To Kill an Alpha

1. DAWN

ONE : DAWN

SUMMER 2015 (THE PAST)

His eyes are pools of gold that have me pinned in place. Despite the distance between us, I swear he holds me hostage. Those eyes of his rival the sun, they melt the skin from my bones, and leave droplets of scorching sweat trailing down my back. My body is not mine to control, and he knows it too. I cannot move, nor can I speak, he's done it again; condensed me into nothing more then a toy. He's the puppeteer pulling my strings, commanding me to do as he pleases. This man, he makes me nervous. The kind of nervous that has me digging my fingernails into the skin of my palm. He's got me wanting to fade into darkness that is the night. I'm afraid of him, but not as much as I'm afraid for myself.

Forgotten voices whisper enticingly into my ear, they come from the celebration around me. And yet, I am still held prisoner in his merciless gaze. This game he plays with me is nothing new, he tests me to see how far he can push me; until I break, I think he wants me to.

Sensation of time leaks into my skin when a hand rests on my bare shoulder. Finally, I am no longer staring at my inevitable demise. Someone has saved me and brought me back to sanction, back to reality.

Gina, stands in front of me, she has sheltered me from my tormentor, and I couldn't be more relieved. I exhale while my rigid posture relaxes. At once the heat of a thousand suns' drips away from my frame; he's stopped staring at me.

Gina's lips curve into a welcoming smile, "Lost in thought are we?" She's tilting her head teasingly, I watch as her brown hair shimmers in the moonlight. I know she's analyzing my desire to be away from the crowd. I'm lounging on the patio deck by myself while the summer festivities are a few feet away. Gina's been a great friend to me throughout high school, a miracle really. For the rest of my peers I'm utterly oblivious, like I don't even exist. Internally I know this is his doing, however, I keep my logic to myself.

Gina's pale fingers are snapping away in front of my face. "There you go again, are you alright?" Her hazel eyes widen as a look of genuine concern passes over her face.

"Yes, just a bit tired." My voice is soft and can barely be heard over the beautiful tunes of the live jazz band. "I was just leaving." I give her a small smile.

"Leaving!?" Her loud screech makes me cringe and I force myself not to cover my ears. "But you just got here!" Her arms rest on her hips with sass, and her eyes narrow. She's trying to come off as intimidating, but Gina's height barely reaches my shoulder's. In the next second her red lips are smirking wide. My only friend reminds me of an anime character, her emotions are wildly all over the place.

"Well, a few of us are headed to the lake, bonfires are a major possibility." Leaving the invitation hanging in the air she expectantly waits for a reply. Anxiety welcomes my spirit with open arms, I know the 'us' she's referring to are people. People that will avoid me like the plague. My lips open to voice a believable lie, but I stop short. Gina settles into the seat across from me and my gaze shifts to the sight from before.

He's engaged in a conversation with the politicians of Gemini City. I can see his lips moving leisurely as head Councilman Stone hangs on his every word. The beast brings a champagne glass to his lips, and takes a generous swig.

"You have to bring a spare set of clothes, who knows we might end up camping." Gina's voice pulls me out of the rabbit hole, back to sanity. Her fingers are moving over her phone screen a mile a minute. "Jesus, you know who just won't stop asking about you." She sets her phone down before giving me her full attention. "Jesse Raymond." Gina squeal's like a kitten. "THE Jesse Raymond. This guy has all of Gemini High talking about him, and he is like totally obsessed over you!" Her kitten squeal makes a comeback and this time I shake my head.

No guy has ever approached me, let alone become obsessed with me. "You must have me confused with some other girl Gina."

She rolls her eyes at my lack of interest. "Laila, you have no idea where I get my intel from, anyways, he asked me if you were coming tonight. Of course, I said yes."

I push my hair back from my face, something I do when I'm highly irritated. "So why make it seem like I have a choice in the matter?" I am questioning her invitation.

She merely shrugs nonchalantly before her phone starts ringing. "Alright I'll be at your house in ten minutes," her eyes glance at my grey clothes. "Don't be afraid to wear something colorful, Lala." Why she settled on that pet name for me, I have no idea. With that being said Gina scampers off into the crowd.

I sigh, knowing her, she'll be at my house pounding on my front door in less then five minutes. With not another look at the party around me, I make my exit through the Grove Woods. I didn't drive to this mandatory social event seeing as I live across the park.

My feet carry me down the familiar trail that I have known for the last decade of my life. Trees surround me at once, the sound of music and people slowly fades away until all I hear are the crickets. Moonlight streams down illuminating my path and I can almost count all the twigs dusting the floor. Nothing is more serene then being at one with nature, I could lose myself in the outdoors for hours. Befriending the wildlife has never been challenging for me seeing as I seek friendship with those that aren't repulsed by my presence.

