A bite from an Alpha King

Book 3 Chapter 2: Hunted

-Damian-

“Dammit, could he not have gotten someone else to pick him up?” I groaned in frustration as I turned down another street in the human town.

Evan and I had been close to our destination when suddenly a message from Chris had popped up. He had written that he needed someone to get him ASAP. Usually, the guy could take care of himself, so if he texted for help, I knew it meant he really needed it.

I searched for a spot to park as the GPS indicated we had arrived, finally finding a space between two cars right in front of a rundown apartment building.

“I’m going to text him that we’re here, and he better hurry. We’ve got better things to do than pick him up from some one-night stand or whatever it is he’s been up to,” I muttered, picking up my phone.

“No need. Here he comes,” Evan said in his low voice, pointing out the car window.

I lifted my head and saw Chris running down the opposite street, wearing nothing but his boxers. He had his clothes tucked under one arm and his guns in the other. Spotting us, he quickly crossed the quiet road and practically jumped into the car.

“Go!” he yelled.

“What the hell have you been doing?” I asked.

“Drive now. Talk later!”

“Chris—”

“Go,” Evan said calmly from my right.

I looked over at him, but he wasn’t meeting my gaze. Following his eyes, I saw a team of angry-looking males sprinting down the same street Chris had just come from. They brandished homemade weapons—broken bottles, nails embedded in wooden boards. Without hesitation, I hit the gas. Chris laughed as we zoomed past the men, who quickly realized their target had slipped away.

“Dammit, Chris! What on earth have you been doing?” I inquired as he started to get dressed in the back of the car.

“Hey, don’t blame me! How was I supposed to know she was mated to a small-time gangster?” Chris chuckled, pulling on his boots.

I shook my head. One of these days, he would get into trouble that not even we could help him out of.

“Stay away from mated and married women,” I warned, catching his eyes in the rearview mirror.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll remember to ask next time.”

Evan and I exchanged a knowing look, fully aware that this probably wouldn’t be the last time we picked him up because he’d gotten involved with the wrong woman.

“Really, Chris, you need to—” But before I could finish my sentence, I slammed on the brakes. The car stopped abruptly with a loud thud as hands came down hard on the front hood.

I looked in shock at the female in front of us whom I had almost run over. She was hard to spot in the dark, but I could make out her small frame and dark hair, which hung sweaty over her face. She didn’t linger, glancing to her left before darting away.

“What the f*ck?” Chris exclaimed just as a group of large males came in front of the car, chasing after the little female.

“F*cking hell,” I groaned, turning off the engine.

Evan remained quiet as we exited the vehicle, but Chris seemed energized. He was clearly thrilled about the impending fight.

“I get the biggest one,” he declared as we followed the group.

I rolled my eyes and trailed behind him. The female hadn’t gotten far—she had slipped down an alley and was now completely surrounded.

-Isabella-

F*ck me. F*ck me. F*ck me. This was exactly why I always stayed hidden and never lingered in one place for too long. I didn’t want to risk being hunted. So why had I followed that woman? How stupid could I be?

I walk out of the building, looking around and hearing the metal door close behind me. But as I stand in the alley, I can’t see anyone.

“Hello? Crazy lady?” I inquire, but there’s nothing… “Anybody?”

How can one person—someone who seemed so unaware of her surroundings—just disappear out of the blue?

“I know I shouldn’t have followed,” I sigh, only to hear voices coming my way.

I freeze, so used to being on alert that I can’t stop myself. Then, around the corner, a group of male wolves emerges. They’re chatting happily, maybe a bit too happily, which probably means they’re drunk.

I quickly push myself forward toward the door, but it doesn’t have a handle on the outside. “Ah, s**t!”

“Hey!” one of the male wolves suddenly shouts. I glance toward them and see them sniffing the air.

They know! I quickly take off, hoping to escape them.

“Please,” I pleaded, looking at each one of them. “Just let me go.”

They smiled cruelly as they moved closer.

“It’s so rare to meet a half-blood. You don’t want to spend some time with real wolves?” one of them taunted.

I shook my head, hating how small I felt. At 5’7, I was already a petite person, barely reaching their chests, but as they cornered me, I felt like the size of a mouse. It was both terrifying and humiliating, and I knew no one would come to save me.

“Just leave me alone!” I yelled, swinging my arm out in front of me, almost scratching one of them.

They laughed at my failed attempt to hurt them.

“Oh, she can show her wolf side a little,” another teased. “Going to let out the wolf?”

“Can a half-blood even change?” another asked.

I wanted to, and thanks to my father being an alpha, I could. Yet I had always refrained from doing so. Shifting was life-threatening for a half-blood.

“Maybe we should find out.” One of them reached for me and pulled me closer.

“No!” I screamed, just before he slapped me.

His hand came down hard on the side of my cheek, forcing me into submission. As a half-blood with no protection, I felt powerless to resist. It was almost instinctual. Submitting was the only way to protect myself.

I leaned my head to the side, exposing my neck, and I could hear them laughing around me, as if I were pathetic for doing so. I hated how weak I felt, but I couldn’t die now. I had a mission to fulfill.

Just leave me be, I begged silently within myself. But I knew no one would come to save me, and I could only hope the guys would lose interest in me as prey and leave quickly, without causing too much damage. But the look in their eyes told me otherwise. Even their scent betrayed their excitement. It was sickening, and I wanted to vomit.

“Please, just—”

“Let go of the female!” a powerful voice echoed down the alley.