The Alpha in the Shadows
643 Words
The darkness should have felt empty.
It did not.
It was like a heartbeat that was not mine.
It was slow and heavy.
I heard voices far away.
They were deep and urgent.
I did not know who was speaking.
They said things like "she's breathing" and "barely".
Someone asked "who did this to her".
I tried to move.
I failed.
Even breathing was hard.
My chest was. Falling in short gasps.
My body was too heavy.
I felt like I was sinking into something.
I could not escape.
Then I heard a voice.
It was low and commanding.
It was not loud.
It cut through the darkness.
My body obeyed the voice.
My eyes opened.
At first everything was blurry.
I saw shapes and shadows.
Then I saw him.
He was tall and broad-shouldered.
He was wrapped in darkness.
It was like the darkness belonged to him.
His presence made the air feel tight.
It felt dangerous.
I tried to breathe.
My breath caught in my throat.
I wondered who he was.
His eyes locked onto mine.
They were sharp and piercing.
I did not see any warmth in them.
I saw something else.
I saw interest.
He said "strange" in a voice.
I tried to speak.
My voice was a whisper.
I said "please". Don't hurt me".
He looked at me.
I saw a flicker in his expression.
It was not emotional.
It was not indifference either.
He said "if I wanted you dead you would already be".
I felt a chill.
I believed him.
My body trembled.
I was in pain.
I remembered things.
The rejection, the bond, the rogues, the power.
My eyes widened.
I said "what happened".
He did not answer.
He crouched in front of me.
He studied me.
He said "you tell me".
I said "I don't know".
They attacked me. Then something exploded.
He said "exploded"
I nodded.
His eyes darkened.
I felt something.
It was like he was interested.
It made my chest tight.
Another voice called from behind him.
"Alpha, the rogues are retreating.
They won't come back tonight."
I heard the word "Alpha".
It echoed in my mind.
I looked at him.
I felt fear.
He was an Alpha.
Not just any Alpha.
There was something about him.
It felt heavier than anything I had ever felt before.
Even Kael's presence had never felt like this.
This man was different.
He said "good".
He looked at me again.
He said "what is your name".
I said "Lira Vale".
He paused.
Something shifted in his expression.
He said "Vale" slowly.
It was like the name meant something.
That did not make sense.
No one important had that name.
I was no one.
Wasn't I?
He said "you were cast out".
I flinched.
The memory hurt.
I said "I was rejected".
He said "fools".
The word was quiet.
It was filled with cold certainty.
I wondered what he meant.
He stood up.
He was imposing.
He said "any Alpha who throws away power without recognizing it... Doesn't deserve to lead".
My heart skipped.
He said "power".
I said "I'm not powerful".
He did not change his expression.
He said "that's where you're wrong".
He turned.
He said "take her".
Two figures stepped forward.
I panicked.
I said "wait" and "where are you taking me".
No one answered.
He looked at me one time.
He said "somewhere you won't die".
It was not comforting.
It was not cruel either.
I lost my strength.
They lifted me from the ground.
My vision blurred.
Darkness crept in.
I did not fight.
I could not.
As everything faded I looked at him one time.
The Alpha, in the shadows.
The one who did not look at me with disgust or pity.
With interest.
I heard his voice one time.
"Lets see what you really are Lira Vale…”
- Writer
