All Chapters of THE ALPHA MUST DIE: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Emilia never believed in omens. But that day, the trees at the intersection whispered like they knew a secret. The wind sliced through her jacket despite the layers, and something heavy curled in her chest, a tightness she couldn’t explain, like the air itself had thickened. “Happy birthday and graduation, darling.” The voice came out of nowhere, deep, familiar, jolting her like a snap of cold water. Emilia flinched, then looked up to find her father’s grin staring back at her from the rearview mirror. She shifted in her seat, crossing her arms tightly. “Thanks, Dad. Didn’t think you’d show up. Thought work would come first. Again.” His smile faltered slightly. His eyes softened. “I know I’ve missed things.” He gave her a small, apologetic smile. “I’m trying to change that.” Stephanie turned around from the passenger seat, giving Emilia a look that was part amused, part reproachful. “Be nice, honey. He really tried this time.” Then, her expression softened, the teasing sl

As Emilia slammed the door shut behind her, her breath came in ragged gasps. Her chest heaved, her heart pounding like a drum caught in a storm. Sweat clung to her skin. Her hands trembled as they hovered near the doorknob. She hadn’t seen it, not clearly, but something about the wolf... the way it moved... something flickered just before her mind went blank.She didn’t know it had been Asher. She hadn’t seen him shift. Fear had gripped her too tightly.She slid to the floor, her back against the door. Her fingers curled into her cardigan as the images replayed in her head… claws, glowing eyes, snarls. Her body trembled as if still feeling the shockwaves. Her breath hitched, and she covered her mouth to stifle a sob.From the couch, her grandfather bolted upright."Sweetie? What happened?"Her grandmother stirred from the other room, voice heavy with sleep. "Is everything alright?""Wolves," Emilia managed, her voice a whisper as she struggled to steady it. "I saw wolves... fighting.

The thrift store smelled like rotting garbage and old rain.Detective Nolan ducked under the sagging crime scene tape, boots crunching against cracked asphalt. He swept the parking lot with sharp eyes, every mark, every scuff cataloged without a word. Even the dust patterns didn’t escape him, patches where footprints had disturbed the grime, small places too clean for coincidence.Around the perimeter, Martha prowled in civilian clothes, hands shoved deep into her jacket pockets. Her gaze flickered to the busted street-lamp by the entrance, then to the CCTV cameras....dead, black-eyed, useless. She frowned and kept moving, restless energy tightening her shoulders.Inside the store, the cashier watched her from behind the counter with the wide-eyed stillness of a trapped rabbit. She asked questions. He answered. Polite. Nervous. Too polished. By the time she stepped back outside, her mouth was a thin, angry line.Nolan glanced up as she approached."I just ran through the store's CCTV,

The next morning was cold and windy, Emilia woke in Asher's arms.He’d wrapped her in a blanket sometime during the night, and now she was tucked against his chest, his heartbeat steady beneath her cheek. For a long time, she didn’t move. Just lay there, listening. Breathing him in.Pine. Earth. Smoke. Him.She felt safe.That terrified her more than anything.“You’re awake,” he murmured, his lips brushing her hair.She sat up slowly, the blanket falling away. “Barely.”“Come on,” he said, standing. “We’re training.”She groaned. “Training? Why?”Asher’s grin was lazy and sharp. “Because, I don't want you to get hurt"Her heart skipped. He said it like a tease but his eyes didn’t laugh.They trained for hours, pushing deeper into the woods this time. No phones. No roads. Just raw instinct.Asher taught her how to move like a predator. How to breathe through fear. How to feel the world around her through something deeper than her senses. A pulse in the earth. A song in the wind.“You’

The house felt too still when she returned.She left the door ajar behind her... as if she didn’t want to sever the line to the woods. As if some feral part of her expected the trees to follow her home.The scent of wood smoke lingered low in the air, but it couldn’t drown out what clung to her skin: earth, sap, and something more metallic. Like copper. Like blood that wasn’t hers.Her grandmother stood at the stove, humming softly. Pancakes sizzled in the pan, butter and syrup turning to gold in the heat. A picture of comfort. Of safety.And yet...Emilia’s hands trembled as she reached for a glass of water. The trembling didn’t stop. Not even when she pressed her lips to the rim and drank until her stomach twisted.“I heard you out back earlier,” her grandmother said without turning. “With Asher?”Emilia’s gaze dragged toward her slowly. “Yeah. He’s teaching me... things.”The words felt too thin for what she meant. Asher wasn’t just teaching her how to fight or track. He was peelin