Hybrid: Between Alphas and Secrets

Alina´s POV

"My back burns like it's on fire. If someone had told me some time ago that I would be in this kind of pain, I would never have believed it. Now, chained in this dungeon amidst my own blood and vomit, I wonder how I got here. How can a man who claims to love me do this to me?

Today is one of those busy days for me-the day to con yet another poor guy who's taken an interest in Samia. Lucky for her, since she keeps such a private life, they barely know her face at those dances she complains about, the ones her father forces her to attend. But that's the deal. I have to help a friend, especially when she pays me ten grand a date.

Something feels different today, though. A weight sits heavy on my chest. I pop one of my pills, hoping for quick relief from my anxiety. In the meantime, I gather my long brown hair into a ponytail, swipe on a light shade of eyeshadow to highlight my brown eyes, and apply a rosé lipstick that enhances my lips. The black dress I slip into falls just below my knees, hugging my figure with a discreet V-neckline.

The restaurant's black façade glows under the lights, creating a striking contrast that screams exclusivity. Inside, an impeccably dressed host greets me and leads me to a table bathed in soft, strategic light. He offers me water, which I gladly accept-I need to calm my nerves.

The ambiance is refined. Wooden walls adorned with minimalist paintings, fresh flowers scenting the air, plush velvet chairs, and crisp white tablecloths. The soft hum of jazz plays in the background. Samia is lucky, I think, trying to steady myself.

A voice slices through my thoughts. "That perfume of yours isn't fooling anyone, hybrid."

My body locks up, the water catching in my throat as a man slides into the seat across from me. His brown eyes fix on mine, unwavering. I try to maintain my composure, but there's something in his gaze-something that strips away my defenses.

He has that effortless, dangerous charm. Tall, easily over six feet. Lean but muscular. His dark brown hair is neatly styled, his features sharp and commanding.

"Good evening," he says, voice smooth but edged with something else. "I'm Alpha Marco, and you're not Samia, Alpha Noah's daughter. But tell me-do you think you can play games with Alphas and walk away unscathed, hybrid? Don't you know what happens to those who try?"

The amusement in his tone unnerves me almost as much as his words. My pulse kicks up.

"I'm sorry," I murmur, pushing up from my chair, desperate to leave. But his voice halts me.

"Sit down. I didn't say you could go."

His smile is small, knowing. Reluctantly, I lower myself back into my seat.

"Look, I was just... helping a friend. I'm not a threat to you or your pack. I swear, you'll never see me again." My voice wavers, my hands curling into fists beneath the table.

He watches me, savoring my discomfort. My stomach churns, fear tightening around me like a vice.

"No, you're not a threat," he says, voice dropping to a near whisper. "But you're something far worse."

My brow furrows. "Worse? I don't know what you're talking about. And why do you even care? I'm just... nobody." I emphasize the last word, hoping to distance myself from whatever game this is.

He leans in, his breath warm against my skin. "You may believe that, but I don't. What you carry, hybrid, is rare. Valuable. Too precious to be left unprotected. That's why I'm offering you protection."

My heart stutters. "Protection? From what? No one is after me."

A smirk tugs at his lips. "Not yet. But you should be protecting yourself... from me. Because right now, the only thing stopping me from taking what I want is my patience. And patience isn't something I'm known for when it comes to liars. Do you understand?"

I swallow hard. "I don't have anything of value. I'm just trying to survive."

His amusement fades. "I can't do much about Samia's betrayal. She's an Alpha's daughter, which shields her under rules that don't apply to you." His gaze sharpens. "But you? You have no pack. You live alone on Lis Vill Street, tucked away in some ordinary district. No family, no one to come looking for you. If I wanted to, I could do anything I pleased, and no one would even ask questions."

A chill spreads through me. How does he know so much about me? My fingers tighten around my bag, every instinct screaming at me to run. But as I rise, I feel his eyes pressing into my back.

