Chapter 1: Sold to the Alpha

I always loved early mornings in the garage. The smell of oil and steel, the quiet hum of the desert wind brushing against the rusted doors – it was my peace. I wiped sweat off my forehead, smearing grease across my cheek, and leaned back to admire my work. The Harley’s engine purred beneath my fingers, a deep, beautiful sound only a biker could appreciate.

 

“Perfect,” I whispered, feeling a small smile on my lips.

 

My dog-eared phone buzzed against the workbench. Liam’s name flashed across the cracked screen.

 

"Coffee later? Need to talk."

 

I chuckled. That was Liam, my only real friend in this dusty little town. I was about to text him back when a low rumble made my heart jump. I turned my head and frowned at the black SUVs pulling into the yard. They rolled in like silent predators, dark windows reflecting the morning sun.

 

Something in my chest tightened. I didn't have any pickups or repairs planned for today. 

 

I dropped the wrench, wiped my hands on my jeans, and stepped out into the open. I watched as five men got out, big, built, with tattoos peeking from under their leather jackets. Their eyes scanned the place until they landed on me. One of them, with short blond hair and a scar slicing down his cheek, walked forward.

 

“Reese Carter?” His voice was deep and cold.

 

My stomach twisted. “Yeah? What’s this about?”

 

He didn’t answer. He looked back at the others and nodded. Two more men moved toward me. I stepped back, feeling my pulse spike.

 

“Hold on. Who the hell are you people?”

 

They didn’t reply. The blond man sighed like he was tired of my questions. “Your stepfather would you be in better position to answer that.”

 

My chest went hollow. For a second, I couldn’t breathe. “What… what did you just say?”

 

“He owed a debt. He sold you to settle it.”

 

“No.” I shook my head hard. “That’s not possible. I haven’t spoken to him in years. You’re lying.”

 

The blond man’s gaze softened for half a second before splitting into the cold mask again. “You’re coming with us.”

 

“Like hell I am,” I snapped, backing up toward my bike. I had a wrench in my back pocket, my only weapon. My fingers fumbled for it, but before I could pull it out, one of them grabbed my wrist. He twisted it behind my back, forcing me to drop the wrench. Pain shot through my shoulder.

 

“Let me go!” I screamed, kicking out. My boot slammed into someone’s shin. He grunted and slapped me across the face. Stars burst in my vision. My knees buckled, but the man holding me didn’t let me fall.

 

“Careful with her,” the blond man ordered. “She’s worth more unbroken.”

 

I spat blood onto the dusty ground. “Worth? Who the hell do you think you are?”

 

The man didn’t answer. He just nodded to the others. One grabbed my legs, and before I could scream again, they hauled me toward the SUV. I thrashed, kicked, bit down on someone’s arm, tasting blood. But there were too many of them. They shoved me into the back seat and slammed the door shut.

 

My chest heaved as I tried to gather my breath. Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I pressed my forehead to the window, staring at my garage fading into the distance. My garage. My life. Gone in seconds.

 

Liam..

 

They drove in silence. The man beside me smelled like leather and earth. His hair was black, tied back in a short ponytail, and his jaw was strong with dark stubble. I could feel his gaze on me, even though I refused to meet it.

 

“Who are you people?” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Where are you taking me?”

 

He didn’t answer at first. I turned my head and finally looked at him. His eyes were a strange golden color, so bright they almost glowed. Something inside me shifted when I met his gaze. My chest tightened painfully, and a wave of warmth spread through me.

 

What the hell was that?

 

He stared at me with an unreadable expression. “You’re being taken to the Alpha.”

 

“Alpha?” I frowned. “Like some cult leader? Mafia boss? I don’t care who he is. I’m not property.”

 

He didn’t respond. He just looked out the window, his jaw clenching. I could see the faint scar running along his temple, hidden under his hair. Everything about him screamed danger, but there was also something… protective. I hated that I felt it. I hated that something in me didn’t want to look away from him.

 

Hours passed before the SUV finally turned onto a long dirt road. The sun was dipping below the horizon, bleeding gold and orange across the sky. My hands trembled in my lap and I clenched them into fists, nails digging into my palms until they burned.

 

The car rolled to a stop in front of massive wrought-iron gates. Beyond them stood a sprawling mansion, dark and imposing against the evening sky. Bikers moved around the courtyard, some repairing bikes, others sparring shirtless with knives glinting in the last rays of sunlight. Wolves padded between them, their eyes reflecting the headlights like liquid gold.

 

My breath caught in my throat.

 

This wasn’t just some biker gang. It was something else. Something ancient and terrifying.

 

And why did they have wolves as....pets?

 

The guards pulled me out roughly. My legs felt weak under me, but I forced them to work. I lifted my chin, refusing to let them see my fear.

 

“Bring her,” the blond man said. The one with golden eyes fell in step behind me. I could feel his gaze burning into my back.

 

They led me up stone steps and into the mansion. It smelled like leather, smoke, and cedarwood. The air felt heavy, filled with something strangely comforting

 

They stopped in front of a massive set of double doors. The blond man knocked once before pushing them open.

 

“Alpha,” he called softly. “We brought her.”

 

I was shoved forward, stumbling into a room filled with shadows. My eyes adjusted slowly, sweeping over the leather chairs, the bookshelves, the giant windows showing the last light of sunset. Then I saw him.

 

He sat behind a dark oak desk, a massive man with broad shoulders, black hair cut short, and an unreadable expression carved into stone. Tattoos peeked out from under his black T-shirt, curling up his neck. His eyes lifted, meeting mine.

 

Amber. They glowed faintly in the dim light, pinning me where I stood. A shiver ran down my spine, fear and something else crawling up my chest.

 

For a moment, no one spoke, and the world seemed to stop. My heart thumped so loud it echoed in my ears.

 

His gaze raked over me slowly, like he was memorizing every inch.

 

Then his lips parted, and his voice rolled out, deep and rough like thunder rumbling over the desert.

 

“You’re finally here.”