The Alpha Supreme

Damian’s POV The bar where I worked was fully alive on this particular evening. The continuous ordering of drinks, the clinking of glasses and the occasional burst of drunk and meaningless arguments seemed to keep the place going. Nights like tonight were the usual routine out here, yet today, the energy in the room had a certain pulse. The strong scent of sweat, cheap perfume, and alcohol… all mixed with the faintest smell of leather… served as a brief reminder of what I was. My wolf stirred within. Although I had him under control most of the time, I was still cautious of how restless he’s been lately. “Not bad for a Tuesday night,” I muttered to myself as I set down a glass on the rack, before quickly reaching for another. Behind me, a voice I knew well broke through the noise. “You’re cleaning like you’ve got all the time in the world, kid. Mind speeding it up a bit?” I glanced over my shoulder, a mischievous smile already spreading across my lips. Nick, the bar owner stood there, tall and large. His arms crossed over his broad chest and protruding belly. Nick’s graying beard and sharp eyes gave him an air of a grizzled pack leader… not that he was one, he wasn’t even a werewolf. But he definitely had the frame for it. “Relax, Nick,” I said, turning back to my task. “I’m doing just fine. It’s not like we’re running a five-star joint here, anyway.” He snorted and stepped closer, leaning against the counter in front of me, almost hovering. “It’s not a five-star joint, no. But it’s mine. And when you own something, you take pride in it. No matter how little it is.” I glanced at him, catching the faintest sign of a crease above his brows. “You know you sound like my old Nanny when you talk like that?” A smile quickly appeared on his face, and he clapped a strong hand on my shoulder. “Ah, well maybe that's because your ‘Nana’ had the right idea about life.” I stiffened a little but kept a straight face. “You good here?” Nick then asked, his tone intact. “Yeah, I’m good,” I replied, forcing a smile. He studied me for a moment, his eyes scanning me like he was reading an invisible book on my body. With a nod, he finally pushed himself off the counter. “All right, kid. I trust you. But don’t push yourself too hard. This place can survive without you for a few more years.” Before I could respond to that, a loud cheer erupted from the corner of the bar, pulling our attention to the scene. It seemed Rich, a regular here... perhaps a bit more than everyone else... had somehow convinced his friends to arm-wrestle him, and the table shook violently under their struggle. Nick sighed, shaking his head. “That guy’s gonna break something one day. And when he does, he’s paying for it. Keep an eye on him, will you?” “Sure thing, boss.” I said, my sharp eyes already scanning the scene. After Nick disappeared into the back room, I leaned against the counter, the towel still in my hand. The noise inside the bar seemed like a huge distraction, but a rather welcome one, I thought. Yet, deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was stirring beneath the surface. Straightening, I shook my head at the thought that these men never ceased to amaze me. Tonight was just another regular night here. What more could go wrong? ••• Hours later, the clock on the wall behind me struck midnight. Most of the regulars had left, leaving behind a handful of people and only their occasional murmured conversations. I wiped my hands on my jeans, tossing the damp towel onto the counter. My shift was finally over. Reaching for my black leather jacket, I felt the familiar weight of it in my hands. It wasn’t just any jacket, but the one Alpha Magnus had gifted me two years ago, on my nineteenth birthday. It was more than a piece of clothing to me, it felt like a symbol of my place in the pack. I slipped it on, the cool leather hugging my chiseled frame like a second skin. Just as I opened the door, intending to walk out without announcing my leave, Nick’s voice rang out behind me. “Hey, Damian, before you go…” “Gotta run, Nick!” I yelled over my shoulder, running out in a flash. “But I need you to…” The door slammed shut behind me, cutting off whatever Nick started to say. I’ll apologize tomorrow, I thought. Right now, all I wanted to do was just get home. The cold night air hit my face as I fully stepped unto the street. It was unnervingly quiet and empty, except for a stray cat speeding into the shadows. My boots echoed softly against the pavement as I made my way down the familiar road. My leather jacket shielded me from the cold, but my thoughts provided all the warmth I needed. They wandered aimlessly, hovering about my complicated and boring life. Suddenly a figure dashed past me, sharply