Bitten By The Alpha

"They say obsession is dangerous, but for you, I'll embrace madness if it means keeping you." Knox...

---

ARIA'S POV

My fists slammed into the thug's stomach, and he groaned, stumbling backward.

"Leave her alone," I snapped, stepping between him and the girl huddled against the wall. She was shaking, her face wet with tears and her dress torn at the sleeve.

The thug sneered, wiping blood from his mouth. "You've got guts, girl. Too bad they won't save you."

I clenched my fists tighter, ignoring the sting in my knuckles. "Try me."

He lunged, but I was faster. I dodged to the side, kicking his leg out from under him. He crashed to the ground with a curse, clutching his knee.

"Run!" I yelled at the girl.

She hesitated for a moment before scrambling to her feet and bolting out of the alley. I didn't look back to watch her go.

The thug pushed himself up, glaring at me. "You're dead."

"Not today," I said sharply

The thug chuckled at my audacity. Well, I might be small in size compared to him but in here, I have the upper hand.

Yeah... The only place I act strong..... My imagination.

My imaginary 'come to the rescue scene dissolved into the dim walls of my bedroom. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My hands weren't bruised from a fight. The thug wasn't real. None of it was. Here, in my imagination, I was unstoppable. I was strong- fierce enough to stand up to anything which was far different from my reality. Here, I wasn't a hero.

I opened the door as I stepped out of my room- my safe haven. The faint scent of coffee wafted the air from the kitchen. I wasn't even halfway down the hall when I almost collided with Daphne.

"Watch it," she snapped, stepping back with a scowl. Her perfectly manicured nails tapped impatiently against her arm. She was dressed in her usual leather hunting jacket, the one she wore when she went out with the others.

"Sorry," I mumbled, stepping aside to let her pass.

Her eyes narrowed as they darted to the folder in my hand. "What's that?"

"Nothing important."

Before she could press further, heavy footsteps echoed behind her. My stepbrother, Jordan, appeared, his crossbow slung casually over his shoulder. He was grinning, but there was a coldness in his eyes that always made my stomach turn.

"Where are you going to, Aria?" my stepmother's voice, Wren, cut through the air before I could answer. She emerged from the kitchen, her sharp gaze pinning me in place. She was dressed like the others, her gear strapped tightly, ready for the hunt.

"I have a... a job interview," I stammered, clutching the folder tighter.

"A job interview?" Daphne sneered, her tone dripping with mockery. "What for? Cleaning toilets?"

Jordan just gave me a calculating gaze. Well, he doesn't pick on me like Daphne does, but doesn't his disinterest.

As for my stepmother, Wren, she barely spared me a glance. Her sharp eyes flicked over me, disinterested, as if I were nothing more than furniture.

"At least you're becoming useful," she muttered under her breath, loud enough for me to catch.

The words stung, but I bit my tongue and kept my head down.

"You're going hunting?" I asked as Daphne picked up her bow as well as Jordan and Wren.

Daphne rolled her eyes, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Of course we are. What else would we be doing?" She said it like it was obvious, like there was no greater purpose in life than chasing down werewolves in the woods.

I bit my lip, holding back the urge to say what I was really thinking. Hunting made me uneasy. But to them, hunting wasn't just a pastime; it was a tradition. My family had been tracking and killing werewolves for generations. Jordan liked to say it was in our blood. He and Daphne wore that legacy like a badge of honor.

My stepmother, Daphne, and Jordan-they were all the same. Ruthless. Calculated. Born and bred to hunt down and kill werewolves without hesitation. It wasn't just a duty for them; it was a legacy. My stepmother often reminded us, over dinner or during one of her many condescending lectures, that hunting werewolves was a noble cause. "We keep the balance," she would say, her voice laced with pride. "We rid the world of monsters."

To them, werewolves weren't people. They were animals to be exterminated. Daphne thrived on the thrill of the hunt, often boasting about her kills, while Jordan treated it like a game, competing with Daphne for the highest body count. And my stepmother? Wren was the ringleader, ensuring the family name stayed feared in hunter circles.

But I didn't belong in their world.

I had always been the outsider-the weak one they barely tolerated. I didn't have Daphne's cruel confidence or Jordan's bloodlust. I didn't want to hunt anything. And that's the most basic reason I feel out of place in a place I should have called home.

It wasn't that I thought werewolves were innocent. I'd heard the stories-entire villages torn apart, families destroyed. But I also couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the creatures than my family wanted to admit. Something about hunting them felt... wrong.

"Aria!" Jordan's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. He was staring at me, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Are you even listening? I said maybe you should come with us for once. Learn how to be useful."

Daphne snickered, her laugh light and mocking. "Please, Jordan. She'd probably trip over her own feet before we even got to the woods."

"I'm fine here, besides I have a job interview to attend" I said quickly, lowering my gaze.

"Suit yourself," Jordan said with a shrug, his attention already back on his knife.

