Chapter 1 - The Prey

Alina The silence of the forest is oppressive. The darkness hangs over my shoulders like a leaden cloak, every crack of a branch beneath my feet echoing too loudly in the night. My short breath escapes in little clouds of steam, reflecting the biting cold that seeps into my bones. My legs are tired, my muscles aching, but I'm not allowed to stop. Not now. Not when I'm so close to the border. I've been running for hours, stalked like prey, my heart beating wildly. Behind me, the sound of footsteps is getting closer. Wolves. Hunters. My pack mates... or rather the ones who should be. But a weak omega like me deserves no loyalty, no respect. I was abandoned, offered as a sacrifice to a rival pack in exchange for a fragile peace treaty. A bargaining chip, an offering designed to appease the wrath of the most feared Alpha in the region: Damon. His name alone is enough to chill the blood. Damon is a legend, a monster whose tales of cruelty are whispered in every pack. He is the head of an underground empire, a ruthless alliance between wolves and mafia. It is said that he knows neither pity nor compassion, that he takes what he wants without ever being accountable to anyone. And now... I'm his due. But I don't want to become his property. I'd rather flee, even if it means dying in the forest, than end up in the clutches of a bloodthirsty alpha. A howl echoes in the night, deep and menacing. My heart misses a beat. They've spotted me. My legs burn from the effort, but I push even harder, ignoring the pain radiating through my tired muscles. The branches scratch my arms, my torn dress slams against my thighs, but I don't slow down. If I slow down... I'm dead. A thud behind me. Then a shadow. A massive, dark shape moving through the darkness with supernatural speed. I throw myself to the side just before a clawed paw grazes me. I roll on the ground, gasping for breath, before clumsily getting to my feet. A huge black wolf stands in front of me, its eyes glowing golden in the darkness. Its upturned lips reveal sharp fangs. He growls, a hoarse, menacing sound that vibrates in the air. I sit up on my knees, trembling. I can't run away. Not to him. - Did you really think you could get away from me? His voice is deep, vibrant, marked by an implacable coldness. He transforms before my eyes, his powerful body slowly straightening as his limbs regain human form. When he stands before me, naked and dominating, his silhouette is even more terrifying than that of the wolf. Her black hair is tousled, framing an angular face marked by a dark, cruel beauty. His golden eyes shine piercingly, his muscular torso riddled with scars that bear witness to his violent past. He strides towards me with predatory grace, each step seemingly calculated to remind me of my place: that of prey. I curl up, my head down, my breath short. - Get up. I'm trembling, unable to move. - I won't say it twice. Damon kneels before me, his burning gaze locked in mine. He reaches out and grabs my chin, forcing me to look him in the eye. - I've already saved you once. Don't make me regret that decision. - Why?" I gasp in a broken voice. Why not just let me die? He tilts his head slightly, his gaze sliding slowly over my trembling body. A sneer appears on his lips. - Because you're mine. I shudder. This statement leaves no room for doubt, no escape. Damon is not speaking figuratively. In the world of wolves, such a statement means a claim. He saved me not out of pity, but out of possession. - I'm not yours..." I murmured. His smile widens slightly, but there's nothing reassuring about it. He slowly caresses my cheek with his fingertips, his cold touch contrasting with the burning heat of his gaze. - So why is your heart beating so fast? My lips part, but no sound comes out. Damon slips his hand behind my neck, pulling me abruptly against his bare chest. My breath quickens. His scent surrounds me, woody, dark, heady. - You're weak, Alina. But I'm going to make you into an Omega worthy of an Alpha. His breath grazes my ear and I close my eyes, paralysed between fear and the unsettling excitement seeping through my veins. - I'm going to break you, possess you... until you can't breathe without me. My heart races as his lips brush against my throat. A shiver runs down my spine. Everything inside me is screaming to escape, but another part - the part I refuse to admit - is begging me to stay. - You're mine, Alina. I struggle to control my breath. But when Damon pulls away slightly, his golden gaze locked on mine, I realise a terrifying truth: He's already started to possess me. Damon The blood still pulses through my veins as I walk away from the clearing, Alina fragile in my arms. Her breathing is rapid, her body trembling against mine. I can feel her heart beating wildly under my hand, her sweet, subtle scent seeping into my lungs like sweet poison. She's light, too frail for a she-wolf. An omega born to obey, to bend to an alpha. But she doesn't.