THE DAY MY EX CALLED ME AUNT,I WAS MARKEDBY AN ALPHA

(Sherry’s POV) Tonight was the worst night ever. And I’ve had some pretty terrible nights, so that’s saying something. I emptied another glass, shoved it across the counter, and waved blindly at the bartender. My cheeks were hot, my hair was stuck to my face, and my eyes were doing that glossy, traitorous thing where they threatened to spill tears if anyone so much as breathed near me. “Uh… Miss?” the bartender said carefully. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” “I’ve had enough of life,” I declared. His eyebrows went up. “Right… but maybe also enough alcohol?” I thunked the empty glass down. “Do you wanna hear something crazy?” He paused, then sighed. “…Sure?” “My ex got engaged.” “Oh. I’m… sorry?” “No, no, you don’t understand.” I slurred, leaned over the counter like I was revealing a government secret. “My family got invited to some party by his fiancée’s parents. I thought it was a charity thing. I show up and BAM—engagement dinner. His engagement dinner. My boyfriend of three years. Who never even broke up with me.” His jaw literally dropped. “Wait. He didn’t?” “He DID NOT.” I jabbed the counter. “He told me he was going on a month-long business trip. Business trip! And the bastard wasn’t even out of the state. He was getting engaged!” “Wow,” he muttered. “That’s… evil.” “And then—” My voice cracked, so I squeezed my eyes shut for a second. “Then he says I should try to understand that he needs her family. And that I shouldn't be mad because he doesn't love the girl.” The bartender actually recoiled. “Okay, yeah, I don’t like him.” I scoffed, raising my glass to my lips. “Well, join the club. He's horrible.” “I don’t need him,” I choked out, tears needling in my eyes as the alcohol burned the back of my throat. “I can get a man better than him. Way better.” “That,” he warned, “sounds like a drunk decision.” “Don't tell me what to do.” I pursed my lips. I didn't come here to get a lecture. What sort of bartender was he anyway? I turned on the stool—and crashed straight into a wall. Except… it wasn’t a wall. It was a person. A very tall, very solid person. I almost toppled backwards, but a strong arm caught me. I blinked up—and my jaw dropped. The man holding me was… gorgeous. The dim amber light caught the sharp lines of his jaw and the slightly disheveled sweep of his hair, like he’d raked his fingers through it one too many times. I held a breath as his dark eyes met mine. “Careful,” he murmured, steadying me. My entire face went up in flames. “I—I’m so sorry.” “It’s okay.” He nodded once and walked away. I watched him leave like an i***t. He moved like he owned the whole room and knew it. Behind me, the bartender snorted. “He’s hot.” “I guess,” I muttered, already reaching for another drink. “Nope.” He slid it far, far away. “You’re done.” “I’m heartbroken,” I protested. “Heartbroken people need alcohol.” “You’d have a better chance pulling the Alpha you just fell on than getting another drink from me.” I froze as my alcohol-ladled brain tried to process his words. He said something about—pulling the Alpha? My eyes lit up. “Wait—he’s better than my stupid ex, right?” “I… don’t know your ex,” he said, “but that Alpha was definitely top-shelf.” Exactly. If Dave could cheat on me, why couldn’t I make my own terrible decisions? Tears stung my eyes again and I blinked them back. I’d been saving myself for the mate-bond. For someone good. Someone who wouldn’t call me useless. Well. It's too late now. “I’m going after him,” I whispered. The bartender chuckled. “Be careful, don't—” I don't stay to hear the rest, already slapping money on the counter and marching toward the stairs like a woman possessed. *** The hotel corridor was dim and quiet. I spotted him in front of a door, sliding his keycard. I almost turned back in my heels. But no. I have to do this. I marched up, grabbed the edge of his suit jacket, and tugged. He turned slowly, one eyebrow lifting. Suddenly my courage tried to flee my body. Too late. “I want you,” I blurted. His face barely shifted, but his eyes darkened—slow, controlled, dangerous. Heat rolled off him, brushing my skin, making the air feel too warm. My fingers touched his collar before I could stop them. I hesitated at the first button. “I—I mean it,” I whispered. “I want you. Tonight.” I slid the button open. His breath hit my cheek. “You sure?” I nodded quickly. “Extremely sure.” The lock clicked behind him. He moved in one smooth, lethal motion—pulled me inside, shut the door, and pressed me back against it. One hand beside my head. The other anchoring my waist. Then he kissed me. Hard. I didn’t even think—my body moved on instinct, chasing his mouth, grabbing at his shoulders, wrapping my legs around him when he lifted me. “Don’t regret it,” he murmured against my lips. I gulped, tensing. Would I? The alcohol buzzing in my veins made me too courageous to pull away in this moment. So I steeled my expression and leaned in to kiss him. “Never,” *** “Goddess” I groaned, waking up to a pounding headache. I turned on the bed, then froze. What the heck? My eyes still bleary, I sat up, eyes going wide at the sight in front of me. There was a man next to me. Naked. I looked at him and my soul left my body. It was him. The Alpha from the bar. The one with the dangerous eyes. The one I… oh goddess. ‘Mate,’ my wolf howled inside me. My heart fell with a thud. “Oh no,” I whispered. “Oh no, no, no—what have I done?” He opened his dark eyes and I held a breath at the power in them. But then he seemed to recognise me and his expression smoothed out. He stood up from the bed and started getting dressed. “You were drunk,” he said evenly. “I was too.” “Yes,” I squeaked. “Right. Perfect. Last night was a mistake. Just a—a huge, extremely private mistake.” He watched me for a long moment. I had no idea what he was thinking. Eventually he nodded. “I understand. Get dressed. I’ll drive you home.” “Oh—yeah, right.” I looked away, frantically trying to get dressed. Half my clothes were far from wearable so he landed me his coat. I wrapped myself in it and tried not to die of embarrassment. “Thanks.” I muttered. “Mn,” he hunmed in response as we left the room for downstairs. The car ride was the longest of my life. I hugged the coat like a security blanket and kept sneaking glances at him. I’d lost my virginity to this man. ‘Our mate,’ My wolf hummed quietly inside me, completely unhelpful. My brain, however, was having a meltdown. “So…” I whispered. “Who… are you?” He didn’t even explain. He just handed me a business card. I read it. My heart stopped. Managing Partner of Astor Law Firm. Alpha heir of the Silverclaw Pack. Also known as: my ex’s fiancée’s older brother. “Oh goddess,” I choked. “This is… this is so bad.” He kept driving like nothing was happening. I wonder if he felt the same pull his wolf had on mine. My wolf fought inside me, wanting me to move even closer to him. I pulled out my phone, desperate for a distraction. It exploded with missed calls—twenty—from my stepmother. Then a text popped up: [Where are you? Come home quickly. Something’s happened.]