Fated To The Lycan Brothers
Chapter 15

Suri Nightingale

"You look so beautiful, Ms. Suri." Lucy said as her eyes widened in appreciation while she looked at me made up and wearing my dress for the night.

I blushed at her kind words. "Thank you, Lucy. And uh, thanks for helping me pick a dress, too." I told her with a thankful smile.

About an hour ago I was staring mindlessly in front of my gigantic closet, overwhelmed by all the choices I had. I've never attended a party, let alone apparently the most awaited fourth of July event held by this family with all the rich and powerful drinking the night away.

As soon as we got inside, there were staff running around the place with decorations and other various things such as alcohol and ingredients for food. I asked Dev what was going on and he almost forgot the big night was tonight.

So instead of just worrying about the 'family' dinner, I also had to worry about facing people who were complete strangers to me.

Oh, and did I mention I caught Atlas eyeing me up and down while I was practically half naked? Or I guess the more appropriate term was eye-f*****g me.

I felt my stomach get tied in knots and my face warmed up the second I remembered his gray eyes intensely looking at me and my body. It was so obvious what the thoughts were running in his head. If I hadn't been able to muster up all that restraint, I don't know what I would have done.

Let him continue watching me or let him come... inside?

I shook my head and tried my best to tuck away those thoughts deep, deep inside. Not right now.

Or, well, not ever.

"It's my pleasure, Ms. Suri. I've seen enough guests come and go here every year to know that you will be the most beautiful one tonight. Not even the fireworks can out-sparkle you." She says and my cheeks blush even more.

Though her words seemed sincere, it was hard for me to fully accept because never have I ever felt like I could be the most beautiful in any room I've ever been in.

I was always considered... unimportant, like a waste of space. I was a freak. I was the girl nobody bothered to ask out. I was a nobody that never fit in.

And I liked it that way because I never had to explain myself, never had to open up to anyone and show them my weaknesses.

But this time it's different. I want it to be different. Which is why I was right here, standing in front of my mirror, my face made up with a sultry eyeshadow makeup that captivated my eyes, and glossy lips that plump them up. Oh, but the dress... The dress singlehandedly stole the show.

From the sweetheart neckline to the lace-up back. Lacework and flower sequins embellishing the bodice, and an A-line skirt featuring a cluster of roses and floral appliques. The elegant blush pink and rose gold combination cocktail dress was surely, according to Lucy, going to out-sparkle fireworks.

I also particularly loved the rose gold glitter open toe block heels. With every step I took, it felt like a new beginning. I internally thanked the club and Red Mama for teaching me how to properly walk in heels because heaven knows I'd be tripping all over the place if not for that.

"You should get downstairs, Ms. Suri. Sir Keith and the boys are probably already waiting." Lucy informed me and I felt myself tense up.

The Keith part was fine, but the boys-or at least two of them-were definitely not so fine. I don't know how I'm going to survive dinner alone with them, but I knew that one way or another it was bound to happen. Best we get it over with and I at least felt much more comfortable knowing that someone was going to be right there beside me - Dev.

I smiled at Lucy, but deep down it wasn't because of her that made me feel happy, but the thought of the boy in my mind.

Dev was a total sweetheart. In just half a day together, he had made me feel so much more welcome and hopeful of what my life would be like here.

I couldn't wait to explore more... with him.

"I'll go ahead downstairs as I still need to fix some things. Have a lovely evening, Ms. Suri." Lucy excused herself.

After she was gone, I stared at myself and twirled around the dress for a few more minutes before finally getting enough courage to step out. Unfortunately for me, that was also the exact same time my not so pleasant neighbor decided to come out from his room.

And fuck if he didn't look so ravishingly handsome. As much as I hate to admit that.

His jet black hair was no longer wet like when I saw him earlier, but dried to form a few soft waves and gelled at the top of his head. It looked sleek and tamed compared to earlier, but still, it held a sense of wildness to it and I wanted to know how soft it would feel as my fingers brushed through it.

The suit he was wearing was nothing like I've ever seen before, but maybe that's because it probably cost thousands of dollars.

