g, destined to break beneath t

y chest. The air vibrated with the energy of hormone-fueled teenagers, lost in aggres

and cloying-probably some fruity vape hung heavy, ma

erns on the packed dance floor. Bodies pressed together, a sea of grinding limbs and bobbing heads.

lume of people made it impossible. Instead, I squeezed my way to the bar, elbowing past a couple locked in a passionate embrace, an

es landed on him. He wore a blue shirt that clung to his skin, muscles flexing subtly with every movement. His hair was messy and sexy, as usual, falling j

body tensing. His gaze seemed to hypnotize me, stealing the air from my lungs, pull

simply faded. The world spun, then narrowed to just him and me, a tiny, fragile bubble in the

felt less like an invitation and more like a claim. a slow, predatory curve of his l

hopeful ache that spread through my veins. What was he doing to me? Why did his g

e popped. Abrup

ainst my ribs, a frantic drum against my bones, a frantic

nywhere but his advancing figure, the moment stretching, agonizingly slow, as his confident, unwavering steps brought him closer. He was a predator closing in, and I, the prey. Finally, I

iar mix of coconut hair wash and musk. He was here. He smelled so good it made my

linging, practically fused, to his side was a very pretty girl, one I could never hope to compete with. Her

d from her perfectly sculpted body to Alex's face, only to find them devouring each other, locked in a fervent, open-mouthed ki

y ears, a cacophony of hope. A cold, sickening realization dawned, hitting me like a punch to the gut: he wasn'

hed, hot with shame. I practically ran out of the bar, shoving past startled party-goers, gasping for fresh

ly on the cold brick wall outside, my eyes squeezed shut. The humid

ced with contempt. Who would ever look at me with such intensity?. Not really. Not the way he looked at her. I guess

he night, ripping through my self-pity.

u

so much

s white, his jaw ticking like a malfunctioning clock, a sign of the violence simmering beneath. He muttered curses under his breath, a low, guttural growl audible even over the distant thrum of the

house by fucking 11 PM at a bar!" he spat, stopping inches from me, his breath hot and fo

silence hung between us, thick with unspoken threats. And I knew, with a sinking certainty that fill

on dart aimed directly at my core, intended to wound, to destroy. "To others, we may seem related because we stay under the same roof, but I would never consider you my sist

ace, hot and profuse, blurring his furious face. "Don't ca

is shadow engulfing me making me feel smaller, more trapped, utterly helpless. His hand shot out, a blur of motion, grabbing a handful of my ha

his anger had twisted into something ugly, violent. His touch, even now, brought back the phan

shed over me, threatening to overwhelm what

whispered, cold and bleak in the ba

ody. His hands... alway

d, because it reminds me so much of all I've

m my throat, a primal cry. I begged him to let go of me. "Please le

tightening his grip, twisting my ha

ry, ripped through the night: "GET YO

old pavement with a jarring impact. Punches flew, a rapid brutal blur of motion, a flurry of violence,without giving Ch

y vision blurred, swimming in dark spots, the world tilting crazily. I struggled to keep my eyes open, but I was too weak,

warm voice, deep and comforting, whispering, "It's alright, love, I'll

sav

he simply