The War Between Alphas
1443 Words
Lily's brain officially blue-screened.
One second, Marcus Blackwood was standing inches away, his thumb brushing the pulse in her neck while saying things that belonged in either a psychiatric evaluation or a bestselling fantasy novel.
The next—
He was gone.
Not literally.
Unfortunately.
He was still standing in front of her, six-foot-something of terrifying Alpha energy, looking completely serious.
Which somehow made everything worse.
"The Wolf King's bite is the only thing that can make you addicted."
Silence.
Lily blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then she did the only reasonable thing.
She shoved him.
Hard.
Marcus didn't move.
Not even an inch.
It felt like pushing a mountain.
"Okay!" she snapped. "I'm done. Absolutely done. I'm calling the police."
"You won't."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you'll realize this isn't a police problem."
His calm confidence made her want to throw something.
Preferably a chair.
Or a truck.
Before she could decide, Jace laughed from across the courtyard.
"Damn, Marcus. You really know how to charm women."
The temperature instantly dropped.
Marcus's golden eyes locked onto Jace.
Pure hostility.
Pure murder.
Jace pushed away from the wall and sauntered forward like he wasn't standing five feet from the deadliest predator Lily had ever met.
"Still trying to scare her into obedience?"
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"Leave."
"No."
A low growl rolled from Marcus's chest.
The sound vibrated through Lily's bones.
Jace grinned.
"Oh, there he is."
Then everything exploded.
Marcus moved first.
One second he was standing still.
The next he was airborne.
The impact sounded like a bomb.
Both men crashed through a concrete bench.
Stone shattered.
Chunks flew across the courtyard.
Lily screamed and jumped backward.
"What the hell?!"
Neither listened.
Of course.
Because apparently werewolves solved disagreements exactly like drunk college freshmen.
Except with enough force to destroy public property.
Marcus slammed Jace into a brick wall.
The wall cracked.
Actually cracked.
Dust exploded outward.
Jace retaliated with a vicious punch.
Marcus's head snapped sideways.
Blood appeared on his lip.
For a brief second, Lily felt weirdly relieved.
Good.
Mr. Alpha Perfect could bleed.
Then Marcus smiled.
A genuinely frightening smile.
"Bad move."
Golden eyes flashed.
Jace's silver eyes flashed back.
Something animal surfaced beneath their human faces.
Predatory.
Ancient.
Monstrous.
Lily suddenly understood something horrifying.
They weren't fighting seriously.
This was restraint.
The real thing would be worse.
Much worse.
Jace jumped backward first.
"Enough."
Marcus remained motionless.
His chest rose slowly.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
Like a wolf deciding whether to kill.
Jace turned toward Lily.
"Ask him about his last Luna."
Marcus's expression darkened instantly.
"Don't."
Jace ignored him.
"Ask him how she died."
A cold sensation crept down Lily's spine.
Marcus took a threatening step forward.
"Jace."
"Tell her."
Nobody spoke.
The silence lasted too long.
Way too long.
Lily looked between them.
"What Luna?"
Jace's smile disappeared.
"The woman Marcus chose before you."
Her stomach dropped.
Before you.
Those two words hit harder than expected.
Marcus remained silent.
That silence terrified her.
Jace's voice softened.
Almost.
"She was found dead."
Lily swallowed.
"How?"
Jace never looked away from Marcus.
"Covered in bite marks."
The courtyard went silent.
Marcus's face became unreadable.
Jace continued.
"Every wound matched his teeth."
Fear crawled through Lily's chest.
She looked at Marcus.
Waiting.
Praying.
Expecting denial.
Instead, Marcus simply said:
"That's not what happened."
Not "it's a lie."
Not "I didn't do it."
Just—
That's not what happened.
Which was not remotely reassuring.
Lily took a step backward.
Then another.
Marcus immediately noticed.
His expression shifted.
Something almost desperate flickered behind his eyes.
"Lily."
"No."
"Lily."
"No."
Her heart pounded.
The situation had become completely insane.
Giant wolves.
Ancient prophecies.
Dead women.
Murder accusations.
Possessive Alpha psychopaths.
She wanted out.
Now.
Without another word, Lily turned and ran.
—
By the time she reached her apartment building, she could barely breathe.
Her hands shook as she fumbled with her keys.
The door finally opened.
She practically fell inside.
Lock.
Deadbolt.
Chain.
Done.
Safe.
Probably.
Hopefully.
Please God, hopefully.
Lily leaned against the door.
Trying to calm down.
Trying to think.
It didn't work.
Nothing made sense.
Her father had died before she could remember him.
Her mother never talked about him.
