One Night Stand With The Enemy Alpha

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I felt was the immense pain all over my body. A heavy ache spread through my frail frame like I’d been battered by a storm I couldn’t remember stumbling into. My head throbbed relentlessly, and my throat was parched, as if I'd cried out all night without a drop of water. For a moment, I couldn't move, my limbs too weak and trembling, so I just listened to the faint echo of my heartbeat in my ears. And another sound that didn’t belong to me. It sounded like someone was breathing really heavily, ragged and close. Slowly, I turned my face, and my stomach dropped into an abyss. Because lying beside me was none other than Alpha Damian. For a heartbeat, my mind refused to believe what my eyes were seeing. But then everything came rushing back, crashing over me like waves of regret. I had been working as usual last night, trying to make it through my shift unnoticed, my small hands shaking from exhaustion. Then the manager called me over, shoved a tray of drinks into my arms, and barked at me to deliver them to one of the VIP rooms. A simple routine that I didn't find strange at the time. But the moment I stepped through that door, I knew something was terribly wrong. And before I could think of anything, a scent hit me before my eyes adjusted to the dim light. The room was thick with pheromones, swirling wildly. And amid the haze sat Damian. Half of his shirt was unbuttoned, his eyes burning an unnatural shade of red, pupils dilated and feral. An Alpha in heat. And not just any Alpha—an S-tier Alpha. Even among his kind, S-tier Alphas were rare. They were the strongest, most dominant of all, the ones other Alphas bowed to instinctively. When their heat took over, it wasn’t just lust. It was wild and dangerously uncontrolled. Their pheromones could command, lure, and even paralyze their mates or whoever they ensnared in their rut. No one could resist them. Especially not a fragile omega like me, already worn down by life. I remember my pulse stuttering as his gaze locked on mine. For a split second, there was confusion in his eyes, recognition fighting with instinct. And before I could even think to move, his hand was on me, pulling me closer, stronger than I could fight, hotter than I could bear. Everything after that blurred into heat and fear and utter helplessness. And now I was here in his bed, my body bruised and aching in ways I'd never known. I sat up slowly, my breath catching in a sob when I looked at him again. Damian Whitemore. My mate and also my curse. Even in sleep, he looked lethal. His jaw was sharp, but his expressions were tense, as if even rest couldn’t soften the man he had become. The faint trace of his scent still lingered in the room, dark and smoky, laced with something that made my stomach twist in knots. My body reacted before my mind did. My heart beat faster, and I hated it. I hated how easily his presence unraveled my already fragile self. It had been three years since I last saw him. Three years since I ran away from him, leaving behind the only person who might have cared. The night I found out he was my mate should have been the happiest of my life. But it wasn’t. Because that same night, my father confessed the truth: he was the one who caused the accident that killed Damian’s parents seven years ago. And everyone knew Damian was searching for the culprit. He was tearing through everything and everyone to find justice—and vengeance. I still remember how calm he was when I told him we were mates. He smiled and appeared almost relieved. He said we’d known each other since childhood, that maybe fate had been kind to him for once. But fate isn’t kind. It’s cruel and merciless. My father’s voice still echoes in my head, pleading and desperate. “If he ever finds out, he’ll kill us both. Run and never look back. You have to save yourself—and me.” So I did. I disappeared from his side, abandoning the warmth of our bond for a life of cold isolation. And for three years, I lived in the shadows, pretending I could escape the bond that burned under my skin. Pretending I didn’t feel him every time the seasons changed, a phantom ache that left me curled up in tears. Now, as I stared at him lying beside me, I realized how wrong I was. Fate hadn’t forgotten us. It had simply waited for the cruelest moment to drag us back together, breaking me in the process. An Alpha’s rut usually lasted five or six days. Which meant he had four days left. Four days before his body cooled and before his mind cleared. And if I stayed, I knew exactly what those four days would mean. He would claim me again and again, not out of choice, but instinct, leaving me even more shattered. And when the rut ended, when the haze lifted, he’d remember everything. He would see who he had spent his rut with—and the truth I hid would destroy us both. So I need to leave before he wakes up. Before he sees the broken omega I’ve become. My hands trembled uncontrollably as I pulled the sheet away and found my clothes scattered on the floor like discarded rags. My heart pounded so hard it hurt, each beat a reminder of my vulnerability. I dressed as quietly as I could, wincing at every rustle, afraid to wake the sleeping Alpha beside me. Every step toward the door felt like walking on thin ice, my legs barely holding me up. The room was still thick with his scent, with power and danger and something