The wine tasted like liquid gold and bitter defeat. I set down the empty glass, watching the last drops cling to the crystal.
"Get me out of here."
Nate was already signaling for the check, throwing cash on the table without counting. His hand found my elbow, guiding me through tables of oblivious humans who had no idea war had just been declared over their salmon tartare.
In the car, I slumped against leather seats that smelled like defeat. "I want to forget what happened today. Get properly drunk. Dance until my feet bleed."
"You know it takes liters of alcohol to get a wolf drunk." Nate's voice held amusement. "Our metabolism burns through it too fast."
I whimpered—an actual wolf sound escaping before I could stop it.
Nate's laugh filled the car. "Did you just show me your wolf? What an honor, princess."
"Shut up."
"No, really. Katherine Winters just whined like a pup denied treats. I should mark this day in history."
I flipped him a look that promised retribution.
The city blurred by while Nate was driving to the hotel. By the time the elevator closed on us, I was ready for war paint.
Back at the suite, I attacked my appearance with fresh determination. The morning's sharp makeup still worked, but I darkened my eyes until they looked dangerous. Black jeans that cost a fortune. A top that showed exactly enough skin to be memorable.
I found Nate in the sitting room, adjusting the collar of his leather jacket. His eyes tracked up my body with zero shame.
"I know," I said. "I'm stunning."
"That's putting it mildly." No embarrassment, no looking away. Just raw appreciation that made my skin heat.
"Have you been drinking without me?"
"Not yet. But the night's young."
I arched a brow; he only smirked. We went outside and caught a taxi.
The taxi to Lily's apartment passed in charged silence. She bounded out wearing ripped jeans and vintage band merch, her excitement infectious.
"Bar first," she declared. "Shots are mandatory."
At the dive bar near the venue, Lily ordered three tequila shots. Nate waved the bartender over. "Bottle. The whole thing."
The bartender's eyes widened. "You want... an entire bottle?"
"Concert pre-game." Nate unscrewed the cap and took a pull that would have killed a human. "We won't be here long."
"Jesus Christ…" the bartender muttered, but took Nate's credit card.
Lily watched him drink with open fascination. "That's the hottest thing I've ever seen."
"You have low standards," I said, but watched him take another long drink, throat working, and felt heat pool low in my stomach.
‘Not now,’ I told my wolf.
‘Always now,’ Elsie countered.
I called the tab before temptation got teeth. We spilled into the night and walked the few blocks to the venue—cool air scalding sober, Elsie purring inside me that wouldn’t stay shut.
Wrist stamps, a quick line, lights dropping—then the bass took over, rattling our bones. The alcohol hummed in our blood—not enough to impair, just enough to soften edges. Lily was properly drunk, grabbing both our hands as Ash & Echo took the stage.
"This is our SONG!" she screamed as the opening chords hit.
We danced like teenagers again—wild, free, uncaring who watched. I sang until my throat burned, every lyric a battle cry from our rebellious youth. Lily pressed against my side, both of us screaming about burning down establishments and refusing to conform.
Nate kept pace, his body moving with surprising grace. He pulled out his phone, filming us as we thrashed to the chorus.
"Put that away!" I grabbed his hands as my favorite song started—the one about choosing freedom over safety, passion over prudence. "Dance with us. Really dance."
He pocketed the phone and I kept his hands, pulling him into the crush of bodies. The crowd surged, pressing us together as the music built.
I sang without hearing myself, lost in the moment, in the memory of who I used to be before masks and mate bonds and impossible choices. Someone slammed into my back and I stumbled forward.
Straight into Nate.
His hands caught my waist, steadying me. Our faces are inches apart. I could taste his breath—tequila and danger. Feel the heat radiating from his body. How his fingers pressed into my hips, not letting go.
The music pounded around us but everything narrowed to this—his eyes, dark in the stage lights. His chest against mine. The way his hands held me like I might evaporate.
Everything in me screamed contradiction.
Pull away. Press closer. Run. Stay.
He drew me against him, erasing the last inch of space. Our bodies aligned perfectly, moving together to the thundering beat. His forehead dropped to mine. "Kat…"
‘We only live once,’ Elsie sang, wild and certain. ‘This moment. This choice. This chance.’
"I know," I whispered, though I wasn't sure if I was answering him or her.