Fated To The Enemy

Check Mate

Lila crouched low, scanning the packed club in a desperate attempt to find Avery.

Panic surged through her veins as she realized the clock was ticking. If she could smell Derek, it meant he could smell her.

Her heart raced, knowing she had only minutes, maybe seconds before he tracked her down. She cursed the alcohol clouding her senses, making her wolf, Sara, retreat to the back of her mind, unreachable.

Worse yet, her mind link to Avery wasn’t working well it was like an out of tune radio. Damn it! The alcohol was weakening their connection.

Her breath hitched as she scanned the room, her eyes darting between the faces and the pulsating lights. She knew she had to find Avery fast.

They had to leave now. But just as she spotted a familiar flash of Avery’s shiny black Jeep keychain swinging from her friend’s hand, someone grabbed her arm.

"Lila! There you are!" Alex slurred, his grip tight as he spun her toward him. He was grinning, his green eyes hazy from too much alcohol. "What are you doing down there? Come on, let’s dance!"

Lila tried to pull away, panic tightening in her chest. "Alex, I really can’t right now." Lila tried to protest, her voice faltering as she pulled against his grip. But Alex was too drunk to notice her panic.

He started swaying with her, holding her tightly as he danced to the pulsing beat.

Lila scanned the room, frantic to escape, but Alex wasn’t letting go. Pressing her close, completely oblivious to her distress.

Her heart pounded in her chest. Why did she feel so weak Alex was human she should easily be able to break free. It was as though her entire body was jelly. She did not think alcohol could have such an effect on her being a wolf.

Suddenly, the moment Lila dreaded came to light. Derek appeared his fierce expression locking onto Alex.

Lila recognised the flash of his eyes as he struggled to control his wolf, who was ready to tear apart anything or anyone who touched his mate.

Dereg's muscles bulged as he grabbed Alex by the collar and yanked him backward, his eyes blazing with rage.

"Get your hands off her," Derek growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Alex, too intoxicated to understand the gravity of the situation, drunkenly shoved Derek back. "Back off, man. She's with me!"

Derek’s eyes flashed, and before Alex could react, Derek's fist shot out, connecting with Alex’s jaw.

The punch was so powerful that Alex crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Gasps echoed around the room as people turned to stare, frozen in shock at the sudden display of violence.

Lila screamed and rushed to Alex, Derek seized her arm and dragged her away from the crowd, his grip like iron.

"Let go of me!" Lila cried, trying to pull free, but Derek was far too strong. His muscles tensed, bulging beneath his shirt as he pulled her through the back areas of the club, away from prying eyes.

The mate bond between them pulsed with every step, sending confusing waves of pleasure and pain through her body. Lila’s arm tingled where his skin touched hers, and despite her fear, the bond tugged at her, making her body crave his touch even as her mind screamed for escape.

She desperately tried to reach out to her wolf again, but she realized with horror that all the alcohol had seriously dulled her senses, leaving her wolf silent. She was practically defenceless.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as panic consumed her. "Derek, stop!" she sobbed, her voice breaking.

Derek frowned down at her, in a confused look, but then it quickly twisted to disgust. "Stop whining," he snapped, his voice cold and venomous. "I asked you nicely to meer me, but you wanted to play games. So we will have to do things the hard way now."

Lila’s heart sank as he continued. "Daddy’s spoilt precious princess… Pathetic," he muttered, shoving her into a small, dimly lit room and slamming the door shut behind them.

His frown sent chills down her spine as he stared her down. Her hands trembled as she attempted reached for the door, but Derek stepped forward, blocking her path. She began to scream for her life “Help! Please! I’m in here!”

"You can scream all you want," he taunted. "Nobody will hear you, and even if they did, no one here would dare help you” He grabbed her purse and the two were locked in a tug of war with Derek quickly the victor.

He smiled gleefully as he pulled out Lila’s phone as Lila tried to grab it back. He fended off her attacks easily.

