Lycans Don't Lie

POV: Elara (Human) The neon Buzz sign flickered like a dying heartbeat. I wiped the whiskey glass harder, trying to scrub away the memory of rent due tomorrow. Thump-thump-thump. My head snapped up. That sound again - not the bass from the jukebox, but the raw pulse of the amber-eyed man at Barstool 9. Since when can I hear heartbeats? "Last call, sweetheart." Mr. Henderson slid a twenty across the counter. His knuckles were scraped raw. New fight with the wife, I thought automatically. But then... his heartbeat stuttered. Liar. The word bloomed in my mind like blood on snow. Freaky. The alley door banged open. Cold air carried the scent of wet fur and... strawberries? Weird. Hoodie Guy filled the doorway, his gaze locking on Barstool 9. Electricity crackled between them. Run. The voice in my head didn't sound like mine. Barstool 9's chair screeched. "Mine," he hissed, pupils swallowing the amber whole. Oh god. His fingers... weren't fingers anymore. Claws glinted under the sickly neon. Hoodie Guy moved like liquid shadow. "Touch her and I'll rip your throat out." His voice vibrated in my bones. Then everything happened in jagged pieces: 1：Barstool's claws at my throat (cold so cold) 2：Hoodie Guy's snarl tearing the air 3：A silver flash (dagger?) clattering near the ice machine 4：And pain. White-hot teeth in my shoulder. POV: Caden (Lycans Alpha Heir) Idiot brother. I smelled Jax's rage three blocks away. That damn Bloodsinger bait - all leather and poisoned honey - had him foaming at the mouth. Elara's fear hit me first. Sour. Human. But under it... wildflowers after rain. The mate-scent. No. The Council would skin me alive for bonding a human. Jax lunged. Silver glinted in his off-hand - f*****g Bloodsinger trick. I tackled him mid-leap. His teeth grazed my arm before sinking into her. Stupid! My canines erupted. One bite to her shoulder, one to Jax's jugular. Copper flooded my tongue. POV: Elara Darkness. Then the smack of something heavy hitting the floor. Hoodie Guy - Caden? - stood over Barstool's twitching body, blood dripping from his chin. Actual goddamn fangs. "You bit me." My voice sounded miles away. "To save your life." He wiped his mouth. Moonlight caught the ring on his finger - a wolf eating its own tail. "Now we're screwed." A black envelope materialized on my sticky bar apron. Thick parchment, reeking of cedar and... sorrow? The seal bled crimson as it cracked open. By Lycan Law §7.3: Blood-exchange during attack = Marriage Covenant Sign or die at next moonrise. "Bullshit." I threw it down. The paper hissed. Letters rearranged themselves: MINE MINE MINE Caden's phone buzzed. A text lit up: Mother: Is it true? A human? Finish her before dawn or I will. His growl rattled the bottles behind the bar. "We need to - wait, what are you doing?" I'd grabbed the silver dagger near the ice machine. The handle burned my palm. "Stay back." "Elara, that's Bloodsinger silver - it'll -" Thump-thump-thump. Footsteps echoed from the alley. Slow. Clapping. "Bravo!" A velvet voice purred. Silk suit. Too-perfect smile. Student Council President Marcus. He kicked Jax's body. "Though really, Caden, must you make such a mess?" Caden shifted in front of me. "This doesn't concern you, Bloodsinger." "Oh, but it does." Marcus's eyes flicked to my bleeding shoulder. "A human bitten by two Lycans in one night? That's... deliciously unstable." He licked his lips. "Tell me, little rabbit - when the moon madness hits, whose blood will you crave?"