ALPHA'S PREY

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENT DAY

First rule of stripping: Don't let any man have you unless he has something to offer. But what if the man doesn't have anything to offer, but pain and misery? But still able to own you?

That was the question lingering in Katherine Grant's mind as she danced on the stage, her body moving with the rhythm of the loud music. It was the rule they were taught every day, and yet she couldn't bring herself to believe it.

As she bent down to twerk, she noticed a man’s hand from the background reaching out to touch her exposed ass. Reacting quickly, she avoided her hand and stylishly kicked him in the face, playing it off like it was part of the dance. The crowd cheered, unaware of the man who stumbled back with blood dripping from his lip.

It was storming outside. The sky hung thick with clouds, lightning flickering now and then to slice through the gloom. The wind howled, biting at bare skin, but none of that mattered inside the most notorious club in Eastonview city. It was alive with loud music, throbbing bass and people grinding their bodies against one another as if it wasn't one in the morning when people are supposed to be on their bed.

In a dimly lit quiet corridor, Kathy strutted towards the VIP lounge, away from the chaos of the main club. She was done with the show and had just received a call that a VIP client wanted a private stripping show upstairs. Probably some old creep who didn't know what else to do with his money except throw it at beautiful girls like her.

Fine. She'd let him throw it.

If she played her cards right, maybe tonight's pay would be enough to finally book her mother's surgery. A heart transplant wasn't cheap. But this city had a way of turning desperation into currency.

This heart surgery should have been her sister's burden. She had been sent to the police academy to make money for the family, but instead, she chose to save a werewolf.

A f*****g werewolf!

Can you believe that?

And the irony?

The werewolf she protected ended up killing her. What kind of stupid, poetic death was that?

Elizabeth had always been their mother's favorite. Sometimes she wondered if her mother forgot she had two daughters. They were supposed to be three daughters, but their abusive father threw the last one in the pool to drown, just because her cries were disturbing his studies. That is why, still today, she finds it hard to believe that anything good comes from men.

When Elizabeth died, she thought maybe...just maybe, she'd finally get some peace.

But no.

After her death, the money ran dry and everything collapsed. They were kicked out of the house, and she was forced to quit school.

But to put a roof over their heads and provide daily meals, she began working as a stripper, with the help of her sister's best friend Annabelle.

Elizabeth was a fool with her weak kind heart. What was she thinking? Saving a werewolf? Really?

Werewolves are nothing, but medicine. Living cures all illnesses. They weren't people, but beasts, hiding under human skin to catch their prey. When Smith came to break the news that a werewolf had killed her sister, she didn't cry. Rather, she just wanted to slap her sister's ghost across the face.

Slipping her fur coat over her bikini, she began climbing the first flight of stairs. But just as she reached a long corridor, a scream ripped through the air, startling her so badly she almost dropped her phone.

She halted her steps immediately to listen, to be sure she wasn't hearing things because of having too many shots of liquor. However, it didn't take two seconds before she heard it again.

" Ah Mr William... Please don't hurt me... I beg you, " a female voice cried, followed by a loud slap that echoed through the corridor, sending chills down her spine.

Confused, she took a cautious step forward and found a door hanging open by the side as if someone had broken in and paused.

She knew the club rules too well. “Keep your head down even if someone was dying in front of you, unless you wanted your own head on the floor”.

And right now, she loves her head too much to get it cut off for another person's problem. Secondly, she didn't appreciate the idea of getting herself involved in people's problems. Yes, it might seem cold, but she wasn't Elizabeth. She didn't want to die a stupid heroic death.

Nevertheless, to avoid getting herself entangled with whatever was happening inside there, she slowly removed her heels, picked it up and turned towards another corridor. But the moment she tried to move, the next words from the room made her legs root to the spot.

" Boss, Elder Edwana just called. She said I should inform you that the man in the basement is dead. His shouts were too loud, so she killed him. "

Kathy gasped, and her mouth dried instantly.

Murder?

