Chapter 1: The Masquerade Stranger
Ava sneaks into the elite masquerade ball. She meets Damon Blackthorn for the first time—tense, magnetic, and dangerous. They share a moment on the balcony filled with sparks and warnings,
Ava Carter gripped the stolen invitation tighter, her fingers trembling as she stepped into the ballroom. The marble beneath her worn heels gleamed, mocking her. This world wasn't meant for her—too polished, too powerful—but she had slipped inside anyway, wearing a borrowed gown and a mask that hid more than her identity.
Just one night, she told herself. One night to pretend.
She moved like smoke, weaving through the sea of glittering gowns and tailored suits, heart pounding with every step. No one noticed her—yet. That was good. If she kept her head down, maybe she could blend in long enough to—
"Lost something, sweetheart?"
A voice—low, commanding, and dangerous—cut through the music behind her. She turned.
And froze.
The man standing before her was tall, sharply built, his presence a storm in a room full of candlelight. He wore a black suit tailored to perfection, a silver wolf mask pushed slightly upward to reveal piercing gray eyes and a mouth that curved like a blade. Her stomach twisted.
She didn't know him. But her body did.
"I'm not your sweetheart," she snapped, lifting her chin.
He smiled, slow and deliberate, and took a step closer. "You don't belong here."
Neither did he. Not really. He stood out, not because he was underdressed—but because he commanded the space. Like he could buy the ballroom and everyone in it.
Ava's heart thudded as she turned away, trying to disappear into the crowd.
He followed.
Of course he did.
Moments later, she slipped through the glass doors onto a moonlit balcony. Cold air hit her cheeks as she exhaled, finally breathing. Then—
A shadow.
"I asked you a question," he said behind her.
She spun around. "And I ignored it. Take the hint."
He stepped into the moonlight, removing his mask. Her breath caught.
Damon Blackthorn. Billionaire CEO. The man whose face was splashed across every finance magazine in the city. The man who had crushed her dream job with one ruthless acquisition last year.
And he was looking at her like she was a puzzle he intended to solve.
"I don't like games," he said, voice soft but firm.
"Then walk away," she replied.
A pause. Then he stepped closer—invading her space without touching her.
"I don't walk away from things that interest me, Miss...?"
She gave a false name. He didn't believe it. She could see it in the twitch of his brow.
"I know every name on the guest list," he said. "You're not one of them."
"You're not the gatekeeper," she said.
"No. I'm worse."
There was a flicker in his eyes. Amusement. Danger. Heat.
And for a second—just one second—Ava forgot to breathe.
He leaned in, his voice a whisper against her cheek. "You came looking for trouble. Congratulations—you just found it."
Her pulse thundered.
This man was a warning wrapped in silk and steel.
But she wasn't the type to back down.
"Good," she whispered. "I'm not afraid of wolves."
He smiled—sharp and slow.
Then he walked away.
But Ava knew instinctively:
That wouldn't be the last time she saw him.