Captured by the Alpha King

4 Rowan

4: Rowan

The mouth watering scent of fried doughnuts and grilled corn on the cob wafted through the humid air as Anne and I wove through the bustling crowd. My heart swelled at the sound of laughter and music drifting from every corner of the festival.

After months cooped up indoors, the riot of colors and sounds felt like a long-lost friend embracing me once more. I closed my eyes, tilting my face up to the golden sunlight and inhaled deeply.

Anne nudged me with her elbow, a teasing smile on her face. “You look like you’re about to burst into song right here in the middle of the crowd.”

My cheeks warmed. “I can’t help it. It’s just so wonderful to be out again.”

“I know exactly how you feel.” Anne squeezed my hand. “We’ve been friends for as long as I can remember, and in all those years, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so carefree and happy.”

Her words made my heart clench. I blinked back the sting of tears, swallowing the lump in my throat. How had I gotten so lucky to have a friend like her?

I bumped her shoulder with mine. “Thank you. For forcing me out of the house today. I didn’t realize how much I needed this.”

“That’s what friends are for.” Anne grinned. “Now, how about those doughnuts? I’m starving!”

Laughter bubbled out of me as we made our way to the food stalls. The simple joy of a summer day with my best friend was all I needed to make me feel alive again. Yet little did I know that this festival would mark the beginning of an adventure that would change everything.

A flicker of movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention. A man leaned against a pillar, arms crossed over his chest as he observed the crowd. Tall and broad-shouldered, clad all in black with a silver skull ring adorning one finger. Dark, unruly hair framed a striking face and eyes like obsidian that seemed to see into the darkest parts of my soul.

Those fathomless eyes locked onto mine, and a spark of electricity shot through me. The connection was instantaneous and all-consuming, wiping my mind blank. I forgot how to breathe, how to think, how to do anything but gaze into the depths of his eyes.

“Earth to Rowan.” Anne’s voice cut through the haze in my mind. I blinked, tearing my gaze away from the stranger. “Did you hear anything I just said?”

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. I glanced back but the man had disappeared into the crowd. “Sorry, I got distracted for a moment.”

“I noticed.” A teasing lilt colored Anne’s words. “By the dangerous-looking man with the smoldering eyes, I presume?”

“I—he—we just looked at each other for a second.” I rubbed the back of my neck, unable to hide my chagrin.

“A second?” Anne laughed, the sound melodic. “Try a full minute. I was starting to worry he might spirit you away before I could intervene.”

“You’re exaggerating.” I swatted her arm, but the memory of those fathomless eyes lingered. “He’s gone now anyway.”

“Too bad.” Anne shrugged, a spark of mischief in her eyes. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll run into your dark prince again.”

“Stop calling him that.” Heat flooded my cheeks once more. “You’re being ridiculous.”

Yet despite my protests, I found myself scanning the crowd, hoping for another glimpse of the stranger who had entranced me with a single look. Hoping this wouldn’t be the last I’d see of him.

The memory of his gaze lingered, like the ghost of his touch. Those probing eyes had traced the lines of my body as if he could see right through my clothes, lingering on the curves and angles with a slow, smoldering perusal that left my skin tingling.

When his eyes finally met mine again, he bit his lower lip, white teeth sinking into the plump flesh. The gesture was subtle, almost unconscious, but it betrayed his desire as clearly as if he'd spoken the words aloud.

Heat pooled low in my stomach, and I pressed my thighs together, acutely aware of the slickness gathering between them. I wanted to squirm under the intensity of his stare, and yet I couldn't look away, caught in the snare of his allure like a fly in a spider's web.

Who was this man who could ignite my body with a single glance? Curiosity warred with the warning bells clanging in my mind, urging caution. I knew nothing about him, and yet some primal part of me recognized him on an instinctual level.

Dangerous. The word whispered through my thoughts, and yet it only added to his appeal. A thrill of excitement and fear coursed through my veins, setting my heart pounding against my ribs. Anne had gone to grab us drinks and there he was. Staring at me as if drawing out the desires I'd locked away.

I should have looked away, put distance between us before I got drawn in too deep. And yet I could no more walk away from him than I could stop the sun from rising.

His allure was a riptide, pulling me under with irresistible force. All I could do was surrender to the current and hope I didn't drown in the depths of this stranger's fathomless eyes.

He took a step towards me, and I mirrored the movement, our bodies gravitating together as if we shared one mind. Another step, and another, the space between us shrinking until I could feel the heat radiating from his body and smell the sandalwood scent of his cologne.

My heart slammed against my ribs as he raised one hand, reaching towards me with agonizing slowness. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think, could only stare at his outstretched hand as it moved closer and closer.

