Tempted By The Alpha Of Manhattan

MEREDITH

The night air smelled like rain, the kind that was soft, cool and comforting. The kind that cooled your skin and made breathing feel easy. I breathed it in slowly, It made me want to be in bed, warm and curled up, away from people, away from noise, wrapped in quiet where nothing and no one could reach me.

I ran anyway.

Running helped when my thoughts wouldn't slow down.

Tonight, they wouldn't.

My skin felt tight, like I'd been holding something in all day and it was tired of staying quiet. My wolf didn't like days like this. Sitting through meetings, being quiet, and acting normal.

Just one run, I told myself, and then I'd go home, take a warm shower, slip into something soft and loose, curl up in bed with the covers pulled close, hug a pillow to my chest, and let sleep find me slowly, quietly, like it always did when I was finally alone.

I turned the corner. The tall office buildings rose in front of me. Aurora Luxe glowing in the distance.

I slowed down. I remembered the file I left in my office.

Annoying.

I turned the corner and stopped because something felt wrong, a change in the wind made me pause, I heard fast breathing and then a scream, and my heart dropped as for a second everything went quiet like the normal city noise had disappeared, something was wrong, my wolf was already pushing hard inside me, very restless and without thinking I was already running toward the alley

A man had a woman against the wall. She was shaking, trying to push him away..

"Please," she cried. "Please-"

Before I knew it, I felt my bones crack, my sight going fuzzy, and pain rip through me as I hit the ground and felt my body change until I was on four legs

The man turned just as my gold eyes met his eyes.

"What the-?!"

I jumped at him and he fell back dropping the knife and tried to grab it again while the woman crawled away crying

The sound came from my throat before I even thought-wild and angry

The man screamed and swung the knife.

"Stay back!"

The knife cut into my side and wow it hurt so bad like fire shooting straight through me, I felt my knees go weak and almost faint.

He tried to fight back again but the anger hit me so fast, like I couldn't let him touch her again and I lunged and hit him and he went down hard. I didn't even think I just kept going until he wasn't getting back up.

I stepped back, breathing hard. Blood ran down my side. The pain was sharp and hot.

The woman stared at me, shaking so hard her teeth clicked, staring from the man to me, wide-eyed.

"I- I d-don't know what you are," she whispered. "Please don't hurt me."

I stepped back, slow and careful, hoping not to frighten her more.

"You... you saved me?" she asked

I couldn't say anything. I turned and ran, my side on fire as I moved. couldn't go into my office like this. There were cameras and people everywhere. It was too risky, so I slipped into the empty building next door under construction.

Once inside, I shifted back to human.

The pain from shifting always made me cry out.

I grabbed the small bag I hid there. Clothes. Supplies. I changed fast, pressing my hand to my wound.

"Damn it," I muttered.

I saw myself in the dusty glass.

Human. Mostly.

My hair was messy and my eyes still glowed a little.

When I stepped back outside, I wore my calm face.

Then I saw her, the woman was still there, sitting on the ground.

She looked up at me,she was looking confused and trying to figure something out.

"You just came out of that building," she said slowly.

I swallowed, holding my breath and tried to stay calm.

"That's the same building that big animal ran into," she said, looking very confused..

I gave her the polite smile I use in meetings when someone says nonsense.

"What animal? I was working late," I said softly. "I left something inside."

She nodded, but she didn't look sure.

Then police sirens filled the street, and I knew I needed to leave immediately.

"Help is coming," I told her. "You're safe now.

"Wait-" she started.

But I was already leaving, walking steady even though my side hurt like hell.

When I reached the corner and turned away from the scene, I let out a shaky breath.

I shouldn't have let her see me

I pressed my hand to my side.

"I didn't have a choice."

I used the side entrance, took the file, and left before anyone saw how pale I was.

Just as I reached the lobby of my building, my phone buzzed.

A text.

Unknown Number:

You shouldn't be out at night alone, Meredith.

My heart skipped.

I knew who it was.

Lucas.

I didn't reply.

As the elevator rose, city lights filled the glass.for the first time in a while, I felt like someone was watching me.

DAVE

I parked close to the alley.

The place was already a mess. Patrol cars everywhere. Red and blue lights flashing. EMTs rushing around. Officers talking over each other.

Just another night in Manhattan, with another problem waiting for me.

I hadn't eaten dinner yet.

Of course.

I got out of the car and headed straight for the woman sitting on the curb. She was wrapped in a blanket, shaking badly. Her eyes kept moving, like she was still trapped in the moment.

