Chapter 2

Elena’s POV He didn’t take his eyes off me and when I held his gaze, it was intense and provocating. I suddenly felt vulnerable and exposed, like he was slowly undressing me with his eyes. something about his stare pulled me in, a current of desire ran through my veins and my heart fluttered wildly but I snapped out of it quickly. I reminded myself who the man standing right before me was, Eric Thompson, Mark's future brother in law. I wouldn't fool myself believing that people as wealthy as they are care about people like me. And I wasn’t going to break or make myself pathetic before them either. Not anymore. I quickly wiped my face with my palms and pushed myself to my feet. Once the elevator stopped, I grabbed my box and headed to the door but in one swift move, Eric stepped in front of me and blocked my way. “You can't be stepping out there looking like that,” He scolded coldly towering over me, his eyes still piercing through me. “Like how?” I retorted before following his gaze downward. My God! I gasped inwardly when I noticed the top of my gown was torn, exposing my cleavage. Heat rushed to my face as I quickly pulled the top together and held my chest tight with one hand. The gown must have been ripped apart when I struggled with Mark’s security. But why did he sound so possessive, like he owned me? I can't remember ever meeting him closely before now. I quickly masked my embarrassment and lifted my chin. “How I choose to dress is my prerogative.” I said sharply and moved forward to go but he grabbed my waist and yanked me back. Not accepting him mishandling me, I struggled to push him off. But when my hand brushed through his open chest, a current of desire coursed through my veins and I shuddered. And when our eyes met, his was a shade darker. “No way,” He blurted out condescendingly, “I won't let anyone dressed this indecently be caught dead around my sister’s wedding.” Infuriated at his disgusting words, I dropped my box and quickly ripped off the loose, dangling and useless fabric. With the upper part gone, my dress transformed into a tight fitting sleeveless mini gown. For a second, he froze. Then a low, hungry growl slipped from him. He grabbed me and pinned against the wall, his body pressing dangerously close. I felt trapped and overwhelmed by his strong, earthy scent, my pulse spiking as my knees weakened. “What game are you playing?” He hissed, close to my neck, his fast and warm breath brushing my skin, his eyes darkening even more. “Is this how you go around seducing men?” “What does that supposed to mean?” I scolded and pushed him off. “How else was I supposed to fix my ripped gown, stuck in this elevator?” He said nothing but his jaw tightened. Then, without warning, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders. Before I could react, he pressed the button, the elevator doors slid open, and he walked out, leaving me standing there, shaken and wrapped in his scent. I stepped out of the elevator with his jacket around my shoulders and the doors slammed shut behind me coldly. Shame burned inside me as his words replayed in my head; cold and accusing, as if he had already decided I was a loose woman. My throat tightened with anger. Yet I still clutched his jacket closer while his strong and earthy scent wrapped around me. It slipped under my skin, making my knees weak and stirring feelings I didn’t want to admit. I hated it. Why was my body betraying me like this? Why him? Eric Thompson, the brother to the woman who stole Mark from me. The one man I should never want. “Look what the cat dragged in.” The voice cut through my thoughts as I walked fast, putting as much distance as possible between myself and the wedding venue. I recognized it instantly; Selene. Mark’s sister. I didn’t stop. I had no time for her. But she stepped directly into my path. “What are you doing here, Elena?” she sneered. “Trying to lure my brother back into your web?” Before I could respond, two of her friends joined her. Their eyes dragged over me with open disgust, their lips curled in mockery. “Lure your brother back?” I scoffed. “Please. I have no interest in slimy gold-diggers.” “See who's talking!” Selene hissed, bursting into laughter with her friends. “Then why are you here? You came to cry and beg him to take you back? Shouldn't you be ashamed to even show up here?” “What I’m doing here has nothing to do with you or your scheming brother, Selene,” I hissed back. Her eyes hardened. “Deny it all you want, but we won’t have trash like you hanging around to ruin this day. Get out.” “Oh, please,” I shot back, standing my ground. “Whatever filthy show you have going on here is none of my business. I was done with your useless brother long before all this.” My defiance only fueled her anger. She snapped her fingers and shouted, “Security! Get over here! Throw this filth out!” I didn’t move. When the two guards approached, they stopped abruptly. Their eyes dropped to the jacket around my shoulders and their noses flared as they caught the Alpha scent clinging to it. They hesitated. Selene followed their gaze. Her expression twisted as she noticed the jacket and the unmistakable earthy scent on it. “Slut,” she spat. “That’s what you’re good at, isn’t it? Jumping from bed to bed.” That was it. Before I could think, my hand flew up and…SMACK! The sound echoed as my palm connected with her cheek. She cried out in shock, clutching her face, but she didn’t dare strike back. “Miss Elena,” one of the guards said stiffly, avoiding my eyes, “please leave the venue.” I was already walking away, dragging my box behind. I walked away without anyone else daring to stop me. The guards kept their distance, their eyes flicking to the jacket around my shoulders. Outside, the weather changed suddenly and rain began to pour down without mercy. Within seconds, I was soaked and shivering. Panic tightened my chest as I thought of the jacket. I couldn’t let it be ruined. I hurried into a dark corner beside the building where there was some shelter, pressing my back to the wall and praying the rain would ease. That was when I sensed it. Low voices. Rough laughter. And heavy footsteps drawing closer. I looked up, and my stomach dropped. Three men stepped out of the shadows, their eyes roaming over me slowly. “Oh God…” I whispered. “Who’s going to save me from these rogues?”