Blackmailing the Alpha

The Chase

Kiya’s POV

We rushed back to the cafeteria like our lives depended on it—because now, it actually did.

Ken’s hands were shaking as he unlocked the CCTV room. My heart was pounding so loudly that I could hear it in my ears. The screen flickered to life, showing the outside view from earlier.

And then…

There it was.

The red-hat man.

Clear as day.

My breath hitched when I saw him take out a silver knife. The camera caught the glint of the blade as he pushed it against Rita’s side and shoved her into her own car. Another man jumped into the driver’s seat. Within seconds, the car sped away into the darkness.

Ken stumbled back a step, his face draining of all color.

“They threatened her with a knife…” he whispered brokenly.

My hands clenched into fists. “They used Rita’s car. That means we can track them.” I grabbed her phone. “Her car’s GPRS must be connected to her mobile. As long as this stays on, we can follow them.”

My fingers flew over the screen. Lines of code, signals, location pings—

And then…

Found them.

“I’ve got their location,” I said.

Ken’s eyes lit with desperation. “We’re going there. Now.”

“No.” I grabbed his arm. “We inform the cops. We don’t know how dangerous these people are.”

“I don’t care, Kiya!” he snapped, breaking free from my hold. “She’s in danger. I’m not sitting here doing nothing. If you’re scared, stay back!”

He stormed toward his car.

I didn’t even think.

I grabbed my bag and slid straight into the passenger seat. “If you’re risking your life for her, then I’m risking mine for you. You’re not going alone.”

He looked at me for one long second.

Then he started the engine.

The location led us toward the city outskirts—an abandoned industrial area where no one lived. The road grew darker with every passing minute. Streetlights vanished. Silence swallowed us.

I shared the live location to the contact named Alpha on Rita’s phone.

Seconds later, a message popped up.

> Thank you for the location. Don’t inform the cops. It’s for Rita’s safety.

I frowned.

“I think this Alpha is probably her family member… maybe someone who got a ransom call,” I said softly. “That’s why he doesn’t want the cops involved.”

Ken didn’t respond. His eyes were glued to the road.

“Still,” I muttered, “Alpha is a weird name, don’t you think?”

No reply.

I looked at him. “Ken… you’ve been with her for two months. How can you know so little about her?”

He swallowed. “She works for R.B. Company. They give free accommodation to their employees. She has only a few friends—Sam, Shelly… and her boss. Logan. She said he’s like a big brother to her.”

“Logan…” I repeated quietly.

Strangely, the name felt heavy on my tongue.

We stopped the car far away from the location.

“I’m not driving straight into a death trap,” I said firmly. “We take the back route.”

I pulled up the full layout of the factory on my phone—downloaded earlier just in case. An old alley led to the back entrance.

We moved carefully through the shadows.

Two heavy-built men were standing near the back gate.

“Security,” Ken whispered.

“We need to know how many are inside before we make a move,” I said. “We need a distraction.”

I dug into my bag and pulled out a small can. “I have pepper spray. We spray and run. But if they catch us—”

I didn’t finish the sentence.

Because at that exact moment—

A terrifying growl echoed from inside the factory.

Low. Powerful. Inhuman.

The two bodyguards froze.

Then they ran inside.

My blood turned to ice.

“What… what was that sound?” I whispered in horror.

Ken’s eyes widened in pure terror.

“Rita.”

And before I could stop him—

He ran.

Straight toward the back gate.

“Ken, wait—!” I shouted and sprinted after him as fear tore through my chest.

Whatever was inside that building…

It wasn’t human.

And we were running straight into it.