Chapter 1 The Enigma Of Elias

• The city had already fallen into the grip of night, the skyline bathed in neon and the distant hum of traffic filling the air. The club was closing, its patrons trickling out with laughter and the heavy scent of alcohol still lingering on their skin. Noah stepped outside, his worn-out shoes tapping against the pavement as he made his way through the alley behind the nightclub. He pulled his jacket tighter against the cold, feeling the weight of the long shift in his tired muscles. Another night, another round of pretending to belong in a world that was never meant for him.
• As he stepped deeper into the alley, the sound of his footsteps echoed in the stillness. The chill in the air made him shiver, but it wasn’t just the cold that sent a chill down his spine. It was that feeling—heavy and suffocating—that there was someone there, watching him. Waiting. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
• Elias.
• The mere thought of him made Noah’s stomach twist. He hadn’t seen him in days, but even the memory of those piercing eyes, that voice that could send shivers through his bones, was enough to make his pulse quicken. Elias was everything Noah wasn’t—wealthy, powerful, dangerous. He was the kind of man who didn’t need to say a word to control a room, to command attention.
• Noah tried to shake the thoughts from his mind, but the moment he turned a corner, he stopped dead in his tracks. There, emerging from the shadows like a dark prince, was Elias. His tall figure was framed by the dim glow of the streetlights, his sharp features almost glowing in the half-light. He was dressed in his usual immaculate suit, the dark fabric hugging his frame in a way that made him look even more untouchable.
• Noah’s heart skipped a beat, and his first instinct was to turn and run. But Elias was already too close, his presence too overwhelming to escape.
• “You don’t need to be out here alone,” Elias said, his voice smooth and velvet-like, wrapped in that same dark intensity that always made Noah feel small in his presence. “It’s dangerous in these parts of the city, don’t you think?”
• Noah didn’t answer immediately. He could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating, like a storm waiting to break. He wanted to push Elias away, to tell him that he wasn’t some plaything, but the words never left his throat. Instead, he stared at the ground, his fingers curling into fists at his sides.
• “I’m fine,” Noah muttered, trying to sound more confident than he felt. He took a step back, but Elias’s gaze never wavered, not even for a second.
• “No, you’re not,” Elias replied, his voice dark with certainty. Before Noah could react, Elias moved forward, his hand reaching out to grab Noah’s wrist in a grip so firm it left no room for resistance. “You think you can run from me?”
• Noah’s breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, he thought he might stumble back into the brick wall behind him. But Elias was already pressing in closer, forcing Noah’s body to collide with his. The scent of expensive cologne surrounded Noah like a drug, making his head spin.
• “I don’t belong to you,” Noah spat, though his voice lacked conviction. He wanted to push Elias away, to free himself from the pull of his presence, but something about Elias—his strength, his power—made Noah feel like a child caught in a storm. He wanted to resist, but he knew deep down that Elias had already marked him in ways he couldn’t escape.
• Elias’s lips curled into a slow, mocking smile, and Noah could see the amusement flicker in his dark eyes. “You’re a liar,” Elias whispered, leaning in so close that Noah could feel his warm breath against his ear. “You’ve belonged to me the moment I laid eyes on you.”
• Before Noah could respond, Elias pulled him forward, crashing their lips together in a kiss that was anything but gentle. It was demanding, forceful, and filled with a need that made Noah’s head spin. His body froze, caught in the shocking sensation of being kissed so deeply, so intensely, that it left him breathless.
• Noah’s mind raced. He should’ve pulled away, fought back, but his body betrayed him. The heat spreading through him, the way his pulse quickened, told him everything he needed to know: Elias had the power to break him, to make him want something he knew he shouldn’t.
• When Elias finally pulled back, he looked at Noah with a dark satisfaction. “You’re mine, Noah. I’ll have you, whether you like it or not.”
• Noah’s heart pounded in his chest, his breath ragged. His body still tingled from the kiss, but his mind screamed at him to break free. He tried to push Elias away, but his hands were trembling, unsure if he wanted to fight or give in.
• Elias stepped back, his eyes never leaving Noah’s. “You’ll come to me again,” he said softly, almost too softly, but the words sent a jolt through Noah’s veins. “And when you do, you’ll understand. You’ll know you belong to me.”
• As Elias turned to leave, Noah stood frozen in the alley, the weight of his words settling deep in his chest. He should’ve hated Elias. He should’ve fought him, told him to stay away. But something deep inside him—the part he didn’t want to acknowledge—wanted to chase after him. Wanted to know what it felt like to give in.
• But Noah couldn’t—he wouldn’t. He had to stay strong.
• At least, that’s what he told himself.