The alpha's wounded heart

Every time Aria Lane looked back, she saw no one. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone, or something, had been following her. As she walked, the sensation only intensified. Still, she saw nothing. She hadn't expected the streets to be this empty at that hour, which is why she had overstayed at the hospital.

She glanced back one more time. Still no one. Her pace quickened. The faster she walked, the more convinced she became that whatever was following her was matching her speed.

This time, she was too afraid to turn around. She could hear the footsteps now heavy and deliberate behind her. Every instinct screamed for her to look back, but fear held her captive. If ghosts or vampires were real, was she the first to be ambushed? The thought only heightened her terror.

The footsteps grew louder and closer. With trembling hands, she unzipped her handbag, struggling to retrieve her phone. Normally it would take her a second. Now it felt like a lifetime. Her hands, slick with sweat, fumbled with the lock screen. The fingerprint wouldn't work, and her trembling made typing impossible. After several failed attempts, the screen finally unlocked.

She dialed 999.

But before she could hit "call," she was shoved from behind. Her phone flew from her hand and skidded several meters away. She cried out as she hit the ground. Groaning, she looked up and froze.

The man standing over her wore a black mask. His eyes were the only visible part of his face-cold, taunting. A dagger glinted in his hand.

"H-Hey... if you want money, I'll give you everything I have, I swear. Just don't hurt me... You can even take my phone-it's expensive," she stammered, inching backward on her hands.

The man advanced slowly, laughing, the blade teasing her cheek. "You're worth more than money, pretty girl," he sneered, squatting in front of her. "Bad idea to walk alone at night. But lucky for me."

He grabbed her wrist and yanked her up, his grip so tight it hurt.

"Where are you taking me? Please let me go!" Aria cried, struggling to free herself.

He didn't respond. He just kept dragging her, ignoring her pleas. Panic gripped her. She had to do something-anything. Her only option... was to bite him.

The idea disgusted her, but desperation overruled everything. She whispered a shaky prayer, closed her eyes, and sank her teeth into his hand with all the strength she could muster.

The man cried out and released her.

She ran.

Her first thought was to retrieve her phone, but when she picked it up, it had shut off. Behind her, she heard footsteps again. She looked back-the man was charging toward her. Her knee, injured during the earlier fall, made running harder. She didn't get far before he caught up.

"Come here, little brat!" he snapped, grabbing her braids and yanking hard.

"You think you can get away? I'll catch you every time," he snarled, dragging her back.

"Please, sir... please let go," she whimpered through tears. "I promise to give you everything..."

The man didn't care. He crossed the road, pulling her toward an abandoned building. Aria trembled harder. She felt hopeless until headlights cut through the night.

A car.

The man tried to rush her across the street, but she planted her feet, refusing to move. Either the driver would save her or hit her; anything was better than what awaited her in that building.

To her dismay, the car swerved and passed them.

Hope shattered. She let him drag her again, her eyes fixed on the ground. But then-suddenly-his grip vanished.

"Hey... are you okay?"

The voice wasn't his. She blinked and looked up. The masked man was on the ground. Another man stood near her.

"You... did you kill him?" she asked, stepping back, trembling in fear.

"No. I just hit him. He'll wake up, sooner or later, that shouldn't bother you though" the man said calmly.

She glanced at the car-the same one that had passed them. So he had turned back?

Still trembling, she eyed the stranger with suspicion. He stepped closer.

"I'm a good person. I promise," he said gently. "Your knee's swollen, and your hands are bruised."he said examining her.

Tears streamed down her face as she finally broke down. When she finished, he handed her a handkerchief.

"It's clean," he said, with a reassuring smile, after seeing that she was reluctant to accept it.

She wiped her tears and followed his gaze to her knee, now bloodied and raw. She regretted not wearing trousers, if he had worn them then maybe she could not be this injured, her dress had done nothing to protect her skin.

"I've got a first aid kit in my car. I can help," he offered.

"It's okay. I live just down the street. I'll clean it at home. You've already done enough, thank you for coming back, at first i thought that you had gone....i'm really thankful," she said, trying as hard as she to smile.

She walked a few steps away before someone gently grabbed her arm. She almost screamed-until she saw it was him. His face was no longer calm.

"Wh-what are you doing sir?" She asked trembling in fear. How much was she going to go through this night? What day was it? He didn't answer and he pulled her towards the car, his grip very firm that she couldn't even move her hand. He opened the door, and instructed, "Let me see your knee."

She sat silently as he cleaned and bandaged her wounds. His anger softened with every gentle movement.

" you cant walk home like this.... I'll take you," he said, fastening her seatbelt.

"I'm Lucien....and just to keep the record straight im nkt interestef in you. Im just helping you out. So dont get the dumb idea that maybe i want something in return or....." he stopped and looked at her , while driving. "What's your name?"

She hesitated.

"Aria... Aria Lane," she whispered after a moment.

"So Aria.....why were you walking on the street alone so late at night," he looked at her. "Aren't your parents worried about you being out so late?"

"I live alone. Parents are dead. Grandma's in the hospital. No one's waiting for me... but I'm fine now, aren't I?" she said, her voice low.

Lucien stopped the car. He looked at her, then turned it around.

"We're going to my house. It's safer."

"What? What do you mean its safer? I've been living on my own since I was sixteen. I'm twenty now. I can take care of myself,....just drop me here I'll go on my own" she insisted, calm but firm.

"I know you can. But just for now you are injured

who will take care of you? You won't even be able to sleep tonight after what happened. I can tell you're still scared," he said softly. "And you still look like I'm about to kidnap you....can you relax....just a bit" He was starting to get upset and Aria knew it was better to keep quiet because she was still in a strangers car.