An Alpha's Choice

Chapter 3: Mate

-Kaytlyn-

I had just left the convenience store when I felt a prickling sensation, as if someone were watching me. I glanced over my shoulder to see a dark figure trailing behind, cloaked in a black hoodie with his face obscured. Great, I thought. This was precisely why women didn’t walk home alone at night. But I had no one to protect me but myself.

I reached into my leather jacket and grasped the small knife I always carried—no longer than four and a half inches, seven with the blade’s shaft. It wouldn’t be much, but it was enough to do some damage if necessary.

I quickened my pace, only to spot two more shadows looming ahead. In a panic, I turned a corner, but as foolish as I was, I hadn’t realized I’d walked straight into an alley that quickly came to a dead end. A solid red brick wall blocked my escape, and the three shadows closed in.

I could hear one of them laughing softly, and a thick, rotten smell wafted towards me. Of course—rogues. This human city didn’t belong to any alpha, but typically, rogues preferred to stay away. They liked the freedom to do as they pleased without facing any consequences. Lone wolves, however, were common in the cities, seeking safety and protection in the concrete jungle.

“Let’s just get this over with,” I growled.

I wasn’t really a fighter. I preferred peace, but when you owned a bar frequented by shady characters, you learned a thing or two about standing your ground. Even though it was clear I was outnumbered and likely wouldn’t walk out of here a winner, I refused to make it easy for them.

I didn’t back down. I bared my teeth—or rather, my canines. The males looked shocked that I didn’t cower or beg them to leave me alone, but I knew they weren’t about to give up that easily.

One of them advanced quickly, and I slashed at him in a swift motion. He hissed and recoiled as his friend approached. I cut the air between us, and he hesitated before making a move. I was pressed against the wall when I headbutted him. He groaned, stumbling back with a bleeding nose.

The third one—the one who had followed me—growled deeply, revealing his long canines as he moved towards me. I managed to slice the knife through the air, cutting his hand before he seized my wrist and forced the knife from my grip.

It clanged against the ground, and he pressed me against the wall, his suffocating, rotten scent overwhelming me. I thrashed and kicked his shin, but he didn’t let go. He groaned loudly and growled warningly, but if he expected a submissive female, he had chosen the wrong one.

I managed to position my leg between us and kneed him hard in his weak spot. The life seemed to drain from his eyes as he quickly mumbled to the others, “Get her.”

The one with the bleeding arm advanced, and I punched him in the face, hearing a loud crunch from my hand. There’s a reason why only males usually punched males. I waved my hand in the air, trying to shake off the pain, but there was no time.

My punch had barely fazed him. All it did was irritate him. He retaliated with a flat-handed slap that sent my head whipping to the side, just as the one with the bleeding nose grabbed my arms.

This time, I leaned back, using my legs to push him away with all my strength. He stumbled back a few steps, but then the one who had hit me took control, pressing me so hard against the wall that I couldn’t move.

I thrashed and screamed this time, “Let me the f*ck go!”

The male only laughed in my face, his disgusting breath hot against my skin. But before he had the chance to do what I feared he wanted to do, the alley lit up with flashing blue and red lights. The three males turned to see the human cops approaching with their flashlights, and they didn’t look pleased with what they found.

“You there!” a male officer shouted.

While these rogues could easily tear the humans apart, there was an unspoken rule: humans couldn’t know we existed. It was that simple. They loved all that fantasy and sci-fi nonsense, but more importantly, they were obsessed with science. If they ever learned about us, we would be dissected to understand every little detail of our anatomy.

No, thank you. The three males clearly didn’t want to risk anything. Killing two cops was a terrible idea. Instead, they backed away from me and dashed towards the officers, quickly evading them with their speed and agility. The police looked confused as the rogues scattered in three different directions.

The humans had to split up and went their separate ways, forgetting all about me—which suited me just fine. There was no way I was going to a human police station to make a statement about three rogues, ‘Oh yes, Officer, three big guys with fangs. Most likely going to assault me, but don’t worry, I’m a badass female, so I’ll be fine. Can I go now?’

Yeah, that wasn’t happening. I picked up the small knife and started to walk out of the alley. I glanced to both sides, making sure the coast was clear, and then I hurried away, even though the ground beneath me felt like waves. I was dizzy and far from my bar.

I found a small bench near a park and sat down, cradling my head. That’s when I noticed the pain and something warm and sticky on my lips. I darted my tongue out and tasted the metallic flavor of my own blood. Just great, I thought.

I wondered how bad my injuries were, even though I barely felt the pain. The adrenaline was still coursing through me. But I knew I had to get out of here. I probably had a concussion and didn’t want to risk passing out on the way home. But where else could I go?

An idea popped into my head—a very bad one. But it was the closest option. My parents’ house wasn’t far from here—only a ten-minute walk. Sh*t, I wished I hadn’t agreed to go to my friend’s poker game.

If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have found myself in this part of town. I had only stopped to grab a pack of cigarettes because she’d asked me to. I felt around in my jacket. At least they were still there. I sighed, pushed myself up, and began walking towards the house.

It was harder than I thought it would be. It felt like I was trying to walk on water, and what I expected would take ten minutes stretched to nearly twenty before the big, shiny house finally came into view.

