THE ALPHA WHO STOLE MY FATE

Vespera’s Point of View

Vespera destroys the system controlling their bloodlines and chooses her own future with Zevraik, but one final message warns of an approaching enemy. "Give me the file. I will scream." The man in front of me smiled. That answer was wrong. I wasn't expecting the response that way.

I kept my hand inside my purse. Touched the tiny recorder hidden beneath my fingers. "Try me, " I whispered. The music around us was so loud. People laughed. Glasses were toasted. Everyone used masks to cover their faces in the hall. No one was looking at us.

That was what I needed. The ballroom was shining as the light was on. The crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling casting reflections across the room. Every table was designed in linens. Covered in red roses. Guests moved through the space in clothes, their faces hidden behind face masks. It was a place where no one was who they seemed. A place where secrets were born. I stood at the edge of it all.

I was the one they didn’t expect. I stepped closer to the man near the balcony. He turned his head slowly. "You should leave, Miss Nyxelle." My breath caught. My pulse froze. He knew my name. The words echoed in my ears. I didn’t move. I couldn’t move. "How do you know me?" I asked, my voice a whisper. His smile disappeared. "You know what your father did." I flinched.

"My father did nothing." The words came out fast. My throat tightened. I tried to hold my breath. My father had been gone for seven years. Seven long years. Seven years of news stories and stories spreading around that people were turning their backs. He was called a criminal, a thief, a traitor. They said he destroyed everything. I knew the truth.

I knew he didn't do it. He has no strength. The man looked around. He made sure no one was watching. Then he took out a folder from his jacket. I looked at it. My hands are shaking. That was why I came to this party. That was why I dressed in a silver gown, why I wore a mask, why I walked through the crowd like I belonged.

I came here for proof. For answers. For the truth. Proof that my father had been framed. Proof that the people who ruined my family had lied. Proof that I had spent years hating the people. The man held the folder against his chest. "You should forget this." "I cannot." "You can." "No." His eyes became hard. "Then you will regret coming." He turned.

I grabbed his arm. "Wait." He pulled away. The folder slipped from his hand. It fell. I caught it before it touched the floor. My breath caught. I had the folder. For one second I expected someone to shout. I expected the whole room to turn toward me. The music continued. The guests kept laughing. No one noticed. I quickly pushed it into my purse. Then I ran.

I moved through the crowd without looking. My heart beat hard. Someone shouted behind me. "Stop her!" I ran faster. My shoes hurt. My dress caught against a chair. I pulled free. A waiter almost crashed into me. "Sorry!" I did not stop. I heard footsteps behind me. Then one person was chasing me. The sound followed me across the marble floor.

I reached a hallway. Pushed through a door. Silence hit me. I closed the door behind me. I held my breath. Footsteps rushed past. Then they stopped. I waited. One second. Two. Three. Nothing. My lungs burned. I slowly opened my purse. The folder was still there. I almost smiled. For a moment I pressed my palm against the wall. I listened.

My own heartbeat sounded like footsteps. I could still hear the party behind me bright and careless while I stood in darkness with a stranger. The folder felt heavy inside my purse. I knew I should leave the folder behind and run. I had waited a long time for answers. Tonight I was finally close to the answers. I could not turn back. Then the lights went out. I froze. The road turned dark. A cold hand held my wrist. I opened my mouth to cry out. I couldn't. "Do not scream."

The voice was quiet. It was a man’s voice. I struggled against him. He held me tight. He didn’t hurt me. "Let me go." "Not yet." "Who are you?" He didn’t answer. I tried to pull He moved closer. I felt his breath near my ear. "You stole something that does not belong to you." "I stole nothing." "You are lying." "So are you." He stopped moving. Then he laughed. Softly. It wasn’t really a laugh. It surprised me. "You are brave." "I am scared."

"You are still standing." "I can be both." His hand stayed over my mouth for a moment. Then he slowly took it away. I couldn’t see his face. A small light came from the window at the end of the road. It touched the edge of his mask. My heart leapt. He was wearing a mask that covered half his face. With the mask I can still see his eyes. Silver-gray. Cold. Sharp. Beautiful.

I should have run. I didn’t. I just stared. There was something about him even though I had never seen him before. Maybe it was the way he stood so calm while I was gasping for air. Maybe it was the way he moved like he knew what he was doing like nothing could surprise him. He looked at me for a moment. "Give me the folder, " he said. "No." "You don’t know what’s inside." "I know enough." "Do you?" "Yes." He moved forward.

I had nowhere to go. My back hit the wall. Back was cold. My back pressed the wall into my skin like a reminder that I was not safe. His hand came up beside my head blocking me in. I could not move. I could not breathe right. The darkness around us made everything sound loud. My heartbeat. The sound of my breath. Darkness was too much.

Vespera’s Point of View

“You should be afraid of me, " he said. “I am." “ Why aren’t you running?" “Because you’re blocking the door." He tilted his head. For a second I saw it with a smile. Not happy. Not kind. Just something quiet. Something knowing.

“You are strange, " he said. “You are worse, " I answered. He laughed again. It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t friendly. Just a sound, in the dark. I didn’t move. I couldn’t. He had me. I was right where he wanted me. The sound moved through me in a way I did not like. Maybe I liked it too much. Then voices came from the side of the door. “Search the hall!" The masked man looked toward the door. Then back at me. Who are they? I don’t know.

You are lying again. I swear. He studied my face. Something changed in his eyes. His hand dropped. Come with me. No. They will find you. Why should I trust you? You shouldn’t. He turned away from me. Pressed his hand against the wall. For a moment nothing happened. Then a narrow section