Alpha's Embrace

Isla felt as if she were floating, suspended in a dream as she gazed into Liam Lockwood’s striking blue eyes. They were like deep pools of mystery, drawing her in and making her forget the chaos that had just unfolded. His face was sculpted to perfection, a blend of rugged masculinity and ethereal beauty that made her heart race. She had seen him before—on magazine covers, in articles, and all over the internet. The most handsome and richest man in New York City, heir to the Lockwood Industries fortune, a billion-dollar empire.

But only those within the werewolf community knew the truth behind his wealth and beauty: his supernatural powers. The Lockwood pack was the strongest in the city, and with that strength came influence, power, and an undeniable alluring beauty that left everyone else in the dust.

“Are you okay?” Liam’s voice broke through her reverie, and she blinked, momentarily lost in the depths of his gaze. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Instead, she felt a rush of embarrassment wash over her. Here she was, a girl who had been on the brink of death and fought for her place in the world, reduced to a speechless mess in front of the most powerfully beautiful man she had ever met.

Liam seemed to sense her struggle. He gently placed her on a nearby couch, kneeling to meet her at eye level. “You are safe now,” he said, his voice low and soothing. “Just speak. Tell me if you’re okay!”

Isla’s heart raced, and she felt the weight of his concern pressing down on her. She knew she had to respond, to reassure him that she was fine, but the words tangled in her throat. She was captivated by his presence, overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the moment. Why was she acting like this? She had faced far worse than him, yet here she was, stammering like a fool.

“Isla!” Liam called her out. 

Isla?! Did he just call her by her name?! How did he know her name?! 

She tried to ask him about that, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, dark spots began to dance in her vision, and she felt the world tilt around her. Panic surged through her as she realized she was about to faint.

“Isla!” Liam’s voice was urgent, but it faded as she succumbed to the darkness, her body collapsing against the couch.

When Isla blinked her green eyes open again, the chaos of the backstage area came into focus. She was still on the couch, but now Liam was standing, his tall frame casting a shadow over her as he spoke with her boss, Jackie. The tension in the air was palpable, and Isla could feel the weight of their conversation pressing down on her.

“Honestly, Isla is just a meeky girl,” Jackie snapped, his voice dripping with disdain. “She always faints during the shoots, Mr. Liam Lockwood. Please don't mind her.”

Isla’s heart sank at his words. She felt a wave of shame wash over her, the heat of embarrassment creeping up her cheeks. Here she was, already feeling vulnerable and weak, and now Jackie was pinning her as the villain in this situation. The strongest Alpha in New York was standing right there, and she was being painted as the weak, meeky girl who couldn’t handle the pressure.

“Who is the organizer?!” Liam asked Jackie, his voice calm yet commanding. “Call the organizer.”

Jackie grinned ear to ear, crossing his arms. “I am the organizer.” He was being pleasant to Liam, as he was a billionaire. 

While Liam’s expression hardened, his blue eyes narrowed as he regarded Jackie like a king assessing a peasant. “Then explain to me why you set up a stage that could have easily caught fire. What were you thinking?”

Jackie shifted uncomfortably, his bravado faltering under Liam’s intense gaze. “It was for the special effects! Malfunctions happen sometimes; it’s not luck!”

“What if this girl had died?” Liam pointed at Isla, his voice rising with fury. “What if she had been seriously hurt? Do you even care?”

Isla felt a knot form in her stomach at the thought. She could have died too — if Liam Lockwood hadn't saved her at the right time…

Jackie waved a dismissive hand. “It could never happen! Even if she did, it’s just one less good-looking girl in the world. We have plenty of others from Eastern Europe who look just as pretty as her.”

The words hung in the air, sharp and cruel. Isla’s heart shattered at the callousness of it all. Just one less pretty girl?! 

Before she could process her emotions, a sharp slap echoed through the room, and Jackie stumbled back, nearly falling to the floor.

His hunter’s eyes blazed with fury, as he frowned down at Jackie. “I’m going to sue you for saying that. Your modeling agency will be shut down within a week for treating employees like trash.”

Jackie’s bravado crumbled, and he fell to his knees, begging. He knew that when it came to Liam Lockwood, he meant serious business. Even though Liam rarely showed violence with humans, his status as a billionaire was more than enough to do anything to anyone.  

“Mr. Lockwood, Please, don’t sue me! I’ll do anything to make things right!”

Liam’s presence was magnetic, a force of nature that commanded respect and fear in equal measure in front of Jackie who was just a timid, shivering mortal. 

Isla watched in disbelief, her heart racing. Jackie was just a human—he didn’t know that Liam Lockwood was not just a human but a powerful werewolf with deadly powers. If only he knew that he was being thrashed by a werewolf, the fear would have been even more palpable. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt a strange mix of sympathy and satisfaction at Jackie’s predicament.

“Please, Liam! I’ll do anything! Just don’t ruin me!” Jackie pleaded, his voice trembling. The desperation in his tone was almost pitiful, and Isla felt a flicker of pity for him, despite his earlier cruelty.

Liam’s gaze remained cold, unwavering. “You think you can treat people like disposable objects and get away with it? You’ve put Isla’s life at risk, and for what? A few flashy effects?” His voice was low, but the intensity behind it was palpable, sending a ripple of tension through the room.

“Three million as compensation for Isla,” Liam demanded, his voice unwavering.

Jackie nodded frantically, desperation etched on his face. “Yes, yes! Whatever it takes! But please don't sue me.”

As the reality of the situation sank in, Isla felt a mix of emotions swirling within her. Three million dollars? It was an unimaginable sum, a lifeline that could change everything for her. She glanced at Liam, who stood like a guardian angel, fierce and protective.

Perhaps she was really dead and in heaven, and Liam was her angel, sent to grant her a second chance.