Bound To The Alpha's Heart

New Rone Safe City

New Rone, Nero High School 2055

One hundred and twenty-six years have passed since the bloody night that destroyed the old order. The city of New Rone has now transformed into a glittering megapolis. Skyscrapers made of steel and glass stand firm, as if trying to erase the traces of the dark history buried beneath their foundations. There are no more howls in the middle of the night, no more blood soaking the asphalt. To the world, New Rone is a symbol of peace and technological advancement.

However, in a slightly quieter corner of the city, stands an elite educational institution called New Rone High School. Here, among thousands of ambitious human teenagers, the seeds of the past hide themselves very neatly.

The afternoon sun shone brightly, but the gentle breeze in the campus garden provided a bit of coolness. On a wooden bench under a large oak tree, Valentina sat flipping through the pages of her book. Her natural beauty often caught the eyes of students, but none dared to approach. The main reason sat right beside her.

Raven.

The young man had a sharp jawline, slightly messy black hair, and a gaze that always looked both bored and threatening. Despite being handsome, Raven was known for having a bad temperament.

"You're reading too seriously, Val," Raven murmured in his deep voice. He leaned back, staring at the sky with his characteristic arrogant attitude.

Valentina turned and gave a thin smile. "History exams are coming up, Raven. You should be studying too, instead of just sitting and looking surly at everyone."

"History is just a collection of lies written by the winners," Raven replied cynically. "I don't need a book to know how this world works."

Valentina sighed, accustomed to her boyfriend's harsh attitude. Just as she was about to reply to Raven's words, a scream from the sports field broke the atmosphere.

"Watch out! Loose ball!"

A basketball zoomed at high speed, slicing through the air toward them. Valentina, caught off guard, didn't have time to dodge.

THUD!

The ball hit Valentina's shoulder hard enough to knock the girl off the bench.

"Aww!" Valentina winced in pain, clutching her shoulder which was beginning to redden.

In an instant, the atmosphere around them changed. Raven stood up with a movement almost invisible to the ordinary human eye. He snatched the ball bouncing on the ground. His face, which was originally calm, now hardened. The veins in his neck tightened, and most terrifying of all were his eyes—their dark brown color slowly faded, replaced by a glowing blood-red flash.

"Who threw this?" Raven hissed. His voice no longer sounded human, but rather a low growl that vibrated the air.

A student ran closer with a pale face. "Sorry, Raven! It was an accident, the ball was slippery and—"

Raven wasn't listening. He looked down at the ball in his hand. His fingers gripped the skin of the basketball.

POP!

With just one squeeze of his hand, the thick basketball burst like a fragile plastic balloon. The sound rang loudly across the garden, leaving several students there frozen in fear.

"Raven, stop! I'm fine!" Valentina shouted while trying to stand up. She saw Raven's hands trembling violently, and a dangerous aura radiated from the young man's body.

Before Raven could step forward to strike the poor student, two well-built young men suddenly appeared from behind the crowd. They were Kael and Jaxon, two students known as Raven's close friends, but who actually shared a much darker bond.

Kael immediately gripped Raven's shoulder with immense strength, while Jaxon stood in front of Valentina, blocking her view.

"Enough, Raven. Come with us now," Kael ordered in a tone that allowed no argument.

"Let go of me, damn it! He hurt Valentina!" Raven growled, his teeth gritting.

"We will handle it. You need fresh air," Jaxon interrupted while turning toward Valentina. "Valentina, forgive him. You know how he gets when he's emotional. You'd better go back to class; we'll calm Raven down."

Valentina wanted to chase after them, but Jaxon's gaze seemed to lock her in place. "But, he..."

"Go, Val. We guarantee he won't cause any more trouble," Kael added.

By force, the two young men dragged Raven away from the garden toward an old building on the west side of New Rone High School—a derelict place rarely passed by students due to rumors of being haunted.

Once they reached the dark, dusty corridor of the old building, Kael released his grip and, without warning, delivered a hard slap to Raven's face.

SLAP!

Raven's head snapped to the side. Before he could retaliate, Jaxon had already grabbed his collar and lifted Raven's body until his feet hung off the floor with just one hand. A strength impossible for an ordinary human to possess.

"You're crazy, Raven! Do you want to kill us all today?" Jaxon barked right in front of Raven's face.

Raven spat to the side, fresh blood dripping from the corner of his lips. He smirked wildly. "He hurt my girl. Should I just stay silent like a coward?"

"That girl is human, Raven! She is nothing but dust compared to us!" Kael shouted in a hushed voice so as not to be heard outside. "Have you forgotten who we are? Have you forgotten the history that happened in New Rone one hundred and twenty-six years ago?"

Kael stepped closer, staring into Raven's eyes which still held a trace of red.

"Our ancestors were the result of a disgusting laboratory experiment! We were created to be slaves of war, to be killing machines for the human race! And you almost showed your fangs in public!"

Jaxon slammed Raven's body against the concrete wall until it cracked. "Listen carefully, young wolf. The SAN Army never truly went away. They are still out there, hiding behind the shadows of intelligence, looking for any excuse, no matter how small, to exterminate the remnants of our race. If our cover is blown just because of a damn basketball, I will rip your heart out myself before they do."

Raven coughed, trying to catch his labored breath. He leaned against the cold wall, staring at his two companions with a gaze full of hatred.

"You guys are too afraid of humans," Raven hissed while wiping the blood from his lips.

"It's not humans we fear, but their weapons," Kael replied more calmly but sharply. "The world has changed. We survive by becoming like them. If you cannot control your wild instincts, then you are a threat to the entire colony in New Rone."

Kael and Jaxon turned away, leaving Raven alone in the dark and musty corridor.

"Remember one thing, Raven," Jaxon's voice echoed from a distance. "One more mistake, and you will never see tomorrow's sun."

After their footsteps disappeared, Raven slowly rose to his feet. He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. The pain in his face was nothing compared to the anger burning in his chest. He gave a thin smile, a smile that contained madness.

"You think you can keep controlling me?" Raven whispered to the darkness. "Someday, I will be the one in control. And when that time comes, there will be nothing left to hide."

In his heart, Raven vowed to avenge every insult and slap he received today. In his eyes, the peace in New Rone was nothing but a large cage, and he was tired of being a sweet pet.