Deanna’s POV: I clutched the blanket to my chest and scooted backward. “I slept with you. You slept with me. So, now we’re square.” There was no way he could hold anything over my head after this. Luis lowered his hand and stood tall, watching me in silence. His eyes gave nothing away. “Get dressed. Breakfast is waiting.” He turned and walked out without another glance. I waited until the door closed, then finally reached for the dress he had left behind. It was a deep violet gown, tight-fitting, with a bold slit running high up the side. Embroidered roses spilled across the silky fabric, vivid and striking. The material felt like something out of a luxury catalog. Soft. Expensive. Totally unfamiliar. I had never worn anything this sultry before. Jake always preferred me in plain, innocent styles. He said it matched the image of the Luna he envisioned beside him. I never liked it. I never wanted to look soft. I never wanted to seem weak. Dresses like that made me look harmless, like a young she-werewolf with no bite. Back at Mistbane Pack, that image only made things worse. I was easy to push aside. Easy to isolate. But I endured it. For Jake. Now, thinking back, I was so far gone it was embarrassing. Mila had called me out more than once, and I never listened. I shook the thoughts away, tossed the blanket off, and got dressed. One piece at a time. Even the underwear fit perfectly. Luis figured out my size after one night? That kind of Alpha awareness was honestly scary. I didn’t even know his size. All I remembered was that he felt… massive. … My cheeks burned. I fanned my face with one hand, trying to push the heat away. Sleeping with an Alpha like him? Any Omega would feel something. What I felt wasn’t crazy. It was just instinct. I slipped into the gown, washed up quickly, and stepped out of the room. The staircase was built in a zigzag pattern. Because the dress clung tightly to my legs, I had to take each step carefully on the way down. … Luis’ POV: The sound of her steps caught my ear. I glanced toward the stairs. The second I saw her, my pulse reacted before my thoughts did. I knew I had good taste. Deanna had height and elegance, and the gown wrapped around her like it had been made for her. She hadn’t even put on makeup, yet her skin looked soft and pale against the rich color. That violet dress turned her into something regal. But what caught my eye most was the slit. With every slow step, her pale thigh peeked through the fabric—barely visible, just enough to tease. I leaned into the chair, my fingers tapping the table in steady rhythm. I didn’t speak. I didn’t move. I just watched her descend, letting the quiet tension build under my skin. I wanted to rip that dress off her. If she knew what was going through my head right now, what would she do? The thought made my mouth curve into a slow grin. She finally reached the floor, tugging at the edge of her dress like she wanted to disappear. “Is something on my face?” she asked softly. I offered a calm smile. “You look beautiful in that dress.” She dropped her gaze, and the tips of her ears turned a soft pink. “Thanks,” she whispered. … Deanna’s POV: I might’ve been born to Mistbane Pack’s Alpha, but I rarely returned to their land. I had my own place in the city—a modest apartment that I kept to myself. With my phone still missing, I had no way to call for a ride. So, I hitched one with Luis back to town. I gave him the address, and he glanced at me sideways. “Not going back to Mistbane Pack?” “No.” It sounded like small talk. I didn’t owe him the full story. … When we pulled up to my building, I opened the car door and stepped out. Luis reached across and caught my wrist, his tone lazy. “That’s it? You’re just walking away?” I was already at my doorstep. What did he expect? Invite him upstairs for coffee? I blinked, trying to sound sincere. “Thanks for saving me.” He didn’t respond. I quickly added, “Maybe I could treat you to a meal sometime.” Then, remembering who I was talking to, I added, “Only if you’d be okay with that, of course.” Luis drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. His golden eyes watched me in silence, deep and unreadable. “Don’t most people end a night like that with a goodbye kiss?” His words soured my mood. “Is that your usual routine?” I asked. “Just kiss the woman goodbye like it’s some formal ending?” His lips tilted into a small smirk. “I don’t have women. “But if you want to be mine, I’m open to it.” Then, he added, quieter this time, “We do make a good match.” I gave him a stiff smile. “No. I’m not interested in being yours.” Whatever he thought “his woman” meant, it wasn’t anything I wanted. I couldn’t even hold on to Jake. I wasn’t stupid enough to get tangled with Luis. That’d be like swapping one disaster for another. Not bad luck—just bad decisions. Luis laughed low and smooth. “Really? You sure didn’t sound like that last night. You kept asking me to—” Before he could finish, I slapped a hand over his mouth. He tilted his head, brows raised in amusement. His laugh slipped out between my fingers and landed right against my skin. His golden eyes kept their hold on mine, bright and burning. Something in my chest jumped. I snatched my hand back like I’d touched fire. “I-I should go. Bye.” I didn’t wait for a reply. I yanked the door shut behind me and bolted like my life depended on it.