CHAPTER 175: LET’S DANCE

Jessica stepped out first, leaning on the railing for a moment to take in the view. "Y’know," she said, tilting her head toward him, "We could just skip the party and stay out here. It’s got better air, better company... and doesn’t reek of alcohol and sweat

Jayden chuckled. "Are you feeling okay? Cause the Jessica I know would never choose anything over a party."

Jessica smirked. "I’d choose you." she muttered softly.

Jayden gave a low laugh, stepping up beside her. "Come on, birthday girl. Let’s go before Cassie sends a search party." he said.

Without hesitation, Jessica walked to the edge and hopped down, landing lightly on the ground below. Jayden followed suit, moving from the balcony to the ground in one swift leap.

Jessica straightened, turned to look up at him, and motioned with her hand.

"Well? You coming, or are you planning to stand there looking mysterious all night?"

Jayden stayed where he was, one eyebrow raised, hands resting loosely in his pockets. "I’ve got something better."

Jessica tilted her head. "Better?" She smirked knowingly. "Wait... are you gonna carry me and jump across rooftops again?"

That caught him off guard. His brows twitched slightly. "You... remember that?"

"Of course I do," she said with a teasing grin. "What, you thought I was too drunk to notice the part where you were playing superhero?"

Jayden exhaled in amusement. "You were the one who asked me to fly." he muttered.

Before Jessica could answer, he lifted his right hand, and for the first time she noticed the snug black fingerless glove he was wearing. She opened her mouth to ask about it but didn’t get the chance—his thumb pressed the small circular button embedded in the palm.

A faint hum filled the air, followed by thin streams of blue light tracing themselves in the shape of something long and sleek. The glowing framework spun in the air before hardening, the light collapsing into cold, matte-black metal. In seconds, a fully-formed hover-bike stood between them, its dark bodywork catching the glow from the nearby buildings.

Jessica’s jaw slackened just slightly. "Okay... what the hell just happened?"

Jayden gripped the handlebar, the faintest smirk pulling at his lips. "It’s hard to explain." His tone made it clear he wasn’t about to explain at all. "Let’s just go."

Still marveling, Jessica took a slow step toward it, running her fingers over the smooth curve of the bike’s frame. "Its.. really cool."

"Thanks," Jayden replied, deadpan but with a spark of amusement. He extended a hand toward her in invitation. "Hop on."

Jessica reached for it... then stopped halfway, narrowing her eyes in mock suspicion. "Wait. How do I know it’s safe? I’ve never seen you ride anything like this before. And I’d really prefer not to end my birthday splattered against a building."

Jayden chuckled under his breath. "Just trust me."

She stared at him for a beat, weighing the smirk on his face, then sighed dramatically. "Fine. But if we crash, I will kill you."

"Noted," Jayden said, helping her onto the seat behind him. She swung her leg over with ease, the faint rustle of her dress brushing against him.

Jayden slid onto the bike in front, gripping the handles. The quiet hum of the engines came alive beneath them, a smooth, low vibration.

"Hold on," he said over his shoulder.

Jessica let out a light laugh. "Just drive, wolfboy." She leaned in closer, looping her arms around his waist. Her breasts pressed against his back, warm through the fabric of his shirt. "I trust you."

The corner of Jayden’s mouth tugged upward. Without another word, he tilted the bike forward and kicked off from the rooftop. The hover-bike lifted effortlessly, the city dropping away beneath them as they merged into the open sky-lanes, neon lights streaking past in a blur.

....

Jayden’s hoverbike touched down in a narrow side street, engines humming low before fading to a whisper. The air was warmer here, thick with the faint scents of street food, perfume, and the city’s late-night energy. Jayden swung a leg over and stepped off, offering a hand to Jessica as she climbed down in her sleek birthday dress.

"Smooth landing," she said, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"I try my best." Jayden replied, smirking slightly.

The moment Jessica’s feet hit the pavement, he pressed the glove button again. The bike shimmered in place, its edges breaking apart into fragments of blue light before folding inward and collapsing into his palm.

Jessica blinked. "Still not over how you just... make a bike appear out of nowhere."

Jayden grinned. "And disappear. It’s like magic... but cooler." he said, as they began walking side by side.

They crossed the street toward a low-lit building pulsing faintly with bass. The neon sign above read ’Velvet Loft’ in smooth cursive, glowing hot pink against the night sky. Outside, a couple of smokers leaned against the wall, their conversation lost under the muted thump of music from inside.

Before Jayden and Jessica could even reached the door, a figure burst out—blonde hair catching the streetlights, eyes lighting up instantly as she spotted them.

"There you are, my beautiful birthday brunette!" Cassandra beamed, hurrying forward in white heeled boots that clicked sharply on the pavement. Her pink mini dress shimmered with sequins, every step catching the glow of the neon.

Jessica grinned and let herself be pulled into a warm, lingering hug. "Hey, Cassie. Thanks for the headphones... and the party. Seriously, you’re the best."

