Chapter Six.

After that first day, I'd met them all. I worked something out (with the help of Morgan), and one of those things was honestly the most important. Packs are a lot more open minded then what I was led to believe under my parents' guidance growing up.

This led to a lot of curiosity, searching online, websites, and dating sites.

Phew.

The sound of the café bell jingled as I wiped down the counter, my thoughts drifting back to the strange encounter with Theo and his pack. It had been days since that night, but the tension still hung in the air, thick and unspoken. My body seemed to hum in his presence, even though I hadn't seen him again. It was as though he'd left a mark on me, one I couldn't scrub off no matter how hard I tried.

"You're in a mood," Clara teased from behind the counter, her voice breaking through my thoughts.

I forced a smile, nodding. "Just tired. It's been a long week."

She shot me an asceptical look but didn't press further. Instead, she dropped a piece of paper in front of me, crinkling as it landed.

I glanced down. "What's this?"

"It's an invite," Clara said casually, wiping her hands on a cloth. "To Primal. Theo's place."

My heart skipped a beat. I didn't need to ask who Theo was. That name had become a constant in my mind, like a shadow I couldn't outrun. The nightclub... I hadn't expected to hear from him again, at least not like this.

"Why?" I blinked, feeling the sudden rush of adrenaline. I couldn't have been more surprised if she told me I'd just won the lottery.

She shrugged nonchalantly. "Because he asked. And he's not exactly the type to take no for an answer."

The weight of the invitation sat heavy in my hands, its glossy surface reflecting the neon lights of the café. My instinct screamed at me to throw it away. To keep my distance, to stay safe in the life I knew. But something tugged at me, something deeper, more primal-something I couldn't ignore.

"Well, are you going?" Clara asked, leaning over the counter, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "I think you might just be the one he's been sniffing around for."

I almost choked on my own breath at her words, unsure of how to respond. How could she say something so bold, especially after I'd barely even spoken to Theo? Was that what had been happening all this time-was he watching me?

"Do you think I should?" I asked more to myself than to Clara, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

She grinned. "Girl, you're already caught in his orbit. You might as well see what it's all about."

My fingers tightened around the paper as I thought it over. I could always say no, run in the opposite direction. But something told me it wasn't that simple. Theo wasn't just any Alpha. The connection I felt to him, whether I liked it or not, was real. And whatever this invitation meant, I needed answers.

"Tell him I'll go," I said, my voice steady despite the knot in my stomach.

Clara's grin widened. "You sure about that?"

I nodded firmly, though I wasn't sure what I was walking into. "I'm sure."

~~~~

The bass thumped so hard I could feel it in my chest as I stepped into Primal. The place was everything I'd heard about and more-dark, sleek, and pulsing with energy. The air was thick with the mingling scents of Alphas, Betas, and Omegas, each vying for dominance or attention.

I didn't belong here.

But curiosity-or maybe something deeper-had gotten the better of me. I hadn't seen Theo since the café weeks ago, but his scent, his presence, lingered in my mind like a ghost. I had to know more.

The main floor was crowded, bodies moving in sync with the music under flashing neon lights. A polished bar ran along one side, and an elevated VIP section loomed above the dance floor, shrouded in shadows. I could feel the pull of it, instinctively knowing that's where Theo would be.

I wound my way through the crowd, my senses on high alert. The closer I got to the VIP section, the stronger his scent became-salted caramel, smoke, and that intoxicating undercurrent that screamed Alpha.

A massive Beta bouncer stopped me at the foot of the stairs, his expression unreadable. "VIPs only."

I hesitated, unsure how to explain myself. But before I could say anything, a familiar voice cut through the pounding music.

"She's with me."

Theo appeared at the top of the stairs, his towering frame backlit by the soft glow of the VIP section. His chocolate-brown eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, the noise of the club faded into nothing.

The bouncer stepped aside, and Theo gestured for me to follow. My legs felt like jelly as I climbed the stairs, my heart pounding harder than the bass.

The VIP area was quieter, the music muted, and the crowd sparse. Plush leather couches lined the walls, and the air was laced with expensive liquor and the faint scent of lavender.

Callum was lounging on one of the couches, a glass of amber liquid in hand. He smirked as I entered, his sharp blue eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Look who finally decided to show up," he said, his tone teasing.

The green-eyed Alpha was seated beside him, his arm draped casually over the back of the couch. His gaze was sharp and calculating, but there was a flicker of something softer as he looked at me.

And then there was the Omega. He was perched on the arm of the couch next to Theo, his soft brown eyes watching me with quiet curiosity. His scent-warm bread and lavender-wrapped around me like a gentle hug, soothing the tension in my chest.

I stood frozen, unsure what to say or where to look.

"You made it," Theo said, his deep voice cutting through the silence.

"I-uh, yeah," I stammered. "I wasn't sure if I should."

"You should," he said simply, his gaze steady and unwavering.

Callum chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "You've got her spooked, Theo. Maybe try not looking so intimidating for once."

Theo shot him a look, but the corner of his mouth twitched in what might have been a smile.

"Don't mind Callum," the green-eyed Alpha said, his voice smooth and rich like whiskey. "He's all bark and no bite. I'm Elias, by the way."

"Nice to meet you," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.

The Omega offered me a shy smile. "I'm Micah," he said softly. "It's nice to finally meet you."

Finally?

I glanced at Theo, confusion written all over my face.

"You've been on my radar for a while," Theo admitted, his voice low. "I just... didn't know how to approach you."

"Didn't know how to-?" I trailed off, incredulous. "You're an Alpha who owns one of the most exclusive nightclubs in the city. You're telling me you didn't know how to approach someone?"

Callum snickered, and Elias hid a smile behind his glass.

Micah, however, looked at Theo with something like sympathy. "He's not as fearless as he seems," he said gently.

Theo shot him a look, but there was no heat behind it.

"Why?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Why would you even want to approach me?"

For a moment, the only sound was the muted thrum of the music below.

"Because you're mine," Theo said simply, his gaze unwavering.

The air seemed to shift, thickening with the weight of his words. My instincts screamed at me to run, to get as far away from this overwhelming Alpha and his pack as possible.

But my heart whispered something else.

I didn't move.