Wren finally turned to me, her expression neutral but said nothing before walking past me. They left soon after, the front door slamming behind them. The house felt quieter without them, but not in a comforting way. It was the kind of silence that pressed against your chest, making it hard to breathe.

As I headed out, I noticed the silver bullets on the floor. Daphne probably threw them down unconsciously.

As I bent to pick them, a familiar pain gripped me.

I slowly shifted the neck of my shirt to reveal a bite mark.

My throat tightened as I remembered the sharp pain during the last full moon, the warmth of the bite that burned through my skin. I had told myself it wasn't real, that I'd imagined it. But the bite mark said otherwise.

If they found out what happened to me...

It was the last full moon. I had gone out only to be bitten by a werewolf.

I swallowed hard, gripping the folder like it was a lifeline. No one could know. Not yet.

The bite was still there, hidden beneath the sleeve of my sweater, and sometimes it felt like it was burning.

For now, all I could do was pretend everything was normal. Pretend I wasn't becoming the very thing my family hunted.

But deep down, I knew the truth wouldn't stay hidden forever.

Knox

The hum of the car engine grated against my nerves as I leaned back in the leather seat, my fingers drumming an anxious rhythm against it. The car war dark colored but not nearly as dark as the storm brewing inside me. I couldn't shake the images-the memories of that cursed full moon, when my control had slipped, leaving destruction in its wake.

"You can't ignore this forever, Knox."

Fenris, my wolf, growled in the back of my mind, his voice a low vibration that sent a dull ache through my skull. "We're bound to face the consequences eventually."

I clenched my jaw. "Shut up, Fenris," I bit out, though the words felt hollow.

He was relentless, as he had been for weeks now. Ever since that night, he'd been riding me harder than ever. His frustration echoed my own, but unlike me, Fenris wanted to confront what happened head-on. He wanted resolution. I wanted nothing more than to bury it deep.

"You think you're in control, but you're not," Fenris snarled. "We both know what's at stake. We need her-our mate."

Mate. The word alone was enough to send a surge of anger coursing through me.

"I don't need anyone," I snapped, my voice low but firm. "Not now. Not after what happened."

Fenris's growl turned into a snarl, sharp and accusing. "You're a fool if you think you can keep running from this. The more you fight it, the worse it'll get. Do you even realize what's happening? That human you bit-"

"Enough!" I cut him off, the volume of my voice startling even me.

The car fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by the subtle crackle of tension in the air. Mason, my beta and driver, didn't dare speak. He'd been with me long enough to know when to keep his thoughts to himself. But I saw his eyes dart up to the rearview mirror, concern etched in their depths.

"I know you heard that," I muttered, my voice icy.

"Yes, Alpha," Mason replied cautiously.

I sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "Last full moon," I admitted, though the words tasted bitter in my mouth. "I lost control. I... bit someone."

Mason's hands tightened briefly on the steering wheel. His calm exterior didn't falter, but I knew him well enough to see the subtle shift in his posture.

"A human," he said quietly.

I nodded, my gaze fixed out the window at the blur of city lights. "Yes. A female."

"Then we need to find her before she turns," Mason said, his tone measured but firm.

I shot him a sharp look through the mirror. "You think I don't know that?"

"I'm just saying-"

"I don't need you to state the obvious," I snapped, cutting him off.

But Mason, ever the loyal beta, wasn't deterred.

"Alpha, the hunters are already too close. If she recalls the bite and what she saw, she could expose us. She doesn't have to be a threat now, but a single word from her could bring the hunters right to our door."

I hated that he was right. Her memory of that night was dangerous, not just for me, but for the pack. "We'll have to deal with it before she talks" Mason said.

His words, though unwelcome, were true. And I hated that.

"Find her," I said finally, my voice as cold as the steel towers of the city skyline. "Track her down. I don't care how. Just do it."

Mason nodded, his gaze briefly meeting mine in the mirror. "Understood."

The car descended into silence again, and I let my thoughts spiral. That night replayed in my mind with vivid clarity and blurred recollection at the same time. The pull of the moon, the way it had stripped me of the control I prided myself on. I remembered the terror in her eyes as I lunged at her, the sharp taste of her blood on my tongue. As for how she looked, it remained a blurred puzzle for me to solve.

"Knox."

Fenris's voice was softer now, almost mournful.

"What?" I muttered.

"You know this isn't just about the bite. We would keep losing control if we don't find our mate. We need our..."

"Shut it," I growled, silencing him before he could go any further.

The car slowed to a stop outside the towering glass facade of Grey Enterprises. My empire. My sanctuary. But tonight, even the sight of it didn't bring me peace.

The door opened, and I stepped out, my shoulders tense and my mind already running through a dozen contingency plans. I had built this empire with my own hands, clawed my way to the top, and made a name for myself in the human world. Everything I had was at risk now.

I strode into the lobby, the polished marble floors reflecting the harsh lines of my face. The security guard nodded respectfully, but I barely acknowledged him. My mind was elsewhere, consumed by the growing list of problems I needed to solve.