"Oh, don’t mention it," Cassandra said, breaking the embrace with a giggle. "That’s what friends are for. Besides, it gave me an excuse to shop." she winked.

Her gaze slid over to Jayden, and a softer smile crept across her face. "Hey, Jayden. You look good."

Jayden met her eyes for a beat longer than necessary. "You look beautiful." he said.

They lingered in that small, charged silence until Jessica cleared her throat. "Hello? Birthday girl standing right here. How about you both admire my face instead."

Cassandra chuckled, lips curling into a smirk. "Jealous much?"

Jessica rolled her eyes and brushed past toward the entrance. "Let’s just go inside before I regret coming."

Cassandra fell in step behind her, Jayden following close.

Inside, the Velvet Loft hit them like a wall—heat, perfume, alcohol, and pounding bass wrapped around flashing lights and bodies in motion. Jayden’s sharpened hearing picked up the layered sounds: the steady rhythm of the music, glasses clinking at the bar, laughter from far corners of the club. He had no choice but to adapt quickly, letting the thrum of energy settle into the background.

Cassandra threaded them through the crowd to the front, where the DJ’s booth overlooked the dance floor. With a flick of her hand, the music cut mid-beat, the room dipping into the buzz of low conversation.

"Alright everyone!" Cassandra’s voice carried clearly as she hopped onto the small stage, grabbing the mic. "We have a very special night tonight. Let’s hear it for our birthday girl—Jessica!"

The crowd erupted in cheers as the spotlight swung to Jessica. She walked up with a mix of pride and shyness, taking the mic.

"Thanks, guys," she said, beaming. "Really appreciate you all coming here tonight. It means a lot, and even though I didn’t wanna come at first, seeing you all here makes me glad I did."

She smiled and added. "So I want you all to have fun, and enjoy yourselves tonight!"

Cheers erupted as the crowd chanted Jessica’s name. She giggled happily before handing the mic back to Cassandra, who took it and spoke:

"Now let’s get back to partying!"

The crowd roared again, and the DJ dropped the beat, lights flickering wildly as Cassandra handed the mic back. Jessica slipped off the stage and returned to Jayden.

"What do you wanna do first?" Jayden asked, leaning close so she could hear him over the music.

Jessica’s eyes darted toward the moving crowd. "Dance."

Jayden lifted a brow. "Not a drink first?"

Jessica tilted her head. "Fine. Get me something light. Maybe a margarita—nothing strong."

Jayden’s grin turned teasing. "So you spend years counting down to being old enough to drink, and now you’re going soft?"

Jessica smirked back. "I’m just not in the mood to end my birthday with another painful hang over."

Jayden chuckled. "Fair enough, birthday girl." he said, before slipping away into the crowd, heading for the bar.

A few minutes later, Jayden returned from the bar with a margarita for Jessica and a soda for himself.

Jessica eyed the can. "You’re drinking soda? At a party?"

"Alcohol doesn’t do anything for me," Jayden said simply.

Jessica brows lifted. "Is it a werewolf thing?"

Jayden shook his head. "It’s more complicated than that," he replied, sipping the soda. "I remember my mom getting drunk sometimes, so it’s definitely not in the genes. I guess I’m just special."

Jessica gave him a mock scoff. "Special, huh? Is that your way of saying ’boring’?"

Jayden chuckled. "Trust me, I’m the opposite of boring."

Jessica finished her margarita in one smooth gulp, grinning wickedly. "Then prove it. Let’s Dance." she said. And without waiting for a response, she dragged him away.

The crowd made room for them as they stepped into the dance floor, the bass thumping through the floorboards. They moved together, spinning and laughing, letting the music dictate the pace. Every so often, their eyes locked, and Jayden couldn’t tell if it was the lights or something else making her gaze linger.

Cassie and a few girls eventually pulled Jessica into a circle, all of them hyped and moving in sync. Jayden stepped out, heading to the bar again, sipping his soda while watching her.

It wasn’t long before a group of guys noticed him and roped him into their own dance circle. Energy surged, laughter mixing with shouts until Cassie’s group and the guys’ circle merged into one big, chaotic party.

When Jayden finally broke free from the circle, Jessica was gone from the floor. He spotted her at the bar, hair mussed from the heat, cheeks flushed, her chest still rising from the exertion.

"Hey," he said, slipping onto the stool next to her.

"Hey," she replied, giving him a tired smile.

"You look exhausted." Jayden said.

"I danced non-stop for two hours," Jessica chuckled. "Of course I’m exhausted."

Jayden smiled. "Wanna get out of here?"

Jessica’s shoulders dropped with relief. "God, yess. I love the party, but I’ve had enough noise for one night." she rutted.

Jayden chuckled. "Alright, let’s make our escape then."

They slipped out into the cooler night air, the muffled bass still pulsing behind them. Moments later, the hoverbike shimmered back into reality, engines humming low. Jessica climbed on behind him, pressing close as they lifted into the sky, leaving the Velvet Loft’s chaos behind in a trail of neon lights.