Chapter 3 Prey

They wouldn't stop touching me.

At first, it was small things.

A hand brushing my waist.

Fingers grazing my arm when they didn't need to.

Someone standing too close behind me.

Too close. Too warm. Too heavy.

I told myself it was an accident.

Crowded party.

Busy night.

People bump into each other.

Normal.

But my skin kept crawling.

Like ants under my flesh.

Like something was wrong.

Very wrong.

I tightened my grip on the tray.

Smile.

Serve.

Walk away.

Don't cause trouble.

Don't make a scene.

That's how girls like me survive.

"Hey, waitress."

I stopped.

A man snapped his fingers at me.

Not waved.

Not called.

Snapped.

Like calling a dog.

"Drink," he said.

I poured.

He didn't even look at me.

Just stared at my chest.

Slow. Open. Shameless.

My throat burned.

"Anything else, sir?" I asked.

He smirked. "Yeah. Smile more."

I forced one.

He leaned closer. "Pretty girls shouldn't look sad. Makes men uncomfortable."

My chest tightened.

Since when did my face exist to make men comfortable?

Before I could answer, someone else grabbed the tray.

"Over here."

Then another voice.

"Girl, two more glasses."

Then another hand.

"Come closer. I can't hear you."

Too many.

Too fast.

I moved from one group to another.

But somehow

Every time

It was the same man.

The same eyes.

The same smirks.

Like they were following me.

No.

Not following.

Herding.

My steps slowed.

Wait.

That's not normal.

I looked around for Sienna.

Couldn't see her.

Looked for other staff.

Gone.

Where did everyone go?

A minute ago there were five waiters near me.

Now I was alone.

Just me and them.

My heart skipped.

Did they send everyone away?

Why?

"Drink with us."

A glass was pushed into my hand.

"I'm working," I said.

"Just one."

"I'm not allowed."

"Relax. We won't tell."

His smile didn't reach his eyes.

Something ugly hid there.

Something hungry.

"I said no," I repeated.

He stepped closer.

Too close.

"Don't be rude."

"I'm not"

"Drink."

The word wasn't a request.

It was a command.

My chest tightened.

The glass pressed harder into my hand.

Liquid sloshed.

Dark red.

Wine.

Or something else.

"Please," I said quietly. "I really can't."

Another man laughed. "She thinks she's special."

"Yeah. Acting expensive in a cheap uniform."

"Maybe she needs help loosening up."

My stomach dropped.

Loosening up.

I'd heard that phrase before.

It never ended well.

I tried to step back.

Someone blocked me.

I turned.

Another body.

Another wall.

They had formed a circle around me.

When did that happen?

How did I not notice?

My pulse was hammered.

This is bad.

This is really bad.

"Hey," I said, forcing my voice steady. "Move. Guests need drinks."

"We're guests," one of them said.

Laughter.

Low.

Ugly.

One of them leaned near my ear.

"You smell nice," he whispered.

I flinched.

"Stop."

He chuckled. "Scared?"

"Yes."

The honesty surprised even me.

They laughed harder.

Predators.

That's what they felt like.

Not men.

Predators.

And me

Prey.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed my chin.

Forced my face up.

"Look at me when I talk to you."

Rage flashed through me.

"I said let go."

"Or what?"

My mind screamed for Sienna.

For anyone.

For help.

But the music was loud.

And no one looked our way.

Like this corner didn't exist.

Like we were invisible.

Like someone planned it that way.

A new voice cut in.

Smooth.

Cold.

The same man from earlier.

The one in the hallway after Roman.

The stranger with the dangerous smile.

He stepped closer.

"Well," he said lightly, "this is ugly."

The men stiffened.

"Back off," one muttered.

The stranger smiled. "You're making a mess at a King's party. That's stupid."

"So?"

"So stupid men disappear."

Silence.

They backed away a little.

Not much.

But enough.

I breathed out.

"Thank you," I whispered.

He looked at me carefully.

Like I was an object.

Not a person.

"You're the one the Alpha noticed, right?" he said softly.

