Chapter 1

“Claire, Claire, Claire,” a familiar female voice whispered my name as I felt a gentle push on my leg. “Wake up, Claire!” the voice urged me.

Feeling aggravated at the person who just disturbed my sleep, I abruptly sat upright and was ready to vent on her, but my hands instantly flew up to my head. I winced as I was suddenly attacked by an intense headache.

“Easy,” she said, sitting next to me on the bed. “Here” she handed me a chilled sprite. “You disappeared last night. Are you okay?”

I snatched the sprite from her and thirstily gulped it down, almost finishing it in one gulp—I guess I was too thirsty.

I dropped the almost finished sprite on the side table, and made to get up but hissed when I felt pains around my waist.

“Blood!” she exclaimed, shock captured her face.

“Blood?” I asked back, wondering what she meant. My eyes followed her gaze, and I was also shocked when I saw bloodstain on the bed. “What's going on?” I asked again as I'm confused.

Looking around, I realized we weren't in my room, we were in an unfamiliar room.

“Is this the reason you disappeared last night? To come secretly get banged?” she asked.

“What are you talking about? I don't remember coming here, talk more or less of bringing someone here… Wait!” My eyes widened as I finally processed what the bloodstain on the bed means. “What happened last night? How did I get here, Emily?” I asked her — she's Emily, my best friend.

She shrugged, shaking her head with a confused frown. “I don't know. I left you to go dance with Nathan, and when I came back to our table, you were gone” she answered.

“What?” My mind slowly replaying what has happened the previous night.

Flashback<<

It's our high school graduation after party, and as usual, Emily's here to drag my introverted ass along.

“You know it's not compulsory I attend the after party, right?” I grumbled.

“It's not compulsory, but this might be the last time we see some of our classmates, why not just attend the party and have fun with them one last time,” she asked in a persuasive tone, but unfortunately, that isn't going to faze me.

“I'm not like you, Emily, I don't care whether this is the last time I see all of our classmates.”

“But…"

“As long as I can see you every day, every other person can go to hell.” I said adamantly.

Seeing my adamant expression, Emily knew she couldn't convince easily, and hence, she pulled her trump card. She pouted her lips and put on her best of bests puppy eyes, then looked me straight in the eyes.

“Come on, Claire, trust me when I say it's going to be funny.” She urged me.

I wanted to refuse her, but she's had me on a chokehold — she knew I can't refuse the puppy eyes.

“Pwease,” she imitated a baby's voice.

I glared at her for a moment, closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, then reluctantly nod in agreement. “Fine!” I gritted out.

“Yay!” She applauded in excitement. Emily helped me get ready, and we set out for the party.

---

Loud music was booming as we entered the party hall. Some of our classmates, or maybe I should call them ex-classmates now, were busy getting drunk, some were in dark corners making out and others were in the dance floor grinding against each other.

“Emily, this place isn't for me at all.” I grumbled to Emily, but she simply ignored my complaint and pulled me along towards a table.

“Stay here. I'll go get us some drinks.” She said as she made to leave, but I grabbed her hand and stopped her.

“Get me sprite,”

“No. You're drinking some beer tonight…"

“Don't force me, or I'll leave!” I threatened her. She playfully glared at me for a moment, then rolled her eyes and stormed off.

It took a few minutes for Emily to get the drinks, but just when I was about getting bored, I saw her coming.

She had a vibrant smile on as she was chatting with one of our class's heartthrobs, and judging from her expression, I could tell she's ready to bang him just as much as he would her.

“Hi, Claire,” the heartthrob greeted me with a pleasant smile when they reached our table.

“Hi.” I replied without sparing him any glance. I glared at Emily, my eyes silently asking her why she brought him over, but she simply smiled at me in response.

“Here's your sprite,” Emily said, banging the bottle of sprite on the table and lightly pushed it towards me. “Oh, this is Nathan.” She introduced the boy.

“She knows me.” He proclaimed with so much confidence, and I raised my brows at him. “I mean, everyone knows my gang.”

Hearing his words made me roll my eyes mentally, but he wasn't wrong, though. His gang is very popular because he's friends with the Alpha prince, and everyone wants to know about him and everyone in their gang because of the Alpha prince.

“Are you still with us, Claire?” Emily asked as she snapped her fingers across my face. I glared at her again since she brought someone else to our table without my permission. “Stop glaring at me, or I swear, I'll pluck your eyes out of their sockets.”

Nathan laughed at Emily's lame joke. “Come on, cut Claire some slack,” he said. “She's obviously not happy with my presence here, and I perfectly understand her.” He added.

At least he can read the room — I thought to myself.

“I should open your drink as an apology for my rude interference,” he offered, and before I could reject his offer, he's already opening my sprite.

I sighed and let him be. After opening the drink, he placed it in front of me with an innocent smile. But why do I feel like his smile is creepy instead of innocent? I couldn't help but question myself.

“How about we go to the dance floor and leave Claire to enjoy her drink?” He suggestively asked Emily.

“Sure. That's a great idea.” She replied, and with that, they raced to the dance floor.

After they're gone, I let out a sigh of relief, then began sipping on my sprite quietly. Although, I could see them dancing from our table. Emily is giggling happily because she's finally dancing with her childhood crush — I pray they end up being mates.

My eyelids suddenly became heavy, and my vision was starting to blur. Oh no, Emily can't fall asleep here — I scolded myself. But I couldn't control myself, the more I tried to keep my eyes open, the more they were closing. I tried so much to resist but couldn't, so I just gave up and collapsed on the table.

End of flashback<<

My mouth fell open, and my eyes widened as reality dawned on me.

“Oh no!” I exclaimed. I've been raped!