, halting me.

I rolled my eyes. I'm an adult now, not a teenage girl. Does that still exist?

"Oh, come on, don't be no fun at all. It's just a harmless game," Ruby insisted.

I sighed. Well, I came to have fun, and I'll be leaving the pack soon, so why don't I create memories that will live with me?

"Sure," I gave in, and they all jeered in excitement.

The game began. It started with Ruby. She chose dare.

"I dare you to lick the bottom of your shoe," Jane laughed.

Eww, that was nasty as I watched Ruby giving a look of disgust, but then she did as she was dared.

"Truth or dare?" I didn't realize it was my turn until Doris nudged me.

I contemplated for a while and stupidly chose to toy with the devil. "Dare!"

Doris smirked, "I dare you to beg your brother to take you back or kiss a random stranger." My eyes widened.

What was I thinking, choosing the devil? I'd rather swallow a frog than beg Jason.

My eyes scanned through the crowd, with determination fixed to settle for the other option.

That familiar tall frame stood at the bar, muttering something to a lady who was smiling sheepishly. His flirting skills should not be underestimated at this point.

One minute I was staring, the next, I stood up to my feet, walking to where he stood.

"Excuse me," I said to the lady and then leaned closely to his body.

His cologne filled my nose. I raised my chin and then wrapped my hands around his neck, standing on tiptoe.

"What are you doing?" he asked, confused, his eyes scanning the crowd, perhaps wondering why I was suddenly acting that way.

"Just watch, Ryder!" I whispered back and then pulled his face close to mine. And without warning, my lips sealed his.