The next morning, Sera woke in her own bed, alone and confused.
She remembered the dance. The way Lucien's body felt against hers. The heat. The trembling.
Then….. nothing.
Had she gotten drunk? Blacked out? No—her body felt untouched. But her skin burned, as if he had left fingerprints on her soul instead.
She glanced down and found something tucked into her purse.
A black card. No name. Just a silver wolf emblem engraved in the center.
"What the hell….?"
The memory of his eyes hit her like a fever. She had never seen anyone look at her like that — like she was prey and pleasure all at once.
She slid the card into her drawer, heart pounding. She wouldn't call. She didn't even know what number to call.
But it didn't matter. Because later that night, she felt him again.
Walking home alone from her shift at the bookstore, a shadow trailed her. She turned — nothing.
But then a whisper drifted into her mind like wind:
You're not alone, little lamb.
She froze. Goosebumps lit up her arms.
"Lucien?" she said aloud, terrified she was right. More terrified she was wrong.
But in the dark alley behind her, golden eyes blinked into existence. And then vanished.