I crouched in front of her.

My knee cracked when I bent down.

Great.

"Ma'am," I said gently. "I'm Detective Callahan. What's your name? Can you tell me what happened?"

"I'm Sarah. He attacked me," she whispered, pointing at the man being loaded into the ambulance. "And then... something came."

Something.

"What kind of something?" I asked calmly.

"A wolf," she said.

I paused.

"A big one," she added quickly. "Huge. Gold eyes. It attacked him and It saved me."

I nodded and wrote it down.

People in shock say strange things. I'd seen it too many times to count.

A wolf... in Manhattan?

Yeah. Sure.

I figured it was a big dog. Maybe a scared animal someone mistook for more.

"Did you see where it went?" I asked.

"Yes. He had a knife," she said, breathing hard."He stabbed the wolf on its right and It ran inside that building there." She pointed at the renovation site beside the tall Aurora Luxe tower.

I looked at the structure. Empty. No workers at night. Easy place for an animal or a scared witness to hide.

"And then," she continued, her voice shaking again, "a woman came out. Just minutes later."

I looked up.

"A woman?"

"Yes," she said. "Tall. Dark hair. She looked like she was in a hurry."

I stopped writing.

"What did she say to you?"

"Just asked if I was okay," she said. "Then she left."

"Can you recognize her?" I asked.

"Yes," she said without thinking. "It was Meredith Stevens."

I blinked.

"Meredith Stevens?" I repeated slowly. "The CEO?"

"Yes," she said firmly. "Her."

"Ma'am" I said gently, "you're telling me the woman you saw was Meredith Stevens? The Meredith Stevens? CEO of one of the biggest companies in New York? She always has security with her. She wouldn't just walk alone through a place like that."

"I know what I saw," she said, her voice steady now. "I follow her. Her interviews. Her speeches. I can recognize her anywhere. It was her."

She wasn't panicking anymore, she sounded so sure of herself, I had to write it down. not because I believed her, but because I couldn't ignore how sure she was.

I stood and went over to Miller, who was wrapping up with the EMTs.

"The witness says a large animal attacked the suspect," I said quietly.

"Animal control can handle that," Miller said. "Anything else?"

"The timeline's strange," I said. "She claims the animal ran into the building. Then Meredith Stevens walked out."

Miller stared at me.

"The Iron Goddess?" he scoffed. "You're joking."

"I wish I was."

"She wouldn't be anywhere near this place," he said. "Not alone."

"I know," I replied. "But the witness won't back down."

Miller checked his watch. "If she was in her office, she's gone by now. Probably used some private exit."

"Maybe," I said. "But I still need to talk to her."

Miller snorted. "Good luck getting close to her."

"Routine follow-up," I said, though something in my chest felt tight.

We spent a few more minutes documenting the scene. But the whole time, one thought kept circling in my head:

A wolf attack.

A wounded animal running into a building.

And then Meredith Stevens-one of the most powerful women in Manhattan-walking out right after.

I didn't believe the connection.

I didn't want to. But the timing didn't sit right with me.

And tomorrow

I was going to get answers.

No matter what.

DAVE

I showed my badge at the front desk of Aurora Luxe Holdings. The receptionist barely looked at me before picking up the phone, her tone brisk. "Mr. Callahan? Ms. Stevens can see you now. Follow me."

I followed her down a long hallway made of glass and steel. Everything here looked expensive. Very clean and quiet. The kind of place where nothing ever went wrong.

She stopped in front of a large office and opened the door.

Meredith Stevens was behind her desk, papers spread neatly in front of her. She didn't rush or look surprised. She just lifted her eyes slowly.

Damn... she really does command the room. Calm and Sharp.

"Detective Callahan," she said, already going back to her work. "Please sit. I'm a bit busy, but I can spare a few minutes."

Of course she is.

Big CEO. Important woman. And here I am, the nosy detective asking questions.

"I apologize for taking some of your time, Ms. Stevens," I said, sliding into the chair across from her. "I just have a few routine questions regarding last night."

She nodded, still flipping through documents, "It's fine. Go ahead."

I opened my notebook. "A witness... uh... saw you leaving the vacant building last night. I just need a few questions about what you saw while exiting."

She didn't even pause.

"I exited through the construction side and went straight to my car. I didn't see anything."

I kept my voice even. "We just need to confirm if you saw anyone run into the vacant lot, specifically anyone who might have been injured. The attacker used a knife.

For a split second-just one-something changed.

Her breathing hitched. Barely.

