Alpha human mate

Laura's POV

I slammed the car door harder than I intended, my frustration boiling over. James had done it again. Two minutes—barely two damn minutes—and he was finished, leaving me aching, needy, and unsatisfied. My body hummed with restless energy, but not the good kind. I liked him, I really did, but how long was I supposed to keep convincing myself that, that was enough to make up for what he couldn’t give me?

Every night it was the same routine. He’d roll off, breathing hard, apologizing, promising next time would be different. But next time never came. Tonight was supposed to be that night,he swore it would be different. I believed him. Foolishly. Now here I was, unfulfilled, my skin burning with want, knowing I’d go home and finish the job myself. Again.

But I couldn’t bring myself to drive straight home. The thought of slipping into my quiet apartment with nothing but my own restless thoughts for company made my stomach knot. My hands tightened on the steering wheel, and before I even realized what I was doing, I was taking a different turn heading straight for the one place James hated: the club.

As soon as I pushed through the heavy doors, I knew I hadn’t made a mistake. Music thundered through the air, the bass vibrating in my chest like a second heartbeat. Neon lights painted the crowd in shifting shades of blue, pink, and red. Bodies pressed against each other on the dance floor, grinding and groping without shame. The smell of perfume, sweat, and alcohol filled the air, and instead of suffocating me, it felt liberating.

I used to love this scene before James, before I dimmed myself down for the sake of his comfort. And God, it felt good to be back.

I slid onto a barstool, crossing one leg over the other as the bartender leaned forward with a practiced smile.

“What can I get you?”

I hesitated for a moment, then said, “A tequila sunrise.”

His brows lifted slightly, but he nodded and got to work. I rested my elbows on the bar and let my gaze wander.

The dance floor was packed, a writhing sea of desire and recklessness. A woman in a sequined dress threw her head back in laughter as a man’s hands roamed boldly over her hips. Another couple kissed like the world was ending. It was raw, shameless, and for a moment I let myself get lost in watching.

“Here you go.”

I turned back to the bartender just as he set my drink in front of me, the bright orange and red layers glowing under the lights. I lifted it, took a sip, and closed my eyes as the alcohol burned its way down. That heat—that sting—that was exactly what I needed. I drank again, slower this time, savoring the sweetness before the fire.

And then I felt it.

A shiver ran down my spine, so sharp and sudden that I froze. My skin prickled,