Married to the alpha in spite of herself

Fingers clenched on the edge of his desk, the Alpha listened with icy attention to his advisor's report. The words echoed in the tense silence of his office, a vast but strangely dark room, whose late afternoon light only partially illuminated the austere walls, decorated with paintings of his ancestors. The death of Max Zelinski , a name which raised a storm of anger within him, had just been announced.

The Alpha inhaled deeply, narrowed eyes fixed on the solid wood of the desk, as if searching for an answer hidden in the wood's veins. Max Zelinski . This name had always carried with it a charge of contempt, resentment... and now, unfinished injustice. Max was dead, escaping his judgment, his vengeance. His fists clenched. For him, it wasn't just about money. The billions Max had extorted from him were only part of the humiliation. What this man had done was far more than a simple scam. He had damaged his reputation, betrayed his trust, and all this to fuel a criminal network whose scale he had only recently understood. Now this slippery serpent was no longer there to answer for his crimes.

Without a word, he stood up, heading towards the large bay window which overlooked the city, illuminated by the night lights. A heavy silence settled in, tense, until the Alpha finally broke the silence.

"Tell me about his associates. From his accounts. He left something...someone...to make pay," he whispered in a controlled voice, but with restrained rage showing through.

His advisor hesitated for a moment, then flipped through his notes. "We found scattered bank accounts, but they are under false names. It is likely that some of the funds have already been dispersed. We are working to trace the tracks, but it's... complicated. Max knew how to cover his tracks. »

The Alpha stood still, his jaw clenched. His gaze was lost for a moment on the distant lights, but in his head, he could already see plans forming, ways to exact revenge, even in death.

"I want every name, every place. The people who owe him, the people he left behind," he growled. "I refuse to let him disappear like this, without having paid. »

The advisor cleared his throat, embarrassed. "There's...maybe something," he began hesitantly.

The Alpha turned abruptly, a flash of brutal curiosity in his eyes. " Speak. »

"Max had...a daughter. An only daughter, if our information is correct. She lives in Italy, and she seems...innocent. At least she wasn't involved in her father's business, according to our initial research. »

He watched the Alpha's reaction with a mixture of fear and expectation. The Alpha raised an eyebrow, surprised but interested. A girl? Until now, he knew nothing about this existence. A girl that Max had deliberately kept in the shadows.

"Innocent, you say? » he whispered, his lips twisted into a grin. "None of his descendants can be completely innocent. Not after what he did. And I doubt Max Zelinski 's blood is so pure that she could escape unscathed. »

The advisor swallowed, aware of the implication. "What do you want us to do? Should we...approach him? »

The Alpha turned away, momentarily losing his gaze on the city, weighing his options. He had always avoided involving innocent people, much less family members of his enemies. But this time... this time, everything seemed different. Max was no longer there to pay. But his daughter... perhaps she could be the instrument of his revenge, the key to finding the stolen money, to restoring his honor.

A thin smile appeared on his lips. "Yes, approach her. Discreetly. I want to know everything there is to know about her. Age, dating, occupation... I want to know who she is and why her father hid her. »

The advisor inclined his head in understanding. "Good, Alpha. We will monitor her closely. »

The advisor was starting to put away his files when the Alpha interrupted him sharply. "And one last thing. I want this approach to be gentle. Under no circumstances should she understand that I'm behind this...at least, not yet. »

As the advisor left, the Alpha sat back, fingers intertwined under his chin. Thoughts raced through his mind, and despite himself, he felt almost...excited at the thought of this budding plan. An innocent girl, bearing the name of this infamous man. She could be the centerpiece of his revenge.

The Alpha sat in his office, looking somber, observing the detective who stood before him with a file under his arm. An aura of tension hung in the air as the detective hesitated, clearly weighing his words.

"So, did you find anything?" the Alpha asked in a sharp voice, although a flash of impatient curiosity shone in his eyes.

The detective swallowed before answering, aware that every word he spoke would be scrutinized by the formidable man in front of him.

"Yes, Alpha. I have some... crucial information. » He slowly opened the file, revealing several photos and documents. "Her name is Sofia Zelinski . She's been living in Rome for a few years and... there's one detail you need to know. » The detective hesitated, and the Alpha frowned, impassive but annoyed by this slowness.

" What ? » he growled, impatiently.

"She is three months pregnant. »

The information fell like a blade, and the Alpha remained silent, motionless, digesting the news. A girl, pregnant? He hadn't considered this scenario. Sofia Zelinski , the last link to Max, was carrying a child. He stood up, his eyebrows furrowed, his mind agitated by a thousand questions. Who was the father? Did he know? And most importantly, would this change his plans?

"Continue," he ordered, his voice lower, more measured, although his dark eyes sparkled with a calculating glint.

The detective nodded, visibly relieved to be able to continue. "She works in a small art gallery, seems to live a simple life. The information we have gathered indicates that she is alone, without close family. His father... Max never left him much, nor contact with his network. She's... removed from all that, if I may say so. »

" Really ? » the Alpha murmured, a hint of skepticism in his voice. He knew Max too well to believe that this man would have voluntarily spared his daughter from his sordid world. If he had left her out, there must have been some reason, some obscure motivation.