As I rode the elevator to my office, I couldn't help but feel the weight of everything pressing down on me. The pack relied on me. My business demanded my attention. And now, this woman-this stranger I had bitten-was a loose thread threatening to unravel everything.

Fenris was silent now, but his presence lingered, a constant reminder of the bond we shared and the responsibilities I couldn't ignore.

Once inside my office, I poured myself a glass of whiskey and downed it in one go, the burn grounding me, if only for a moment.

"You better hope I don't regret this, Fenris," I muttered, setting the glass down with a sharp clink.

But deep down, I knew there was no escaping it.

The full moon was coming again.

And with it, the consequences of my actions would finally catch up to me.

KNOX

The soft knock on my office door was enough to make my wolf stir in irritation. I didn't bother looking up from the mountain of paperwork on my desk. I already knew who it was from her scent-Tasha, my secretary, the woman who thought her curves could distract me from her lack of professionalism.

"Come in" said, my tone clipped.

The door opened, and there she was, strutting in as though the office was her runway. Her blouse was unbuttoned one too many, and her smile was far too suggestive.

The clicking of Tasha's heels on the tiled floor grated on my nerves as she strolled into my office. The deliberate sway of her hips and the faint trace of perfume she'd undoubtedly sprayed to leave a trail was all too familiar.

"Mr. Grey," she said in that overly seductive tone, leaning just a bit too far over my desk to get my attention. Her blouse strained exposing her cleavage, and I couldn't miss the smug satisfaction in her eyes when she noticed I'd glanced.

I had fucked her before, once or twice when I'd been in heat and needed a release. It had been convenient, emotionless, and mutually understood. But now? Her attempts to reignite something I barely acknowledged then were nothing but irritating.

"The applicants are here," she continued, her voice as hoarse as ever. "Do you need me to sit in with you during the interviews? You know, for support?"

I held her gaze for a long moment, making sure my irritation was clear. "No. Just send them into the boardroom one at a time."

Her lips twitched in disappointment, but she nodded and turned on her heel, giving me a deliberate view of her retreating figure. I ignored it and headed to the boardroom.

By the time I got there, my mood was already sour.

The first applicant was dressed in an ill-fitting suit and couldn't even manage eye contact. I didn't get halfway through my questions before waving him off.

"Next," I barked.

The second one seemed more confident, but when I asked, *'What would you do if someone told you this job wasn't meant for you?'* his answer was a rambling mess about destiny and luck. Luck had no place in my world.

By the fourth applicant, my patience was wearing thin.

A woman came in wearing a bright red dress better suited for a nightclub than a professional interview. Her perfume filled the air before she even sat down. She tossed her hair dramatically and gave me a smile that I assumed she thought was seductive.

"Thank you for coming," I said, cutting her off before she even opened her mouth. "We're done here."

She stared at me, confused. "But I haven't-"

"Out."

Her face fell, but she gathered her things and stormed out.

When Tasha poked her head into the room after the next failure, I didn't hide my frustration. "Call it off. Close the damn interviews."

"But sir," she said with a small pout, "there's only one left."

"And I've seen enough." I leaned back in my chair, massaging my temples. "Whoever it is can go home. I don't have time to waste."

Tasha hesitated, but I shot her a glare, and she scurried off. I was done.

---

Aria's POV

The waiting room felt colder now, or maybe it was just the sinking feeling in my chest. I clutched my bag tighter, staring at the floor to keep from fidgeting too much. I had seen all the applicants before me come out with a disappointed look. One of them even told me to go home, that I wouldn't be chosen.

But this was my last shot-my last chance to prove I could take control of my life. But the longer I sat there, the more the nerves clawed at me.

The secretary-Tasha, as I overheard someone call her-walked in, her heels echoing loudly in the silent room. I looked up, hoping she was finally calling my name.

Instead, her lips curved into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "The interviews are closed. Mr. Grey doesn't have time for any more applicants."

Her words hit me like a slap.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "There has to be some mistake. I'm the last one."

"Exactly," she said, her tone clipped. "And he's decided that's enough for today."

Panic surged through me, and I felt tears prick my eyes. This couldn't be happening. I'd worked so hard just to get this far, to even land an interview. I couldn't just leave.

But as Tasha turned to leave, I saw him.

The man I'd been preparing to meet, Mr. Knox Grey, stepped into the hallway. His dark hair was perfectly combed back, his suit sharp and intimidating. He exuded power with every step he took.

Before I could think, my body moved on its own.

"Sir!" I called out, my voice trembling as I rushed towards him.

"Sir!!" I called out reaching him and gripping his hand to make him stop.

The moment my hand touched his arm, a jolt of electricity surged through me. My breath hitched as I looked up into his piercing eyes-eyes that seemed to see right through me.

Knox Grey. The man who could make or break my future with a single word. But as I stood there, something shifted in his expression. It wasn't the cold indifference I'd expected; it was curiosity, laced with something deeper.

He tilted his head slightly, his gaze narrowing, and then he spoke

"Have we met before? Your scent feels so familiar."