Chapter 4 The Alpha

Damien's P.O.V

The Lycans were becoming conspicuous with their attacks. The bloodthirsty monsters never ceased to unleash their wrath on all. And Koplin City, it's inhabitants and surrounding neighbours were not left out.

For months, the humans have had nothing but increased dead bodies all thought to be animal attacks. But I knew better.

With a fading strength by the day. I could barely put up much resistance against Ronan, the Lycan king, who thought me weak.

Yes. I may not have found my mate, but even at twenty-seven, Ronan was still no match for me. And our last encounter drove home the point. But my bruises made him a formidable opponent, one not to be treated with kid gloves.

Ronan was not a man to give up. And I needed to stay strong. The Humans were beginning to ask questions, and it would not be long before they discovered that there was more to the pile of bodies than meets the eye.

Besides, word had gotten out that a detective was going around, asking questions in an attempt to connect the dots behind the similar patterns of marks left on the victims.

I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. Beneath the black suit was a skin marred with scars. But none showed on the reflection. Nobody, including a father who died years ago, had told me the great cost of being an Alpha. Not even the black suit, worn in an attempt to make a killer more presentable, could hide or change the undisputed truth:

Kill or be killed. If you are weak, they will eat you whole. The Lycans.

I turned on my heel, each step carefully calculated like the perfect gentleman, something I had to be in the next hours.

Tobias, with his characteristic stern face, opened the back door. And the black Mercedes SUV hit the road immediately.

All wrapped up in some black suits and slumped in the back seat, Tobias would have to admit that his boss was nothing but a gentleman. In truth, I was anything but it. But the task at hand was more important than any appearance.

Strauss Asset Holdings, a company with an interest in Real estate, was looking to penetrate the commodity market, the only sector that has evaded it for years. And Tyler, my assistant, had called about an auction which was to have the major players in attendance. Perhaps, a deal could be struck amidst such a gathering. And my company could finally get its first consignment. And that explained why I had to look like a gentleman.

The ride was silent all through, safe for the notification sound from a cell phone. A message popped up on the screen.

Another animal attack.

Victim: A male; aged Thirty-five.

Cause: Animal attack. And had been discovered in the woods.

The bastard was yet to learn his lessons despite my warnings.

I slid the cell phone back into the jacket.

"Can you go any faster," I said. Tobias hit the throttle.

A few minutes later the car pulled over.

"This better be worth my time," I said, hopping out of the car. "I won't be long, so it's best you wait in the car to avoid any attention."

Tobias nodded in agreement. He knew far too well that our identity was becoming more precarious amongst humans.

I passed a few guests, all dressed up in elegant robes at the entrance. But as I took the left turn in the lobby, I sent a tray crashing down the hands of a waitress.

"Oh my God. I'm so sorry," she pleaded.

But I was less concerned with the damage or my stained shirt. And for the first time in my twenty-seven years of existence, the word 'mate' rang in my head. My wolf.

She reached for a handkerchief and rubbed the stains a few times. And I had to struggle to keep my wolf back.

"Don't bother. It's fine," I fumbled amidst the trance. But the burning sensation all over my body, I couldn't hold. My eyes wanted to burst open. I lowered to pick up the broken pieces just to keep her away from my face.

"Take, have it," I said. My feet stayed glued to the floor as I watched her sway away.

My mate. But how could this be? Was it a dream? No. It was real. My mate. Of course, she was not aware. Or maybe she knew but pretended not to be in the know.

***

Changing the stained shirt would require going back to the car. Something I wasn't ready to do after seeing her. My mate. So I saw myself in the hall. And again, I got hold of her, standing at the rear.

My thoughts drifted to the figures being called. Cheap prices. To buy a necklace was not my intention. No. I had come to secure a deal. But I had already gotten far more than I deserved. And to get the whole thing done with, I chipped in, "Hundred!" My voice thundered in the background.

Silence swept through the crowd, only interrupted by the sound of my footsteps as I found my way to the center.

"A hundred million dollars for the necklace," I reiterated. Nobody dared to bid further. Only then did I realize I had been in the company of folks who were probably living on social security. My time would have been a waste if not for her.

"Well then, I guess we have our highest-"

"Wait!" I ordered. My gaze met the green eyes, and I was not about to leave without her.

Someone cleared a throat in the background.

"As a sign of goodwill and a business well done, I would have this lady." I turned my gaze back to her. And with a grin, I added, " Perhaps she would want to compensate for ruining my shirt."

She gaped.