He stood up suddenly, heading towards the window. The panoramic view of the city seemed to absorb him, even if his mind was elsewhere. His decision was gradually forming in his mind, like a complex web of intertwined threads.

" Alright. You're going to arrange a meeting, but... I don't want her to know who I am. Not yet. »

The detective nodded in agreement, then asked, "How do you want to proceed?" »

A calculated smile stretched the Alpha's lips. "I'm going to go to Rome. Find me a discreet place, somewhere where I could bump into her "by chance". I want to see her, observe her... understand who she is. »

Two days later, the Alpha was in a chic café in Rome, a place where wealthy clients and art lovers often crossed paths. His cover was carefully prepared: a discreet businessman, a simple curious person passing through. He wore a sober suit, his hair pulled back, and waited, his gaze focused on the entrance.

It didn't take long for Sofia to appear. She wore a light, elegant but simple dress, which revealed a rounded stomach, still discreet. Her face seemed absorbed in thought, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if she were carrying an invisible weight, far beyond that of her pregnancy. She sat at a table a few meters from him, alone, and ordered a tea without looking up.

The Alpha observed him without a word, hiding his interest behind a book open in front of him. Sofia Zelinski ... Max's latest heir. She didn't seem to have anything in common with her father. No ostentation, no arrogant aura. Just a young woman... vulnerable, even fragile.

At that moment, a man entered the cafe, visibly nervous. The Alpha immediately recognized this kind of nervousness, that of a man who knows his presence is not welcome. The man, of medium height, with messy hair and a worried expression, walked straight towards Sofia. She looked up, and the glimmer of recognition was instantaneous in her eyes, but she didn't seem happy to see him. She crossed her arms in defense.

"Sofia...I'm sorry." I just...wanted to talk to you," the man began in a shaky voice, glancing around as if afraid of being surprised.

Sofia fixed him with a cold gaze, and the Alpha felt a certain respect for her in that moment. She seemed to want to protect herself, not to give in to the excuses of this man who had obviously hurt her.

"It's too late, Marco," she replied in a soft but firm voice. "You can't come back now. You have made your decision. »

Marco ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "I know, Sofia, but... look at you. You... you're pregnant. We could try..."

She shook her head, impassive. "I tried, Marco. I tried with all my might. But you left me alone as soon as you found out. So no, I don't need you. I don't need anyone anymore. »

She looked down, her jaw clenched, and the Alpha felt a wave of empathy invade him despite himself. He had expected a scene of reconciliation, a moment of weakness perhaps. But she remained straight, keeping her calm, even in such a vulnerable moment.

Marco looked desperate. "Sofia, I'm sorry, I really am. I was scared... I thought I wouldn't be able to measure up... but I'm ready now. »

She sighed, clearly out of patience. " Ready ? Now that I don't need you anymore? Now that I have found the strength to continue without you? » Her voice cracked slightly, a burst of pain showing through despite herself. She took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. "Leave, Marco. It's over. »

The man looked at her, mouth open, searching for words, but she looked away, as if she wanted to erase his presence from her mind. Finally, Marco let out one last resigned sigh and left the café without another word.

The Alpha observed Sofia, who slowly stood up, visibly affected by the scene. She clenched her hands around her cup, her gaze lost, visibly trying to mask her emotions. A mixture of sadness and determination emanated from her.

Without realizing it, the Alpha felt a strange weight in his chest, something he hadn't felt in a long time. Compassion, perhaps... or a deeper curiosity for this woman who was fighting alone, without support.

He couldn't help but wonder how she had managed to maintain this gentleness, this resilience, despite her ancestry. Sofia Zelinski was definitely not his father, and it was this contrast that intrigued him. He then understood that he could not just observe it from afar. He had to meet her, talk to her, unravel this mystery. But how can you approach him without arousing his suspicions?

The Alpha stood not far from Sofia, watching every movement she made, every emotion that crossed her face. The hours he had spent studying it from a distance had begun to paint an intriguing portrait in him, one that defied all his expectations. She was not the cynical and calculating heiress he had imagined, but a gentle, almost resigned young woman, facing life alone and in silence. And this solitude, this distance that she seemed to cultivate even in the middle of the crowd, fascinated him beyond anything he could have anticipated.

Finally, he made up his mind. He followed her to a small park on the edge of town, a quiet and peaceful place, where she often sat reading, surrounded by trees and the soothing sounds of birds. He waited patiently for her to settle down on a bench, one hand instinctively placed on her round stomach, the other absent-mindedly leafing through a book. She seemed lost in thought.

Approaching with measured steps, he coughed lightly to signal his presence. She raised her head, surprised, and met his gaze. A slight frown, a hesitation... then she seemed to recognize him as this man she had seen in the café a few days earlier. He smiled softly, deliberately friendly, and held out his hand.

