UNDER THE ROGUE ALPHA'S PROTECTION

CHAPTER 13

The air in the alley was thick, the scent of my pheromones mingling with the metallic tang of blood. I could barely breathe as I watched the rogues close in on Zero, their eyes dark with rage and desperation. They had underestimated him, mistaking his calm entrance for weakness. They didn’t see what I saw now—a predator in his prime, coiled and ready to strike.

Zero stood his ground, his sharp gaze flicking between the three attackers. He cracked his knuckles, a subtle but chilling sound that echoed in the confined space.

“Three against one? I guest i’m that strong for you to come to me all at once.” he said, his voice low and steady, laced with a confidence that sent shivers down my spine. “But mind you, You’ll regret this,”

The first rogue lunged, claws bared and teeth gnashing. Zero sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing the rogue by the wrist and twisting it with a sickening snap. The rogue howled in pain, but Zero didn’t stop. He yanked the rogue forward, slamming his knee into the attacker’s gut before tossing him into a pile of trash bags like he weighed nothing.

The second rogue hesitated but quickly regained his nerve, charging at Zero with a growl. This one was faster, more calculated, but it didn’t matter. Zero ducked under a wild swing and delivered a brutal uppercut that sent the rogue staggering backward. Without missing a beat, Zero spun and delivered a roundhouse kick to his opponent’s ribs, the crack of bones echoing in the alley.

The third rogue, visibly shaken, attempted to attack from behind. I wanted to shout a warning, but the words caught in my throat. Not that it mattered. Zero moved as if he had eyes in the back of his head, pivoting at the last second to block the blow with his forearm. He retaliated with a headbutt that left the rogue dazed, then grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall.

Blood sprayed as Zero’s fist connected with the rogue’s jaw, a feral snarl escaping his lips. The rogue slumped to the ground, defeated.

But it wasn’t over. The first two rogues had recovered and were circling Zero like wolves cornering prey. I could see the raw fury in their movements, the desperation of beasts who knew they were outmatched but refused to back down. They attacked simultaneously, hoping to overwhelm him.

Zero didn’t flinch. He met their charge head-on, ducking and weaving with a speed and precision that was almost inhuman. His punches landed with bone-crushing force, each strike deliberate and devastating. Blood spattered across the alley walls, and the rogues’ growls turned into whimpers as Zero systematically dismantled them.

Watching it all unfold, I couldn’t move. I was frozen in place, my body trembling as I took in the sheer violence of the scene. Zero fought like a wild beast, his movements fluid yet brutal, his strikes efficient and merciless. There was a savage beauty to it, a terrifying grace that left me breathless.

And then it was over. The three rogues lay in crumpled heaps, bloodied and broken. Zero stood in the center of the c*****e, his chest rising and falling with deep, steady breaths. Blood smeared his knuckles and streaked his face, but his eyes burned with an unyielding intensity. He looked like a god of war, untouchable and unstoppable.

But as his gaze turned to me, the fear that had been simmering beneath the surface erupted. My legs buckled, and I stumbled back, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst. I’d never seen anything like this—the raw, unrestrained violence, the power that radiated from him like an aura. He wasn’t just a fighter; he was a force of nature, and it terrified me.

“Cassie,” he said, his voice softer now, almost hesitant. But it didn’t matter. All I could see was the blood on his hands, the ruthlessness in his movements, the unrelenting predator that lurked beneath his calm exterior.

I turned and ran, my feet slipping on the slick pavement as I fled the alley. The world around me blurred, my vision swimming with tears. I couldn’t shake the image of him standing there, drenched in blood, the bodies of his enemies at his feet. It was too much. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, like the walls of the city were closing in on me.

But I didn’t get far. My legs gave out, and I crumpled to the ground in the middle of the deserted street. My hands shook violently as I pressed them against the cold pavement, trying to ground myself, to steady the whirlwind of fear and confusion that raged within me.

I heard footsteps behind me, slow and deliberate. I didn’t have to turn around to know it was him. The scent of blood lingered in the air, mingling with his distinct, intoxicating scent. My breath hitched as I felt him stop a few feet away.

“hey,” he said again, his voice low, almost regretful. “Are you hurt?”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. My entire body trembled as the weight of everything crushed down on me. The fear, the helplessness, the overwhelming reality that I was in way over my head—it all consumed me.

I heard him shift, and when I finally dared to look up, I saw him take a step back. His fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tight. His face was still smeared with blood, his clothes torn and stained, but his eyes… there was something in them that I couldn’t quite place. Regret? Guilt? Restraint?

“I see,” he muttered, his voice barely audible. He turned his back to me, his shoulders stiff. “I’ll go. You don’t need to see me like this.”

I watched as he started to walk away, each step slow and deliberate, as if he was forcing himself to leave. My chest tightened, panic surging through me. I didn’t want to be alone. Not now. Not after everything that had happened.

“Wait,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

He froze but didn’t turn around.

“Please,” I said, louder this time. “Save me. I need help. Protect me.”

The words tumbled out of me before I could stop them. They hung in the air, heavy with desperation. For a moment, there was only silence. Then, slowly, he turned back to face me.

His eyes locked onto mine, and he crossed the distance between us in two strides. He knelt before me, his presence overwhelming yet strangely comforting. He reached out, his fingers brushing against my chin as he gently tilted my face up to meet his gaze.

“Did I hear you right?” he asked, his voice low and laced with something I couldn’t quite place. “You want my protection?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice firm despite the tears streaming down my face.

A slow, almost predatory grin spread across his lips as he wiped a streak of blood from his mouth. His thumb lingered on his bottom lip for a moment before he let his hand fall.

“That comes with a price, poor damsel.” he said, his tone dripping with seduction. “Are you willing to take the bargain?”

I hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest. And as much as I hated how he addressed me now as a damsel, I must reply. “What price?” I asked, barely able to get the words out.

He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my skin. His grin widened, and his voice dropped to a husky whisper. “You, Cassie. You’re the prize I want in exchange for your protection.”