Page 45 of The Bittersweet Bond

Her gaze drifted toward the pool and landed on Bas. He was standing on the other side, a drink in his hand, and his eyes were locked directly on her. Deliberately. Provocatively. Her heart skipped a beat.

It was that kind of look she knew all too well. It was as if he was testing her, waiting to see if she’d step onto thin ice again.

“We could meet after school, and I could help you…” Ben continued.

Evin knew it was just a harmless offer, but Bas’s piercing gaze felt like it was prickling at her skin.

“Um…” she stammered, her eyes still drawn to Bas, who hadn’t looked away. His face was unreadable, but his eyes glittered. As if he was daring her to make a move.

Evin bit her lip, shaking her head. “Actually…” She took a deep breath, trying to ignore the pressure building in her chest. “Actually, I think I’ll manage. But thanks for the offer.”

__________

Sebastian

He shouldn’t care. He didn’t care.

And yet, there he was—standing by the pool, fingers curled too tightly around his drink—again. Watching her. Watching him.

Ben. That smug bastard. Always around her. Always fucking trying.

Basclenched his jaw as he watched the guy lean in closer, too fucking eager, while Evin bit her lip in that way that made something raw and restless coil inside him. He hated that. Hated the way his pulse kicked up, hated the heat creeping up his spine, hated that she still did this to him without even trying.

Fucking hell.

The dress hugged her curves, her skin glowing under the soft party lights, her hair falling just right. She wasn’t doing this for him—wasn’t even trying to get his attention. And yet, he felt hunted. Something dark curling behind his eyes as he exhaled slowly.

She wants this. She wants me to go insane. And fuck,maybe it was working.

He couldn't look away.

Then, she looked at him. Just for a second. A flicker of something—hesitation, awareness—before she turned back to Ben.

That hesitation—just a fraction of a moment, just a barely-there pause—was all he needed.

She was still his.

Maybe not in words. Maybe not in the way that mattered.

But in this? In the way her body betrayed her before she could school her expression?

Yeah.Thatwas his. And he fucking liked it.

The corner of his lips quirked upward, betraying the thought. His hunting instinct had already kicked in, and just like that, Ben ceased to exist.

Evin, however, had just made herself his problem—again.

__________

Evin

"No pressure! I know things got a little… complicated between us, but I’d really like to help if you need it." Ben's brow furrowed slightly, surprise flickering across his face before he nodded in understanding. "If you ever change your mind, just let me know."

He gave her an encouraging smile before turning away. Evin watched as Ben disappeared into the crowd, but the tight knot in her stomach wouldn’t refused to ease. She knew Bas was still watching her. And though she had tried her best not to do anything that could be misinterpreted, Evin was certain Bas would twist Ben’s innocent offer into something else entirely.

She forced herself not to glance in his direction and took a deep breath.

“See you around,” she muttered under her breath as she walked away. “Come on, loosen up,” she whispered to herself, but her legs moved before her mind could catch up, creating distance she wasn’t even sure she wanted. She wove her way through the dancing crowd when suddenly Jonas appeared in front of her.

---