Part 2 — The Alpha’s Deal
1656 Words
Elena did not sleep that night.
Even after returning home, her body still trembled from fear.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the same thing again.
The gunshot.
The blood.
And Alessandro De Luca staring at her like she belonged to him.
She sat quietly beside the small window in their apartment while rain continued falling outside.
Marco was asleep on the couch again because his fever had returned during the night.
Elena covered him carefully with another blanket before checking his temperature.
Still high.
Worry tightened painfully inside her chest.
Everything in her life was already falling apart before she entered that mansion.
Now things were worse.
Much worse.
Her phone buzzed suddenly.
Elena nearly jumped.
Unknown Number.
Her heart pounded nervously as she answered.
“Hello?”
“Did you get home safely?”
Her blood turned cold instantly.
Alessandro.
Even through the phone, his voice sounded calm and dangerous.
“How did you get my number?” she whispered.
“I asked a question first.”
Elena stood up quickly and walked farther from Marco.
“What do you want from me?”
“You witnessed something important tonight.”
“I already told you I won’t say anything.”
A short silence followed.
Then Alessandro spoke again.
“I know.”
That answer confused her.
“If you know that, then why are you calling me?”
“Because other people may not trust you as easily as I do.”
Fear crawled into her chest.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you’re in danger now, Elena.”
Before she could answer, the line disconnected.
Elena stared at her phone in shock.
How could he sound so calm after murdering someone?
And why did hearing his voice affect her so much?
She hated it.
The next morning, Elena tried forcing herself to focus on work at the café, but her mind remained trapped inside Alessandro’s mansion.
Every small sound made her nervous.
Every stranger felt suspicious.
“You look terrible,” Sofia whispered while cleaning nearby tables.
“Thanks.”
“I’m serious. You look like you saw a ghost.”
Elena looked around carefully before lowering her voice.
“I saw something last night.”
Sofia’s expression changed immediately.
“What happened?”
Elena hesitated.
Could she trust Sofia?
Before she could decide, the café door opened.
Two men entered.
The same men who had visited her apartment.
Debt collectors.
Elena’s stomach tightened instantly.
One of them walked toward her slowly.
“Our boss wants his money.”
“I told you I just need more time.”
“You’ve run out of time.”
Fear flashed through her chest when the man suddenly grabbed her arm tightly.
“Please,” Elena whispered. “Not here.”
The customers pretended not to notice.
Nobody wanted problems.
Nobody wanted dangerous men paying attention to them.
The taller collector leaned closer.
“You have until tomorrow night.”
“And if I can’t pay?”
His cold smile terrified her.
“You don’t want to find out.”
They finally left, but Elena’s hands continued shaking long afterward.
Sofia looked horrified.
“Elena… who are those people?”
“No one.”
“That’s obviously not true.”
Elena rubbed her forehead tiredly.
“I borrowed money for Marco’s treatments.”
“And now?”
“Now I’m drowning.”
By evening, Elena finally returned home exhausted.
But the moment she reached the apartment building, something felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Her heartbeat quickened nervously.
She climbed the stairs faster.
Then froze.
The apartment door was open.
Fear exploded inside her chest.
“Marco!”
She rushed inside.
The apartment was destroyed.
Furniture overturned.
Drawers emptied.
Broken glass everywhere.
But Marco was gone.
“Elena.”
She turned sharply.
One of the debt collectors stood near the kitchen.
Smiling.
“Where’s my brother?”
“He’s safe. For now.”
Panic nearly destroyed her.
“What did you do to him?!”
“Our boss is tired of waiting.”
Tears filled Elena’s eyes.
“Please… he’s sick.”
“Then find the money.”
The man stepped closer slowly.
“You have one final chance.”
“Please…”
“Tomorrow night. Midnight.”
Then he handed her a black card.
An address.
“A man wants to meet you.”
The collector left without another word.
Elena immediately searched the apartment desperately until she found Marco locked safely inside the bathroom.
The moment he saw her, he hugged her tightly.
“Elena…”
“It’s okay,” she whispered shakily, even though nothing was okay anymore.
That night, Elena stared at the black card for nearly an hour.
She already knew who sent it.
Alessandro De Luca.
Part of her wanted to burn the card immediately.
The other part remembered Marco crying inside the bathroom.
Desperation won.
The next evening, a black luxury car waited outside her apartment building exactly at eight o’clock.
