THE LYCAN'S STRIPPER MATE

CHAPTER 4

KIERAN BLACKWOOD

I enter the room and close the door behind me, feeling my heart race with anticipation of what's to come. The expectation is palpable in the air as I wait, the distant and muffled music serving as a constant reminder of the bustling world outside.

I sit in a chair, loosening my tie and undoing the top buttons of my white shirt. There's a drink available in the room, and I'm having another shot at the moment.

I close my eyes, sighing and thinking about the thousands of problems with the Lycans, but I also can't stop thinking about the girl.

I hear footsteps in the corridor, and seconds later, the door of the room opens. Furthermore, I still don't open my eyes; I sigh, able to smell her soft perfume.

"If you're here for s*x, I'm sorry to say I'm not available for that kind of treatment."

I open my eyes, hearing her voice, and I blink, seeing the girl looking at me near the door.

Jesus.

Maya.

I shake my head before standing up quickly, realizing I'm much taller than her; she's still wearing the same lingerie and high heels.

"Don't worry, I just want a dance."

She nods, and I stop breathing as she approaches me; I feel my whole body trembling as I feel her hand pushing my body back.

"Sit down.", she whispers, and I obey, sitting on the bed, watching her approach a music device.

In the dark silence of the room, I watch as the girl approaches the pole dance bar, her slow and calculated steps echoing in the air, filled with expectation.

I remain sitting on the bed, my heart beating fast in my chest, as she turns off the lights, leaving only a soft red light flooding the room.

The music fills the space, enveloping us in its sensual melody, as the girl starts to dance, moving with captivating grace around the pole. Her movements are fluid and hypnotic; each gesture is an expression of pure seduction. But it's when she gets closer, revealing hidden details, that I realize she is more than just a dancer.

In the red glow of the light, I see the tattoos adorning her skin, marks of rebellion and authenticity that Maya would have hated.

They are reminiscent of a past she would prefer to forget, a glaring contradiction to the image of purity and innocence that Maya represented to me. They are identical but different at the same time, a duality that leaves me stunned.

The girl approaches me, placing her hands on my shoulders before starting to dance on my lap. Her gaze meets mine, her dark eyes overflowing with a deep mystery that intrigues me. For a moment, I find myself wishing she were Maya and that she could take me back to a time when life was simpler and happier.

Without thinking, I raise my hand and reach for the mask covering her face.

She closes her eyes as I touch it, allowing me to remove it slowly. And it's then that shock overtakes me when I see the face underneath.

It's her.

There's no doubt in my mind. She's the perfect copy of the woman I loved and lost, her delicate and soft features, her shy and captivating smile. But at the same time, I know it can't be her. Maya is gone, and this woman, although identical in appearance, is a stranger to me.

"Maya..."

She frowns before bringing her face close to mine. I can smell her; I want to touch her.

I close my eyes as she continues dancing on my lap, increasing the pleasure in my body.

Furthermore, I sigh as my hands touch her warm waist; I open my eyes, finding her dark pupils fixed on my face.

"Weird...", she whispers, and I furrow my brow, looking at her lips.

"What?"

"I feel like I already know you, but I've never seen you here before. I feel something pulling me to you like I've never felt before. What's happening?", she asks, confused, and my eyes fixate on her left shoulder.

Maya had the mark of my bite on her left shoulder. I bit her when I found out she was my mate, marking her as mine forever.

But Scarlett doesn't have any marks on her shoulder, and it confuses me even more.

"I feel it too."

"Your eyes are different; I've never seen eyes like that before. They're intense as if they could see into my soul."

I blink my eyes, feeling my pupils getting brighter, and I'm careful not to reveal my true identity.

"Vrau olosh vinna, malkan? Ashinu rholva, palir ruvin vinna.”

If she knew I was a Lycan, would she run away from me?

"What does it mean?"

"Where were you, my mate? Your scent draws me; everything about you draws me.", I repeat it, translating it for her, and I see a smile growing on her lips.

She continues to sway slowly on my lap. I know she's not Maya; she's been dead for a long time, and since then, I've been trying to find her killer. Scarlett is identical, but she's not Maya.

"Your scent is like sweet honey from the full moon."

She looks at me more intensely, and I realize she's feeling the urge to kiss me at this moment; I also want to do that.

"You're like her; everything about you is like her, but at the same time, it's different."

"Who?", she asks, confused, and I shake my head, trying to remove that kind of thought from my mind.

The tension in the room reaches its peak as I feel Scarlett approaching, her slender and seductive body pressing against mine as she prepares to kiss me.

But something inside me, a primal instinct belonging to the Lycan within me, begins to whisper a silent warning.

My instincts are on high alert, and a shiver runs down my spine as a sense of imminent danger creeps into my mind.

I furrow my brow, an involuntary gesture of concern, and when her lips approach mine, I turn my face, averting my gaze to the door of the room.