pulling me from my thoughts. It was nothing more than a blur, but my instincts were already on alert, and my wolf stirred aggressively underneath. The scent I picked up from the figure was faint but unmistakable… a delicate mixture of wild flowers, perfume, sweat and… and something else. I couldn’t tell what, but it ate at me uncomfortably. My feet froze mid-air, and then a sudden pull twisted in my chest, like an invisible force had just bounded me to that running shadow. “What th…” I muttered, turning back in a flash, but the figure kept running, a hood worn over their head. Watching from where I stood frozen, something inside of me refused to let go of the feeling… that cursed pull I felt. Without thinking, I started to follow on my heels, my boots thudding against the concrete. “Hey!” I called out, my sharp voice piercing the quiet of the night. The figure, to my surprise then suddenly stopped and spun around. My breath caught in my throat at the sight before me. It was just a girl… young and pretty, judging through the light of the moon above. The next second, she pulled back her hood and I saw for the first time how beautiful she really was. Stunning would be the closest word to describe her. If this wasn’t some dream I was in, her eyes seemed to reflect a dull red against the moonlight. Fascinating. Her perfectly-shaped face was visibly framed by delicate features that seemed straight out of fantasy, even though the rest of her body was covered up in some kind of cape. It wasn’t just that she was beautiful… No. It was much more than that. It felt like our very souls recognized each other. Before I could utter a word, the girl’s gaze broke off from mine, going over my right shoulder. Her expression quickly hardened, and in a flash, she yanked the hood back over her head. Next thing, she was back on her heels sprinting towards a dark alley ahead. As quickly as she’d appeared, she disappeared into the darkness. Confused, I spun around to see what had frightened her, my heart racing and my mind wondering what exactly was happening. Then I saw them… three rough-looking men, their eyes locked firmly on the path the girl took. They didn’t even stop to give me so much as a glance… their target clear. Putting everything together in a flash, “s**t,” I whispered to myself. Without any further thought, I sprinted after them, my wolf urging me forward. Our footsteps echoed into the quiet of the night as I followed behind the men, feeling the adrenaline rush through my veins. Rounding a corner, I saw the men slow down, so I halted. Beyond, I could see that the girl was stuck. Trapped by a wall behind her. Dead end. The men who also stopped were now all grinning as they slowly approached her. “Nowhere to run now, sweetheart,” one of them sneered at the girl. But surprisingly, she didn’t flinch. She just stood there, fists clenched tightly by her sides, ready to defend herself. “Don’t make me hurt you!” I then heard her say. Her voice, even though a little shaken, was sharp, confident and without much hint of fear. “Hurt us?” another man laughed. “That’s cute. Let’s see what you’ve got then…” “Let’s not,” I interrupted, stepping into the light. The men quickly turned around, startled. But I didn’t give them any time to react. I moved with incredible speed… faster than any of them could. The first man went down with a single punch to the stomach. The second came at me, but I dodged and sent him sprawling to the floor. The third man hesitated when I turned to him, clearly debating whether this was worth it or not. But I grabbed him by the collar and shoved him back. “Leave, now,” I growled. The men didn’t need any more convincing. Muttering curses under their breaths, they scrambled to their feet and disappeared into the night. After that, I turned back to the girl expecting a thank you, or some form of appreciation at least… for saving her. But instead, the beauty glared at me with those ruby eyes. “I had it under control,” she snapped. I blinked, stunned by her words. “What?” I asked, visibly surprised. “Excuse me? Y-you were literally cornered, darling. I just saved you.” “I didn’t need saving!” she shot back at me, crossing her arms. “I had them right where I wanted and you screwed it up!” I glared at her, completely baffled but intrigued at the same time. “You can’t be serious,” I responded with a scoff. The mysterious girl then stepped closer, and for a brief moment, I thought she was going to thank me after all… But I’d never been wrong. Without warning, she spun on her heel and drove her boot hard between my legs. Pain… raw and agonizing… instantly shot through me, and I doubled over gasping. But when I looked back up, the girl was gone. Completely vanished into the night.