The Alpha's prey

The cold shackles bit into Lyra's wrists as she jerked awake, the sound of chains rattling violently in the darkness. Her body ached from days on the run, but the oppressive silence of the stone cell weighed heavier than the fatigue gnawing at her bones. The air was thick with dampness, and the only light came from the sliver of moon filtering through the barred window above.

He had found her.

Kael Wolfe-the Alpha whose name alone sent shivers through every pack. For years, Lyra had been one step ahead of her enemies, always moving, never letting herself stay in one place for too long. But this time, she hadn't been fast enough. This time, she was prey.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor outside her cell, slow and deliberate. Her heart thudded in her chest, a wild rhythm of defiance and fear. She forced herself to sit up, the chains pulling tight against her wrists, her bare foot. Scraping the cold stone floor.When the door swung open, Kael stood in the threshold, his tall frame blocking out the dim light. His presence filled the room like a storm, dark and unrelenting. His eyes gleamed, a predator's gaze fixed solely on her, and his lips curled in a mocking smile.

"Comfortable?" His voice was deep, laced with cruel amusement. He stepped inside, letting the door close behind him with a heavy thud, leaving them alone in the suffocating quiet.

Lyra lifted her chin, refusing to show fear. "I've had worse."

Kael's eyes narrowed, and in an instant, he was on her. He crossed the room in two quick strides, gripping her chin with brutal force, tilting her head up so her gaze was locked with his. His fingers dug into her skin, the pressure both painful and possessive.

"You've run far enough, Lyra," he growled,his breath hot against her face. "There's nowhere left to hide. You should've known this was coming."

She swallowed, her heart racing, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear. "Kill me then. End it."

He chuckled, low and dark, a sound that sent chills down her spine. "Kill you?" He tilted her head back further, forcing her throat to bare under his scrutiny. "No, killing you would be too easy. I don't want your death. I want your submission."

Lyra's pulse raced, a cold wave of dread settling in her stomach. Submission. She knew exactly what he meant-what he intended to take from her. His reputation preceded him, and though she had been running for years, she had never been caught by someone like him. An Alpha who thrived on control, power, and punishment.

He released her chin and stepped back, but the weight of his gaze never left her body. Lyra could feel it, the way his eyes lingered over every inch of her, as if he were already,claiming her in his mind. She shuddered, hating the way her body responded to his proximity despite the terror coursing through her veins.

"You don't have to make this difficult," Kael murmured, circling her like a predator stalking wounded prey. "You know what I want. Give in, and I might show you mercy."

Lyra glared at him, her fists clenched. "I'd rather die than submit to you."

His smirk widened. "Is that what you think?" He reached out, his hand closing around her throat, not tight enough to cut off her breath, but enough to remind her who was in control. "We'll see how long your defiance lasts."

Her pulse throbbed beneath his fingers, but she held his gaze, refusing to cower. This was a game to him-one he intended to win by breaking her. The air between them grew thick with tension, a sickening mix of fear and something darker. She hated him, despised the power he held over her, but there was no denying the pull, the electriccharge that passed between them even as he tightened his grip around her throat.

Kael leaned in, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered, "I don't need to break you all at once, Lyra. I'll take my time, piece by piece, until there's nothing left of you."

He let go, and she gasped for air, coughing as she hunched over, the chains clinking at her wrists. But even as she caught her breath, she could feel the raw power of his presence surrounding her, an oppressive force she couldn't escape.

"I'll make you wish you had never crossed into my territory," Kael said, his voice dark with promise.

Lyra wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and spat blood she her against the cold wall, his body pinning hers with violent force. His body pinning hers with violent force. His lips hovered above hers, close enough that she could feel the heat of his breath, the tension between them crackling like a live wire.

"You'll regret that," Kael whispered, his voice low and threatening. "But you'll learn."

Lyra's breath hitched, her body trapped beneath his, unable to move, unable to escape. But even through the fear, she felt the pull-the dangerous, forbidden desire that made her hate herself even more. She didn't want to feel this way, didn't want to be drawn to the very man who sought to destroy her. But his proximity, the way his body pressed against hers, lit something deep within her that she couldn't extinguish.

Kael smirked, his thumb brushing over her lips, and for a moment, his gaze softened, as if he were considering something darker than revenge. Then, just as quickly, his expression hardened again, and he shoved her back with a force that knocked the wind from her lungs,You'll come to me," he said, stepping back and watching her crumple to the floor. "And when you do, you'll beg for mercy."

With one last glance, Kael turned and left the cell, leaving Lyra alone in the suffocating darkness once more, her body aching, her mind swirling in confusion and dread. She hated him, despised him more than anyone she'd ever known. But the worst part-the part she couldn't deny- was that some small, twisted part of her wanted him to come back.