Forbidden Bonds

Shammah's POV My hands shook as I held the tiny box in my lap. Inside was the ring Solomon gave me two years ago, promising we would be together forever. Tonight was supposed to be our engagement party; instead, I was watching him kiss another girl. Her name is Esther Khai. Her father, David, is the most powerful Lycan in the world. One word from him could make Solomon the next Alpha of our pack, so Solomon made his choice. Her, not me. I touched the mark on my neck, the mate mark Solomon gave me when we first fell in love. It burned now, like it was angry at him too. "Miss, would you like something to drink?" A deep voice asked beside me. I looked up at the bartender and nodded. "Yes, please." "Make it two," another voice said. A man sat down on the stool next to mine. "The lady looks like she needs it." I didn't look at him. I couldn't take my eyes off Solomon and Esther. Every time he touched her, something inside me broke a little more. The bartender put a pink drink in front of me; I took a big sip and coughed. It was strong. "First time drinking?" the man asked. I could hear a smile in his voice. "Is it that easy to tell?" I asked. "You look like someone broke your heart," he said gently. "The groom or the bride?" I took another sip. "Does it matter?" "I guess not," he said. "I'm only here because I have to be. I don't like parties much." "Me neither," I whispered. We sat in silence for a while. I finished my drink faster than I should have. When I stood up to leave, my shirt caught on something sharp at the bar. I heard it rip, and then I started falling. Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground. I opened my eyes and looked up at the man who saved me. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen. Dark hair, bright eyes, and when he smiled, he had a dimple on his cheek. "Are you falling for me already?" he asked with a laugh. I felt my face get hot. "Very funny." He looked at my torn shirt and frowned. "I have a room upstairs; I can give you a new shirt." My heart beat faster. "What?" "Your shirt is ripped," he explained, pointing at the tear. "I have extra clothes in my VIP suite." "Oh," I said, feeling silly. "Thank you." He carried me to the elevator like I weighed nothing. I rested my head on his chest. He smelled like mint and something else I couldn't name. My wolf, who had been sad and quiet all night, suddenly perked up. Inside his room, he went to find a shirt. "You can take off the ripped one," he said. I pulled my torn shirt over my head. When he turned around with a new shirt in his hands, he froze. His eyes went wide as he looked at me. That's when I really looked at him, and I realized who he was. "You are David Khai," I whispered, stepping back. He smiled slowly. "You know me?" "Everyone knows you," I said. My heart was beating so fast I thought it might explode. "You're Esther's father. You're going to be Solomon’s father-in-law." He walked toward me slowly. I walked backward until I hit the wall. "What else do you know about me?" he asked softly. "You're very powerful," I said. My voice came out quiet and breathy. "You change girlfriends every week. You never see the same woman twice." "Is that so?" He was very close now. "Tell me more." I swallowed hard. "Your eyes are beautiful, and when you smile, you have this cute dimple." He stared at me for a long moment, then he kissed me. It wasn't a soft kiss. It was hungry and wild. I kissed him back just as hard. He lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around him. His lips moved to my neck; everywhere he touched felt like fire. I didn't think about Solomon. I didn't think about anything except David. I started pulling at his tie. He helped me take it off, then his shirt. I ran my hands over his chest and shoulders. "Are you sure?" he asked between kisses. "Yes," I said. "We are both adults. Why not?" He was about to unhook my bra when my mother's voice filled my head. Our pack could talk to each other in our minds, and she sounded scared. "Shammah”! Come home right now!" she cried. "Please!" It was like someone threw cold water on me. I unwrapped my legs from around David and pushed against his chest. "Stop," I said. "I have to go." He frowned. "Don't play games with me." "I'm not! It's an emergency!" I moved toward the door but remembered my shirt. "Oh no." He sighed and handed me his shirt. "Here." I put it on quickly. It smelled like him and was way too big, but I didn't care. "Thank you," I said, and ran out the door. When I got home, I found my mother crying in the kitchen. "Mom? What's wrong?" She looked up at me with red eyes. "Your father was arrested tonight. He made bad business choices and lost all our money. Now he owes five million dollars to some very dangerous people. They put him in jail until he pays them back." My whole world stopped. "They can't just take him away like that!" "They can," she sobbed. "They did." My phone rang. I looked at the screen, and my heart sank. It was Solomon.