Someone was killed in their basement because his shouts were too loud? What the hell?

Frightened, she quickened her steps to the Vip room, where the creep was likely waiting to see her naked. But before she could move again, another voice slithered from the open door. So cold and flat like it had never known warmth.

" I don't care. Tie this woman up and shut her mouth. I hate when people play mind games with me. "

" Please spare me. I swear..I...I will give you back your drugs. " The woman yelled, her cries sounding desperate and hurt.

Kathy's leg trembled. Even though she wasn't the one in trouble, her entire body couldn't help but feel like it might collapse.

Who the f**k are these guys? They couldn't be planning on killing that woman in there, could they?

She paced around the corridor, sweat gathering at her collarbone as she contemplated what to do. She couldn't let that woman die there. Yes, this was her sister's trait, and she hated that she inherited part of it even though she had tried to bury it. She considered calling the police, but by the time they showed up, the woman could be dead.

She had to do something.

With a quiet sigh, she lowered the phone and quietly made her way to the open door. But before she reached the door, she leaned against the wall and slowly peeked inside.

Immediately, her eyes widened in shock at the scene happening inside. A red-haired woman was tied to the bed, a piece of cloth was stuffed into her mouth. She was struggling to scream, but muffled sobs came out.

A slightly muscular man in a tuxedo suit sat calmly on the bed while holding a knife as he was deciding where to make the first cut.

Kathy pulled back from peeking and exhaled sharply. With trembling hands, she took out her phone and began recording everything. She needed evidence in case they came for her too.

Upon zooming in, she froze as she recognized the red-haired woman. She was her sister's best friend, Annabelle. The one who found this job for her when she had nowhere to turn. The only person who had ever looked out for her, when her supposedly righteous sister ended up killing herself for something so worthless.

" Annabelle, what did you do this time? " She whispered, ignoring the phone trembling in her hand. But her voice must have carried because the man's head quickly snapped in her direction.

" Have you seen enough? Come out now! I know you have been watching us for a while, "the man ordered and Kathy froze. Taking a deep breath, she tried to make a run for it but halted. She couldn't abandon her friend, at least not in this desperate moment.

Veering around, she gently walked to the open door and stood. Despite the nerves writhing in her stomach, she stood firm.

" Come closer, " the man's cold voice commanded again, and Kathy took another step closer. " Closer. "

Kathy gritted her teeth and took another step forward until she was just a few inches away from him. The man rose from the bed, the knife twirling lazily in his hand. He came to stand before her and stretched out his hand towards her. Kathy flinched, thinking he'd stab her, but instead, he grabbed her shoulder and yanked her toward him. She stumbled, crashing into his hard chest.

Before she could shove him away, he leaned in close, his mouth brushing her cheek. Kathy's body stiffened as she felt his hot breath on her neck, then, strangely, he sniffed her neck.

Kathy felt her skin crawl. Disgusted, she shoved him away and stepped back. But the man wasn't bothered. He closed his eyes as if intoxicated by her scent. When he opened them, something strange danced in his stare. Something she couldn't put her hands on, like confusion, shock, and obsession.

" A human mate? " He murmured, sounding surprised with his face clearly displeased. " How is this possible? What are you?"

Kathy blinked, confused by the question. " What am I ? I'm...me. What else am I supposed to be?"

" Then why do you smell...like that? "

' Okay, this is getting creepy '

Maybe he is crazy.

Clearing her throat, she said. " Look... I don't know what's going on with your nose, but I'm not here for you. I'm here for her, " she turned her gaze toward the red-haired woman tied to the bed. " We have got some unfinished business to settle. ”

The man glanced at the pathetic woman on the bed, then back at her. Suddenly, his red lips curled into a dark smirk. " If you want her, then give me something in return. "

Kathy narrowed her eyes at him. " Like what? "

" Take off your clothes and climb to bed. "

Kathy's brow creased in deep confusion. " I beg your pardon? "

" Take off that cheap coat and come forward “