HER LOVE’S LAST STAND FOR THE ALPHA

Chapter 001 Routine had always been something Anelia believed in. Chaos spilled from every corner of the sprawling city where she lived, but her life was always planned so that she’d remain safe. She would run in the park or afternoon, or read books all night, and her job as a graphic designer kept her busy. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was hers. It was supposed to be no different today. The park was her normal jog and Anelia’s sneakers pounded against the cracked pavement. In the background we could hear the hum of distant traffic, dogs being taken for a walk by early risers. A crisp breeze blew past and golden leaved littered the path, as Anelia pulled her jacket closer. This time of year was her favorite, the promise of change was in the air. She soon would learn that change wasn’t always welcome, though. --- A fine outline of Deyan’s sharp features emerged against the dim light of a streetlamp casting its faint shadow across his outline. His men were exchanging quiet words with a rival group, and the air around him was tense. A deal was occurring, the one that would shift the power in the city. This was the game they all played, a power game, and Deyan, heading the city's most dangerous mafia syndicate, thrived in that game. His legendary icy demeanor made him seldom speak, unless it was to deliver an order, or a warning. Everything was going fine with the deal until one of his men got into a scuffle with a rival thug. He stepped forward and his jaw tightened, his voice cold, commanding. He said, “Enough,” and the street went quiet. That was broken by a sound of footsteps, a quick unplanned beat crashing through the tension. --- Anelia had gone the wrong way. She wasn’t unusual for changing her route on a whim, but this path took her away from the safety of the park. When the tidy trees gave way to abandoned warehouses and the hum of life quieted was when she realized her mistake. But her instincts told her to turn and go the other way, and curiosity won, pulling her forwards. That’s when she saw them. Ahead in the alley was a group of men, hard faced and looking as rigid as an ironing press. A tall, dark haired man radiating authority stood in the center. Anelia could tell from a distance that he was in control of the situation. She looked at the weapon glinting in one man’s hand and panic rose in her chest. The scuff of her sneaker on the pavement was louder than a scream, and she took a step back. Every head turned in her direction. --- She was young, her eyes wild, crazy brown curls, her expression caught between fear and defiance, and Deyan’s eyes locked on to her. He was struck for a moment by the absurdity of it. In his world, they ran from danger and here was this woman, immobile as though debating her escape or her stand against him. One of his men growled, his hand tightening around the grip of a pistol, “Who is she?” Deyan raised a hand to silence him. “Let’s find out.” Anelia didn’t give him the chance to make the first move. She then turned and ran. Taking more than a few steps, she would have, but one of the men hopped into her path preventing her from fleeing. She snapped, her voice steady and trembling. “Let me go.” Deyan closed the distance between them, meeting her eyes with his own, painfully sharp ones. His voice was low and smooth like the edge of a blade, 'you've seen too much.' Anelia lied, “I didn’t see anything.” Deyan tilted his head, as the faintest of smirks touched his lips. “You’re a terrible liar.” --- Across the miles in a cleared area of the dense forest where the Shadow Moon territory border ended, Katerina started her day with her servitude. She trudged through the clearing and the morning mist hung on the trees as she carried arms full of firewood. The weight wasn’t just physical, he’d dealt with that quite enough in life already, but the crushing reality of her life under Alpha Kiril’s rule. He was a tyrant of a leader who ruled his pack with fear. She had been born into this world, but she had never belonged. She wanted to get away, wanted a life where she wasn't seved by her serfdom. But every time she dared to dream of freedom, could picture the price she had to pay, Kiril’s cold eyes and cruel voice brought her crashing back to reality. Out in the distance a commotion broke out as she stacked the firewood by the main cabin. She didn’t need to see it to know what was happening; Kiril’s enforcers were probably punishing another pack member for stepping out of line. Anger and pain sounds carried through the trees, making her spine shiver. One day, she thought. I’ll leave this behind one day. --- Anelia was sitting in a dimly office back in the city — her pulse racing. Deyan had dragged her here, not out of kindness, because he was no longer satisfied by not knowing who she was, or why she had fallen into his world. He leaned back in his chair, studying her, and said, “You shouldn’t have been there.” Anelia crossed her arms. “I told you, I didn’t see anything.” He said, his voice almost amused, “Lying again.” 'You're either very brave or very foolish.' Anelia glared at him. “Maybe I’m both.” Deyan leaned forward, his smirk fading. “Who do you think I am?” She refused to flinch, saying, “No.” “And I don’t care.” A sound that sent a chill down her spine, he chuckled. “You should care. ‘People who cross me don’t usually get second chances.’” She shot back: “Then why am I still here?” Deyan paused, his eyes narrowing. “I’m trying to figure out that.” Anelia wasn’t sure what was more unsettling: Or the fact that she had gotten herself into a dangerous situation, or the fact that Deyan seemed to be genuinely interested in her defiance. --- Katerina’s defiance in the forest was quieter. She spent all her nights in Paris sketching those escape routes in her head, learning all the twists and turns of the paths in the woods. She had heard rumble that there was another pack, led by a fair and just Alpha that might welcome her in. Whispers were dangerous things in Kiril’s territory. Katerina stood tall on the edge of the forest that same evening as the sun slid behind the horizon; her heart beat rapidly. Through the trees she could feel the pull of freedom, could feel the weight of Kiril’s control, but not the weight of them both. She whispered to herself, turning back toward the camp. “Not yet.” “Not yet.” --- Both women's choices were the beginning of what was to come. Deyan’s desire to make Anelia cower back before him lit a dangerous desire inside of him, a combination of curiosity and obsession. With each day, Katerina’s silent defiance grew brighter and with each day her desire to be free was stronger and closer to her moment. Two women stood at crossroads in two very different worlds, there were two worlds where their paths would converge in ways neither of them could have ever fathomed. And if it had to be a choice between risking everything and just the safe option but being a helpless wonk again?