CLAWS, LIES AND DESIRE

Chapter 3

“HEADLINES AND HEAT?”

AYLA

Water hit my face like a slap, cold and jarring, yanking me straight out of the dream I was just

starting to enjoy. I shot up, sputtering and wiping my face as reality sank in.

“What the actual hell?!” I shrieked, glaring at the smug face staring back at me.

Tate stood there, a jug still in her hands, her blue eyes twinkling with amusement. She didn’t

even flinch when I grabbed the nearest pillow and launched it at her.

“Good morning to you too,” she snorted, sidestepping the pillow as if she’d predicted it.

“Do you ever consider knocking like a normal person?” I groaned, peeling myself off my

now-damp sheets. My hair clung to my face, and my annoyance hit an all-time high as I stood

there dripping.

“You weren’t waking up, and I didn’t feel like waiting,” she said with a shrug, clearly proud of her

handiwork.

“Well, congratulations. Mission accomplished,” I muttered, stomping into the bathroom. “You're

so impossible”

“And you’re slow,” she teased, following me inside uninvited.

In the mirror, my dark, wavy hair looked like a wet mop glued to my face. Great. Just great. I

grabbed my toothbrush, slapped on some toothpaste, and started brushing.

Tate, of course, had followed me in. She leaned casually against the doorway, arms crossed,

like she owned the place.

“So?” I mumbled through the foam, arching an eyebrow at her reflection in the mirror. “Why the

waterboarding wake-up call? What’s so urgent?”

“You’re making headlines, Ayla,” she said, her tone way too nonchalant for what she just

dropped.

I froze mid-brush, meeting her gaze in the mirror. “Headlines?” I asked, toothbrush still in my

mouth.

She smirked, the glint in her eyes already grating on my nerves. “Last night.”

My mind spun for a second, and then it clicked. Oh. Last night. I pulled the toothbrush out of my

mouth and smirked.

“Kael? The temple?Seriously?” I said, laughing.

“The whole of Lunaris is looking for the person who stole the Soul of the Lover,” she replied,

clearly unimpressed by my amusement.

“Oh, that?” I grinned. “I didn’t think it was that serious. I mean, I knew it was something

important, but—”

“You didn’t think stealing a sacred artifact from Selena’s temple would be serious?” she cut in,

her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I shrugged, rinsing my mouth. “It’s just a shiny trinket.”

“It’s not just a trinket,” she snapped, stepping into the bathroom fully now. “That artifact is tied to

the Obsidian Order.”

I choked. “The Obsidian Order? You mean the coven?”

“Yes, the witches,” she said, her tone clipped.

“Oh my f*****g god,” I muttered, slapping a hand to my forehead.

Tate didn’t stop there. “And Kael? You know, the Alpha King you oh-so-cleverly outmaneuvered?

Yeah, he’s not just looking for the artifact because it’s shiny. It’s a key, Ayla. They’ll burn this

entire city to find it.”

It wasn't my fault. “It wasn’t exactly labeled ‘Caution: Handle With Care, Witches Involved,’ now,

was it?” I said, rolling my eyes.

I stared at her, my mind racing. The memory of Kael’s golden eyes flashed in my head, and for a

brief moment, I was back there—his hand gripping my ankle, his voice cutting through the air

with that sharp, commanding tone that made my blood boil and my knees weak at the same

time.

I bit my lip without realizing it.

“Earth to Ayla,” Tate said, waving a hand in front of my face.

“What?”

“You were daydreaming about Kael. I’m not judging, but if you’re going to drool over him, maybe

do it in private.” Her smirk was back, and I hated how much she was enjoying this.

“I was not drooling,” I snapped, grabbing a towel to dry my hair. “And for the record, I hate him.

Literally hate him.”

“Sure you do,” she said, rolling her eyes

“What's that supposed to mean?” I glared at her.

“Sure. You’re totally not thinking about the Alpha King,” she teased.

“Tatiana,” I warned.

She just laughed, following me out of the bathroom and into the kitchen.

Grabbing a glass, I poured myself some water. Tate, meanwhile, rummaged through the

cupboards, pulling out a box of Cheerios.

“Anyway,” she continued, “you need to sell it.”

“The artifact?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as I sipped my water.

“Yes. The witches can use spells to track it. You need to get rid of it before they come knocking

on your door.”

I frowned. “But it’s pretty. It feels...wrong to just give it away.”

“Ayla.” Tate shot me a warning look. “This isn’t a game. You’ve pissed off the Obsidian Order I sighed, the weight of her words settling on me. But the thought of letting go of something so

valuable—so precious—left a bad taste in my mouth.

