Chapter 3 Episode 3

"Call 911, Billy!" Sarah screamed, her voice trembling.

Billy shot into motion, grabbing the phone with trembling hands as a thousand terrifying thoughts raced through his mind. A teenager alone on the streets of New York? Anything could happen. His heart skipped a beat as he quickly dialed the emergency number.

"911, what's your emergency?" a calm voice answered.

"There's been a situation at my residence," Billy stammered, trying to keep his voice steady.

"What's your address?" the operator asked.

"24 Street Avenue..."

"Hold on a second; we actually have a few patrol officers near your location."

"Wait, did you just say outside my residence?" Billy asked, surprised.

"Yes, Mr. Billy. A teenage girl was involved in a car accident near that area. We'll send someone to your flat immediately to take a statement and begin a search."

"Thank you!" Billy exhaled and hung up.

Sarah's eyes widened. "What do we do now?" she whispered, her voice shaky.

"Right now, we wait for the team and pray she's safe," Billy muttered, pacing the room with nervous energy.

"I'm sorry," Sarah whispered, guilt evident in her tone.

Billy opened his mouth to respond, but the doorbell rang.

"Dessa?" Sarah gasped and rushed to the door, flinging it open.

"911, ma'am," a tall, fair-skinned woman in her late thirties said.

"We need to take a statement about your missing daughter," a male officer added.

"Please come in," Sarah forced a tight smile and stepped aside.

"Thank you. We'll need to ask a few questions to aid the investigation," the female officer said, flashing a polite smile as she pulled out a notepad.

"Her name is Iridessa. She's seventeen," Sarah began, voice cracking.

The female officer looked up sharply. "Seventeen?"

"Almost eighteen," Billy added quickly.

"Tomorrow," Sarah whispered, blinking her tears away .

The male officer frowned. "Why would a seventeen-year-old run away from home?" His tone was cold, accusing.

"She... she..." Billy struggled to find the words.

"Listen, sir. If you want our help finding your daughter, we need the truth," the male officer snapped.

"That's enough, Officer John," the woman cut in sharply before turning back to the couple. "I apologize for his tone."

"We had a disagreement. Things got heated... so she ran out," Sarah explained.

"Disagreement?"

"Yes," Sarah nodded, wiping her eyes.

"Can you describe her appearance and what she was last seen wearing?"

"She's fair-skinned, blonde curls, blue eyes, slightly tall. She wore a black cold-shoulder top, a wrap skirt, and knee-high boots," Sarah recited, trying to keep her voice steady.

The female officer scribbled down the details and gave a satisfied nod. "That should be all for now. If we locate her, we'll contact you immediately. In the meantime, you may want to reach out to her friends or possibly her boyfriend. She could be with one of them."

"Thank you, Officer Kate," Sarah and Billy said in unison as they walked the officers out.

"I'll call Jeff," Billy muttered, heading upstairs.

Sarah sighed deeply and dialed Glow's number.

****

A few moments later...

"Thanks. Please let me know if you hear anything," Sarah said and hung up.

Billy returned. "Any updates?"

"None of her friends have seen her. Did you reach Jeff?"

"I called twice. No answer. I left a voicemail."

Sarah's hands trembled. "This is all my fault," she whispered, breaking into tears.

****

★ RAVE CAVE CLUB ★

Iridessa gulped down her fourth shot of vodka. The bitter liquid scorched her tongue, and tears blurred her vision.

"My whole life's been a goddamn lie," she sobbed, pouring another shot and drunk it in one gulp. Her phone lit up, Glow. The screen glowed as the call rang and ended. Countless missed calls and messages followed, from her parents, friends, even her boyfriend.

"Your parents are worried sick. Please come home."

Parents, she scoffed bitterly, chucking the phone aside.

She staggered toward the stage as Cardi B's "WAP" blared through the speakers. Iridessa began to move-hips rolling, body moving to the beat. Cheers and lustful eyes followed her every motion, and for once, the attention felt like a distraction she desperately needed.

Then, thunder roared violently, shaking the club and making the lights flicker. They went out, then blinked back on. That's when she saw him.

A tall figure at the far end of the club, cloaked in black. Strippers hovered around him, but his piercing green eyes cut through the crowd and locked with hers. He held a glass of rum, and though the connection lasted only seconds before he looked away, it struck her like lightning.

"Whoa," Iridessa muttered, eyes darting toward the ceiling. "Feels like the sun just rose, and it's blinding."

Before she could think further, a man suddenly grabbed her arm, yanking her close and inhaling deeply at her neck.

"Hey, prettiest girl in the room... wanna dance?" he asked, eyes glinting.

"No, thanks," Iridessa replied flatly, attempting to walk away, but he pulled her back.

"Come on now, don't be shy. I've been watching you wiggle those sexy little hips. Come whine for zaddy," he grinned smugly.

"She's with me. Back off."

The voice was cold. Dangerous. An arm wrapped tightly around Iridessa's waist.

She turned, stunned. It was the same green-eyed stranger from earlier.

"Hey, baby," he winked. Her heart skipped a beat.

"She's mine. Why don't you go find another bitch? I saw her first!" the man growled.

"Let the lady decide," the stranger responded, eyes glowing with a flicker of red that burned like embers.

"Easy, man. We can share," the man sneered, licking his lips as his eyes raked over Iridessa.

"Are all humans this disgusting?" Zyair groaned. Without warning, he delivered a brutal punch that sent the man flying across the room. The crowd gasped.

"Did you see that?!"

"He's a demon!"

"We need to leave," Zyair muttered, grabbing Iridessa's hand.

"Let go of me! Who... who are you?" she stammered, her voice trembling as he dragged her with him.

In an instant, they were on the rooftop.

Iridessa gasped and stumbled back. "Are you an angel... or a demon?"

Zyair rolled his eyes. "So this is the thank-you I get for saving a reckless little human?" he snapped, speaking to his inner wolf.

"This is why you were restless? Over her?"

He paused, eyes studying her vulnerable form. "She is... beautiful," he murmured.

"More than the girls I've had before?" he muttered to himself.

"Nope. Bluey's still the hottest," he shrugged.

"Watch your language, she's the Beta's daughter."

"Didn't stop her from moaning and begging for mercy."

"Can we leave now?" Zyair asked, turning away without sparing Iridessa another glance.

"We can't just leave her up here," his wolf snapped.

"She's drunk. Humans always get drunk, whether happy or miserable... strange race," Zyair muttered.

"To hell with my parents!" Iridessa suddenly screamed through sobs. Before Zyair could react, she lunged toward the rooftop edge. He moved faster than thought, yanking her back just in time. They crashed to the floor, Iridessa landing right on top of him.

Zyair froze as he felt his arousal spring to life beneath her.

Eyes wide, he tried to push her off, but she surprised him, leaning in and crashing her lips onto his.

Zyair's breath caught in his throat.

His eyes snapped open, stunned.