CHAPTER 15
**ZION**
"Looks like your sister's having a good time with Ethan Wolfe," Clark said, his voice dripping with amusement. My head snapped around the room until my eyes locked onto Ethan Fu*king Wolfe, not just talking, but blatantly flirting with Snowflake.
The fuck?
No way.
No. Fucking. Way.
The beer bottle in my hand nearly slipped to the floor. A wave of anger washed over me, and all I could do was stand there, mouth agape, unable to process what I was seeing. No way. No motherfucking way.
"Why the fuck is Ethan with her?" I snap, the words dripping with frustration.
Clark shrugs casually, like the answer is obvious. "Probably because he wants to fuck her. She’s hot and exactly his type."
I can’t deny it—Clark’s right. She’s everything Ethan goes for, which only makes seeing him flirt with her even more infuriating.
A low growl rumbles from my chest before I even realize it, drawing the attention of everyone around. Their eyes fix on me, but I don’t care.
“Here’s your chance…” Clark nudged me in the side, a wicked grin on his face.
“Don’t be shy. Get over there and put Ethan in his place. I wouldn’t want a guy like him near my sister—Hell, I wouldn’t want said sister near a guy like me either,” he chuckled.
My gaze swung to him, fury boiling over.
"She's not my fuc*ing sister," I snapped, the words coming out harsher than intended.
Clark laughed, clearly enjoying my frustration. “Oh, come on, Zion. You know you’re just itching to play the protective brother—or whatever you want to call it. Go on, show him who’s boss.”
My jaw tightened, my teeth grinding together. I couldn’t stand the smug look on Clark’s face or the thought of Ethan anywhere near Winter. This was crossing a line. I downed the rest of my beer and set the bottle aside, my eyes never leaving Ethan and Winter. This ends now.
**WINTER**
Standing amidst the sea of strangers, I felt utterly out of place. The girls threw daggers with their eyes, clearly not happy about my presence, while the boys shot appreciative glances my way, making me feel like a piece of meat on display.
Ignoring the stares, I noticed a bar in the far corner and made my way over. I blinked at the array of bottles displayed there, impressed by the selection.
No expense had been spared, it seemed, for the guests. There was every kind of liquor you could imagine, punch, sodas, and, to top it off, a bartender dressed in black at the very end of the counter, mixing cocktails with theatrical flair. “A bartender for a college party? That’s insane,” I thought. Whoever owned this house must be filthy rich.
"Can I get you something, sweetheart?" the bartender asked, stepping up to me.
"Uh, I'll have a soda, please," I replied.
"Coming right up," he said with a smile.
After getting my drink, I wandered deeper into the house.
"Let’s all go out to the pool!" I heard a girl shout.
Deciding to escape the stifling atmosphere inside, I made my way to the backyard. The cool night air felt refreshing, and I took a deep breath, hoping to calm my nerves. My hands fidgeted with the hem of my dress as I glanced around, seeking a brief moment of tranquillity.
A voice interrupted my thoughts. "What's a beautiful girl like you doing standing here all alone?"
I turned to see a tall guy with a smirk approaching me. He had tousled dark hair, sharp cheekbones, and a confident swagger.
His eyes were a piercing green, and I flinched as his gaze swept over me. It wasn’t just a glance; he scrutinized me from head to toe. My skin crawled under his deliberate inspection.
Something was calculating and sleazy about his look that made me uneasy.
"Probably because I'm new here and don't know anyone yet," I replied, forcing a polite smile and taking a small step back from him.
He moved in closer, his eyes lighting up with interest. "Well, then it's lucky I found you. I'm Ethan," he said, flashing a grin that showed off his perfect teeth. "Now you know someone," he added, giving me a thorough once-over with his piercing blue eyes.
"And you are?"
"Winter," I said, offering a small nod.
"Winter, huh? Well, there's nothing cold about you because, damn, you're one hot girl..." His eyes trailed down to my chest, prompting me to cross my arms and narrow my eyes at him slightly.
"Don't take it the wrong way," he said smoothly. "It's a beautiful name for a beautiful girl."
Ethan’s gaze lingered on me, his eyes trailing over my face and down my body with an intensity that made me uncomfortable. He didn't seem to care that I was shifting uncomfortably under his scrutiny. I could feel his eyes on me, making my skin prickle.
“So, you mentioned you’re new here. What made you come to a party where you don’t know anyone? Unless, of course, you fell from heaven and landed right here, which I’d believe.”
I managed to keep my eye roll in check.
“Well, actually, I came here with... Zion,” I said.
Ethan's eyebrows lifted in recognition.
"Zion? You came with him?" He glanced around briefly before shaking his head. "Not very gentlemanly of him to leave a lovely girl like you alone at a party. But knowing Zion, he's probably busy in one of the bedrooms right now. He can never say no to a hookup. How about I keep you company instead?"
I hesitated, not wanting to be rude. "Um, sure, I guess."
He grinned, leaning against the railing beside me. "So, Winter, tell me about yourself. What do you do for fun?"
I shrugged, trying to appear casual. "Oh, you know, the usual stuff. Reading, watching movies. Nothing too exciting."
"Come on, I'm sure there's more to you than that," he said, his tone flirtatious. "A girl like you must have some interesting hobbies."
"Well, I do like hiking. And painting sometimes."
"See? That's more like it," he said, his eyes locking onto mine. "I'd love to see your paintings sometime. Maybe we could go hiking together."
I smiled politely, unsure how to respond.
"Maybe."
"I'm on the ice hockey team, just so you know," Ethan said with a smirk.
“Exciting,” I replied, my voice lacking enthusiasm.
“Isn’t it?” Ethan drawled, still fixated on me. I regretted choosing this dress; under his appraising gaze, I felt unnervingly exposed and uneasy.
Ethan took a step closer, his gaze intent.
"You know, Winter, you're something. I'd love to get to know you better."
Before I could reply, a loud voice cut through the night. "Ethan!" boomed across the backyard.
We both turned to see Zion approaching, his expression a mix of anger and something else I couldn't quite place. He moved with purpose, his eyes locked onto Ethan and me, and the air seemed to crackle with tension.
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