Though I was sure that he could wear a unicorn onesie and he would still look like that, like someone who looked so... fuckable. He just had that going for him and the tailored suit that hugged his body and showed off his muscles perfectly was not helping. The all dark black ensemble from the inside shirt to the pants made my light-colored dress look so innocent, but it's the silver chains around the shirt collar and the jacket that gave his whole look a sense of danger to it.

A danger to me.

"Are you done admiring me, perv? Do you want a picture so you can use it later tonight?" Atlas' words pull me out of my thoughts like a shock of electricity had coursed through my entire body.

My whole body stiffens up at being caught red handed, but I tell myself that if he's going to accuse someone of being a perv, then he should definitely accuse himself. Hypocrite.

I puffed up my chest to incite confidence before taunting him, "Last I checked, it was you that was drooling all over me while you watched me from out here. Did you enjoy it? Did you manage to get enough visuals for when you're all alone in that dark room..." I felt a surge of confidence in me and I was taking a few steps towards him with every other line.

"Under your sheets..." One step.

"With no clothes on..." Another step.

"Your hand wrapped around your cock as you move it up and down and up and-"

I hadn't realized just how close I had gotten to him until he managed to capture me with his hand and before I could figure out my mistake of getting too close, he pushed me against the wall, his hand gripping onto my neck while his gray eyes stared into mine coldly. A low growl rumbled in his chest and something about the way we were positioned, the way his hand tightened, and his eyes bore into mine seemed so... so...

Familiar.

"Watch yourself, Nightingale." He threatened, his voice deep yet so enticing at the same time that it made me ache underneath.

Not to mention how he said my name. It was laced with so much hatred, but it sounded off to my ears like a song I'd put on repeat. Fuck, get your s**t together, Suri.

"Watch myself? Or do you mean, you want to watch me... touch myself?" I looked at him with a devious smirk and though I sounded so self-assured, deep down inside my insides were set ablaze at how close we were and how good the warmth of his touch felt. I wasn't going to let him know that, though. Over my dead f*g body.

He wants to fk with me and all that, but what he didn't know was that I can fk him back, too. Ten times harder.

I could tell Atlas was getting affected with every word I said and every second that passed with him touching me. So much so that I knew if I looked down, something there would be getting bigger, and damn that made me feel powerful.

A surge of confidence burst through me and it made me provoke him more. I lifted my chin up before continuing to taunt him more.

"Why don't you just man up and get it the f**k over with? All this bad boy bull s hit you're trying to show is exactly just like that, a show. I can see right through you, Atlas. You think I'm going to let you push me around, let you scare me away? Well, think again. You have no idea who you're messing with now. I'm staying here whether you like it or not." My words are equal parts honest and angry.

I was angry because I was tired of his s**t and I wanted him to see that whatever he does, he won't shake me. I've experienced way worse. So, so much worse.

I glared at him to prove my point even more. "You know what the best part is? Your father wants nothing but to keep me here so no matter what you do, I'll just keep coming back."

There was rumbling in his chest and it was like waiting for a volcano to erupt molten lava.

I was expecting him to fight back - do something or say something, but instead he let me go, and there was a cold chill that ran down my spine the second he was no longer touching me.

Atlas looked infuriated, like he was so close to doing something he had never done, like hurting a woman, but also, there was something else. Something fiery in his eyes like he didn't actually want to physically hurt me, but to have me instead. He blinked and both emotions were gone in a flash.

It was then replaced by a devilish grin that gave me goosebumps all over my body.

"Silly little Nightingale..." He whispered into my ear as I stood there, trying not to seem bothered, but I was very much so.

He stroked his hands down my back and I felt his finger run down my spine, tracing it with precision, and every part of my body was set on fire. Holy fuck.

He moves to face me again, his lips just an inch from mine, and our gazes locked.

My mind is going crazy with a hundred thoughts running rampant.

Is he going to kiss me? Am I going to let him? What will he do to me? What will I do to him? What will we become? Are we going to become something? What now? What after?

A shuddery breath escaped me and just as our lips were barely a second away from each other, he took a step back and I was immediately cold. Lost. He looks at me with an obvious glint in his eyes. He knows he got me, and he feels f*g proud of that.

"Be careful what you wish for."

That was the last thing he said before he turned around and left me feeling needy, and shameful for thinking exactly that. Fuckingasshole