Chapter 3—Desire and Dread.

Rea's POV

The door slammed shut, with a thunderous bang and a sudden silence pressed hard against me.

My eyes were tied with a thick piece of cloth that replaced my vision with a heavy darkness and left terror clenched around my chest.

Then I heard it—strong fist stricking on a heavy leather bag; each strike rattling the whole room in such a way that left me flinching at every sharp jab delivered to the object. Every nerve tangled with curiosity, not knowing what awaited in here me since I'd just been dragged in to meet the Alpha—Damien or whatever his name was.

I mumbled a few prayers to heavens hoping it would relief the tight grip of terror in my stomach.

In a few minutes, I'd be staring at a man I was warned about and coaxed into meeting him by circumstances, rather than choice—waiting while he decided what he'd do with me.

Then.

The sound stopped and I heard heavy strides approach me. It was unhurried; it was measured, like he had calculated each step and it almost seemed like whoever it was had all the time in the world just for walking alone. I felt massive frame loom over me, heat rolling off his body—even in a ... snow-heavy night, hot breath fanning my temples. And suddenly, the blindfold that was restricting my view got yanked away with a brutal force; the impact left me shaking like a single leaf in the winter wind. But... my hands were still bound behind me, like a prisoner.

When I lifted my eyes, the room hit me first. A couple of heavy leather bags hanging from the ceiling, swaying from what felt like a thousand hard punches few seconds ago. Leather gloves lay casually by the window side, whiskey nearby, then— him.

A gasp escaped me.

He stood before me— massive, shirtless, broad-shoulders with abs so strong they looked like they were carved from rock. For one reckless second I was tempted to touch him, I swear, but my senses had already cut that spell and warned me how bad they could burn. My gaze betrayed me, staring down a gape like a stupid fan girl when fear was what I was supposed to feel, he was the reason I was being trapped and I'm human and I'm f*****g not safe. My head barely reached his chest, so I faced me directly were those rigid abs; I lowered my gaze further to where his shoulders narrowed elegantly to a small waist hugged by blue boxing trunks. Feet in lightweight boxing shoes.

Being that small next to him felt... f*****g intimidating.

He was probably around 6'4, or maybe taller, but definitely not anything less. He stood over me so close that one reckless flicker of my face could have my lips pressing into the sweat-glistening torso.

He smelled of musk, whiskey that just reeked from his breath and something dark... power. My gaze snapped up to meet his gaze. After taking in his hot body, I needed to see what his face looked like.

His wet dark hair fell messily across his forehead, his jaw was defined and messiless which looked dangerous in the cutest way. And those eyes... they were beautiful... in a threatening way; I felt a tremor run through me. They reminded me so much of thunder and lightning against a stormy cloud. His eyes were dark gray, like stormy skies. Terrifying yet mesmerizing—you stare and get lost in it. They said Damien Remington was a souless, remorseless alpha capable of crushing humans and even werewolves but they never told me how dangerously stunning her was.

"I'm sure that took a lot of nerve." His voice rumbled out deep, calm in a way that made my skin prickle with need to do too much.

I swallowed hard. At this point, I was reminded of where I was, thoughts racing. Should I just tell him the truth? Just... ask for a wolfsbane. Or survive first, then steal later and escape? Nothing felt safe. Nothing felt easy. If not, I wouldn't have seen those captives in their numbers outside.

He stood there, watching me a cruel patience like he was intrigued by the same nerves he hated.

"I—"

"You—?"

He cut in deliberately, face calm and unreadable as he dared me to speak another word.

"P—please, I didn't mean to—." My voice cracked. I knew everything I wanted, but I was very sure I didn't want to end up as one of his captives; that would do more harm to me than good.

"I scented you the moment you stepped foot here." He snarled, controlled, reached out and , tucked away a loose stray strands with an off-putting intimacy. "You didn't think you were so smart or mysterious, did you?"

I stumbled back, shaking and whimpering. "Please ... don't harm me."

"That," he said calmly. "Is completley up to you." He turned away from me, exhaling. And for one fragile heartbeat, Relief washed over me like a stream of chilled water. He took a few more strides to the half-empty glass of whiskey he dumped by the window side, and spilled it all the way down his throat.

Completely up to me? Then I have to act fast. I forced the tremble out of me, took a sharp breath and felt uncertainty being replaced by something stronger in me. then. "My name is Rea." I said. "I am human."

He smirked, just smirked. "I knew long before you crossed my gate" eyes locked on mine with a smouldering intensity that I doubted he intended. "My men are not dumb; they let you get this far."

I gasped. Fear and uncertainty returned again. Why did he let me get this far?.

"I need something from you." I blurted out of the pressure. "It's urgent." Then I snatched my eyes away before I got burned under them.

Silence.

Then laughter. Low, deliberate, not out of amusement, just a small sound that made my skin prickle. He approached, closing the distance.

I felt my pulse spike as he bent slightly, just enough to bring his face to the same level as mine. "What makes you think you are any different from others? Rea?"

He said my name, but it sounded very sinful and intoxicating in his tone.

"I'm not different" I whispered, I just need your help."

"Then earn it!"

His voice dropped, his voice velvet and rough, almost dangerous, as his lips dropped to my earlobe, and I lost my f****g mind. The rise and fall of my chest was becoming too erratic, and I feared I might not be able to control it.

"Untie me." I pleaded. Maybe I should go with the flow. I do not have a choice. I didn't even know what Damien wanted, but for Dad, he could have his way. If only that brings a wolfsbane for Dad's cure before dawn.

"What if I prefer you tied?" His whispered with a flirty smirk curved on his lips. "It wasn't enough that you are an intruder; you walked straight into Damien's living room." His hands slipped under my pullover, tracing the curve of my skin, while I gasped from the effect. "Tell me." He said, "Why are you here, Rare?"

"It's Rea." I managed; it came out amid gasps.

"Rea?" He chuckled, slowly. Feral. Why? Then he cupped my face with just one big palm, making my face seem small in his hands. "I might just keep you tied up, thrown into cell and make you work for me." I trembled. Dread curled tight around my chest. Even with that smile of his, I didn't feel safe.

His grip pulled me flush against him, firm enough to have me completely pressed against his hard chest and gasping like a fool. "I'd have you run some errands here and then decide what to do with you." His eyes, like dark, stormy skies, were unblinking; they never left mine. He was not only watching me with intensity, but they were also studying me, like he could read through me. Every single secret he could dismantle with just his eyes. Like a prey he had no intention of letting escape. Yet, my eyes didn't let go and for a heartbeat I didn't know what I wanted anymore.