Alpha Female's Mate

The thumping bass from the party vibrated through the floor, a relentless rhythm matching the headache already blooming behind Storm Wyatt's eyes. College life, as he was rapidly discovering, was less about intellectual pursuits and more about surviving the aftermath of questionable decisions.

"This was a bad idea, Lyle," Storm muttered, his voice thick with a mixture of fatigue and regret, the words barely audible over the din. His best friend, Lyle, a man whose enthusiasm often outweighed his good sense, just grinned, a triumphant, alcohol-fueled gleam in his eyes.

"Come on, buddy! Where's your sense of adventure?" Lyle slurred, slapping Storm on the back with enough force to send a fresh wave of nausea through him. Storm groaned, wondering why he always let himself be talked into these things. He had an uncompleted assignment due tomorrow, and here he was, propped against a wall, regretting every single one of his life choices.

His gaze drifted across the crowded room, a kaleidoscope of flashing lights and gyrating bodies. Suddenly, Lyle stiffened beside him, his gaze fixing on something across the room. "Is that Carla?" he whispered, a hint of mischief in his tone.

Storm's blood ran cold. Of all the people he didn't want to see tonight, his ex-girlfriend was at the top of the list. Carla, the girl who had shattered his trust and his heart, now walking towards them with a predatory glint in her eye. This night, he realized with a sinking feeling, was about to get a whole lot worse.