Lavenia's POV
"One more shot!" I demanded, slamming down my empty glass. The bartender in front of me just glanced at me without daring to say much.
He was about to pour, but stopped because someone else arrived. I ran my fingers through my messy hair, frustrated waiting for the damn bartender to give me what I asked for. On top of that, images of that jerk fucked another woman kept popping into my head, making me shudder. I wanted to forget, but my brain turned into a bastard and kept remembering.
Damien's first kiss was sweet, and I couldn't forget it. We almost went too far that time. However, Snow, my wolf, warned me not to give away my virginity carelessly.
She was also a virgin, and for hundreds of years, waiting for her destiny to become my wolf, she had kept it.
You would probably say that I was heartbroken, that I was naive, stupid for giving a bastard like Damien a chance.
Well, you're right.
I was only nineteen at the time, unable to control my feelings, and Damien was someone special according to my father, and he seemed that way.
However, two years and only kissing seemed like a boring life for Damien. Not for me, and no one believed that.
"You're too drunk, miss. Go home. Your driver is waiting outside," said someone after grabbing my glass and placing it on a tray.
Screw the driver. I didn't bring a driver and I'm not sane right now. I wanted to forget that damn man and all the toxic memories he left behind.
I got up and followed the man who had just spoken to me. He finally left after acting like my grandmother who forbade me from drinking too much. However, I am not a woman who will let a man dictate to me. Weakness is not in my vocabulary.
He was there, still wearing his waiter's apron ans collecting all glasses from the empty table. It didn't matter who he was. Waiter, bartender, homeless man, or... whoever. One night wouldn't kill me, even though people said the first time was the most painful.
"Wait!" I called out. The man, well-built and tall, almost touching the chandelier in the VIP room, turned around with a tray of empty glasses in his hand.
The room felt dim because the lamp was covered by his body. He stood still before finally stepping closer and asking in his deep, distinctive voice, "Do you need anything, Miss?"
I looked at him for a moment, sensing something different that I had never felt before. The scent of his body, a mixture of pheromones and cedarwood, seemed to linger in my nostrils. And tempting me to taste him.
I took out some money, my mind still in turmoil, and it took me a while to regain my normal level of intelligence. To hell with that! Being stupid once in a while won't kill me, right?
And this man... he's a wolf too, right? What class is he from? Is he an omega? In our pack, only omegas do the dirty work.
"How much for one night?" I asked, my voice trembling. My heart was pounding, of course. I've never even held Damien's "little friend," so why am I so confident that I can withstand the torture of that man's little thing inside me?
"Are you sure, Elle? Please think again," asked Snow, whom I immediately dismissed by closing the mind-link with her.
"Rate for one night? You mean... a hotel? Unfortunately, we don't provide lodging. But there is one place that—" He fell silent.
I'll say it again, he FELL SILENT.
I silenced the man with a deep kiss, although it was quite painful because with his unusual height, I had to pull him down forcefully so he would bend over a little. When I felt I couldn't hold back any longer, I jumped, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his hips.
He didn't seem to resist, but tried to push me away, probably to get an explanation.
"W-what is this, Miss?"
"Sleep with me," I replied, panting. My sanity was down to zero point something percent.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me right. I want you to sleep with me. Make love to me. How much do you want for it?"
🐺🐺🐺
"You're crazy!" Snow attacked, but I couldn't process any words in my head. My brain had been flooded with dozens, even thousands, of drops of alcohol, so now I was on the table, dancing and hanging on the pole without a single piece of clothing, except for a set of underwear.
Everyone threw money at me, laughing and whistling, but it was as if it never existed and only faintly audible.
One of them climbed onto the table where I was dancing and grabbed me in his arms. His dark hazel eyes stared at me sharply but longingly. Thirsty and hungry.
"You don't have to do this just for money," he said, and I just stared at him without blinking.
"Who are you? You don't know me. Back off!"
"How much do I have to pay to be with you tonight?" he asked, and without saying much, I slapped him across the face.
How dare he talk to me like that!
"You couldn't pay for it even with your life, Mr. Arrogant."
"Fine. Just tell me what will pay for it, as long as you get off here and come with me."
"You need a friend to warm your bed? Find someone else!"
"No. I only want you."
I stared at him with narrowed eyes, then in the next second, I no longer cared about his nonsense. He didn't seem to stop. His sturdy body lifted me down and walked somewhere. I struggled, hoping he would let me go anywhere, because I didn't want to be with any man. I had left a man in a hotel room and I still hadn't back yet to check him.
He must be waiting for me there, or maybe gone. However, I wouldn't go back until I found some men who was willing to marry me within three days.
"Wait! Put me down first. Let's talk," I replied. He paused for a moment, then began to lower me. I was still unsteady and almost fell, but he grabbed me again so I could stand upright. "You need a bedmate, right?"
"Not a bedmate, just a friend."
"Whatever. The point is, you need me. How about we work together? I'll accompany you, but you have to be willing to be a candidate to marry me." He looked confused at hearing my words that might have been just a drunken woman's chatter. "Say yes if you agree, and I'll tell you the details."
The man frowned, looking at me with his unique eyes that seemed hungry, innocent, but authoritative. He might be suitable to be my husband. But let's wait for other candidates for the selection process. Dad definitely wouldn't want me to marry just anyone without considering their background and character.
"All right. I agree," he said.
"Good. Give me your phone." The man raised his eyebrows again. "Your phone. I'll send you the details via text message."
He handed me his phone and I quickly typed in my number, then called him back, and sent him the address of the hotel where I was staying.
"Wait there and give me until twelve o'clock. I'll be back and we'll start the party."