My body tensed as I struggled, my vision hazy from the alcohol, but my instincts kicked in. I twisted sharply in the arms of my attacker, preparing to fight back. But then… I caught a scent, familiar and distinct, cutting through the fog in my mind. My pulse slowed, and the panic that had risen in my chest began to ebb.

“Nathan?” I breathed, my voice a mix of confusion and relief. The grip around me loosened slightly, and I turned my head enough to see his face, his sharp, intense eyes watching me closely, concern written all over them.

“You’re drunk, Ella,” he said softly, his voice carrying a...