Alpha Dominic
Martin Flores knelt in the dirt, breathing like every inhale might be his last.
I watched him for a moment, unmoving. There was no rush. Time had already run out for his pack.
"Please," he said hoarsely. "Alpha Dominic."
I did not answer.
When I finally reached for him, it was without anger. My hand closed around his throat and lifted him just enough to remind him how fragile he was. Not high. Not dramatic.
"Your Alpha is dead," I said. "Your territory is gone." I let that settle before continuing. "Tell me, Martin, why should I have you still breathing?"
His hands shook as they clutched at my wrist. "I can be useful. I know the land. The borders. The resources."
I glanced to my side. "Nathaniel." My Beta met my eyes and gave a single shake of his head.
That was enough.
I released Martin. He collapsed to his knees, gasping.
"I won't ask again," I said quietly. "Choose how you want to die."
He broke then. Started crying, pleading, promising things he no longer had the authority to give.
I was deciding whether to end it when a sound reached me. It sounded like someone was crying.
I turned my head slightly. "There's someone else here, find them."
Martin stiffened. I followed the sound into the trees and found what I was looking for.
And there she was. Curled into a corner as if trying not to exist.
"Stand up," I said.
She did.
She was small. Pale. Watching me like prey watches a storm.
"Please," she whispered. "Don't hurt me."
"Who are you?" I asked.
Before she could answer, Martin's voice cracked behind me. "My daughter. Please don't hurt her."
I looked back at him. "Your daughter."
"Yes. She's innocent," Martin said as if that mattered to me.
I returned my attention to her. Stepped closer. Not enough to touch.
"What's your name?"
"Isabella," she said softly.
"How old?" I asked.
"Nineteen," she said in an almost whisper.
Nineteen, so young and sweet. I didn't usually prey on women who were that young, but I would have to make an exception for this one.
I studied her face. The fear was written all over her face. But there was something else in there. Something that looked a lot like resolve. I did not like that at all. Not one bit. But at the same time, something ignited inside of me, and I made a decision. I want her. I picked up a lock of her hair with my finger, then twirled it around playfully. She flinched as my fingers brushed against her neck.
"Hmm...innocent, huh? I like you, Isabella, so I will do you a favor and be kind for once. I won't make you watch him die," I said. "Turn around," I demanded.
She didn't. "No," she said meekly. "No, please, don't kill my father. He is all I have," she begged.
I raised an eyebrow and waited a bit before speaking again. "Why shouldn't I kill him? He is weak and pathetic. He is the only one left here besides you and he is the enemy of my pack. I have no use for him."
"Please just let him go. If you do, I will do anything you want," she said, avoiding my eyes.
"Then make me an offer instead," I said coyly.
Her fingers curled into her sleeves. "A...an offer? What do you mean?" she asked, her eyes widening in alarm.
"Make me an offer that will be worth my time. Something that will be worth it enough to spare an enemy," I said.
She closed her eyes. "I...I could go with you."
My lips curled into a small smile. "Be specific," I said.
"I go with you in exchange for my father's life," she said, opening her eyes to meet mine.
"Are you offering yourself to be my slave?" I smirked.
"If that's what it takes to spare his life," she said.
"Isabella, no! Don't do this," her father howled. "Don't give up your self-respect for this evil bastard."
Oh, so now he suddenly had the courage to speak up! I turned to Martin with a dark expression, my patience wearing thin. "Shut up, old man. Your daughter has made her choice, and I accept her offer. She will belong to me now, and in return, your life will be spared. Do you understand?"
Martin gritted his teeth but hung his head in defeat. "Please, I'd rather you kill me."
"If I go with you," she interjected, "will you really spare him?"
I looked at her for a long moment. "Yes," I said. "You have my word."
The answer was final.
Martin let out a sound somewhere between anger and grief. "Please," he said hoarsely. "Take me instead."
I did not turn to him. "That was not the agreement," I said. "And you no longer get a say."
I shifted my attention back to Isabella. She was even more pale now, breathing shallowly, but she had not stepped back. Brave girl.
"You understand what you are offering," I said. It was not a question. "You leave this place. You leave him. You do not return."
Her throat worked as she swallowed. "But...he will be safe?"
"He will live," I corrected. "What he does with that life is no longer my concern."
She nodded once. The movement was small but decisive.
"All right, I will take your word for it," she said.
I released the lock of her hair and stepped away, already finished with the exchange.
"Nathaniel," I said, not looking back. "See that Martin is escorted beyond our borders. If he returns, kill him."
"Yes, Alpha," Nathanial said stiffly.
Martin surged forward a half step. "Isabella..."
She turned to him then. Her eyes were wet, but her voice did not break. "Go," she said. "Please."
He froze. Then slowly, he bowed his head. I waited until Nathaniel had dragged him away before I spoke again.
"Come," I said to Isabella.
She hesitated only a second before following.
As we walked, I did not look back.
I did not need to.
I already had her under my thumb.