Elena hesitated before entering.
The driver said nothing during the entire trip.
The city lights slowly disappeared as they drove toward the richest area in the city.
Soon, the massive De Luca mansion appeared ahead again.
Fear twisted inside Elena immediately.
She never wanted to return here.
But she had no choice.
The large gates opened slowly.
Armed guards stood everywhere.
The mansion looked less beautiful tonight.
And more dangerous.
A woman dressed in black greeted Elena at the entrance.
“This way.”
Elena followed silently through long hallways covered with expensive paintings and marble floors.
Everything about the place screamed power.
Finally, the woman stopped outside large double doors.
“He’s waiting inside.”
Elena swallowed nervously before entering alone.
Alessandro stood near the giant windows overlooking the city.
Without his mask, he looked even more dangerously handsome.
Sharp jawline.
Dark hair.
Cold gray eyes.
He turned slowly when she entered.
For a moment, silence filled the room.
Then Alessandro spoke calmly.
“You came.”
“You kidnapped my brother.”
“He’s alive.”
“That’s not an answer!”
Anger flashed across Elena’s face for the first time.
Instead of becoming angry, Alessandro studied her carefully.
Most people feared him too much to yell at him.
She didn’t.
Interesting.
“I protected him,” Alessandro said finally.
Elena laughed bitterly. “Protected him from who? Your people?”
“From everyone searching for you.”
Her anger faded slightly.
“What do you mean?”
Alessandro walked closer slowly.
“The man you saw die last night worked for a rival mafia family.”
Fear returned immediately.
“He was leaking information about my businesses.”
“And now they think I know something?”
“Yes.”
Elena’s breathing became uneven.
“I don’t want any part of this.”
“You already became part of it the moment you entered my mansion.”
His words felt terrifyingly true.
Elena looked away.
“What do you want from me?”
Alessandro stayed silent for a moment before answering.
Then he said the last thing she expected.
“Marry me.”
Elena stared at him in complete shock.
“What?”
“A contract marriage.”
“You’re insane.”
“It would solve both our problems.”
“I barely know you!”
“You know enough.”
Elena shook her head immediately.
“No.”
Alessandro remained calm.
“You need money.”
“I’ll find another way.”
“You need protection.”
“I don’t care.”
“You need your brother alive.”
That made her freeze.
Alessandro stepped closer carefully.
“For one year, you will pretend to be my wife.”
Elena looked at him like he had completely lost his mind.
“And why would I ever agree to that?”
“Because in return, I erase your debts.”
Her heart skipped painfully.
Alessandro continued.
“I pay for your brother’s treatment.”
Elena’s breathing became uneven.
“I protect both of you.”
The offer sounded impossible.
Life-changing.
Dangerous.
“You expect me to believe this is just business?” Elena whispered.
His eyes darkened slightly.
“No.”
The tension between them suddenly became heavier.
Stronger.
More dangerous.
Alessandro’s wolf reacted violently every time she stood close to him.
Mate.
Mine.
The instincts kept growing harder to control.
And Elena felt something too.
Something strange whenever he looked at her.
Fear mixed with attraction.
It made no sense.
“I can’t marry you,” she said softly.
“You can.”
“I don’t belong in your world.”
Alessandro’s gaze locked onto hers intensely.
“You already do.”
Silence filled the room again.
Elena looked down, trying desperately to think clearly.
Everything about this situation felt wrong.
But Marco needed help.
Real help.
And nobody else could save them.
Not anymore.
“What happens after one year?” she finally asked quietly.
“You walk away.”
Why did that answer hurt slightly?
Elena hated herself for even caring.
“And if I refuse?”
Alessandro stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then he answered honestly.
“I can protect you.”
“But?”
“But I cannot promise other people will leave you alone.”
Fear crawled through her chest again.
This was not really a choice.
It was survival.
Elena closed her eyes slowly.
She thought about Marco.
The hospital bills.
The debt collectors.
The fear.
The hopelessness.
Then she looked back at Alessandro.
The dangerous billionaire standing in front of her looked calm and powerful like he controlled the entire world.
Maybe he did.
Finally, Elena whispered the one word that changed both their lives forever.
“Okay.”
Something dark and possessive flashed through Alessandro’s eyes immediately.
His wolf growled with satisfaction inside him.
Mate.
Mine.
And neither of them realized yet how dangerous this agreement would become.
To be continued…
- Writer
