Bound by the Alpha

Chapter 5:The choice

The following days felt like they were dragging by in slow motion. Selena couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this isolated, this uncertain. The city outside her window continued its usual hustle and bustle, oblivious to the storm that had descended on her life. She couldn’t help but wonder—was this truly her reality now? A life entwined with a world she never knew existed, a world of danger and wolves and secrets she couldn’t even begin to fathom.

Damian had kept his word. He’d checked on her every day, his presence steady and constant, yet distant. Each visit, he’d give her only the barest details about the rival pack—cryptic warnings and vague assurances that it would all be over soon. But Selena knew better than to trust that. His eyes—those golden eyes—told a different story. There was something deeper behind them, something heavy, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t just the rival pack that he feared.

As the week wore on, Selena grew restless. She was tired of being confined to her apartment, her movements limited by the ever-present threat Damian had warned her about. She could feel the weight of the walls pressing in on her, the anxiety creeping up her spine with every passing hour. Even Damian’s reassurance that his pack was watching over her wasn’t enough to calm the storm in her chest. She needed answers. She needed to understand what was happening, and most importantly, why she was involved.

It was late afternoon when the message came.

Damian: We need to talk. Meet me at the park in one hour. Alone.

Her heart skipped a beat. The urgency in his message was clear. Something was happening. Something had changed. She wasn’t sure if it was a good change, or if it was the worst thing that could happen. But one thing was certain—she had to go.

Selena arrived at the park a little ahead of schedule, her heart pounding as she walked along the well-worn paths. It was a popular spot, especially this time of day, with families and joggers scattered about, their footsteps the only sound in the crisp evening air. The park felt normal, too normal, and for a fleeting moment, Selena wished she could slip back into the life she used to know—the one where the biggest worry was a missed train or an overdue bill.

But as soon as she reached the old oak tree where Damian had told her to meet him, all of that faded. He was already there, standing in the shadows, his broad figure outlined against the fading sunlight. His presence felt overwhelming, even from a distance, and it sent a wave of unease through her.

“Damian,” she called softly, stepping forward.

He turned to face her, his golden eyes locking onto hers. His expression was unreadable, his jaw tense. She had seen him like this before—when something was weighing on him too heavily to hide. And now, more than ever, it was clear that he was carrying a burden far too large for just one man.

“You wanted to talk,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the unease creeping up her throat.

He nodded, his gaze flicking around them, as though ensuring they were alone. “I didn’t want to bring you here, but we don’t have much time.”

Selena’s pulse quickened. “What’s going on? Why are you acting like this?”

Damian’s eyes softened, just for a moment, before he looked away, his expression hardening again. “It’s them,” he said, his voice low. “The rival pack. They’re moving faster than I expected. They know I’ve been watching you, and they don’t like it.”

Selena’s stomach twisted. “What do you mean by ‘moving faster’?”

“They’re coming for you,” he said bluntly, his tone cold and serious. “They’re closing in. And I can’t protect you forever.”

Her breath caught in her throat. “What does that mean? What do you expect me to do?”

Damian stepped closer, his eyes searching hers, as though trying to gauge her reaction. “I need you to make a choice, Selena.”

She frowned, confusion spreading through her. “A choice? What are you talking about?”

“To leave,” he said. “You can run, hide, and pretend none of this is happening. Go far away, where they can’t reach you. I’ll give you the resources to disappear. No one will ever know what happened.”

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. Escape. It sounded so simple, so easy. But deep down, she knew it wasn’t. Running away wasn’t a solution. Not for her. Not for him.

“What happens if I stay?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Damian’s gaze hardened, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Then you stay in the danger zone. I can protect you, but only for so long. They won’t stop coming. And eventually, they’ll get to you. You’ll be caught in the crossfire, Selena. Between my pack and theirs.”

She shook her head, her thoughts racing. The idea of leaving—of cutting all ties and starting over in some distant corner of the world—tempted her, but it felt like running away from everything she had come to understand about herself. About her place in this world.

“You want me to choose between you and… safety,” she said slowly, her eyes locked on his.

Damian didn’t answer right away. He was silent for a long moment, as though wrestling with his own thoughts. Then, he spoke, his voice heavy with something darker. “It’s not that simple. I’m not asking you to choose between me and safety. I’m asking you to choose between staying and fighting or running and hiding. And if you choose to stay, then you’re choosing a life you never imagined.”

The weight of his words hung in the air, thick and suffocating. She could see the desperation in his eyes, the silent plea that accompanied his words. But it was the last part—the part about a life she never imagined—that stopped her cold.

“Damian,” she said softly, her voice trembling. “What does that even mean? A life I never imagined?”

His eyes softened, his guard lowering just a fraction. “It means everything will change. You will never be the same. There’s no going back.”

For a long moment, Selena said nothing, her heart torn between two choices she never thought she’d have to make. The pull of the unknown, of safety, was tempting. But the call of something stronger—the pull toward Damian, toward this strange world he had introduced her to—was undeniable.

“I don’t know if I can make this choice,” she whispered.

Damian stepped closer, his voice gentle for the first time. “I know. But whatever you choose, I’ll be here. You won’t be alone.”

And in that moment, Selena realized something. No matter what choice she made, the world she had known was gone. And the only thing left was to choose which path she would walk.