Ciel Etrama was the epitome of elegance and grace, the youngest daughter of an affluent family, and an omega whose beauty and demeanor turned heads wherever she went. Her engagement to Alexander, a successful and charming alpha, had been celebrated as the perfect union. To the outside world, her life seemed flawless, a fairy tale waiting to unfold. But fairy tales, Ciel realized, were nothing more than illusions.

She couldn’t comprehend what she had done wrong to deserve such betrayal. She had poured her heart and soul into the relationship, embodying everything a perfect mate should be. Yet Alexander had still managed to cheat. The pain was unbearable, a sharp ache that made her chest feel like it might cave in. But even as she drove aimlessly, her hands gripping the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white, Ciel couldn’t bring herself to hate him completely. She loved him, or perhaps she had loved the version of him she thought existed.

Tears blurred her vision as her mind replayed the events of the day before. The sound of his lover's voice, the sight of their intertwined bodies, and the mocking smile of the other omega haunted her. Ciel had walked into Alexander's office, hoping to surprise him with freshly brewed coffee. Instead, she had walked into a nightmare that shattered her world.

“Maybe it’s because you’re not good in bed,” Katrina, the other omega, had sneered, her voice dripping with venom. “That’s why your fiancé needs me—to satisfy him.”

Ciel clenched her fists at the memory, her jaw tightening. She could still feel the scalding heat of the coffee she had thrown on Alexander and his lover, the sting of her palm as she slapped them both. The memory was vivid, but the satisfaction she had felt in that moment was fleeting, replaced by a hollow ache that no amount of tears could fill.

She had wanted to scream, cry, and beg for answers. Instead, she had left with her pride barely intact, her heart shattered into a thousand irreparable pieces.

Now, she found herself parked outside an exclusive nightclub, the neon lights reflecting off the windshield of her car. She didn’t remember driving here, but it didn’t matter. All she wanted was to forget, even if only for a few hours. She stepped inside, her heels clicking against the polished floor as she made her way to a secluded corner of the VIP section. She ordered five margaritas in rapid succession, determined to drown herself in the numbing embrace of alcohol.

The first sip burned, but the warmth it brought was a welcome distraction. She was halfway through her second drink when a deep, familiar voice broke through the haze of her thoughts.

“Planning to get wasted again?”

Ciel froze. That voice—smooth, deep, and commanding—sent a shiver down her spine. She turned slowly, her eyes widening as they met the golden gaze of the man she had kissed in a drunken haze the week before. Simon de Raizel. She hadn’t expected to see him again, but here he was, leaning casually against the edge of the booth, his presence as overpowering as his pheromones.

“Let go of my hand,” she snapped when he reached for her, her tone icy.

Simon smirked, his grip firm but not unkind. “Not until you stop trying to run.”

Ciel glared at him, but her heart raced as she took in the details of his face. His golden eyes shimmered under the dim lights, and his sculpted features exuded an effortless confidence that both irritated and intrigued her.

“What do you want from me?” she demanded, pulling her hand free.

“To talk,” he said simply, sliding into the seat across from her. “You kissed me, remember? I’d say we’re past the point of introductions.”

Ciel’s cheeks flushed, her mind flashing back to that night. She had kissed him in front of everyone at the club, a reckless act born of anger and heartbreak. But what she hadn’t expected was the way her body had responded to him—the way his lips had moved against hers, the intoxicating pull of his pheromones that had made her forget everything else.

“I was drunk,” she muttered, focusing on her drink. “It didn’t mean anything.”

Simon chuckled, a low, rich sound that sent a thrill through her. “Didn’t seem that way to me.”

Ciel’s grip tightened on her glass. She didn’t know why he was here or what he wanted, but she didn’t have the energy to figure it out. “If you’re here to lecture me, save your breath. I’ve had enough of alphas telling me what to do.”

Simon raised an eyebrow, his expression softening slightly. “I’m not here to lecture you, Ciel. I just… I saw you sitting here alone and thought you could use some company.”

She looked at him then, really looked at him, and for a moment, she saw something in his eyes—concern, maybe even understanding. It was disarming, and it made her walls waver just a little.

“I don’t need your pity,” she said, her voice quieter now.

“It’s not pity,” Simon said, leaning forward. “It’s curiosity. You intrigue me, Ciel.”

Before she could respond, their hands brushed briefly, and a jolt of electricity shot through her. She pulled her hand back as if burned, her heart pounding. She hated the way he made her feel, how easily he got under her skin.

“Why are you drinking so much?” he asked suddenly, his tone gentler than before.

Ciel hesitated, the question catching her off guard. She looked down at her drink, her fingers tracing the rim of the glass. “My fiancé cheated on me,” she admitted, the words tasting bitter on her tongue. “I caught him with another omega.”

Simon didn’t respond immediately, but when he did, his words were unexpected. “Then he’s a fool.”

Her head snapped up, her eyes meeting his. There was no mockery in his expression, only a quiet intensity that made her chest tighten.

“You don’t know me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“No,” Simon agreed, leaning closer, “but I want to.”

The air between them grew thick, charged with unspoken tension. Ciel’s breath hitched as he reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek. She should have pulled away, but she didn’t. Instead, she found herself leaning into his touch, her heart pounding as his golden eyes searched hers.

And then he kissed her.

It wasn’t like the first time, impulsive and fueled by alcohol. This kiss was deliberate, slow, and consuming. It stole the breath from her lungs and made her forget everything—her pain, her anger, her doubts. For a moment, there was only Simon, his warmth, his scent, his touch.

