Protection?

Alina´s POV

"My back burns like it's on fire. If someone had told me some time ago that I would be in this kind of pain, I would never have believed it. Now, chained in this dungeon amidst my own blood and vomit, I wonder how I got here. How can a man who claims to love me do this to me?

Today is one of those busy days for me—the day to con yet another poor guy who's taken an interest in Samia. Lucky for her, since she keeps such a private life, they barely know her face at those dances she complains about, the ones her father forces her to attend. But that’s the deal. I have to help a friend, especially when she pays me ten grand a date.

Something feels different today, though. A weight sits heavy on my chest. I pop one of my pills, hoping for quick relief from my anxiety. In the meantime, I gather my long brown hair into a ponytail, swipe on a light shade of eyeshadow to highlight my brown eyes, and apply a rosé lipstick that enhances my lips. The black dress I slip into falls just below my knees, hugging my figure with a discreet V-neckline.

The restaurant’s black façade glows under the lights, creating a striking contrast that screams exclusivity. Inside, an impeccably dressed host greets me and leads me to a table bathed in soft, strategic light. He offers me water, which I gladly accept—I need to calm my nerves.

The ambiance is refined. Wooden walls adorned with minimalist paintings, fresh flowers scenting the air, plush velvet chairs, and crisp white tablecloths. The soft hum of jazz plays in the background. Samia is lucky, I think, trying to steady myself.

A voice slices through my thoughts. "That perfume of yours isn’t fooling anyone, hybrid."

My body locks up, the water catching in my throat as a man slides into the seat across from me. His brown eyes fix on mine, unwavering. I try to maintain my composure, but there’s something in his gaze—something that strips away my defenses.

He has that effortless, dangerous charm. Tall, easily over six feet. Lean but muscular. His dark brown hair is neatly styled, his features sharp and commanding.

"Good evening," he says, voice smooth but edged with something else. "I’m Alpha Marco, and you’re not Samia, Alpha Noah’s daughter. But tell me—do you think you can play games with Alphas and walk away unscathed, hybrid? Don’t you know what happens to those who try?"

The amusement in his tone unnerves me almost as much as his words. My pulse kicks up.

"I’m sorry," I murmur, pushing up from my chair, desperate to leave. But his voice halts me.

"Sit down. I didn’t say you could go."

His smile is small, knowing. Reluctantly, I lower myself back into my seat.

"Look, I was just... helping a friend. I’m not a threat to you or your pack. I swear, you’ll never see me again." My voice wavers, my hands curling into fists beneath the table.

He watches me, savoring my discomfort. My stomach churns, fear tightening around me like a vice.

"No, you’re not a threat," he says, voice dropping to a near whisper. "But you’re something far worse."

My brow furrows. "Worse? I don’t know what you’re talking about. And why do you even care? I’m just... nobody." I emphasize the last word, hoping to distance myself from whatever game this is.

He leans in, his breath warm against my skin. "You may believe that, but I don’t. What you carry, hybrid, is rare. Valuable. Too precious to be left unprotected. That’s why I’m offering you protection."

My heart stutters. "Protection? From what? No one is after me."

A smirk tugs at his lips. "Not yet. But you should be protecting yourself... from me. Because right now, the only thing stopping me from taking what I want is my patience. And patience isn’t something I’m known for when it comes to liars. Do you understand?"

I swallow hard. "I don’t have anything of value. I’m just trying to survive."

His amusement fades. "I can’t do much about Samia’s betrayal. She’s an Alpha’s daughter, which shields her under rules that don’t apply to you." His gaze sharpens. "But you? You have no pack. You live alone on Lis Vill Street, tucked away in some ordinary district. No family, no one to come looking for you. If I wanted to, I could do anything I pleased, and no one would even ask questions."

A chill spreads through me. How does he know so much about me? My fingers tighten around my bag, every instinct screaming at me to run. But as I rise, I feel his eyes pressing into my back.

"Sit down," he commands, voice deceptively calm. "I’m not done with you yet."

Trembling, I obey.

"Tell me, what exactly were you thinking, pretending to be an Alpha’s daughter?" He leans back, observing me like a predator biding its time.

"I told you. I was helping a friend. It was just a harmless setup," I say, but even I don’t believe my own words.

"Harmless?" He lets out a short, humorless chuckle. "You really have no idea what you’ve stepped into, do you?" He shakes his head, eyes darkening. "There are others who would kill to get their hands on a hybrid like you. I, at least, am giving you a choice."

A choice? It doesn’t feel like I have one. "And what exactly are you offering me?"

"Loyalty. Protection. A chance to stay alive. All you have to do is come with me."

A cold shiver runs down my spine. "And if I refuse?"

His smirk returns, slow and deliberate. "Then I’ll give you a head start before the others find you. But we both know you wouldn’t get far."

I grip the edges of the table, my mind spinning. This is a trap. A game where I’m already the losing piece. My pulse pounds in my ears as I realize: no matter what I choose, my life will never be the same again.