I am so lost in my own head that I do not realize the snapping of a twig from behind, the first time. The second time I hear it my senses begin to alert me unease settles into my stomach. Logic however, takes over, just as I have left maybe someone else from the party has as well. My steps falter as I feel the uncanny awareness that something is watching me. The third snapping has me twisting around scanning the expanse of the trail behind me. My mouth opens in a startled chuckle, a family of ducks is waddling away with the mother leading. For the first time tonight I genuinely laugh as six small ducklings bob after their mother. Just then a seventh one flaps its wings, he's far behind then the rest but his family doesn't notice. The last duckling's wing has caught onto a more edgier twig. I move at once, going to my knees I gently pull the stem that's got him stuck away. He moves with speed once freed, catching up to his family with ease. I smile watching the family delve deeper into the vegetation.

I turn my body around, and just as I am about to get up there he is, standing in-front of me. I am at a loss for words as I find my mind captivated once more. I'm on a new streak tonight. Eyes that mirror the colors of a departing sunset stare into my soul. The suit his lengthy body is shrouded in is dark and elegant, making his silvery locks more prominent. To anyone else he is known as the manifestation of the Sun God but to me he remains quite the opposite. I do not let his beauty cloud my judgement, I just lose my ability to act.

"Paaaartayyyyy!" In the distance a highly intoxicated girl is shouting. She's with a few friends and they are quickly approaching us. "I am SOOOO much fun!"

Before I have any time to register what is actually going on he is reaching for my arm. His grip is like steel, branding my forearm with the heat his eyes usually emanate. He's taking me away from the moonlight, away from my path and submerging us both into canopy of darkness. I stumble after him not knowing where to find my footing, inconsiderately his steps don't slow. A few minutes later I can see him looking around, surveying the area, he deems this spot as acceptable. He lets go of my arm, and I pull myself away from his personal space, what on earth is he thinking?

As if sensing my need to leave he turns to face me, his gaze moves over my entire body. My brows knit together and I feel like he's doing more then just looking at me. I take another step back while I look at his polished shoes, anywhere is better then the prison of his eyes. Without a word he takes a step forward, I mirror two backwards. Just as he is about to make another move towards me, I turn quickly, ready to leave.

At once I am pressed against the trunk of a large tree, the rough texture imprinting into my back. His body is an inch from mine, I can feel the contours of his torso along my own. Warmth from him seeps into me and I find myself drawing back, my arms coming forward to push him away on instinct. He's too close. But still, my gaze is glued down, I refuse to look up. His hand that doesn't have my waist locked in place, snakes over my bare arm. I can feel the tremors of my heartbeat shaking my inside, I wonder if he can sense it too. His hand is large, steadily moving over the curve of my shoulder. I hold my breath as his thumb slowly slides over the pulse at the base of my throat. As if it's even remotely possible his body edges closer. His face is now hovering above my own, he smell's of mint and male spice.

His voice washes over my body, the rich deep tone causes me to shiver. "Look up." The first thing he's said to me all night, and its a command. A command I reject. He wait's a few moments, his thick head doesn't register that I have not obeyed. "Look. Up." He enunciates this time. For some reason I still deny him, I think I have signed my death wish. But this is foreign to me, he is my tormentor yes, but usually he keeps his distance, destroying me from afar. He doesn't say it a third time, his thumb no longer caresses my throat, his hand has shot to the nape of my neck. My black hair is coiled around his palm and wrist as he pulls my hair up, forcing me to look into his eyes.

Somehow, I withhold the gasp of surprise that wants to leap from my lips. Our eyes are locked together, and due to the close proximity of our faces I can see the fire like flecks dancing around his pupils. He's taking in everything about me right now, trying to memorize my face, I don't know why.

"Please," My voice is barely a whisper "Let me go." Somehow I have mustered up the courage to speak. He's glaring at me now.

"Stay away from Jesse Raymond." He doesn't acknowledge what I have said. But his words cause my face to heat up, he was spying on Gina and I. His eyes are blazing with such hate I want to recoil.

"I don't even know who he is." The truth spills from my lips, but he doesn't look satisfied. "I swear, Izaiah." I have said his name out loud and for the very first time, in a long time. The Alpha's third son stares at me with what seems to be clouded emotion; something red flashes in his eyes. His hands relax their hold on me before they rest above my shoulder's caging me in. He leans into me, how much more closer can we get?

Izaiah's lips are skimming down my jawline, I feel my heart explode at the contact. Rational thought is out the door with this one, I simply don't know what to say or how to act. His mouth has reached the column of my throat, I don't know when he tipped my head back. His lips leave a chaste kiss before I feel a sharp sting.

This time I shove him back, and he obliges in moving away. He's wiping the corner of his mouth that is dotted with blood; my blood.

I reach up with a shaking hand to touch my broken skin, and sure enough he's left a thin slice. This shallow cut will leave a minor mark. I glance at my fingers that have pinpricks of blood coloring them. I am about to voice my confusion and anger, but I remain utterly quiet.

My assailant is already gone.

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