Fated to the Billionaire Alpha

"Redo it." A thick stack of design mockups slammed onto the mahogany desk. The paper sheets scattered, some sliding off the edge onto the carpet. Aria Stark stared at the heel of her manager's red stiletto resting on her hard work. Amanda’s foot tapped. "The lines are rigid," Amanda said. She crossed her arms. "The color palette looks cheap. Fix it before tomorrow." Aria glanced at the bottom right corner of her monitor. 8:00 PM. The last subway train left at 11:30 PM. If she missed it, she would have to walk through the worst parts of the city in the middle of a storm. "Got it," Aria said. She squatted to gather the papers. Amanda scoffed. "If this isn't on my desk by nine tomorrow, don't bother coming in. I have three other candidates waiting for this internship." She walked out. The click of her heels faded down the hallway. Aria sat back in her chair. Her shoulders ached. She needed to speed up. The rental debt at home was waiting. If she didn't bring home cash, her adoptive family would throw her stuff out. Her monthly intern salary was twelve hundred dollars. It was barely enough to cover the interest on their loans. But this firm had access to the high-end raw gems she needed to study. She had to keep this job. It was her only ticket out. She opened the design software and dragged new guide lines across the screen. Her mouse clicked rapidly. The blue light from the monitor reflected in her eyes. She adjusted the curves of the sapphire necklace. The metal prongs needed to look delicate, not bulky. By 11:00 PM, she hit save and sent the email to Amanda. She grabbed her backpack and ran for the elevator. She made it to the platform just as the train arrived. The subway car was empty, smelling of wet metal and rust. Her phone buzzed. Ethan’s name lit up the screen. She ignored the call. A second later, a text popped up. [Get your a*s home right now.] Aria locked her screen. Going back meant trouble. She needed a plan. She would slip in, grab her portfolio for tomorrow's review, lock her door, and leave before sunrise. The train screeched to a halt at her station. She walked up the stairs into the rain. The apartment building was six blocks away. The brick facade was crumbling, and the front door lock had been broken for months. She walked up the stairs to the third floor. She pushed the apartment door open. The smell of stale cigarette smoke hit her nose. Ethan sat on the sofa, his muddy boots propped on the coffee table. Empty beer bottles cluttered the wood. Her adoptive mother sat beside him. "Look who finally decided to show up," Ethan said, standing up. He tossed a piece of red fabric at her chest. It was a skimpy silk dress. There was barely enough material to cover her. "Put it on," Ethan said. "We have a party to attend tonight." Aria dropped the dress back onto the sofa. "I'm not going." "You don't have a choice." Ethan stepped closer. His breath smelled of sour beer. "I owe fifty grand. If you don't show up and charm the client, those loan sharks will take my hand." "That is your problem." Aria turned toward her bedroom door. She just had to lock herself in. Ethan grabbed her backpack strap and yanked her back. Her shoulder slammed against the drywall. "You eat our food!" her adoptive mother screamed, pointing a finger. "You sleep under our roof! It's time you paid us back." Aria looked at them. "I gave you my entire paycheck last month. I owe you nothing." Ethan sneered. He grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the entrance. "If you don't go," Ethan barked, "I'll make a scene at your office tomorrow. Let's see how long your fancy internship lasts." Aria struggled, but Ethan's grip was tight. He shoved her out into the hallway. The door slammed shut. The lock clicked. "Knock when you change your mind!" Ethan shouted through the wood. Aria stood in the dim corridor. Rain lashed against the hallway window. She needed a place to sleep. The office storage room had a couch. More importantly, she had to retrieve her physical portfolio for tomorrow's meeting. She had left it in her drawer. She pulled her jacket tight and ran down the stairs. The storm flooded the streets. Without an umbrella, Aria ran toward her office building. The wind tore at her clothes. The main road was blocked by standing water. Taking the alley behind the high-rises would save her five minutes. She turned into the narrow, dark passage. The streetlights were out. Only the distant glow of a billboard cut through the dark. A muffled thud echoed. Aria froze. That wasn't thunder. It was the sound of a silenced gunshot. She pressed her back against the brick wall. She peeked around the corner. Two black SUVs blocked the end of the alley. Five men in black raincoats held weapons, pointing them at a dead end. Lightning flashed. Aria gasped. It wasn't a stray dog cornered against the trash bins. It was a wolf. The beast was twice the size of any wolf she had seen. Its coat was pitch-black, soaked in rain and blood. It growled, its front legs staying low. "Break its legs," the lead man ordered. A shot fired. The black wolf buckled, its front paw hitting the wet asphalt. She had to get out of here. Aria took a step back. Her heel crushed a piece of broken glass. The crunch was loud in the rain. The men froze. They turned their heads. The wolf turned too. Lightning flashed again, illuminating its eyes. A pair of intelligent, ash-grey eyes met hers. Those weren't the eyes of a beast. There was calculation in them. Warning. An intense command. "We have a witness," the lead man said. "Kill her." Two men detached from the group, heading her way. Aria bolted. Rain blinded her. Footsteps splashed behind her. An open ramp led to an abandoned underground garage. She ran down the concrete slope and slipped inside. Rusted trucks sat in the shadows. She ducked behind a massive tire. She needed a weapon. Her hand brushed against a heavy iron pipe on the floor. She gripped the cold metal. The footsteps entered the garage. "Clear the corners." Flashlights swept through the dark, bouncing off the rusted truck bodies. Aria watched the light get closer. She had to strike first. As soon as the first guy rounded the tire, she would swing for his knees. A dark mass dropped from above. A man went down with a wet crunch. His scream was cut short. A flashlight rolled to Aria's feet. The beam illuminated the black wolf. It had followed them in. The beast snapped the man's neck and turned toward the remaining shooters. It stood right in front of Aria's truck, shielding her. The garage erupted in gunfire. Bullets pinged off the metal frame. The wolf leaped into the dark. Screams, tearing flesh, and frantic shots filled the space. Aria stayed low. She had to run while they were distracted. She stood up. A body crashed beside her. It was the lead shooter, his chest torn open. The remaining men scrambled backward out of the garage. An engine roared outside. The SUVs sped away. Silence fell, save for the rain hitting the metal roof. Aria held the iron pipe tight, her knuckles white. The black wolf turned back to her. Its grey eyes were clear of rage now. It took one step forward, its back leg dragging. It collapsed. Aria stayed put. She had to make sure it was down. The wolf lay still, its chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. She crept closer. Near its collarbone, a deep wound smoked. Not blood. Silver mist rose from the torn skin, evaporating into the cold air. This was not an animal. Aria stared at the rising silver smoke.