The music still echoes in the environment, but my senses are in sharp tune, each beat reverberating in my ears with an almost painful clarity.

I feel Scarlett's waist under my hands, squeezing it firmly as I focus on my super-hearing.

And then, like distant thunder, the scent of other Lycans invades the air—a familiar mix of wet earth and moss, mixed with a touch of looming danger.

My body tenses instantly, every muscle tight and ready for what's to come. There's something wrong, something beyond the obvious, and I know I can't ignore the signs my instincts are giving me.

I remove Scarlett from my lap abruptly, my expression serious as I try to process the avalanche of information I'm receiving. She looks at me confused, her dark eyes shining with a mix of surprise and concern.

"What's happening?", she asks, her soft voice echoing in the room.

Instead of answering immediately, I grab the bedsheet and hand it to her, my gesture a reflex of concern and protection.

"Put this on.", I say, my voice deep and firm as I prepare to face the unknown that approaches.

While Scarlett wraps herself in the sheet, my thoughts are swirling.

I stand up, closing my eyes. I can hear everything—the men laughing and talking in the club and the unmistakable smell of Lycans entering the place.

Furthermore, I clench my fists when I recognize a familiar scent.

Jason.

I open my eyes when I begin to hear screams and more screams, sounds of glass breaking, and people trying to run.

"My God, what's happening out there?", Scarlett screams, her eyes widening, and I approach her.

"I need to get you out of here fast. I need you to trust me; you'll see things you've never seen, but I ask you not to be afraid of me."

She widens her eyes again, looking at me scared before nodding.

"What are you going to do?", she whispers, and I look at the door of the room again.

With Scarlett's hand firmly in mine, I open the door of the room and prepare to face the unknown that awaits us on the other side.

My mind is on high alert, every muscle tense and prepared for what's to come.

"Is there another exit in this place besides the main doors?"

"Yes, there's another exit.", she answers, her voice trembling but determined.

She points to the other side of the corridor, and I nod, grateful for her guidance.

As I prepare to move forward, our eyes meet, and in an instant, I see fear reflected in hers.

She's scared, and I can't blame her. I am, too. But I can't allow fear to paralyze me. I need to act to protect her at all costs.

But then, a scream echoes down the hallway, cutting through the air like a sharp blade. My senses sharpen instantly, and my eyes change color, turning into a bright gold. It's Jason's voice, and his grave tone is a clear warning of the danger approaching.

He's transforming into a Lycan in front of everyone, his voice filled with ferocity and determination. The other Lycans start to attack, their howls echoing through the club as chaos ensues.

"Kieran! Show yourself and let's settle this now! See every human bleeding here; you can't save them all!"

Terror spreads quickly among those present, panicked screams filling the air as people run in all directions, seeking an escape. But I know Jason is here for me, knowing I'm alone in the club. He won't rest until he finds me—until he ends me.

As we move through the corridor, Scarlett squeezes my hand tighter, her fear palpable in every tremor. But even in the face of imminent danger, she remains by my side, her presence a source of comfort and courage amidst the chaos.

More howls and screams, and we stop running when I hear footsteps. Turning my head and seeing a Lycan growling at me, Scarlett screams, putting her hands on her mouth when she sees the creature for the first time.

"Oh my God!"

Jason gathered a group of Lycans rejected by the pack and planned an attack, and that made anger overcome me at that moment.

"Go, Scarlett! Run!"

With imminent danger before us, I feel the inner beast within me roar, eager to break free.

A growl escapes my lips, and seconds later, my clothes tear into strips, falling to the ground and revealing the transformation that is about to come.

Every muscle in my body tenses and a sensation of uncontrollable power takes over me as the bones start to break and realign.

A howl tears through the air as the transformation is complete, my human form giving way to a beast of dark fur and golden eyes. The sharp claws extend before me, ready for the approaching confrontation.

I look at Scarlett, seeing fear stamped in her eyes, and nod, silently asking her to run while there's still time. I know I can't guarantee her safety while I'm involved in the battle unfolding before us.

And then, the Lycan launches itself at us, its ferocity evident in every movement. The fight begins, with a whirlwind of blows and growls filling the dark corridor. I feel the force of the impact as I'm pushed forcefully against the wall, the cold concrete pressing against my back as I try to regain my balance.

The sound of Scarlett's screams cuts through the air, a painful echo of the battle unfolding around us. I see her, fear reflected in her eyes as she watches helplessly, unable to intervene as the violence unfolds before her.

I open my mouth, attacking the Lycan that keeps trying to kill me. Furthermore, I hold him, pushing him forcefully to the ground. He doesn't give up, and he gets up quickly.

We continue fighting in the hallway, and with roars, I keep attacking the Lycan.

My Lycan instincts are on high, every muscle in my body is tense and prepared for the imminent confrontation. As the Lycan lunges toward me, its sharp teeth and claws extended in a fierce attack, I react instinctively, skillfully dodging its blows.