Chapter One

The pulsating music and flashing lights engulfed me as I danced with Heart inside the vibrant bar. Yet, beneath the façade of revelry, my heart remained heavy with the burden of an arranged marriage I never wanted. Maximo's rejection of our bond and his constant anger whenever I was near had left me disappointed and drained. I tried to please him, but it seemed like an insurmountable task.

"Cza, can you believe this night? It's like the universe conspired to give us the best party ever!"

I suddenly giggled at what my best friend have told me while we are in the middle of the crowd. I brush my hand through my hair. "I know, right? What about we do this more often?" I kidded when I know to myself that the idea seem impossible. 

Tonight is just my impulsive escape from the new world I am currently in. Tomorrow, I will wake up with a heavy heart again, having no choice but to go home where my husband is. 

To where Maximo is. What could he be doing tonight? Probably he's home again, but cuddling with Jasmine. The vampire whom he loves. 

Sheez.

I get back to my reverie when I saw Heart twirled and giggled, her carefree spirit infectious. Seeing how my best friend is here with me while I am in this broken state is already a big deal. I could not ask for any friend in this world if I have her. 

She is more than enough for me.

We keep on bouncing with other people in the middle of the dance floor, my best friend keeping me company while also winking at every man she saw in the pool of people.

"Hey, Cza, did you see that guy over there?" I followed the side where Heart is referring. 

"He's been eyeing you all night!" She exclaimed to my ears but still keep her bounce on the rhythm.

"Oh, stop it! You're just trying to get me into trouble." I mumbled before sipping on my cup of beer for the nth time. 

This is my sixth, I am still sober.

"No, seriously! Look!"

She pointed discreetly in the direction of a handsome stranger who was definitely stealing glances. "Forget about the husband who doesn't want you, Honey, go find a man who'd be willing to go over heels for you! You're a Lewiston and you let that jerk ruin you?!" She scoffs, raising her red cup. "Fuck you, Montenegro!" She screamed at the top of her lungs and just like that, the music boomed louder this time, as if what Heart did just spiced and hyped everybody in the dancefloor.

As the night wore on, the alcohol in my system dulled the ache inside me, and I found myself dancing with other people on the crowded floor, just like what Heart wanted me to do. 

The man whom Heart was referring to earlier is already dancing behind, stealing glances while I just return a smile. 

"Hey, enjoying so much?" 

I nod my head and continued dancing.

Amid the laughter and cheers, I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket, but the stranger behind me pulled me close, making it impossible to check.

"You're a fantastic dancer. I can't take my eyes off you." 

I look at the person behind me. The same man who has been eyeing me since earlier.

I giggled. "Thank you, you're not too bad yourself."

"I'm Zach."

"What?!" I screamed because I didn't hear him the first time. 

I saw him smile and grip me on my waist, making his way closer to my ears. "I'm Zach, you?"

Oh. 

"Call me Cza," I said. 

We both grooved with the music and start getting wilder together with the crowd.

The alcohol coursing through my veins blurred my senses, and I found myself enjoying the attention he lavished on me. His touch sent shivers down my spine, and I suddenly felt a rush of excitement.

Zach moves close to my ear. "How about we take this somewhere more private? I promise it'll be even more fun."

His words enticed me, and in my drunken state, I was tempted to accept his invitation. After all, what did it matter? Maximo didn't care for me, and I just wanted to forget. 

I lost everything to Maximo, followed the so-called marriage rites, slept with him the first night, and then what? He left me the next day, still naked, and I was crying. 

"Cza?" 

Gracious, I get lost in my thoughts again.

I forced a smile. Two can play this game, Montenegro. If you don't want me, someone will. 

"Sure, why not? Lead the way."

In my intoxicated state, I played along, allowing him to touch my waist and sway to the beat. The crowd egged us on, turning the dance into a more intimate and passionate display. Lost in the illusion of freedom, I engaged in flirtatious conversations, escaping into a world where Maximo's rejection and anger held no power. 

When we are close to getting out from the sea of people, a hand yanked me away from the crowd, jolting me back to reality.

"She's not going anywhere with you." A voice roared.

There stood Maximo, his normally grey eyes now blazing with a fiery golden-yellow hue, a telltale sign of his wolf's anger.

What is he doing here?!

"Maximo, what are you doing?"

I asked in a shaken voice, trying to still act cool but his eyes screams anger that I could not even add a single word to my sentence.

My heart raced in fear as he held my wrist tightly, his gaze unyielding. The once electrifying atmosphere in the bar turned tense and silent, the music fading into the background.

Shit. We are getting attention!

"Cza!" I can hear Heart call me.

"Is this what you've become, Lewiston? Flirting with strangers on the dance floor?"

"I-I was just having fun. Why are you so angry? It's not as if you care anyway." The last sentence came out in a whisper.

And why am I even explaining my point?!

Maximo's jealousy and possessiveness were evident, but the emotion behind his anger was far from love. He was holding on to me not out of affection, but out of a sense of dominance and control.

"You're my wife. You belong to me, not to any other man in this place."

His words stung, reminding me once again of the suffocating reality of our forced marriage. My heart ached, torn between wanting to escape and wanting to make things work with him.

He looks at Zach standing next to me with dominance. "Fuck off." 

When he was about to pull me from that place, I keep my best to stand on my ground and didn't let him take me with him.

I resisted. For the first time.

"Maximo, I can't keep living like this. This is all so unfair to me." My voice shakes.

His grip on my wrist tightened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of pain in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by his cold exterior, and he pulled me closer, possessively claiming me as his.

"Didn't you understand? You're my wife, and you'll do as I say. Let's leave the fuck off this place or I'll rip everyone in this place." Maximo whispered. "Don't make me mad, I was calling you for the nth time, and seriously? I am really enraged..." His grip on me tightened more. "Test me,"

His words left me feeling trapped, suffocated by the expectations placed upon me. But deep down, I knew I couldn't give up on finding a way to mend our shattered bond.

The bar resumed its lively atmosphere, as we finally headed outside. I heard Heart calling me from behind but I could not find myself to stop either, Maximo is pulling me with his tight grip on me. 

"Montenegro, get off Cza!" 

I look at my best friend and she is having a hard time running to follow us. 

"Maximo, Heart is behind."

"That human has been brainwashing you!"

"She's my best friend, don't talk to her like that."

"I can kill her in a sea—"

"Shut it."

I face Heart when Maximo finally stopped. 

"Fuck!" She exclaimed, breathing heavily. 

"I'll see you in school, Heart. I'll call Cze to fetch you."

"What? You are really going with that son or a b—"

"Heart..." I motioned her to stop talking, which she obliged with an obvious heavy heart. 

"Fine. Call me when something happens."

"You really think I will kill her?"

"The look on your face earlier certainly tells me!"

"You're feisty —"

"Let's go, Maximo."

"Cza will leave you, and you will root alone, good for nothing wolf!"