that made me weak in the knees. I caught my reflection in the mirror—pale skin covered with red marks, disheveled hair, and wide, frightened eyes brimming with unshed tears. I barely recognized the pitiful girl staring back at me, so small and defeated. When I reached the door, I looked back one last time. Even unconscious, he looked like a man born to own and destroy. The boy I once knew was long gone. I tightened my grip on the doorknob, forcing my tears back with a whimper. I couldn’t afford to be weak—not when weakness had already cost me so much. If he woke up and found me here, I wouldn’t be able to leave. And if he found out who I really was and what I was hiding, he’d never forgive me. He’d crush me without a second thought. I opened the door and slipped out, my sobs silent as I fled into the cold dawn. _____ (1 week later) I thought the nightmare would fade after a week. That the memories would lose their edge, that the ache in my chest would stop clawing every time I tried to sleep—but it didn’t. If anything, it grew worse, a constant reminder of my fragility. Every morning since that night, I woke with the same emptiness inside me, as if something vital had been ripped away, leaving me hollow and aching. I told myself I should move on, that it was over. Yet the moment I closed my eyes, the fragments returned—his touch, my helplessness, the loss of my innocence. I lost something precious that night, not just my virginity, but a part of my soul I could never reclaim. And now, I felt even more alone, more broken, in a world that already saw omegas like me as worthless. I sighed deeply, dragging my weary body out of bed. My small room smelled faintly of detergent and dust, the walls thin and peeling, the single window letting in a sliver of grey light that did nothing to warm the chill in my bones. I didn’t have time to wallow; I had work to get to, bills to pay, and rent due in two days. But how? I was already scraping by, skipping meals to save a few coins. As if summoned by my despair, there was a loud, aggressive pounding on my door. “Lena!” my landlord’s sharp voice bellowed through the hallway, laced with venom. My heart sank like a stone. I hurried to open the door, forcing a timid smile despite the fear knotting my stomach. “G-Good morning, Mrs. Trent.” The old woman shoved past me without invitation, her face twisted in a scowl. She crossed her arms, eyeing my meager belongings with disgust. “Morning? Save the pleasantries. You’ve got two days left to pay your rent, you worthless omega. No excuses this time. If I don’t get it by Friday, you’re out on the street where you belong.” I swallowed hard, my voice barely a whisper as panic rose in my throat. “I-I’ll pay, I promise. I’m just waiting for this week’s pay. Please, Mrs. Trent, I have nowhere else to go...” She laughed cruelly, stepping closer and jabbing a finger into my chest, making me flinch. “Promises? From a sniveling little thing like you? They don’t pay the bills!” Without warning, she grabbed my arm roughly and pushed me aside, hard enough that I stumbled and hit the wall, a sharp pain shooting through my shoulder. “And look at this dump—you call this living? I’ll just help myself to what’s owed.” Before I could protest, she rifled through my tiny dresser, snatching the few dollars I’d hidden there for food and a necklace that was my mother’s last keepsake. “This’ll cover part of what you owe me, you thief. Consider it interest!” Tears welled up in my eyes as I clutched my arm, my voice breaking. “P-Please, that’s all I have... Don’t take that, it’s from my family...” She pocketed it with a sneer and shoved me again on her way out, nearly knocking me to the floor. “Cry all you want, girl. Two days—or I’ll throw your junk out myself and change the locks. Omegas like you are nothing but trouble anyway.” When she slammed the door, I slid down against it, pressing my palms to my face as sobs wracked my body. Two days. That was all I had. And now, with nothing left—not even my mother’s necklace—I was already behind on everything else: groceries, electricity, even bus fare. How could I survive like this? Being an omega didn’t help; it only made me a target, weak and unwanted. Not many places hired us anymore. We were considered liabilities—fragile, emotional, and unreliable. Some employers even demanded medical proof of suppressant use. The excuse was always the same: Omegas go into heat too often. Omegas attract trouble. Omegas can’t work safely around Alphas. No one wanted the risk of an Alpha losing control, and no one wanted to take responsibility when things went wrong, leaving us to suffer in silence. But I had one small relief: I’d never gone into heat. Some called it rare, others called it broken, but to me, it was a fragile freedom. I didn’t have to deal with the unbearable fevers, the endless hunger, or the danger. My body’s silence was a blessing I clung to desperately. I used to live differently. My father’s company once stood among the top firms in the city. We had everything—a mansion, servants, and luxury. I was a pampered daughter, never worrying about money or survival. But then came the scandal, the bankruptcy, and the night my father disappeared, abandoning me to this misery. I shook the thought away, brushed my tangled hair with trembling fingers, and forced myself out the door. Work wouldn’t wait for me to grieve, even if every step felt like dragging lead weights. The