My heart skipped.

"What?"

He tilted his head. "Don't pretend. Half the room saw it."

Saw what?

Him staring?

Why would that matter?

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said.

"Interesting," he murmured.

He picked up the glass from my tray.

Swirled it.

Then handed it to me.

"Drink," he said.

I shook my head. "No."

His smile stayed.

But his eyes hardened.

"It's rude to refuse."

"I said no."

He leaned closer.

"So you only drink for him?"

My chest tightened.

"I don't even know him."

"Then prove it."

The glass pressed to my lips.

My hands shook.

If I fight, they'll get angry.

If I drink, maybe they'll leave me alone.

Just one sip.

Just survive.

I took a small swallow.

Bitter.

Strange.

Not wine.

My stomach dropped.

Too late.

"Good girl," he said.

My skin crawled.

He walked away like nothing happened.

Like he hadn't just forced me.

Like this was normal.

Ten minutes later, my legs felt weak.

My head is light.

The tray felt heavy.

Too heavy.

What's wrong with me?

I barely drank.

My vision blurred.

The music sounded far away.

My fingers trembled.

No.

No no no.

They drugged me.

Panic exploded in my chest.

I need Sienna.

I need

My knees buckled.

Strong arms caught me.

But not gentle ones.

Rough.

Greedy.

"Easy," someone said. "She's about to fall."

"Take her upstairs."

"Yeah. Before someone sees."

My heart pounded.

"No," I whispered. "Let me go."

My voice sounded small.

Weak.

Like a child.

They lifted me.

Carried me.

My head spun.

I tried to fight.

My hands barely moved.

My body wasn't listening.

Tears burned my eyes.

Not like this.

Please not like this.

Not again.

Not helpless.

Not small.

Not nothing.

"Put me down," I begged.

"Relax," someone laughed. "We're helping you."

Liar.

Liar.

Liar.

My vision blurred more.

Doors passed.

Hallways.

My mind screamed.

But my body wouldn't obey.

Why am I so weak?

Why can't I fight?

Then a voice.

Deep.

Cold.

Deadly calm.

"Put her down."

Everything stopped.

Even my heart.

I knew that voice.

Even half-conscious.

Even terrified.

Him.

The men holding me stiffened.

"Mind your business," one snapped.

Silence.

Then slow footsteps.

Closer.

Closer.

"You're holding something that belongs to me," he said quietly.

Something changed in the air.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

Like a storm.

"She's just staff"

The next second

A crash.

A scream.

A body flying.

I blinked.

One man slammed into the wall.

Another on the floor.

Blood.

So fast.

Too fast.

He moved like lightning.

Like violence given shape.

"Touch her again," he growled, voice low and animal, "and you die."

Not shouting.

Not threatening.

Promising.

The men froze.

Fear filled their faces.

Real fear.

They dropped me.

I stumbled.

Before I hit the ground

Strong arms caught me.

Careful this time.

Gentle.

Like I was glass.

"Look at me," he said softly.

I tried.

His face blurred.

But I saw his eyes.

Bright.

Wild.

Gold.

Not normal.

Not human.

My breath hitched.

"What did they give you?" he asked.

"I... don't know..."

His jaw tightened.

Rage flashed so hard it scared me.

"I'll kill them," he muttered.

"No," I whispered weakly.

He looked down at me.

Something changed in his expression.

Not anger.

Not dominance.

Fear.

"You're shaking," he said.

"I'm fine."

"You're not."

His hand touched my cheek.

Warm.

Steady.

Safe.

Why does he feel safe?

Why him?

Why now?

My fingers clutched his shirt.

Tight.

Like if I let go, I'd fall into darkness.

"Don't leave," I whispered.

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

His eyes softened.

"I won't," he said.

And somehow

I believed him.

He lifted me into his arms like I weighed nothing.

Like I mattered.

Like I was his.

And as my head rested against his chest, listening to his wild, furious heartbeat, one thought echoed through my fading mind

Why does the most dangerous man in this house feel like the only place I'm safe?