"You won’t be needing this he said as he put it into his pocket with one hand, the other holding her back."

Her blood ran cold as she realized how much control he had over the situation. Giving up, she asked, "How?" her voice was barely a whisper, "How did you know I was here?"

Derek laughed, the sound dark and menacing. " How do you think you got those VIP tickets? I own part of this club. When I saw that your little friend, Avery, had called in for VIP entry, I knew this was my chance. Everything fell perfectly into place." He leaned in closer, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "You and your bimbo little friend just handed yourselves to me on a silver platter."

“Don’t call her a bimbo Derek she used to be your friend too!” Lila screamed, “We haven’t done anything to you, so just let me go" My father will come for me." she said in a not so confident tone, her voice trembling.

Derek’s smile twisted into a sneer. "Your father? He’ll think you ran away, just like everyone else. By the time they realize what’s happened, it’ll be too late." His gaze darkened as he spoke, his anger toward her father evident in every word.

"I couldn’t let you marry Marcus. You really thought I’d just stand by and let that happen? You’re a big part of Victor’s plan to get an alliance with the Silver Star pack to destroy me and take over my pack. But now, I have you, and you’re not going anywhere. Check Mate."

Lila tried to hold back her tears, but they fell anyway “No I wasn’t trying to hurt you Derek, I have no choice it was never personal for me I swear” You don’t even want to be with me why do you care who I even marry?”

Derek’s voice dripped with disdain as he leaned in closer. "You’re cunning, Lila, but not smart enough. Im not falling for your poor me innocent act. Victor’s plan to trade you for an alliance is dead. Marcus will find another bride, and your father’s hopes of taking over my pack will crumble."

Just as Lila felt like everything was closing in around her, the door swung open again, and Rowan, Derek’s Beta, shoved Avery into the room. Avery stumbled, her eyes wide with fear and confusion.

"Avery!" Lila cried, rushing toward her friend.

Avery grabbed onto Lila, confused and dazed. She looked an unhealthy shade of white.

Rowan smirked as he shut the door behind him. "Looks like we’ve got ourselves a full house tonight." But somehow, the look in his eye did not quite match the tone in his voice.

Derek crossed his arms "Now, you’re both going to stay here, like good little girls."

Lila stared at Derek, her heart pounding with terror. She and Avery were now prisoners, and their only hope of escape seemed more distant than ever.

Ahh, Derek," Rowan interrupted, his voice low but steady. "We’ve got a problem."

Derek turned, his anger barely contained. "What now?" he snapped.

Rowan hesitated for a moment, glancing from Derek to Lila and back again. "You know that kid you just knocked out? The one whose face hit the floor?"

"Yeah, what about him?" Derek's voice was laced with annoyance, his patience thinning by the second.

Rowan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "That kid happens to be your new business partner’s son. Alex."

For a moment, Derek didn’t react. Then, a new wave of fury flashed across his face. He cursed under his breath, "You’ve got to be kidding me."

"Nope. I’m serious," Rowan said, his tone grim. " This could get messy. We need to sort this out fast."

Derek turned back to Lila, his anger now fully directed at her. "See what you've done? You’re nothing but trouble! Why did the moon goddess curse me with such a seductress?"

Lila blinked, stunned by the accusation and insult. "Me?" she protested, her voice shaking. "I didn’t…"

"I seen you all over him!" Derek cut her off, his voice sharp and menacing.

Rowan cleared his throat. " We need to handle this situation with Alex ASAP"

Derek let out a low growl, his fists clenched at his sides. "Fine," he said through gritted teeth, glaring at Lila one last time before storming out.

Rowan lingered for a moment, his eyes once again locking on Avery. But there was no time for words, only the heavy, unspoken tension that filled the room as the door closed behind him.

Lila collapsed against the wall, trying to catch her breath as her sobs racked her chest, and tears of frustration streamed down her face.