His Lying Mate

Chapter 1

Jared

Nearing the house, the sounds from it started filling the air and the otherwise silent street. The music was just as loud as every other Saturday. The favorite day of the week to hold the all-famous Davidson's party. It was a tradition, and no matter how late it became, none of the neighbors made a complaint. Ever.

Jared narrowed his eyes, a gust of air leaving his nostrils. The stars above his head were bright and twinkling, so different from his heart and the way he felt. To him, this visible lack of laws made things even more suspicious. The mayor's house wasn't supposed to be like this. He was supposed to be the one to set an example, not break the rules and allow chaos to enter the neighborhood.

Yet, no one dared to oppose his daughter's fun. She was the one throwing these cursed parties, and she was the one to say when they ended. Which was usually at dawn.

Jared clenched his jaw. This girl was like the Queen bee. So powerful, even without doing anything. And as scary as a blood-sealed curse.

He squeezed in between a few of the cars and reached the front yard of the house. Jared halted in his steps, and his fists clenched by his side. Flashes of sour memories rushed into his mind, and his heart tightened. He hated this place.

"Why are you stopping? Go, man!" Parker stepped next to him and patted his shoulder a bit too roughly.

Jared huffed and glared at his friend. It was his fault he was going back in there. A place he had tried to avoid for over a year.

"Is that what I get for helping you find Maria? You beating me up?" he tried to joke, but his bad mood ruined it.

"We'll be fast, I promise! No longer than twenty minutes! You won't even meet her there!"

Jared narrowed his dark brown eyes at his friend. Parker knew far too well why he felt so much disdain for this place and why he was so reluctant to go in.

"If we don't find your girlfriend in twenty minutes, I swear I'm leaving!" he vowed and took a step ahead. The faster they found her, the better.

The house was full of people. They were dancing, drinking, and partying like they were trying to ease up and destroy all their worries. So how come when Jared visited this place, he got only trouble?

His eyes examined the crowd around him. It was mostly the same, just like on every Saturday for the last three years. His heartbeat quickened, and his body tensed. These merry, careless people had become witnesses to some of his worst moments. But they didn't care. They were just like the sheep, waiting for the shepherd to lead them and tell them what to feel. And the shepherd was nowhere to be seen yet.

His palms started sweating, and his guts churned in frightening anticipation. He wanted to just turn around and leave. This place was bad. Just bad.

When a girl accidentally stumbled into him, her face hitting his chest, Jared took a step back and looked at her. The waitress from the coffee shop. Her best friend. When she saw him, she bristled with surprise and quickly uttered her apologies. Jared's jaw tightened. This girl... this girl was always with her. With the person he dreaded seeing.

It was time to move.

He quickly shuffled on his feet and started checking every possible room. Where was Maria? If her own fiancé, Parker, couldn't find her, then wasn't it time for them to talk? Parker had postponed this moment for way too long.

Entering yet another room, Jared slammed it open, and his eyes widened when he saw the girl he was looking for. On top of another man! Parker was going to die!

"Maria!" he shouted, anger consuming him, and the brunette jumped.

She quickly covered her breasts and cowardly started muttering excuses and apologies.