THE ALPHA'S OBESSION

Anna The night air in New Orleans was cool and breezy, everything looked normal. The bar’s neon sign buzzed faintly behind me as I stepped onto the cracked sidewalk, my tote bag heavy against my hip. Friday nights always left me drained,too many drunks, too many fake smiles,but at least the tips were good enough to keep me working and good enough to cover my bills. My phone buzzed in my hand. Unknown number. I frowned but swiped to answer. It wasn't the first time I was getting this kind of call. It happens all the time. “Hello?” Nothing. Just the faint hiss of static. I rolled my eyes. Probably some sleazy customer who’d found my number off a receipt. “Real mature,” I muttered, ending the call and shoving the phone into my pocket. A better number lit my screen,Evie. I smiled as I answered. “Hey, I just closed up. Give me, like, thirty minutes and I’ll be home. But first, I—” My words died as a shiver crawled up the back of my neck. It was subtle at first,the faint sound of footsteps that didn’t match mine, the way the shadows seemed to stretch just a little too far. My heartbeat kicked up a notch. “Anna? You okay?” Evie’s voice was tinny in my ear. I scanned the empty street. Old brick buildings loomed on either side, their windows blacked out. The streetlamps overhead flickered weakly, casting the kind of light horror movies love. “I’ll… call you back,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. I hung up and turned in a slow circle. “Who’s there?” No answer. Just the sound of my own breathing. The unease sharpened into full-blown alarm. My hand slipped into my bag, fingers brushing the cool metal of my silver blade,a gift from Evie, though she’d laughed when she gave it to me, saying it was “for all the creepy bar patrons.” Beside it, the small can of pepper spray rattled. I never got the chance to pull either out. Pain exploded at the back of my skull. The world tilted violently as I stumbled forward, my knees cracking against the pavement. A groan tore from my throat as stars danced in my vision. Boots scraped against asphalt. When my sight cleared, several figures emerged from the shadows, their faces hidden beneath dark hoods. One stepped forward,taller than the rest, built like he’d been carved out of concrete. Even without seeing his eyes, I knew he was the one in charge. His voice was low, almost conversational, and all the more terrifying for it. “Don’t scream,” he said. “Or I’ll kill you and anyone who tries to play hero.” My stomach dropped. Cold sweat slid down my spine. I wanted to believe this was some messed-up mugging, but deep down, I knew better. The men closed in, their movements too coordinated for street thugs. One of them yanked the bag from my shoulder, sending the blade and pepper spray clattering uselessly to the pavement. “What do you want?” My voice came out rough, shaky. No one answered. The leader tilted his head, as if considering me. Then he jerked his chin, and two of the men grabbed my arms, wrenching them behind my back. A sharp zip-tie bit into my wrists, the plastic scraping my skin. Panic roared in my ears. My mind flashed to Evie,was she still at the apartment? What if they went after her, too? I tried to twist free, but their grip only tightened. A foul-smelling cloth was pressed over my mouth. I thrashed, but the sickly-sweet scent burned my nose and coated my throat. My eyelids grew heavy. The last thing I saw before darkness swallowed me was the leader’s mouth curling into something that might’ve been a smile. When I opened my eyes, the first thing I felt was the pounding in my skull. The second was the smell,heavy, sweet perfume mixed with sweat and something metallic underneath. I blinked hard, my vision swimming until the room came into focus. It wasn’t a room exactly,it was more like a dressing area, walls draped in deep red fabric, golden bulbs casting shadows across plush rugs. Half a dozen women moved around inside, their voices a constant murmur. They were all dressed in flimsy slips, satin robes, and lingerie. No one looked particularly… comfortable. I tried to push myself upright, realizing I was in a small, cordoned-off corner. My spot was separated from the rest by a folding screen, like I didn’t belong with them. Which made no sense,if we were all here against our will, why keep me apart? My throat was dry, but I managed to croak, “Where… where is this? Why are we here?” A woman with kohl-lined eyes and lips painted a deep scarlet glanced at me. She smirked, shaking her head. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. You’ll find out soon enough.” Her tone sent a cold ripple through me. Another woman, lounging on a chaise, gave me a slow once-over and snorted. “Nice ass, though. Someone’s gonna pay extra for that.” Heat flared in my cheeks. My instinct was to fire back, but I bit it down. I needed answers, not enemies. I pushed to my feet, swaying slightly. The ground felt wrong,tilted somehow,and I realized with a jolt that the walls were sliding sideways in my vision. My knees wobbled. They weren’t moving. I was drugged. The laughter rose around me, low and taunting. I staggered toward the only visible door. The brass knob was so close I could almost taste the freedom, but when I reached for it, the room spun faster. My pulse thundered. “My bag….where’s my bag? I had—” The question was cut short when sharp fingers tangled in my hair, yanking hard enough to make my eyes water. “Quiet, little rabbit,” a husky voice whispered right by my ear. The woman,taller than me, with wiry arms and a hard glint in her eyes,twisted her hand until pain shot down my neck. “You’re not here to ask questions. You’re here to be looked at.” I froze, my heart beating against my ribs like it was trying to escape. “Looked at?” She gave a humorless smile. “Tonight, you’re going to be auctioned. Sold to the highest bidder.”