“Fine,” I muttered. “I’ll deal with it this afternoon. But right now, I need breakfast.”

Tate shook her head, clearly not convinced, but she didn’t push it further.

—--

It was already night, and I was curling my hair, ensuring each wave framed my face just right.

My wolf, Ariella, was restless—no, scratch that—she was whining incessantly. She was mad at

me, as usual, for not shifting in years. I neglected her. We didn’t talk anymore, but tonight, her

heat was impossible to ignore. It was annoying, honestly. I didn’t know what Kael’s wolf did to

her, but she’d been a mess since.

I sighed, rubbing my cherry cola lip gloss on for the final time. My black full-wave hair matched

my sheer black mini dress perfectly, the kind of dress that screamed danger in all the right ways.

Paired with my black stilettos, I looked hot, borderline slutty—except I had the natural ability to

make even that look classy.

Tonight was about one thing—satisfaction. Who knows? Maybe I’d find someone who could get

me through this heat. Maybe.

Tate was babysitting at Felix’s house, so I had the place to myself. I might or might not have

forgotten to sell the artifact this afternoon but oh well.

I grabbed my purse and headed out to the Uber waiting outside. The destination? Rosé, the

best club in Lunaris and, coincidentally, owned by the Alpha King. Not like I cared.

The second I stepped in, the smell of alcohol, cologne, and pheromones hit me like a freight

train. Heat. Everyone was drowning in it. I made my way to the bar, spotting my favorite

bartender, Eric.

“Hey, Eric,” I said, offering a small smile.

“Oh my god, gorgeous. You look f*****g great, Ayla. I see you,” he smirked.

I laughed. “Flattery won’t get you tips, you know.”

“Lucky for me, I’m paid hourly,” he shot back, already mixing my drink.

“s*x on the beach?”

and the Alpha King. You’re officially the most wanted thief in Lunaris. Congrats.”

I smirked. “It’s kind of flattering, actually. A whole council meeting about me.”

Tate groaned. “You’re impossible.”

“You know me so well.”

Drink in hand, I sank into the barstool, taking sip after sip, the alcohol quickly loosening my

nerves. By the seventh drink, I felt pleasantly tipsy. That’s when I heard a voice too familiar.

“Drinking alone? Dangerous place for someone who smells so… wild.”

I froze, my heart skipping. Of course, it was him. Kael. The Alpha King himself, wrapped in

arrogance and power. His scent, a mix of cedar and smoke, cut through the haze of the club,

making it impossible to ignore him. Damn his wolf. Damn him.

I turned slowly, meeting his golden eyes, my lips curling into a smirk. “I was waiting for you,

Alpha.” My words slurred slightly—definitely the alcohol. Definitely.

His jaw tightened, his wolf almost growling. “And now I’m here, princess, aren’t I?”

“And you are,” I whispered, my voice dripping with sultry amusement. I hated the way he looked

at me, like he could see right through me, peeling back the layers with ease.

Kael smirked, leaning against the bar. “Careful. You play with fire, you’re bound to get burned.”

“Good thing I like the heat.” I bit my lip, my words bold.

His gaze darkened, his wolf dangerously close to the surface. I should’ve felt afraid. Instead, a

thrill coursed through me. I hated him—or at least I was supposed to. But the pull between us

was undeniable, infuriatingly magnetic.

“You’re trouble,” he murmured, his voice low, almost dangerous.

“And you’re way too full of yourself.” I drained the rest of my drink and set the glass down with

finality. “Now, if you’ll excuse me—”

Before I could even finish, Kael’s hand wrapped gently around my wrist, stopping me. “Dance

with me.”

I blinked, startled by the sudden shift. “What?”

“You heard me.”

It wasn’t a question.

My logical brain screamed to refuse, but his hand, warm and firm, was already leading me to the

dance floor. The music pulsed around us as his hands settled lightly on my waist, sending a

shiver down my spine.

We moved in sync, the space between us shrinking until there was barely any left. I hated how

natural it felt, how easy it was to get lost in him. His lips brushed my ear, his voice low and full of

heat.

“You’re dangerous,” he murmured.

“And you’re insufferable,” I shot back, though my voice betrayed me, softer than I intended.

Kael chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that sent sparks down my spine. Before I knew it, he

was pulling me toward the exit.

“Where are we going?” I asked, not resisting but needing to hear him say it.

His golden eyes glinted with mischief. “Somewhere quieter.”

The night was just beginning, and I wasn’t sure if I’d survive it.