Bound by the Alpha

The night air bit sharply as Selena Rivers stepped out of the bistro and onto the quiet streets of Brooklyn. She tugged her scarf tighter around her neck, her breath visible in the icy air. The bistro’s hum of chatter and clinking glasses still rang faintly in her ears, a stark contrast to the unsettling silence of the streets tonight. It wasn’t unusual for her to work late shifts, but this time felt different. The city’s usual energy—so constant it was like a heartbeat—seemed muted. Even the faint hum of distant traffic sounded off. Her shortcut was the same as always: a well-lit side street lined with graffiti-covered walls and a few dumpsters pushed into corners. It cut her walking time in half, and she’d never had trouble here before. But tonight, as her boots clicked softly against the pavement, Selena couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched. She glanced over her shoulder. The street was empty, yet her instincts prickled, urging her to hurry. Shaking off the feeling, she focused on her breath, trying to dismiss the unease creeping into her chest. Then, a sound shattered the quiet. A low, guttural growl. Selena froze mid-step, her heart leaping to her throat. The sound came from the alley just ahead—a shadowed gap between two buildings. She squinted into the darkness, her pulse pounding. Two figures moved in the shadows, locked in what looked like a brutal fight. They weren’t just wrestling; they were attacking each other with a viciousness that sent shivers down her spine. Selena instinctively took a step back, her breath hitching. Their movements were too fast, too precise to be human. One figure—a massive silhouette—slammed the other against the wall with enough force to c***k the bricks. The smaller one snarled, recovering almost instantly and lunging forward with claws—claws?—that caught the faint light. This can’t be real. Her mind raced as her eyes tried to make sense of what she was seeing. Were those claws? And the way they moved—fluid, almost animalistic. The clang of a soda can under her boot gave her away. The sound echoed sharply, cutting through the chaos like a gunshot. Both figures froze. Slowly, the larger one turned, and Selena’s breath caught. Golden eyes, glowing faintly, locked onto hers. The man—or creature—stared at her with an intensity that rooted her to the spot. His face was striking, sharp features framed by tousled black hair. But there was nothing human about his expression. It was raw, predatory, like he was deciding whether she was a threat—or prey. “Go,” he growled, his voice low and commanding. The word sent a shiver down her spine, but she couldn’t move. Her legs felt like lead as she stared at the scene before her, every instinct screaming at her to run, yet her body refusing to obey. The smaller figure took advantage of the distraction, lunging at the golden-eyed man with a feral snarl. This time, she saw it clearly—the attacker wasn’t human. Its form was twisted, somewhere between man and beast, with limbs that looked wrong and claws that glinted in the faint light. The golden-eyed man reacted with inhuman speed, catching the creature mid-air and slamming it into the ground. The impact shook the alley, the sound of bone and pavement colliding reverberating in her ears. “Leave!” the man barked, his voice sharper now, filled with authority. This time, Selena’s body listened. She turned and ran, her heart pounding as her boots echoed against the pavement. But she hadn’t made it far when another growl stopped her cold. Ahead of her, a new figure emerged from the shadows. It was taller than the others, its frame rippling with barely contained power. Its eyes glowed a sinister red, and its posture was eerily calm, as if it had been waiting for her. “Selena Rivers,” it said, the sound of her name a low rumble that made her blood run cold. “You shouldn’t have seen that.” She stumbled back, her mind racing. How did it know her name? Before she could process the question, the golden-eyed man appeared again, stepping between her and the creature with a fluid grace that seemed almost practiced. “Leave her alone,” he said, his voice steady but laced with a threat. The red-eyed creature let out a guttural laugh, low and mocking. “You’re protecting a human, Damian? How noble.” Selena’s stomach twisted. Damian. That was his name. “She’s under my protection,” Damian said, his voice like steel. The creature’s grin widened, revealing teeth that were unnervingly sharp. “That’s a mistake, Alpha.” The word hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Alpha? The realization hit Selena like a freight train. These weren’t ordinary men—they were something else entirely. The two clashed before she could react, their movements a blur of strength and fury. Selena pressed herself against the wall, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she watched the fight unfold. It was like something out of a nightmare—or a storybook. The red-eyed creature was fast, but Damian was faster. He moved with a precision that spoke of experience, each strike calculated and devastating. But his opponent was relentless, forcing Damian to keep his body between it and Selena. “Run,” Damian growled without looking at her, his voice strained. She hesitated, torn between fear and an inexplicable pull to stay. Her gaze flicked to Damian, his golden eyes glowing brighter now, his expression fierce and unyielding. “Go!” he barked. This time, she obeyed, turning and sprinting toward the end of the street. She didn’t stop running until she reached her apartment. Fumbling with her keys, she shoved the door open and slammed it behind her, locking it with trembling hands. She leaned against the wood, her chest heaving as she tried to calm her racing heart. What had she just seen? Who was Damian? And how had her name been known to a creature that shouldn’t exist? Selena pressed a hand to her chest, her heartbeat still erratic. She didn’t have the answers, but one thing was certain: her life had changed tonight. And whatever was out there, it wasn’t finished with her yet.