If I blinked, I would've missed it.

"Injured?" she repeated. "No. When I left, police and paramedics were already arriving."

I watched her closely. Another detail caught me-a subtle movement of her hand adjusting an earring, and the faintest flare of her nose... Okay, seriously, is she nervous or am I imagining things?

I closed my notebook. "I see. That's all we need for now, Ms. Stevens. We might be in touch if anything else comes up."

She stood immediately. A clear signal.

"Of course, Detective. My assistant has my contact details."

I left the office, her assistant guiding me back to the elevator. Meredith Stevens never once looked rushed, never once lost control.

But something wasn't right.

She was too composed and alert.

Like someone who was waiting for the ground to crack beneath her feet.

Probably nothing, I told myself.

Probably just a woman who didn't want cops in her space.

Still... I couldn't shake the feeling.

MEREDITH

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, trying not to collapse. My side felt like someone was pressing a hot knife into it. Every step from the elevator to my apartment had felt endless.

I'd smiled at the guard like nothing was wrong.

I dropped my bag on the floor and headed straight for the cabinet where I kept my first-aid kit. Alcohol, bandages, ointments. All normal stuff. But next to them were small jars of herbs and pastes my parents had taught me. Things that worked better on me than anything a hospital could offer.

I peeled off my shirt slowly. The stab wound was worse than I expected. Dark, swollen, angry. Bruises spread across my ribs and back. Some from him. Some from me shifting and hitting a wall. Every mark reminded me of what I really was-and how close I'd come to danger last night.

I stared at myself in the mirror.

So close.

I'd handled it last night.

Moving around all day made it worse.

I pressed a cloth to the wound and bit down hard. The taste of blood filled my mouth.

I couldn't go to the hospital to get this treated because hospitals come with questions like,

How did this happen?

Why didn't you call 911?

Why are there bite marks? What scratched you?

Too many questions I couldn't answer.

So I did what I always did. I handled it myself.

Alcohol first. Herbs next. Then I heated a small blade over a candle and sealed the deepest cut.

The pain nearly dropped me to my knees.

If anyone saw this, they'd call me crazy.

My parents called it survival.

"You must learn to take care of yourself," they used to say.

"No one can ever know what you are."

As I worked on the wound, memories crept in.

I was born a werewolf.

I just didn't know it at first.

My parents, Martin and Nicole Stevens, had left their pack before I was born. Tired of fighting, the rules, most especially the violence. They wanted a peaceful and calm life. They wanted me safe.

They also wanted me normal. That part failed

Most importantly, because of the prophecy. it said I would grow into an alpha. Powerful. Someone who would face battles, make sacrifices, and maybe destroy myself along the way. My parents didn't want that for me. They wanted a normal life. Far from destiny that could ruin me or others.

We moved a lot. Never stayed in one place for too long.

When I was nine, a boy tried to take my lunch. I didn't mean to hurt him. I really didn't.

I broke his wrist anyway.

We moved the next morning.

When I was twelve, a full moon came. I shifted completely for the first time. No warning or control. I woke up as a wolf. Terrified, shaking, and confused. My parents locked me in a room either to keep me safe, or others safe from me.

That was when they told me the truth.

My parents helped me control it, by breathing. Keeping focus and self discipline. Also Herbs. The same things I was using now, bleeding into my sink.

School became my escape. I tried not to make friends or attend parties. Just books and goals.

I earned a scholarship to Yale. Business and behavioral psychology. Top of my class. Analyst at Aurora Luxe Holdings at twenty-two. Director at twenty-six. Saved the company from disaster at thirty. CEO at thirty-two.

They called me The Iron Goddess.

If only they knew how much effort it took not to fall apart..

Inside, I hated it. I hated the wolf, the strength, instincts and responsibilities. I didn't want to be a hero. Didn't want to be an alpha. Just wanted to live quietly, Work, Mind my own life.

I just wanted peace.

But last night... I couldn't leave that girl in the alley. Not even when I tried. The wolf wouldn't let me.

I wrapped the wound tight and breathed slowly through the pain.

Then Detective Callahan crossed my mind. His questions. this morning. The witness. The vacant building.

They're getting too close.

I let myself feel tired. Truly tired.

Tired of hiding.

Tired of pretending.

Tired of being strong every single second.

Tomorrow, I would put the mask back on.

I'll go back to being Meredith Stevens, the calm, polished CEO everyone respected and feared.

Tomorrow, I'll pretend.Because if anyone ever finds out the truth...

Everything will fall apart.