"Forgive me for interrupting you," he began, his voice calm. "My name is Lorenzo. I noticed that we apparently have some favorite places in common. »

She looked at him with a mixture of surprise and caution, but eventually she gave a polite, almost shy smile.

"Sofia," she replied simply, accepting the hand he offered with reserve.

He sat down next to her, keeping a certain distance, and looked at the book she was holding. "The Flowers of Evil," he remarked when he saw the title. "Baudelaire... a dark choice for such a sunny day. »

She shrugged, a barely perceptible smile on her lips. "Maybe the sunlight makes the contrast more pleasant." »

He was surprised by the depth of her response, the way she seemed to instinctively turn something dark into beauty. "You seem like someone who always finds a sliver of light in the darkness. » He looked at her, looking for her reaction. She looked down, visibly touched by the remark, but she remained silent.

After a moment, he continued, determined to pierce his shell a little more. "You know, Rome can be... scary, when you don't have close family or friends to rely on. Is this your case? »

She seemed to hesitate, staring into space, before nodding. "Yes, sort of. My father... he wasn't around very much. And now there is no one left. » She attempted an awkward smile. "But sometimes being alone is easier than being surrounded by bad people. »

The Alpha immediately understood that she was referring to her ex, the man who had left her when he found out she was pregnant. A wave of dull anger invaded him at the thought of this coward who had abandoned him, but he carefully concealed this emotion.

"I understand," he murmured with a slight smile, softening his gaze on her. "I'm here on business, but... I also sometimes feel like a foreigner in this city, like I don't really belong here. »

She looked at him for a moment, intrigued by this mysterious-looking man, about whom she knew almost nothing. "So what do you do to get that sense of belonging back? »

"Sometimes I tell myself that I just need to meet the right person," he replied without hesitation. "Someone with whom silence is not awkward, someone who understands that sometimes words are not enough. »

Sofia looked down, touched by his words. She felt a certain connection with him, although she tried hard to repress the feeling. After all, he was a stranger. Yet he seemed to understand her, and she felt despite herself a feeling of security in his presence.

After a few minutes of silence, he stood up, holding out a hand to her with disconcerting gallantry. "Would you like to have dinner with me tonight, Sofia? »

She seemed surprised by the proposal, hesitant. "You don't even know who I am," she whispered, a hint of suspicion in her voice.

He shrugged, his mysterious smile still present. " It's true. But sometimes, the most beautiful encounters are those that begin without knowing where they lead. I am curious to discover the person behind this Baudelaire book and this pensive look. »

She remained silent for a moment, studying his face, looking for a sign of insincerity, but she found nothing suspicious. Finally, she nodded slowly. "Okay," she said, standing up as well, a look of curiosity in her eyes. "But only if you promise not to talk about work." »

The Alpha smiled, amused by his response. "Promise." Tonight, I will only be Lorenzo, a curious and uneventful man. »

That evening, they met at a discreet restaurant in the center of Rome, an elegant but intimate place, where they could chat without being disturbed. Sofia was slightly nervous, unaccustomed to this kind of attention. Lorenzo, on the other hand, kept a calm, almost protective posture, as if he wanted to put her at ease.

Over the course of the meal, he listened to her talk about her passions, her love for art and literature, her travels, her disappointed dreams. She revealed herself gently, without going into painful details, and he was content to let her guide the conversation. He was fascinated by her sweetness, her simplicity, by the way she hid her sadness behind a shy smile.

"You have a unique way of seeing the world," he whispered, fixing his intense gaze on her. "As if every detail had a special importance, as if you found beauty where others wouldn't see it. »

She blushed slightly, surprised by the sincerity of his compliment. "That's nice of you to say that. I guess... when we've lost a lot of things, we learn to appreciate the little wonders around us. »

He nodded, impressed by her resilience. She had gone through so many trials, and yet she continued to move forward, alone, with this gentle and discreet determination.

At the end of dinner, he walked her back to her apartment. The Roman night was calm, lit by street lamps and the stars shining in the sky. When they arrived at his door, he felt hesitant, as if he wasn't ready to leave her yet.

"Thank you for this evening, Lorenzo," she said, smiling, sincerely grateful. "It was... unexpected, but nice. »

He smiled back, leaning towards her slightly, his gaze locked on hers. "I'm glad you agreed." You are a... remarkable person, Sofia. »

She felt herself blush, but she didn't look away, captivated by the depth of his eyes. She knew almost nothing about him, and yet she felt strangely safe, like she could let her guard down for the first time in a long time.

"Good night, Sofia," he finally whispered as he pulled back, giving her one last smile.

She watched him walk away into the night, her heart strangely light and a feeling of excitement she hadn't felt in a long time. She knew she was attracted to this mysterious man, but a little inner voice was telling her to remain careful. Because she did not yet know that she had just encountered the most powerful Alpha in Italy, the man determined to obtain reparation for her father's faults.

Sofia closed the door, aware that her life had just taken an unexpected turn, without understanding that it was only the beginning of a game much more complex than she could imagine.