Closer still, until his fingers brushed a lock of hair away from my face. The touch seared my skin, sparks dancing across my nerve endings. I gasped at the sensation, my lips parting.

His gaze dropped to my mouth, dark and hungry. "You're exquisite," he rasped, his voice like velvet and sin.

I swayed towards him, my hands coming up to clutch at his arms. I didn't know if I meant to push him away or pull him closer. In the end, I did neither, my fingers digging into the solid muscle of his biceps to keep myself upright.

"I'm Onyx," he murmured, stroking my cheek with the pad of his thumb.

"Rowan," I breathed, the single word trembling on my lips.

"Rowan." He tasted my name, his lips curving into a slow smile that made my knees weak. "A name as beautiful as its owner."

I flushed at the compliment, heat suffusing my cheeks. "You're rather bold." The words came out breathless rather than chiding.

"And you're not?" He quirked a brow, nodding at my hands still clutching his arms.

I started to pull away, but his hands came up to cover mine, pinning them in place. "No need to flee, little bird. I won't bite... unless you ask nicely."

A shiver wracked my body at the images those words conjured. "We've only just met."

"Some encounters transcend the constraints of time." His thumb resumed its hypnotic stroking along my jaw. "Can you honestly tell me you don't feel the connection between us?"

I opened my mouth, but no words emerged. I couldn't lie, not when the bond between us was as tangible as the heat flowing from his body into mine.

A smile of male satisfaction curled his lips. "Just as I thought." He bent his head, bringing his lips close to my ear. "This is only the beginning, Rowan."

Anne emerged from the crowd, her gaze scanning the area until it landed on me. Relief flickered over her features before her eyes narrowed at the sight of Onyx's hands still covering mine.

She strode over to us, arms crossed over her chest. "I've been looking everywhere for you. We have that thing, remember?"

Her pointed look and terse tone conveyed her unspoken warning. Right, we had made plans before getting separated in the crowd. I grimaced, glancing up at Onyx. "I have to go. My friend and I have plans."

A flicker of annoyance crossed his face before it was smoothed away. "Of course. Duty calls." He brought my hands up to his lips, brushing a kiss over my knuckles that made my stomach flip. "Until next time, little bird."

He released my hands and melted into the crowd. I stared after him, rubbing my knuckles and feeling the imprint of his kiss.

Anne grabbed my arm, jerking me around to face her. "What are you thinking? You can't just run off with some random guy you just met!"

"I didn't run off with him," I protested. "We were just talking."

"Looked like a lot more than talking to me." Anne's eyes were stormy. "You know nothing about him. He could be dangerous."

"You're overreacting. He seemed harmless enough." Even as I said the words, I recalled the predatory gleam in Onyx's eyes and suppressed a shiver.

"I don't trust him," Anne said flatly. "Promise me you'll stay away from him."

I hesitated. How could I promise that when I already longed to lose myself in Onyx's embrace again?

"Rowan, promise me." The plea in Anne's tone crumbled my resistance.

"I promise," I said softly, hoping it was a promise I could keep. I had a habit of picking notoriously awful men.

We wandered through the festival for a while longer, but my heart wasn't in it. My thoughts kept drifting to Onyx, recalling the intensity of his gaze and the warmth of his hands on mine. I found myself scanning the crowd for any sign of him, even though I knew he was gone.

Anne's worried glances made the guilt twist in my stomach. I had promised her I would stay away from Onyx, but how could I possibly keep that promise?

By the time we left the festival, dusk was falling and weariness dragged at my limbs. But when I thought of the prospect of returning home to my empty apartment, a restless energy filled me instead.

I wanted to see Onyx again. I wanted to lose myself in the depths of his eyes and the heat of his embrace. I wanted to explore the darkness that lurked beneath his charming facade.

My phone buzzed in my pocket as we walked to our cars, and I froze in my tracks. Heart pounding, I pulled it out to see a single text from an unknown number.

Little bird, the message read. Our next encounter will be even more intriguing. Be ready.

A delicious shiver ran down my spine as I realized it could only be from Onyx. I stared down at the phone, torn between exhilaration and guilt—and impatient anticipation for whatever was to come.

I slid into the driver's seat of my car, fingers tightening around the phone in my hand. How did Onyx get my number? It didn't matter. All that mattered was that he had.

Onyx wanted me. He desired me with an intensity that matched my own, and he wasn't going to let me go so easily.

Anne's warning echoed in my mind, but it wasn't enough to overcome the thrill that shot through me at the thought of again being in Onyx's arms.

He was dangerous. He was darkness and mystery.

And I wanted to plunge into his world without looking back.

I stared down at his message, heart racing with anticipation and trepidation for what was to come. Onyx had found me, and now there was no escape.

Our next encounter would change everything.