Emily’s POV

The bass pounded through the dimly lit bar as I perched on a stool, nursing my drink. A tall man with broad shoulders slid onto the chair beside me, his gaze meeting mine with quiet understanding. He nodded once, then stood and walked toward the VIP section.

Without hesitation, I followed him, allowing curious onlookers to assume we were hooking up. Perfect cover.

Inside the private room, I locked the door behind us. To anyone watching, we’d look like a random hookup, nothing suspicious about that.

"I’m at your service, Miss Emily," he said, bowing his head respectfully.

Nova stirred inside me, always alert around other wolves. "He’s safe. Dad’s Beta always protected us."

This man wasn’t just any werewolf. He was my father’s loyal Beta. When Dad was forced to leave his rogue faction due to his deteriorating condition, most of his men scattered, but the most loyal ones left their contacts. And right now, I needed their services.

"I need you to find someone and investigate a few people," I said, lifting my chin with authority.

He straightened his posture. "Just give me the names."

I handed him a folded paper containing Matt, Attorney Lee, and Connor Foster’s names. He studied it briefly.

"I’ll do everything I can, Miss."

When he moved to leave, I gestured to the couch. "Stay for two hours. We can’t leave immediately. Someone might be watching."

As he settled onto the leather sofa, I sank into the armchair opposite him and pulled out my phone. Despite my best efforts, my fingers betrayed me by scrolling straight to Matt’s contact.

My chest tightened at the string of texts he’d sent over the past two days.

’Good morning, sunshine!’

’No reply?’

’Good evening, Miss!’

’I saw your post. Why are you in a bar again?’

’I’m gonna pick you up.’

’Where are you? Did you leave?’

’Are you avoiding me?’

’I’ll bring my clothes to your condo.’

’Are we okay? Did I do something you don’t like?’

’Em... I miss you...’

I massaged the bridge of my nose, trying to ease the building pressure. How had this happened? When had I let Matt Foster crawl so deeply under my skin? One minute he was just Kyra’s irritating cousin, and the next...

He hadn’t just claimed my body during those nights together. Without warning or permission, he’d somehow conquered my heart too. His gentle touches, the way his eyes softened when he looked at me, how he’d kiss my forehead when he thought I was sleeping...

I tossed my phone aside and leaned back, closing my eyes. The next thing I knew, four hours had passed. I’d fallen asleep on the couch, and the Beta was still waiting patiently, scrolling through his phone.

When he noticed me stirring, he sat up straight.

"I’m sorry," I murmured. "You can go ahead."

He nodded and stood. I rose too, hastily finger-combing my hair as he opened the door and slipped out.

I was smoothing down my skirt when the door burst open again. Before I could react, a furious male figure stormed in, grabbed my wrist, and shoved me back onto the couch.

"What the hell is your problem?!" I growled, staring up into a face that was achingly familiar yet somehow wrong.

Mason Foster. Matt’s identical twin, yet completely different in the way he carried himself. Where Matt’s eyes held warmth, Mason’s blazed with cold fury. Same face, completely different man.

"Where is my brother?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

I laughed sarcastically. "I don’t know. Why are you asking me?"

I flinched when he tightened his grip on my wrists, pinning them above my head as he loomed over me. His cross pendant dangled between us, grazing my chest. Despite their identical appearance, Mason’s presence felt heavier, more dominating than Matt’s ever had.

"My brother is out of reach. He’s missing," he growled. "Is that why you’re fucking another man, huh?"

My forehead creased. "What is it to you?"

"You whore!" he snarled. "I don’t know why my brother likes you when clearly, you’re just a dirty whore who would willingly open her legs to anyone who’s itching to fuck!"

I kicked and struggled, but he was too strong. All I could do was glare back and defend myself verbally.

"I don’t care what you think, Mason Foster. I already broke up with your brother, so leave me out of this mess. I didn’t tell your brother to disappear nor like me. Watch your mouth, asshole!"

He laughed, a cold, cruel sound. "You don’t want my brother anymore so you’re finding a new boy toy? Is that it?"

I smirked, desperate to maintain some control. "Why? Are you volunteering for the position?"

His eyes raked over my body, lingering on my breasts, which were now nearly exposed from our struggle, before traveling to my legs. My skirt had ridden up dangerously high, revealing my underwear.

With his free hand, he gripped my chin, forcing me to look directly at him as he studied my face with disturbing intensity. The gesture was intimate in all the wrong ways, making my skin crawl.

"You think I’d fuck someone else’s leftovers?" he asked, his voice dangerously soft. "You’re overused, woman. I’m not interested in you."

The words knocked the wind out of me.I felt the corners of my eyes stinging as rage and humiliation coursed through me.

"Get off me!" I growled with fury. "Get off me, asshole! I don’t know where your brother is, so don’t ever come near me again! You’re a family of psychopaths and I don’t want any connection with you!"

He stared down at me, jaw clenched, expression dark. I couldn’t read what he was thinking and didn’t care. I just wanted out before I completely fell apart.

His words had struck a nerve I thought long buried. Was he right? Was I just "leftovers"? Overused? I’d been with different men, searching for someone who would love me the way I deserved. And then there was the rape no one knew about...

The emotions overwhelmed me, and tears spilled down my cheeks despite my best efforts to contain them.

Mason released me suddenly, stepping back as if surprised by my tears. I didn’t care what he thought anymore. I grabbed my purse from the floor and stormed past him without another word.

"Why am I even affected?" I thought as I rushed through the crowded bar. "He’s nothing. Just the twin brother of the man I... care about. No big deal."

I wiped the tears from my face with the back of my hand. "You’re not weak, Emily. Damn it!"