Alpha's human prey

Paula POV

I got ready that day for the most special night of my life—yes… my engagement party.

I stood in front of the mirror for what felt like the hundredth time, staring at my reflection as if I needed to convince myself that this was real. After four long years of being in love with Dave, my father had finally agreed to our engagement. It felt like a dream—one I had been holding onto for so long, afraid it might slip away if I blinked too fast.

My heart was supposed to be filled with nothing but happiness and excitement. This was the moment every girl dreams of, right? The moment where everything finally falls into place.

And yet… something felt off.

My father is a pastor, and he has always been strict—strict in a way that shaped every part of my life. He believed in discipline, in faith, in doing things the right way. Growing up, I never really complained about it because I knew he loved me deeply. He trusted me too, and that trust meant everything to me.

He didn’t interfere in every small detail of my life because he believed he had raised me well enough to make the right choices. And I always tried to be that daughter—the one he could be proud of.

That’s why Dave mattered so much to me.

Dave wasn’t just my boyfriend—he was my first love, my safe place, my future… or at least, that’s what I believed. He was kind, patient, and respectful. He never pushed me into doing anything I wasn’t ready for. He never asked me to give up my values, never pressured me physically, and always reassured me that he loved me for who I was.

We had been together since our first year in college. We were the same age, grew up in similar ways, and slowly built something that felt strong and real. From shared lectures and late-night study sessions to quiet walks and stolen laughs… every memory with him felt precious.

Those four years weren’t just time—they were everything.

After graduation, when he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, I didn’t hesitate. I said yes without thinking twice, because in my heart, there was no doubt.

But my father…

He didn’t say yes immediately.

Instead, he gave me conditions. He told me that if I wanted his approval, I had to graduate with top ranks. At the time, I accepted it without argument because I understood him. Education mattered to him, discipline mattered to him… and I wanted to prove that I could have both love and success.

Still, even after I met his condition, even after I did everything right… I could feel it.

He didn’t like Dave.

He never said it directly, not in a clear, confrontational way—but I could see it in his eyes, in the way he spoke about him, in the silence that followed whenever Dave’s name was mentioned.

I never understood why.

But I chose to ignore it.

Because love makes you ignore things you probably shouldn’t.

A week ago, we finally graduated. Since then, everything had been a blur of preparations—calls, invitations, dresses, decorations… everything leading up to this night. Our engagement party.

We invited our close friends, our classmates, everyone who had been part of our journey. It was supposed to be perfect.

I was standing in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting the hem of my short golden-white dress. It hugged my body perfectly, soft and elegant, shimmering slightly under the light. My makeup was done carefully, not too heavy, just enough to highlight my features.

For a moment… I almost smiled.

Then my phone rang.

Dave.

Of course, I picked up immediately.

“Yes, sweetheart,” I said softly, unable to hide the warmth in my voice.

“I missed you so much, baby. Please don’t be late,” he said.

I frowned slightly, confused. “What? Aren’t you coming to pick me up?”

He had promised me. He said he would come himself, that he wanted to see me the moment I stepped out of the house, that he wouldn’t let anyone else have that moment.

“Sorry, baby,” he said quickly. “Something came up. I need to handle it. Don’t be mad, okay?”

Something in his tone felt… off. Too casual. Too quick.

But I pushed the thought away and let out a small laugh. “It’s okay. I’ll see you at ten then. And you better not be late… or I will be upset.”

“I swear I won’t,” he said immediately. “I’ve been waiting for this day.”

I smiled despite myself, my heart fluttering at his words. “Okay… see you then.”

When I hung up, the room suddenly felt too quiet.

I sat down slowly on the edge of my bed, my hands resting on my lap as I stared at the floor. The excitement was still there—but now it was mixed with something else. Something heavy.

A feeling I couldn’t explain.

A voice deep inside me whispering… don’t go.

I shook my head slightly, letting out a nervous breath.

“That’s ridiculous,” I muttered to myself.

But it didn’t go away.

The thing is… I trusted my instincts. I always had. I was close to God, and I believed that sometimes, He warned us in ways we didn’t fully understand. And my instincts had never failed me before.

So why now… did it feel like something was wrong?

A knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts.

“Come in,” I called softly.

The door opened, and my father stepped inside. The moment his eyes landed on me, his expression softened. He walked toward me without saying a word and pulled me into a warm, tight hug.

“My baby grew up so fast,” he said with a quiet laugh.

I smiled faintly against his chest. “Yeah… I guess I did.”

When he pulled back, he held my face gently in his hands, studying me carefully. His gaze was sharp, observant… like he could see straight through me.

“What’s wrong?” he asked. “You don’t look okay.”

Of course he noticed.

My heart was racing, my palms were sweating, and my thoughts were a mess.

I tried to smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes. I couldn’t lie to him—not him.

“I don’t know…” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I just feel like… I’m making a mistake.”

His expression changed instantly. His brows furrowed, and something serious flashed in his eyes.

“Then don’t go,” he said firmly. “Please. I’ve had this feeling about Dave since the first day I met him. And it hasn’t changed. Not even a little.”

I blinked at him, shocked. “Father…”

“Break up with him,” he continued. “It’s not too late.”

I shook my head quickly, almost panicking. “No! Please don’t say that today. You already agreed… and I love him. He loves me too.”

Even as I said it, something inside me felt uncertain.

My father sighed and kissed my forehead gently. “I don’t want to upset you. I just… don’t trust him.”

Then, as if trying to lighten the mood, he smiled. “Anyway… you look beautiful tonight.”

I let out a small laugh and nodded.

Just then, my mom’s voice echoed from downstairs, loud and excited as always. “Let’s go! We’re getting late!”

I smiled a little more genuinely this time. That was my mom—always full of energy, always loud, always loving.

We walked downstairs together, and just as we stepped outside toward the car, my phone buzzed in my hand.

A message. From an unknown number.

For a second, I smiled, thinking it was Dave—maybe a sweet message, something romantic before the night began.

But when I opened it…

My smile disappeared.

“Dave is not in love with you. He has been cheating on you with Elizabeth—your best friend—all this time. He will never marry you. He’s only getting engaged to make her jealous, then he’ll throw you away.”

My heart stopped.

“What the hell…?” I whispered under my breath.

This couldn’t be real. It didn’t make sense.

No.

Someone was trying to ruin my night. That had to be it. Someone jealous. Someone hateful.

Because Elizabeth?

My best friend?

She would never do this to me.

Never.

…Right?

Paula POV

I snapped out of my spiraling thoughts, trying to shake away the dark ideas that had suddenly taken over my mind. They felt wrong—too ugly, too cruel to be real. Maybe it was just my imagination running wild. After all, I had always been too innocent to believe that people could actually be that horrible… that heartless.

No… I just couldn’t believe it.

There had to be another explanation. There had to be.

My father and mother both looked at me with concern, their eyes filled with worry as they noticed the sudden change in my expression.

“What’s wrong, Paula?” they asked almost at the same time.

I quickly forced myself to smile, stretching my lips wide as if everything was perfectly fine. But deep inside… I felt like something was breaking apart.

“Nothing,” I said lightly, trying to sound casual. “My stomach is just growling. I think I’m hungry.” I even let out a small laugh, pretending