"Sit down," he commands, voice deceptively calm. "I'm not done with you yet."

Trembling, I obey.

"Tell me, what exactly were you thinking, pretending to be an Alpha's daughter?" He leans back, observing me like a predator biding its time.

"I told you. I was helping a friend. It was just a harmless setup," I say, but even I don't believe my own words.

"Harmless?" He lets out a short, humorless chuckle. "You really have no idea what you've stepped into, do you?" He shakes his head, eyes darkening. "There are others who would kill to get their hands on a hybrid like you. I, at least, am giving you a choice."

A choice? It doesn't feel like I have one. "And what exactly are you offering me?"

"Loyalty. Protection. A chance to stay alive. All you have to do is come with me."

A cold shiver runs down my spine. "And if I refuse?"

His smirk returns, slow and deliberate. "Then I'll give you a head start before the others find you. But we both know you wouldn't get far."

I grip the edges of the table, my mind spinning. This is a trap. A game where I'm already the losing piece. My pulse pounds in my ears as I realize: no matter what I choose, my life will never be the same again.

Alina´s POV

I arrive almost completely out of breath and panicked. I lock the door and check the windows, barely having the strength to sit on the edge of the bed. I'm shaking and sweating, holding the phone in my hands. Every sound around me only fuels the panic that's beginning to take over me. My thoughts are relentless, and they won't let me rest. Every shadow in the apartment seems more threatening, and even the sound of people walking down the street makes me jump. To make matters worse, Samia's phone just goes to voicemail.

I try to take deep breaths, forcing myself to calm down, but the panic only grows. Each breath feels harder to take. When Samia finally picks up, my voice is barely a whisper, but full of fear.

"Samia, where did you send me? The alpha... he knew everything. He knows where I live, he knows everything, even the perfume you gave me... what the hell?" I pause, trying to take a deep breath, but the words come out rushed. "I knew this was going to be a problem eventually! What the hell! Say something!" I shout.

"Alina, calm down. I'm trying to process all this. Oh, shit. I thought everything was fine, that you were safe. I didn't know he already knew about you, that... it wasn't supposed to happen this way. But listen, you need to calm down. If my father finds out about this deal, my life will be on the line too. I'll come and talk to you. Just stay calm, please." Samia's voice is full of concern.

"No! Don't come! No, Samia... we'll talk tomorrow, please. I... I don't want you to come here." My voice cracks, anxiety suffocating me. "I... I don't know what to do... he's going to do something to me, I don't know what... I... I'm getting sick. I can't breathe." I say, scratching the back of my neck.

Samia tries to calm me, but I feel like we're beyond help.

"Alina, breathe. I know it's hard, but you have to calm down. I'll help you, just... don't freak out, okay? Don't do anything that could put you in more danger."

"I don't know if I can... my heart's racing... there's this pressure in my chest..." I say, holding the phone to my ear, my heartbeat so fast I can feel it. My breathing becomes more erratic, and I begin to feel the symptoms intensifying. The pain in my chest is nearly unbearable... I need help, but... what's happening to me?

I break out in cold sweat and start to squirm on the floor. There's a crushing weight on my chest, maybe my anxiety medication isn't working anymore. It feels like something is stirring inside me. I shudder at the thought of being caught and locked away again in that place where time seemed to stand still, where I could barely hold a spoon.

It's an uncomfortable feeling I don't understand, but it's growing stronger with each passing second. I need to control it before it consumes me.

I feel like something inside me is about to break free. The suffocating feeling and the pounding heart continue to escalate, so I rush to the bathroom and immediately take my anxiety medication.

As I wait for the effects of the medication to kick in, I sit on the floor, trying to regain control. But the unease and the heaviness in my chest don't go away. The phone in my hand shakes slightly, and the call with Samia is still ongoing.

With a shaky, almost inaudible voice, I say:

"Samia... help me, please. I don't know what's happening to me. I feel like... like something's trying to get out of me," I breathe out.

