Promised to the Beta

Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Pulse races. Blood heats beneath my skin, a feral drumbeat urging me to fight, to flee. But I can't. Not yet. I'm cornered – an alley with no exit, the scent of human sweat and fear clogging the air like smog.

"Look what we have here," A man sneers, his blonde hair shimmering under the harsh glare of the streetlight. Blue eyes that should feel as calming as the sky look down on me, but they're empty of mercy.

"Leave now, and I won't hurt you," I warn, low and dangerous. My fingers twitch, itching to shift, claws ready to extend. In my mind, Ezra's voice echoes, a reminder of the Ironfur pack's need for secrecy, for peace.

"Or what?" The man counters, stepping closer. His friends flank him, a wall of misguided bravado.

They don't understand what I am. What I'm capable of.

I think of Logan, of how he'd handle this. He wouldn't want me to reveal us, to risk everything for pride. But survival isn’t about pride. It's about strength, and sometimes, strength means showing your teeth.

"Or this," I growl, and in one swift motion, I surge forward, directly at him. They expect fear, maybe begging. They don't expect a Gamma warrior.

The man’s eyes widen as I duck under his outstretched arm, pivot, and shove him into the brick wall. His head snaps back with a dull thud, and he slumps, dazed but breathing.

"Get her!" someone yells, but it's too late. Fearlessness is my trait, my weapon. I sweep a leg out, catching another by the knees. He falls, grunting as he hits the ground hard.

"Stop her!"

I feel them more than see them, my senses heightened, every sound amplified. A fist grazes my shoulder, but I twist away, an untamed dance of aggression and grace. My elbow connects with a nose, and there's a satisfying crunch.

"Back off!" It's a command, barked with all the authority of Ezra's Alpha presence. I've learned from the best.

"Who are you?" It's almost a whimper now, the humans realizing their mistake.

"Your nightmare if you don't run," I snarl, and for a moment, my hazel eyes might just reflect the glow of the beast within.

They scramble, tripping over themselves in their haste to escape. It's over in seconds. My heart still hammers, the rush of victory and adrenaline sweet in my veins.

"Logan would be proud," I whisper to myself, allowing a rare, small smile to curve my lips despite the danger of the moment. Then, I turn, heading deeper into the shadows, where the city lights can't reach.

I dart through an alley, my breath a steady rhythm in the chill night air. I skirt around overflowing dumpsters and hop over a stray cat that hisses at my intrusion. My muscles protest, but I push on, driven by the need to put distance between myself and the humans. They're not following; I made sure of that. But I can't head straight home—not yet.

The city sprawls around me, a labyrinth I've come to know like the back of my hand. The scent of rain hangs heavy, mingling with the stench of exhaust. I cut left, then right, taking turns at random. It's a dance I've done before, one that confuses anyone trying to track my movements.

A distant siren wails, a mournful cry that echoes in the empty streets. I pause beneath the flickering streetlight, casting quick glances over my shoulder. No shadows move against the pavement other than my own. And yet, I can't shake the feeling of eyes on me—watching, waiting.

"Logan would have never let them corner me," I mutter, the words disappearing into the night. I picture his brown eyes, so much like my own, but filled with a warmth I often lack. He'd have had a plan, a strategy for every possible outcome. But he's not here now; it's just me.

I press on, leaping onto a low wall and balancing along its edge. My steps are silent, even to my ears. Above, the stars are obscured by the city's perpetual glow, and I long for the clarity of the wilderness—our true home.

The Ironfur pack has carved out an existence here, hidden among the humans. Ezra's guidance has kept us safe, turned us into shadows within their world. We're a secret tucked away in plain sight, our strength lying in our unity and discretion.

I drop from the wall to a narrow path that snakes behind a row of houses. Here, the darkness is thicker, the silence deeper. A dog barks in the distance, a sound full of loneliness. I resist the urge to answer. Instead, I keep moving, tracing a route only known to those of my kind.

It takes longer than I want, this roundabout journey, but caution is a shield that has kept us from harm. Finally, I reach the heart of the city, where the buildings huddle close, whispering secrets to one another. Somewhere within this concrete forest lies the entrance to our refuge. I slip through the cracks of this urban jungle, unseen and unheard.

Ezra will want a report. I'll tell him how I fought, how I evaded capture, how I ensured our safety remains intact. But first, I'll seek out Logan. Share a look, perhaps more if bravery finds me. For now, though, I focus on the quiet thrum of the city, letting it guide me home to where my pack—my family—awaits.