Reborn to Bite Back

The bass from the nightclub pounded through my body as I navigated through the crowd, a champagne flute balanced in my hand. Tonight was special—Derek's birthday celebration in the VIP section of Luminous, the most exclusive club in the city. I'd spent hours getting ready, wanting to look perfect for him.

"To Derek," I whispered to myself, taking a sip of champagne. "Happy birthday to the man who changed my life."

I couldn't help but smile as I remembered how gentle he'd been when we first met. Derek Vance, the handsome Beta heir to one of the most powerful corporate packs in the country, had swept me off my feet. Coming from a small, loving pack, I'd been naive and romantic—exactly what he'd wanted.

"You look beautiful tonight," he'd told me earlier, his fingers brushing my cheek. "I have something special planned for later."

That was Derek—always the romantic, always knowing exactly what to say. I'd moved across the country for him, leaving behind my family and everything I knew. But it had been worth it. We were engaged now, and in one week, we'd announce our engagement to both our packs.

"Ladies' room," I murmured to myself, setting down my glass. "Then I'll find Derek and give him his birthday surprise."

The hallway leading to the restrooms was dimly lit, the music fading slightly as I moved away from the main area. I hummed softly to myself, my heart light with anticipation. When I reached the corridor that branched off toward the VIP bathrooms, I heard it—breathing, heavy and urgent.

"God, Derek, right here?" A woman's voice, husky with desire. "Someone might come."

Derek's low chuckle froze me in place. "That's half the fun, isn't it?"

I stepped forward, my body moving of its own accord, drawn by some terrible magnetism toward the sound. The hallway curved slightly, and as I rounded the corner, time seemed to stop.

Derek had Lana pressed against the wall, his mouth devouring hers in a deep, carnal kiss. His hands gripped her possessively, one tangled in her hair, the other sliding down her body with intimate familiarity.

The scent hit me first—Derek's distinctive musk intertwined with Lana's cloying arousal pheromones. It was overwhelming, a nauseating mixture that told me everything I needed to know. This wasn't their first time.

"Selena?" Lana's eyes opened during the kiss, meeting mine over Derek's shoulder. There was no surprise there, no guilt—only a flash of something that looked disturbingly like triumph.

Derek turned slowly, his expression shifting from passion to annoyance as he registered my presence. Not guilt. Not shame. Just annoyance at being interrupted.

"Selena," he said flatly. "You should have waited in the VIP section."

* * *

Days passed in a blur of denial and desperate hope. Maybe there was an explanation. Maybe I'd misunderstood. I needed to see him, to hear him say it wasn't true.

I used my key to enter Derek's penthouse, my heart pounding against my ribs. The space smelled