Prisoner Of The Alpha

The wind was strong that night, and the sky looked heavier than usual. Thick clouds covered the moon, making the night even darker. The village of Chiang Lom was quiet, but something didn’t feel right. Anong Saetang stood by the window of her small wooden house. Her eyes followed the trees that danced in the wind. Her heart was beating too fast for no clear reason. She had just finished washing the cooking pot when her younger brother, Kiet, ran inside. “Anong! Something is happening in the forest!” he said, breathing fast. She dropped the pot and turned to him. “What do you mean?” “I saw fire... and I heard screams. People are running.” Before she could ask more, a loud howl echoed across the trees. Anong froze. It wasn’t the cry of a human. It wasn’t any animal she knew. It was something else. Something big. Something dangerous. She didn’t waste time. She grabbed her brother’s hand. “We need to find Mama. Now!” They rushed out of the house and saw the sky glowing red in the distance. Smoke was rising, and it smelled like burning wood and something worse—blood. People were running in every direction. Some carried children. Some fell and didn’t get up again. The whole village was under attack. Then Anong saw them. Tall figures with animal-like bodies moved through the fire and smoke. Their eyes shone yellow. Their teeth were sharp. Some of them walked like men, but others moved like beasts. Werewolves. She had heard stories when she was a child, but nobody believed they were real. The packs from the mountains were supposed to be myths. Old tales. But now they were here. And they were real. One of the creatures grabbed a man and tore him apart in front of everyone. A woman screamed and ran, only to be caught by another beast with long claws. Anong pulled Kiet toward the trees. “We have to go. Now!” They ran into the forest behind their house. The ground was rough, full of roots and thorns. Anong’s feet were bare, and every step hurt, but she didn’t stop. She had to protect her brother. But something fast was behind them. “Go!” she shouted. “Run to the river. Hide there!” Kiet hesitated, then nodded and disappeared through the bushes. Anong turned to see what was chasing them. A large figure stood in the darkness. He was taller than any man she had ever seen. His body was covered in dark fur. His eyes glowed like fire. He didn’t look wild like the others. He was calm—but dangerous. She turned to run, but he moved too fast. He grabbed her arm and pulled her off her feet. “Let me go!” she shouted, kicking and hitting him. But he didn’t let go. His hand was strong and cold. He leaned closer. His voice was low and steady. “Stop fighting.” “Who are you?” she screamed. “I am Alpha Phayu,” he said. Then he lifted her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing and carried her into the night. --- When Anong woke up, she was lying on a cold stone floor. The room was dark and quiet. A small fire burned in the corner. Her hands were not tied, but her legs felt weak. She sat up slowly and looked around. The walls were made of grey stone. There was a wooden door, thick and heavy. A small window high above let in a little moonlight. She wasn’t in her village anymore. The door opened with a creak. The same creature walked in. But this time, he was wearing clothes—black pants, leather boots, and a long dark coat. His chest was bare, and several scars crossed his skin. His hair was long, tied back, and his eyes still glowed faintly. He looked at her in silence. Anong stood up slowly. “Where am I?” “You are in my territory,” he said. “Why did you bring me here?” Phayu stepped forward. “Because you are not like the others.” She frowned. “What does that mean?” “I could smell it,” he said. “Your blood is not normal.” “I’m just a girl from a farming village.” He looked into her eyes. “No. You’re something else.” She backed away. “If you brought me here to kill me, just do it.” “I didn’t bring you here to kill you,” he said calmly. “I brought you here to find out what you really are.” “I’m not anything. I just want to go home.” He walked to the door. “There is no home left for you.” Tears filled her eyes, but she held them back. “You attacked my village,” she said. “You destroyed everything.” Phayu paused at the door. “You survived.” “Is that supposed to make me grateful?” “No,” he said, not turning around. “It means you’re stronger than you think.” Then he left. --- Days passed. Anong was moved from the stone room to a smaller wooden one. It had a bed, a table, and a small window. She wasn’t locked in, but there were guards at every exit. She didn’t speak to anyone. The only person who came often was Phayu. Sometimes he asked her questions. Sometimes he just watched her. She never trusted him. Even though he wasn’t cruel, she felt like a prisoner. She missed her family. She didn’t know if Kiet had made it out alive. She didn’t even know what Phayu really wanted from her. One evening, she sat alone in the garden behind the stone tower. The cold air made her skin prickle, but she stayed there anyway. Phayu came and stood a few steps behind her. “You shouldn’t be outside without shoes,” he said. She didn’t answer. He sat on the stone bench beside her. “I know you hate me,” he said. “You destroyed my village.” “I did what was necessary.” “Necessary for who?” He didn’t reply. She looked at him. “You say I’m not normal. What does that mean?” Phayu’s eyes met hers. “You carry something ancient. Something I’ve only felt once before.” “I don’t feel anything.” “You will. One day.” “I don’t care,” she said. “I just want to go far away from this place.” He stood up. “You can hate me all you want. But you’re not going anywhere.” “Why?” she shouted. “What do you want from me?” Phayu turned back and spoke quietly. “I want to understand why I feel this pull toward you.” Anong’s chest tightened. She didn’t reply. Because even though she hated him, deep inside, something in her chest also stirred when he was close. --- Later that night, she sat in bed, unable to sleep. She remembered her mother’s face. Her brother’s voice. Her quiet life before everything fell apart. Now, she was alone in a strange place, watched by wolves, and guarded like a dangerous object. And yet, the man who had taken her didn’t act like she expected. He didn’t hurt her. He didn’t touch her. He just... waited. But for what? She closed her eyes and prayed to the spirits. “Don’t let me forget who I am,” she whispered. “Don’t let me lose myself in this place.” And somewhere far in the tower, she heard a howl. Not wild. Not angry. But lonely.