Page 211 of The Bittersweet Bond

"From letting go. Here. Now. Just being who you really are."

Alexander’s gaze was unexpectedly serious, almost like a challenge.

Bas wanted to reply, throw out some sarcastic remark, but the words stuck in his throat. He looked around. The lights, the people, the music—everything here screamed at him to let go. And yet, the idea of truly surrendering control felt like a dangerous line to cross.

"Maybe," he finally said, "because I can’t let go all at once."

Alexander studied him, his grin widening. "Soon, you’ll have plenty of time to let go."

His tone was casual, but the words carried more weight than he was letting on. Bas was about to ask what he meant when, suddenly, two girls appeared beside them—out of nowhere.

Alexander immediately raised his hand, greeting Leah with a broad grin, as if she were the main event of the night. She smiled, but it was a tired smile—one that felt more like a mask than real joy.

"Leah! Jenny!" Alexander called over the pounding music. "I knew I’d see you here."

She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Alex, you’re seriously everywhere, aren’t you?" She stepped closer, and Alexander threw an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into a loose hug.

"Of course," he said, winking. "But I’ve never seen you without your watchdog. What’s up? A fight?"

Leah’s expression shifted instantly, her smile vanishing. "You could say that," she murmured, lifting her gaze to him. "He… he’s been difficult lately."

Bas watched her as she spoke. Her tone was tense, her shoulders slightly hunched, and he could tell there was more she wasn’t saying. He was about to ask when a shadow suddenly fell over them.

"And who’s your new friend?" The other girl, Jenny, asked with a sultry glance at Bas.

How the hell do I explain this to Evin? Bas swallowed. She’d kill me if she knew how thesegirls were looking at me. The thought almost made him smile, but he pushed it aside when a loud voice suddenly cut through the music.

"Leah!"

The voice was deep and rough, and Bas immediately felt the energy in the air shift. He turned around and saw a guy pushing through the crowd. Broad-shouldered, tattooed arms, and eyes that cut through the chaos like a blade. His jaw was tense, brows furrowed, his cold gaze burning with anger.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he snapped, stopping right in front of her. Leah took a step back, her face pale, but she didn’t answer.

"I asked you a question, Leah!" His voice sharpened, rising in volume as he took another step toward her. "Standing around like some slut, talking to random guys while I’m looking for you?"

"Hey, man, relax," Alexander cut in, his tone still casual but carrying a quiet warning. "We’re just talking. No big deal."

Bas felt something inside him stir at the guy’s aggressive stance. It was like a switch flipping inside him. His breath shortened, and that dark, impulsive side of him—the one he tried to keep buried—started clawing its way up.

The guy ignored them completely, his eyes locked onto Leah. "You’re fucking pathetic, you know that?" His voice dropped, but the menace remained. "I take my eyes off you for two seconds… You’re so damn cheap."

And then he grabbed her.

His hand clamped around her arm, rough, unyielding. Leah flinched, trying to pull away, but he held on tight.

"We’re leaving," he hissed. "Now."

At that moment, something inside Bas shut down.

The sight of his grip on Leah’s arm sent something burning through him, something deep, something old. His breath turned shallow, and the world around him faded until all that remained was that hand on her skin.

"Let her go," Bas said, his voice low and sharp.

The guy turned slowly, scanning Bas from head to toe.

"And who the fuck are you? Her little prince?" The irony in his tone had a bitter edge.

"If only you knew," Bas muttered, voice laced with something dark.

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