When they finally broke apart, Ciel was trembling, her lips tingling from the intensity of the kiss. She looked at him, her mind racing with questions she wasn’t ready to ask.

“What are you doing to me?” she whispered, her voice laced with vulnerability.

Simon smiled, a faint curve of his lips that was both reassuring and dangerous. “Exactly what you’re doing to me.”

Ciel’s chest tightened as Simon’s words hung in the air. Her pulse raced, and for the first time in days, her thoughts were consumed not by the betrayal she had suffered but by the man sitting across from her. She wanted to push him away, to tell him to leave her alone, but the truth was that she didn’t want him to go.

She looked away, trying to compose herself, her fingers nervously toying with the edge of her glass. “This... whatever this is, it’s a mistake,” she muttered, though her voice lacked conviction.

Simon leaned back slightly, his golden eyes never leaving her face. “Mistakes don’t feel like this, Ciel,” he said, his tone soft but firm. “This feels like something neither of us can ignore.”

Her breath hitched, and she hated how easily his words affected her. She had spent her entire life guarding her heart, ensuring that no one could see her vulnerabilities. Yet here she was, unraveling in front of a man she barely knew.

Ciel shook her head, standing abruptly. “I can’t do this,” she said, grabbing her bag and stepping out of the booth. “I’m not ready for... whatever this is.”

Simon didn’t try to stop her this time. Instead, he stood as well, his towering frame blocking her path. “Ciel,” he said, his voice gentle but resolute. “You don’t have to be ready. You just have to trust that not everyone is out to hurt you.”

She froze, his words hitting too close to home. Trust was a foreign concept to her now, a luxury she couldn’t afford. “I can’t,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Not after what I’ve been through.”

Simon stepped aside, giving her the space she needed. “I’m not asking for all of you right now,” he said, his tone sincere. “But if you ever need someone to listen, I’ll be here.”

Ciel hesitated, her heart warring with her mind. Finally, she nodded curtly and walked away, her heels clicking against the floor as she made her way out of the club. The cold night air hit her as she stepped outside, and she took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions—confusion, fear, longing. She hated how Simon had made her feel things she thought she’d buried. She hated even more that a part of her wanted to turn around and run back to him.

But she didn’t.

Ciel woke the next morning with a pounding headache and the faint memory of Simon’s golden eyes haunting her. She groaned, rubbing her temples as she sat up in bed. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, harsh and unforgiving, and she winced at the brightness.

Pushing the blankets off, she stumbled to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. Her reflection stared back at her, and for a moment, she didn’t recognize the woman she saw. Her usually vibrant blue eyes were dull, and dark circles marred her pale skin. She looked as broken as she felt.

As the events of the night before came rushing back, Ciel’s cheeks flushed. The kiss. The way Simon had looked at her. The way she had almost let herself fall. She gritted her teeth, angry at herself for letting her guard down.

Her phone buzzed on the counter, pulling her from her thoughts. She picked it up to find a text from her brother Yuri.

Yuri: Ciel, are you okay? I stopped by last night, but you weren’t home. Call me when you can.

Ciel sighed, guilt twisting in her chest. She had ignored Yuri’s calls and texts the night before, unable to face his concern. She typed a quick reply, assuring him she was fine, even though she wasn’t.

Her phone buzzed again, but this time it was an unknown number.

Unknown: You left in a hurry last night. I hope you’re okay. – Simon

Ciel’s heart skipped a beat. She stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the screen. She didn’t know how he had gotten her number, but she wasn’t surprised. Simon seemed like the type of man who got what he wanted, no matter how impossible it seemed.

Finally, she typed a response.

Ciel: I’m fine. Thank you.

She hesitated before hitting send, but once the message was gone, she felt a strange mix of relief and anxiety. Simon had a way of getting under her skin, and she wasn’t sure if she hated or liked it.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Frowning, she went to answer it, surprised to find Yuri standing there, his son Seb in his arms.

“Ciel,” Yuri said, his tone a mix of relief and concern. “You look terrible.”

“Good morning to you too,” she muttered, stepping aside to let him in.

Yuri set Seb down, and the little boy immediately ran to Ciel, wrapping his tiny arms around her legs. “Auntie Ciel!” he said with a wide grin.

Ciel’s heart softened as she scooped Seb up, holding him close. “Good morning, sweetheart.”

Yuri watched her carefully, his arms crossed. “You’ve been avoiding me,” he said bluntly.

Ciel sighed, setting Seb down so he could play with the toys he had brought. “I’m fine, Yuri. You don’t have to worry.”

“Don’t give me that,” Yuri said, his voice firm. “I know you, Ciel. You’re not fine. What happened?”

She hesitated, biting her lip as she considered lying again. But one look at Yuri’s concerned face made her reconsider. “Alexander cheated on me,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Yuri’s expression darkened, and his hands clenched into fists. “That bastard,” he muttered. “I’ll kill him.”

Ciel placed a hand on his arm, shaking her head. “It’s over, Yuri. I ended it.”

“Good,” Yuri said, his tone fierce. “You deserve better than that piece of trash.”

Ciel smiled weakly, but her mind drifted to Simon. Did she really deserve better? Or was she destined to be hurt again?

As Yuri pulled her into a comforting hug, Ciel couldn’t help but wonder if she would ever find the strength to trust again—or if Simon de Raizel was the man who could prove her wrong.