"It's good, thank you," Malzahar expressed his gratitude. "Alright, I'll go get Silos so he can eat; otherwise, he'll just drown himself in alcohol," Lilith explained, and Malzahar nodded, granting her permission. "It will be activated before I get back," she thought as she exited the penthouse, unaware that the key had been left behind.
On the other side...
The music thumped with a strong bass, and the alpha's daughters—Lyanna, Serena, Vaila, and Esmé—were lost in the joy of dancing. Liora, however, felt utterly exhausted as it was well past her bedtime. She sank onto the couch, watching the vibrant crowd, but the noise kept her from falling asleep. "I'm so tired. I just want to go home," she mumbled. Gathering her strength, she stood and made her way over to Lyanna, gently tapping her to get her attention.
"Are you okay?" Vaila noticed the weariness in Liora's eyes.
"No, I want to go home. I'm sleepy," Liora replied, a yawn escaping her lips.
"Alright, give us 15 minutes to wrap things up," Esmé said, disappearing into the crowd.
Though Liora felt impatient, she knew better than to voice it. She strolled back to the couch, ready to sit down when she suddenly felt crowded. Turning around, she scanned the area for her friends but found only unfamiliar faces. A group of teenagers wandered towards the hallway, and she cautiously followed but was too slow to catch up. "Where did they go? They were just right here!" she gasped in surprise.
Suddenly, the elevator doors opened, and she was captivated by a strikingly beautiful woman whose hair swayed behind her as she rushed in. Liora gasped but quickly hurried toward the elevator as she saw the doors start to close. The woman seemed to be in a hurry, and Liora wasn't sure what to do, so she pressed a button and heard an announcement for the floor.
When the doors opened again, a new crowd entered the elevator. She saw them pressing buttons but didn't know which floor they were headed to.
"Are you going to the penthouse?" one person asked her. She nodded silently.
"Hmm, must be rich," the other one remarked, eyeing her outfit.
"Stop looking at me like that," Liora snapped, irritated by the way he was staring. As the stranger opened his mouth to reply, the elevator doors slid open, and they all stepped out.
She waited patiently for the doors to close behind her, continuing on her unforeseen journey. "I don't even know why I'm drawn to this place," she thought, feeling a tug in her heart as if something was pulling her.
At last, the door to the penthouse opened, and she took in her surroundings. It felt oddly different, with only a single door, unlike the others. Hearing the woman's voice announce it was the top floor, she stepped out and approached the door. She knocked repeatedly, but there was no response.
"Open up, I need to use the bathroom!" she whimpered, feeling the urgency growing.
Malzahar, confused but pointed, directed her toward the restroom. "Thank you!" she squealed, sprinting in that direction.
Malzahar chuckled, feeling dizzy and strangely attracted for no apparent reason. He closed the door behind her. "Why does she smell so good? Could she be my mate? No, this can't be right," he mumbled, slurring his words. Just as he thought he was alone, another knock echoed through the room. "What's this, a supermarket? Go away, I'm not opening the door!" he shouted, and the knocking ceased.
He turned to investigate the footsteps approaching him. The girl stood before him, captivating him with her beauty. Her flowing amber hair danced in a loose ponytail, and her eyes widened as they met his gaze. His shirt hung half-unbuttoned, and the primal instincts of his Lycan raged within him, urging him to resist temptation.
"Shit, Drakon, control yourself!" he whispered through clenched teeth. He stumbled quickly to secure the penthouse door, desperate to avoid attracting any attention.
Her wolf stirred faintly within her, but she remained calm. Drawing closer, the intoxicating scent enveloped her, growing stronger with each step.
"Mate, she's our mate," Drakon growled possessively, making Liora freeze and lock her eyes on him.
"Are you out of your mind? She can't be our mate; she looks too innocent," Malzahar snapped back at his Lycan. Breathing deeply, he fought to calm himself, but the fragrance of sandalwood and mint overwhelmed him. His eyes brimmed with desire as he struggled to focus. "Who are you?" Liora tilted her head, studying him. She blinked at the intimidating figure before her, feeling an undeniable connection. He was her mate. Her mother had discussed the bond of mates, and Liora longed to embrace him, yet she stood her ground, composed but captivated.