From Rogue To Queen

Alexa's Night Out

—Alexa’s POV—

"Come on, Alexa. It's just a few drinks for my birthday," Thomas persuaded, his eyes glinting with the kind of infectious enthusiasm that made it hard to say no.

I hesitated, fingers nervously tracing the edge of my delivery clipboard. Celebrations weren't my thing—not anymore. But this was Thomas, and saying no to him felt like kicking a puppy. "Fine," I relented, "but just one drink."

"Deal!" He beamed, as if he'd won a prize.

Later, at my small apartment after work, I couldn’t decide what to wear. Majority of my closet was work uniforms. I reached for a tank top, but paused, catching sight of myself in the mirror. Purple splotches marred my arms—reminders of why I dreaded social outings. I turned away, my stomach twisting.

"Lex? You ready?" Thomas' voice filtered through my front door.

"Almost!" I called back, my fingers hesitating over the fabric of my shirt. Long sleeves. I need to wear long sleeves. I quickly changed, covering the evidence of my latest encounter with the world outside my carefully constructed safe zone.

"Everything okay?" Thomas asked as I opened the door. His brow furrowed slightly, gaze dropping to where my shirt hadn’t quite unraveled down my torso all the way, revealing the tail end of a bruises.

"Work hazard," I said quickly, pulling the fabric down. "You know how it is—boxes fall, things happen."

"Right," he replied, though his eyes lingered with unspoken questions. But Thomas didn't push; he never did. That was part of the relief of being around him. He understood the value of silence, the peace that came with not having to explain yourself.

"Shall we?" I gestured towards the hallway, eager to escape the scrutiny, even from a friend.

"Absolutely." He stepped aside, allowing me to lock door while he lead the way out into the night.

The clang of laughter and glass jostled me as we stepped into the dimly lit bar. A wave of chatter washed over us, mingling with the low hum of a rock ballad vibrating through the air. My pulse hammered in my ears; each beat synchronized with the flicker of neon lights reflecting off polished countertops. Thomas nudged my shoulder and pointed to a group of coworkers who also came.

"Look there they are," he shouted back, a smile in his voice.

We made our way across the crowded room, weaving through small clusters of people until we reached the familiar faces of our coworkers. The energy was infectious, laughter bubbling up like a wellspring as they clinked glasses and exchanged stories. For a moment, I allowed myself to relax into the warmth of camaraderie, forgetting the shadows that lingered just beyond the reach of the bar's neon glow.

But then, amidst the sea of faces, I saw him. Luke. His eyes found mine, icy blue cutting through the haze of the room like shards of glass. Dread coiled in my stomach, threatening to suffocate me as memories of his cruelty flooded back.

"Lex, you alright?" Eliza's voice broke through my reverie, concern etched in her features. I forced a smile, nodding as if everything was fine.

"Just... old memories," I sighed. I am going to need several more drinks tonight to deal with the fact that he is also here. “Who needs another round?”

I made my way to the bar, welcoming the chance to take a couple extra shots at the bar while I wait for the bartender to get the next round of drinks ready.

I focused on the burn of the liquor as it seared down my throat, a temporary distraction from the unease settling in my chest.

"Hey there," his deep voice interrupted my thoughts, making me startle slightly. I didn’t need to look over to know it was Luke standing next to me. I downed another shot to avoid crying in front of him. We broke up only a few weeks ago, and his friends made sure I got the message loud and clear. Packless rogues have no business dating pack members. He had just stood there, laughing while his friends kicked my ribs in.

I fought to keep my composure, urging myself to stay calm. I couldn't let him see my fear; weakness was a luxury I couldn't afford. But my hands trembled slightly as I set down the shot glass, refusing to meet his gaze. Luke's presence felt like a storm cloud looming overhead, dark and suffocating.

"What, no hello?" he taunted, his voice laced with a cruel edge that made my skin crawl. "I didn't expect to see you here, Lex. Thought you'd be too busy licking your wounds somewhere."

I bit back the retort that bubbled up in my throat, the urge to lash out warring with the need to keep things civil. The bartender finally returned with the drinks, a welcome distraction from Luke's piercing stare.

Ignoring him, I grabbed the tray of drinks and turned to leave. But before I could make my escape, Luke's hand shot out, fingers curling around my wrist in a painful grip.

"Let go," I hissed through clenched teeth.

After a few intense moments, Luke spoke up. "Let me buy you a drink at least.”

“No thanks,” I muttered, trying to pull away from his grasp, but his grip only tightened.

"Just one drink, Lex. We can be civil, can't we?" he cajoled, a twisted smile playing on his lips. “One drink and I’ll leave you to your friends.”

I reluctantly agreed, not wanting to make a scene in front of everyone. Luke released my wrist and smiled at me triumphantly. The air between us crackled with tension, memories of our past hanging heavy in the space.

