The thumping bass vibrated through the floor, a familiar rhythm to Lilith's practiced movements. She swayed around the pole, a blur of purple lingerie and confident smiles, ignoring the hungry gazes below. Tonight, like every night, was a performance, a carefully constructed illusion of desirability that kept the dollar bills flowing.

Her eyes, masked by violet contacts, scanned the crowd. She was the highest earner, the most popular. She had to be. This was survival. Every cent was a step closer to a life where she didn't have to hide who, or what, she was. But the familiar ache in her bones, the faint, restless growl in her chest, was a constant reminder that her true nature was never far beneath the surface.

Backstage, the air crackled with hushed whispers and giggles. "Girl, have you seen the new boss?" Beatrix, one of the younger dancers, asked, her eyes wide with a mix of lust and curiosity. Lilith's heart gave a jolt. A new boss? Here?

"He's here, in his office?" she asked, a sudden chill creeping up her spine. This was a vampire's establishment; she knew that much. A werewolf working for a vampire, let alone a rogue one, was a risk she'd always accepted. But a new vampire boss? That could change everything.

Before she could make her escape, a scent hit her—smoke and cedar, overlaid with a strange, intoxicating sweetness. A cold dread settled in her stomach. The back exit was blocked. A tall man stood there, his presence radiating an almost palpable power, his eyes a shocking, captivating white.