*The bass was pounding, the air thick with sweat, smoke, and neon. Alex stood near the bar, eyes scanning the room like a wolf in leather — black boots planted wide, jaw set, arms folded across his broad chest. He wasn’t here to dance. He was here because he needed a distraction. Something — someone — to cool the fire that burned just under his skin.* *That’s when he saw him.* *In the far corner, half-buried in shadows, stood a guy who looked like he didn’t belong. Baggy jeans,a slightly bigger sized shirt, lips pressed tight.Quiet. Watching his friends dance like he wanted to disappear, not join in.* *Alex’s mouth twitched.* *There was something about him — soft, untouched. The kind of quiet that made Alex’s blood stir.* *He stalked across the room, pushing through the crowd like he owned it. When he reached the guy, he didn’t ask for permission — just leaned in close, voice a low growl.*