Now suddenly she had werewolves accusing each other of murder and claiming her blood could start wars.
Perfect.
Just perfect.
Her life had gone from college stress to supernatural apocalypse in under twenty-four hours.
A noise sounded behind her.
Lily froze.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
She turned around.
Marcus stood in her living room.
Her soul nearly left her body.
"HOW DID YOU GET IN HERE?!"
Marcus glanced toward the balcony.
The sliding glass door stood open.
"Oh my God."
"You forgot to lock it."
"I live on the fourth floor!"
He shrugged.
As if gravity were merely a suggestion.
Lily wanted to cry.
Or scream.
Or move to another continent.
Marcus stepped closer.
"Lily, listen to me."
"No."
"Jace is manipulating you."
"You literally broke into my apartment."
"I climbed."
"That isn't helping!"
For the first time all night, amusement flickered across his face.
The bastard actually looked entertained.
Lily grabbed the nearest lamp.
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"You plan to hit me with that?"
"Absolutely."
"You'll hurt your wrist."
The confidence.
The arrogance.
The unbearable Alpha confidence.
Lily swung anyway.
Marcus caught the lamp effortlessly.
Removed it from her hands.
Set it aside.
Then closed the distance between them.
Fast.
Too fast.
One moment she stood near the couch.
The next her back hit the mattress in her bedroom.
The air vanished from her lungs.
Marcus loomed above her.
One hand planted beside her head.
The other braced against the bed.
Trapping her.
Not touching.
But impossible to escape.
Lily's pulse exploded.
Fear.
Definitely fear.
Mostly fear.
Probably.
Marcus lowered his head slightly.
His dark hair fell across his forehead.
Golden eyes burned in the darkness.
Every instinct screamed wolf.
Predator.
Danger.
Run.
Yet her body remained frozen.
His scent surrounded her.
Pine forests.
Rain.
Smoke.
Wild things.
She hated how aware she was of it.
"Get off me."
His gaze dropped briefly to her throat.
The movement sent a shiver down her spine.
"Lily."
His voice had become rougher.
Lower.
More dangerous.
"You're afraid."
"No kidding."
"You should be."
Not exactly comforting.
Marcus closed his eyes briefly.
As if fighting something.
When he opened them again, they looked even brighter.
More wolf than man.
Lily's breath caught.
His canine teeth had lengthened.
Not fully transformed.
Just enough.
Sharp.
Deadly.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
He leaned closer.
The distance between them vanished.
Her pulse hammered wildly beneath her skin.
Marcus inhaled.
Slowly.
The sound sent another unwanted shiver through her.
His gaze fixed on her neck.
On the vulnerable stretch of skin where life beat closest to the surface.
The predator inside him was visible now.
Struggling.
Hungry.
Ancient.
For one terrifying second, Lily thought he was going to bite her.
His jaw tightened.
The muscles in his neck flexed.
Every part of him seemed locked in battle.
Instinct versus control.
Wolf versus man.
Then—
He stopped.
Completely.
Marcus pulled back.
Breathing hard.
Like someone who had barely survived a war.
Confusion flashed through Lily.
"What happened?"
His laugh was bitter.
"You happened."
She frowned.
That explained absolutely nothing.
Marcus stared at her for several long seconds.
Then he said quietly:
"I could force this."
Ice flooded her veins.
"But I won't."
His eyes met hers.
Steady.
Intense.
Unwavering.
"I need you willing."
The room fell silent.
Neither moved.
Neither breathed.
Then a phone rang.
Marcus instantly reached for his pocket.
His expression darkened as he answered.
"Speak."
Lily watched the color drain from his face.
Whatever he heard hit him hard.
Very hard.
The Alpha who had faced giant wolves and shattered concrete suddenly looked furious.
Dangerously furious.
The call ended.
Marcus turned toward her.
His eyes were colder than she'd ever seen them.
"What happened?"
For the first time all night, genuine fear flashed across his face.
"They took your mother."
Lily's world stopped.
"What?"
Marcus was already moving.
Heading toward the shattered balcony door.
"Marcus!"
He paused only once.
"They won't keep her alive for long."
Then he jumped.
Straight through the opening.
Gone.
Just like that.
Lily stood frozen in the center of her bedroom.
Unable to breathe.
Unable to think.
Unable to process what she'd just heard.
A shadow shifted near the doorway.
She spun around.
Jace Nightshade stepped out of the darkness.
His silver eyes gleamed.
Calm.
Patient.
Waiting.
"I can help you save her," he said.
Lily stared at him.
Jace smiled.
"But you'll have to give me one drop of your blood in exchange."
- Writer