Thankfully, my parents hadn’t changed the code for the gate and still hid an extra key under a silly little horse statue near the entrance. But I didn’t use the front door. I didn’t want to risk being caught here. It had been made very clear last time I was in this house: I was not welcome and would never be again.

Instead, I slipped in through the back door and quickly poked my head inside. It was dark in this part of the mansion, which suited me just fine. It was best I wasn’t seen. I climbed the stairs and approached another door.

Peeking out again, I checked to see if the coast was clear. I just had to make it to my room. I closed the door quietly and started towards the stairs, but as I got closer, I glanced behind me once more to ensure I wasn’t being watched. In that moment, I didn’t see the someone approaching, and we collided directly.

We both tumbled to the floor, with me landing on top of him. His phone went skittering across the floor before hitting a wall nearby. I shook my head, momentarily disoriented from the impact, but as I focused, I found myself staring into the most striking blue eyes I had ever seen. It was as if the world around us faded away.

Mate!

“Oh, f*ck…”

-Chris-

Nothing shocked me anymore—not with the father I had or the life I lived. I had seen enough to expect anything, from bizarre kinks to attempts on the king’s life in strange ways. But this female… she shocked me.

Her green eyes gazed down at me, so beautiful, her full and curvy body pressing against me. I responded instantly, intoxicated by her sweet, rosy scent, which was laced with a hint of booze and smoke. For some reason, that only made her more alluring.

Mate!

Oh hell yes, she is.

How could she not be? She was a mouthwatering sight, with silver-dyed hair, sharp eyeliner, sweet pink lips, and a body to die for. Her breasts looked like they might spill out of her tight top as she pressed her arms around them, pushing herself up.

Her strong, thick thighs clung tightly to my waist. She was small, easily liftable, yet she fit so perfectly on top of me. My hips moved slightly at the thought of her in bed with me, naked. F*ck, I was ready to explore that thought right here in the hallway.

“Oh, f*ck,” she said as she lifted herself even higher.

I smiled and propped myself up on my elbows, captivated by her sweet pink mouth. But then I noticed a small cut on her lip. What on earth? A surge of anger coursed through me at the sight. Had someone hurt her? Had someone hurt my female?

“What has—” I barely got the words out before she placed her hand over my mouth, shushing me.

“I’m not here,” she whispered.

I stared at her in confusion, feeling the warmth of her hand covering my mouth. I felt a sudden urge to lick it just to see her reaction and get a taste of her, but instead, I simply studied her as her eyes scanned the hallway, listening intently for any sounds.

A necklace dangled in front of me, showcasing a green stone... Holy f*ck! I looked at her again, finally recognizing it. The similarities not only to the older male and female who were waiting for me earlier but also to the portrait I’d seen—yes, it was her.

There was no doubt about it. But why had I been told she was dead? The family’s strange behavior when I brought her up finally made sense.

“You didn’t see me. Do you hear me?” she said, her tone laced with warning.

Oh, she was a bossy one, wasn’t she? Why did I find that so appealing? I was usually the one in control, restraining others and doing as I pleased, but the image of her tying me to a bed while she took charge sent a jolt of desire straight to my c*ck. Sh*t, just ten seconds with this female, and I was enchanted. I felt like a lost puppy discovering its master… or mistress.

She slowly moved her hand away, clearly assuming I wouldn’t say anything. As I remained frozen and silent, she seemed to relax a little.

“Good boy,” she said, tapping my chest a few times.

What the f*ck did she just call me? I thought. That ignited the alpha in me, and as she tried to get up, I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her close. She gasped, placing her hands on my shoulders as she attempted to push herself free.

“I don’t think you understand who you’re talking to, little mate,” I said in a dark tone, before trailing my tongue over the soft skin of her neck. I felt her shiver in my arms, her scent growing even sweeter.

“An assh*le who wasn’t taught not to touch a lady without her permission,” she sneered.

I laughed. Oh, she liked to talk back, didn’t she? I was certain we could put her mouth to better use—like around my c*ck. F*cking hell, I could already envision those sweet pink lips wrapped around me, her green eyes looking up at me with innocence. It almost made me lose control.

“Is that how you speak to your alpha?” I growled, a smile playing on my lips.

“Hah! You aren’t my alpha, and I don’t know what makes you think I’d ever want you as my alpha,” she shot back.

Mmm, this female has claws and teeth, I thought. I liked it. Correction: I f*cking loved it.

“Who the f*ck are you, anyway?” she growled, pulling back.

“Does it matter?” I asked. “I know who you are, Kaytlyn.”

She looked confused, but I gave her a smug smile. She rolled her eyes, clearly not enjoying this little game.

“And you’re supposed to be dead,” I said.

“Sorry to disappoint,” she replied, crossing her arms defiantly.

She wasn’t sorry at all. In fact, she seemed amused that I was pointing it out.

“No, you’re not,” I said.

She shrugged arrogantly. “So? What are you going to do about it, whoever you are?”

She shouldn’t have asked me that. It was a foolish mistake to challenge an alpha who was desperate to mate with his little mate and whose body was pressing against hers.

“How about I get you out of those tight jeans and f*ck you so hard on the floor that your family can hear your screams and know you’re not really dead?”