"Alina, what are you talking about? Stay calm... please... I'll help you. Just don't do anything reckless. I know this is a terrifying situation, but we'll get through it." She says, sounding genuinely worried. "Unfortunately, I can't come to you now, you know how my father is, but I'll see you tomorrow at the company."

Before I can respond, the pressure in my chest begins to ease a little. Thank God the medicine is working, and I release a sigh of relief. But at the same time, I feel like something has changed inside me, and this new fear is deeper and more mysterious than anything I could have imagined.

The feeling of relief is short-lived. Even though the medication is helping, I can feel that something much more complex and terrifying is beginning to take shape within me. Every passing second brings a sense that something inside me is about to break through, something I can't control.

I try to stay calm, but the anxiety is overwhelming. It's like my whole body is reacting to something that's deep inside me. I never asked for this, never wanted to be part of whatever it is that's happening to me, and yet here I am, helpless.

My head is spinning, and it feels as if the walls are closing in on me. I close my eyes for a moment, trying to find some peace in the midst of all this chaos, but the pressure in my chest only intensifies. It's as though my heart is beating faster, harder, as if it's trying to break free of my ribcage.

The sound of my own breath, shallow and quick, fills the room, and I can't focus on anything except the constant tightness in my chest. It's suffocating. I try to remember everything Samia said about staying calm, but it's hard to focus with the whirlwind of fear clouding my mind.

I think back to what she said: if my father finds out, her life will be in danger too. That makes me feel even worse. I don't want Samia to get hurt because of me. I don't want anyone to be hurt because of me. But I can't shake the feeling that I'm being pulled into something I don't understand.

I stand up, pacing the small room, desperate for relief. I look around, but nothing seems to comfort me. The apartment feels cold, empty, and I feel trapped inside it, even though I'm supposed to be safe here. My fingers tremble as I grip the phone, staring at the screen for any new message from Samia, but there's nothing.

I take another deep breath, trying to push through the panic that's threatening to swallow me whole. I need to pull myself together, but the fear is so overwhelming. It's like I'm fighting an invisible enemy, one I can't see, one I can't fight off.

I sit back down on the bed, wrapping my arms around my knees, trying to ground myself. But the thoughts keep coming. The feeling of dread, of something terrible about to happen, lingers in the back of my mind.

Suddenly, my phone vibrates. My heart skips a beat as I look at the screen, hoping it's Samia. It's a message from an unknown number.

I take a deep breath before opening it. I know it might be nothing, but I also know it could be something that changes everything. As I read the message, a cold chill runs down my spine.

Samia´s POV

I spent the whole morning tense and didn't even manage to get ready as usual, so I took the first simple black dress pants I could find and paired them with a green blouse, but I left my hair loose and had to put on a lot of make-up to cover up the dark circles under my eyes, as I hadn't slept for an hour last night.

My hands are sweating. Alina must be worse off than me, because every time I passed her in the company she looked at me with watery eyes and her appearance today is not the best. Her eyes are swollen and her hands are shaking.

I send her a quick message and make an appointment for lunch at 11, we need to talk urgently.

Disc a quick message to her:

Samia (message): "How are you, dear?"

Alina (message): "I don't know."

"I still feel a weight in my chest, as if each breath is more difficult than the last. Anxiety is consuming me and I can't think straight. This is not normal, I don't feel like myself."

Samia (message): "She goes to the bathroom to splash water on her face and meets me in the cafeteria at 11 o'clock."

The cafeteria is white and has large tables that can hold up to six people, and I immediately waved for Alina to come, but before I could say anything, she snapped:

"I don't understand how he knew everything so quickly. He knew where I lived, who I was... everything." - Meanwhile, I was running my hand through my hair, trying to dispel my obvious nervousness. "Was he following us? Or worse, did he already know everything?"