He flashed a cheeky grin and called out to the bartender, "I'll have 2 of my usual, the Lucky Luke." The drink was his own creation, named after himself.

It felt like an eternity passed as I waited for the bartender to mix Luke’s ominous creation. The glass clinked down in front of me, a sickly sweet aroma wafting up from the concoction. Luke raised his glass in a mocking toast, his gaze lingering on me with a predatory glint.

"Cheers, Lex," he sneered before taking a long sip, his eyes never leaving mine. I forced myself to smile, steeling my nerves against the rising tide of memories threatening to drown me. Luke's presence felt like a weight on my chest, suffocating and oppressive. But I refused to let him see my fear, the vulnerability that still lingered beneath my carefully constructed facade.

As I raised the glass to my lips, the sickly sweet taste of the drink coated my tongue, sending a shiver down my spine. Luke's smirk widened, a cruel glint in his eyes as he watched me swallow the bitter concoction. The room seemed to tilt slightly, colors blurring at the edges as a wave of dizziness washed over me.

"I’m sure your friends are wondering where their drinks are," Luke's voice cut through the haze, taunting and sharp. “I will catch up with you later.”

Apologizing to the group, I made my way back to our table with everyone's drinks. "I didn't mean to take so long," I said. "Next time, I'll make sure to have company."

“Hey we get it, break ups are hard,” Eliza reassured me, her eyes filled with sympathy. I offered her a weak smile, grateful for her understanding.

I raised my glass and called out, "Happy Birthday, Thomas," trying to shift the focus onto someone else. He smiled back at me, his arm casually resting on the shoulder of a girl with a short, spunky haircut and a contagious giggle.

I watched them for a moment, a twinge of something like envy or longing pulling at the edges of my heart.

Luke kept his promise and disappeared, along with his friends. An overwhelming sense of relief and surprise washed over me.

As the night began to wind down, Thomas had left with a girl he met. After a while, Eliza's ride arrived, which I kindly turned down. Her husband is a very friendly guy, but I couldn't handle his barrage of dad jokes tonight.

I decided to stay a bit longer, the effects of Luke's drink still lingering in my veins. The room swayed slightly as I watched the remaining patrons filter out, leaving behind a quiet echo of their laughter and conversation. As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, I couldn’t help but laugh. I had told Thomas that I was going to have just one drink, but here I am, the last to leave.

As I rose to my feet, the room became blurry and my legs wobbled beneath me. I leaned against the bar for support and requested a cab from the bartender. While I waited for the taxi to arrive, the bartender kindly handed me a drink.

“Oh, I didn’t order anything,” I protested.

The bartender winked, "On the house. You look like you could use it." I hesitated for a moment, then accepted the drink gratefully. The cool liquid slid down my throat, soothing some of the lingering unease from the night.

As the warmth from the drink spread through me, the room began to spin uncontrollably. I blinked, trying to focus on the bartender’s face as everything started to blur around me. Panic clawed its way up my throat, and I struggled to keep my eyes open.

“Hey there, let’s get you home,” the voice slithered into my awareness, causing my spine to stiffen. Luke stood there, his presence looming like a dark cloud on the edge of a storm. His eyes were fixed on me, a predator's gaze masked with a sickening veneer of concern.

My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to push past the fog clouding my mind, my instincts screaming at me to get away from Luke.

"Why don't you let me take you home, Lex?" he offered, his voice oozing with false warmth. Every fiber of my being recoiled at the mere thought of being alone with him.

"No, I'm fine," I managed to mumble weakly, my gaze darting around desperately for any sign of help. The bartender hesitated, caught between wanting to assist and not wanting to escalate the situation further.

Luke's grip on my arm tightened, his fingers digging into my skin like claws. "No, you’re not. I made sure that second drink was stronger," he whispered, a sinister smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. Panic surged through me, drowning out the haze of confusion. I planted my feet firmly on the ground, summoning every ounce of strength within me.

“You don’t seriously believe Silas actually called a cab, do you?” he laughed as I looked at the bartender in disbelief.

My heart thrummed a frantic rhythm against my ribs. "Restroom," I blurted out, my voice sounding foreign even to my own ears.

I forced my legs to move, stumbling towards the back of the bar where the restroom was located. Luke's laughter echoed behind me, a chilling sound that spurred me on even faster.

As I made my way across the room, an unusual feeling washed over me, almost as if I was being drawn towards a group of unfamiliar faces huddled in the corner.

Their eyes met mine with a mix of curiosity and concern, as if they could sense the danger lurking around me. Without hesitation, I changed course, heading straight towards them, my heart pounding in my chest.

One of them, a tall man with dark, intense gold eyes, stepped forward, a silent question in his gaze. I felt a surge of hope at the sight of him, a flicker of recognition that I couldn’t quite place.

“Please,” I whispered urgently, my voice barely above a breath. “Help me.”