hotel lobby buzzed with its usual rhythm, but today it felt mocking. I walked behind the counter, tying my apron with numb hands, trying to ignore the strange, pitying looks that followed me like shadows. When I reached the staff area, my friend Mira, another omega, waved at me hesitantly. Her face was flushed, eyes wide with gossip, but there was a hint of concern too. “Lena! Oh, sweetie, you look awful. Have you heard the rumors?” I blinked back fresh tears, my voice soft and shaky. “Heard what? Please, Mira, I can’t handle more bad news...” She leaned closer, her whisper urgent. “There’s talk spreading like wildfire among the staff. An S-tier Alpha is hunting for an omega. It’s serious—he’s turning the city upside down.” My breath caught, my hands freezing mid-motion as a chill ran down my spine. “H-Hunting for an omega?” Mira nodded, glancing around nervously. “Yeah. Word is, it’s a huge scandal. Some say she... well, crossed him during his heat. Now he’s furious, using every connection to track her down. Poor girl, whoever she is—she’s in deep trouble.” My heart began to race, pounding against my ribs like a trapped bird. “C-Crossed him? What do they mean?” “I don’t have all the details,” she murmured, squeezing my arm gently. “But everyone’s whispering about it. They say an omega slipped into his private suite and took advantage while he was vulnerable. The Alpha’s out for blood now. Can you imagine? As omegas, we’re already so exposed...” The tray slipped from my fingers and clattered against the counter, my knees nearly buckling. My whole body went cold, a wave of nausea hitting me. “When... when did this happen?” I whispered to myself, my voice barely audible. Mira tilted her head, frowning. “What was that, Lena? You okay? You’re pale as a ghost.” I forced a weak, trembling smile, though my lips quivered. “N-Nothing. Just... tired.” I could barely breathe, my mind spinning. The manager had sent me into that room, practically pushed the tray into my hands. I hadn’t even known who was inside. Now, it felt like a trap, and I was the prey. I wanted to tell Mira everything, to pour out my fears and beg for help, but the words died in my throat, choked by terror. She wouldn’t believe me—not a pitiful omega like me against an S-tier Alpha. And if Damian had really started looking, telling anyone would only seal my fate faster. Before I could steady myself, a voice crackled over the intercom, cold and impersonal. “Lena Vexler, report to the manager’s office immediately.” The whole room went silent, eyes turning to me with a mix of curiosity and pity. Mira touched my arm softly, her voice worried. “Hey... are you in trouble? You can tell me, you know. We omegas have to stick together.” I shook my head, though doubt gnawed at me, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. “No, I’m sure it’s nothing. Just... routine.” But deep down, I knew it was everything—my fragile world crumbling around me. — Mr. Barlow sat behind his desk, tapping a pen against a file with irritation. When I entered, he didn’t look up right away, letting me stand there awkwardly, shifting from foot to foot. “Sit down,” he snapped, his tone harsh. I obeyed, perching on the edge of the chair, my hands twisting in my lap as I tried to keep from shaking. “W-What’s this about, sir?” After a long, agonizing silence, he finally spoke, his voice dripping with disdain. “You’re dismissed. Pack your things and get out.” For a moment, I couldn’t process his words, my world tilting. “W-What? Please, no...” He looked up, his eyes cold. “You’re being let go. Effective immediately. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” My throat tightened, a sob escaping despite my efforts. “Why? What did I do? I’ve worked so hard... I need this job...” He sighed dramatically, leaning back. “You really want me to spell it out? There’s been a report, Lena. You tried to take advantage of a guest—a very powerful Alpha. What were you thinking, you foolish girl?” My breath hitched, tears spilling down my cheeks. “That’s not true! You sent me to that room! You handed me the tray and told me to go in... I didn’t know...” His pen froze mid-air. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple, but his expression hardened. “Watch your mouth! You must’ve misunderstood. I told you to take the tray, but I didn’t tell you to throw yourself at him like some desperate omega.” My stomach dropped, betrayal stinging like salt in a wound. “Throw myself? I didn’t—please, believe me! I was just doing my job...” He raised a hand sharply. “Enough whining. If you want to defend yourself, do it to him. I’m not risking my neck for your stupidity.” My hands clenched in my lap, nails digging into my palms as sobs shook me. “Please, Mr. Barlow... I need this job. I can’t afford rent, I can’t eat... My landlord already took everything I had left. I’ll be homeless... Have mercy...” He stood abruptly, his face reddening. “Then maybe you should’ve thought about that before sneaking into a man’s room like a common thief. Do you even know who he is? He could ruin us all!” “I know,” I whispered desperately, my voice cracking without thinking. “I know exactly who he is! He’s... he’s my...” Before he could retort, a familiar voice spoke from behind me, deep and commanding. “Then explain it to me, Lena.” I froze, my blood turning to ice as fresh tears blurred my vision. Slowly, I turned around, my heart shattering at the sight.