Samia looked a little dazed, stirring the ice in her juice with a straw as she tried to process Alina's words. Finally, looking at her, her face somewhat serious, she said:

"I don't know... I really don't understand. I don't understand how he found out about us so easily, and it's driving me crazy. I couldn't even sleep." - She put her hands to her face and let out a short sigh.

Alina paused for a moment, a sudden thought crossed her mind, and she exclaimed, with a worried expression:

"Think about it, maybe he was watching us, or following me during other encounters. He knew I was impersonating you, Samia. And that could be a much bigger problem than we realize." - I say, running my hands through my hair in exasperation.

Samia leaned back in her chair, frowning.

"Christ, that could be a problem... I have to be vigilant. I'll watch my father's reactions. Maybe I'll have to go to Alfa and apologize. I don't know... it's got to be something, right?"

Alina almost lost patience with Samia's suggestion.

"Apologize? That's a stupid and desperate idea, Samia! And he didn't even come after me. He unmasked me but didn't come after me. That shows that he doesn't care about any of this, maybe he's just playing with us." - Dino in an attempt to hold on to this one thread of hope.

Samia replied with a wry smile:

"You're the one who's being stupid, did you forget about dinner? Your state last night? Wake up, he's already after us."

Alina was silent for a moment, her eyes fixed on the table. She felt anger growing inside her, mixed with fear that she still didn't know how to control. Finally, she looked at Samia, her voice low and trembling.

"I've never been so humiliated, I've never been so frightened by someone like this... And now what are we going to do? Because it's not going to end here."

Samia pondered Alina's words for a moment before sighing deeply, staring into the void. The situation was now much more serious than either of them had imagined.

The cafeteria buzzed with the soft hum of chatter around them, but for the two of them, the world had become a quiet, suffocating place. The weight of their predicament pressed down, unrelenting. Samia traced patterns on the table absentmindedly, lost in thought.

"I can't just sit around and wait for something worse to happen," she muttered under her breath.

Alina, gripping her cup with trembling fingers, nodded. "We need to find out how much he knows. If he was watching us this whole time, there must be a reason. If he just wanted to expose me, he would have done it in a way that would have caused more damage. He was calculated. He wanted me to know that he was in control."

Samia's stomach twisted at those words. "Control," she repeated. "That's exactly it. He didn't do this out of curiosity. He did this to send a message."

Alina exhaled sharply and pressed her fingers against her temples. "Then we need to figure out what that message is before it's too late."

Samia hesitated before leaning in closer, lowering her voice. "I've been thinking... what if this isn't just about us? What if this is bigger than we think?"

Alina blinked. "What do you mean?"

"My father. The Alfa. You said he knew everything about you. But what if it's not just about you? What if he's after something bigger? Maybe he's using you to get to something else."

Alina swallowed hard, her mind racing. "If that's the case, then we're in more trouble than I thought."

A sudden noise made them both jump. A tray clattered to the floor a few tables away, and for a split second, Alina felt her heart stop. She turned sharply, eyes scanning the cafeteria, her paranoia spiking. But it was just another employee, picking up the mess with a sheepish expression.

"We're losing it," Samia muttered. "We're so on edge that every little sound feels like a threat."

"Because it might be," Alina whispered back. "You don't understand how it felt, Samia. The way he looked at me... he wasn't just exposing me. He was warning me."

The weight of her words settled between them like a cold shadow.

Samia glanced at her phone, fingers hovering over the screen. "Maybe we should tell someone. Someone we trust."

Alina shook her head immediately. "No. Not yet. We don't know who we can trust. If he knows this much already, what if he's listening? Watching? Any wrong move, and we could make it worse."

Samia's throat tightened. "So what do we do?"

Alina set her jaw, a flicker of determination lighting up her otherwise exhausted features. "We play along. We act normal. And we find out who he really is before he decides to take the next step."

Samia nodded, though the fear gnawed at her insides. There was no turning back now. They were in too deep. And whoever was behind this, he wasn't done yet.