THE ALPHA’S PREY

Cal’s POV

“Where is my money?” Alpha Damon’s voice roared through the small, broken house. His boots crushed the weak wooden floor as he stormed inside. His dark eyes flashed with anger.

My father dropped to his knees, his hands shaking. “Please, Alpha Damon, we just need more time. I promise we’ll pay off every penny we owe you.”

Damon scoffed, his black coat swirling around him as he moved closer.

“You had your time—months. I’m done waiting.”

My mother tried to speak, but her voice cracked. “We lost the crops this year. The rain—”

“I don’t care about your rain or your bad luck,” Damon snapped, cutting her off. His eyes scanned the room like a predator looking for prey. Then they landed on me.

He took slow, calculated steps toward me, a small, evil smile curling on his lips. He bent down in front of me. I looked up at him, fear burning in my eyes.

“What a pretty little thing,” he whispered, curling a strand of my hair around his finger. “How old are you?”

“18,” I said, my lips trembling.

“Perfect,” he said sweetly, in a way that made my skin crawl. “No mark, no mate… Fresh. Just the way I like it.”

He turned to my dad.

“You made a deal to save your daughter’s life. Tomorrow, before sunset, bring me my money. Or…” He laughed like a manic, chilling the air. Then, just as quickly, his expression turned deadly cold.

“The life I once saved… will become mine. She won’t find a mate. She’ll belong to me—and pay your debt by serving me for the rest of her life.”

I gasped, gripping my dress tightly. The thought of belonging to Damon made my heart ache. Deep down, I knew—we all knew—there was no way my family could pay him back by sunset.

My father cried out. “Alpha Damon, please! She’s our only child. Give us a little more time!”

But Damon just smiled coldly, his eyes still locked on me. “Choose wisely.”

He turned and left, his guards slamming the door behind him.

I stood frozen, my mind racing. I’d just come back from school, chatting with Mom, when Alpha Damon burst through our door. I had only heard terrifying stories about him before; this was the first time I had ever been this close to him.

Months ago, on my 18th birthday, someone had slipped pineapple juice into my drink. My allergies kicked in, and I nearly died. My parents rushed me to the healers, but they couldn’t afford the treatment. In desperation, they ran to Alpha Damon. He agreed to help, but only after making a deal: pay him back in three months. But the rains never came, the crops failed, and they couldn’t keep their promise.

Alpha Damon was cold and merciless. He offered help to the desperate, not out of kindness, but as a deal. If you failed to repay him exactly on time, he took something you valued most, it could be your land, your freedom… even your loved ones. Promises were sacred to him. Breaking one meant paying a heavy, painful price.

Dad collapsed onto the sofa, crying. I wanted to help him, to help them both, but I was powerless.

“We can’t let them take her,” Mom said through her tears.

“There’s nothing we can do, Belinda,” Dad whispered. “I love our daughter too, but you know—what Damon wants, Damon gets.”

“Never!…not this time!” Mom shouted, her voice full of fire. “You know what kind of monster Damon is. I will not risk my only child’s life because of our failures.”

She walked up to me.

“Go to your room and pack your things, Cal. We’re leaving.”

Dad stared at her in shock. “What are you doing?”

“Leaving,” Mom said firmly without even glancing at him.

“Please, my love… If Damon finds out we’re trying to run, he’ll kill us all,” Dad pleaded.

“Then I’ll spend my last breath trying to save my child. I’d rather die trying than live knowing I stood by and did nothing,” Mom said, determined. “Go, Cal, Now. Be quick.”

They stood, staring at each other, the silence stretching heavy between them.

Finally, Dad said in a low, broken voice, “I’ll come with you.”

I ran to my room and shoved clothes into the small traveling box Aunty Reina had given me on my birthday—like she somehow knew this day would come. I changed out of my school uniform and rushed back downstairs. Mom and Dad soon came out too, carrying small boxes.

We hurried to the car and loaded the boot. Dad started driving. I didn’t know where we were going. But anything was better than staying.

I wouldn’t miss Lunar Crest Pack. I had no friends. At school, I was bullied relentlessly—for being the only 18 year old child without a mate bond, and worse, for being unable to shift into a wolf.

Curiosity gnawed at me.

“Mom, where are we going?” I asked softly.

She looked back at me with a small, sorrowful smile. “Out of Lunar Crest. There’s no set destination… but we’ll find a way.”

The road stretched empty and lonely ahead of us, the border of the pack territory drawing near. We were so close to escaping.

And then—

A giant wolf appeared in the middle of the road, blocking our path. It was bigger than any wolf I had ever seen, it’s dark fur blending into the night and it’s piercing hazel eyes locked unto the car with an unsettling intensity.

My heart pounded in my chest, faster than it should have. My eyes widened in shock. Who could it be?