Chapter 06

Alesha Stokes 

Step 01—(Becoming the Prey?)  

I couldn’t move.  

Shock paralyzed me, my wide eyes locked onto the man before me—an impossible vision come to life. My heart pounded so violently against my ribs that I feared he could hear it. Every drop of water trailing down his pale skin only made the moment feel more surreal.  

But that wasn’t the worst part.  

The worst part was his gaze.  

Deep. Sharp. Predatory. As if he were assessing me, studying me—playing with me. There wasn’t a trace of surprise or awkwardness in his expression. Quite the opposite… he seemed to be enjoying this.  

And then, he moved.  

Slowly. Unhurried.  

My breath caught in my throat as he took a step closer. I had never seen a wolf like him before—not in stories, not in legends.  

"What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?"  

His voice scraped against my skin like warm sandpaper. Deep, velvety, laced with amusement that sent a shiver down my spine.  

I should run.  

Step away.  

Do anything but stand there like an idiot.  

But the moment I stepped back, he stepped forward.  

Then, without warning, he leaned in.  

His face stopped mere inches from mine—close enough for me to feel the warmth of his breath ghosting over my skin.  

Close enough for my heart to plummet, lost somewhere deep inside me.  

The air grew thick. My mind spun in a whirlwind of shock, confusion, and something else—something I refused to name.  

He was close. Too close.  

My gaze roamed over his flawless face, his damp skin, the dark strands of hair clinging to his broad shoulders. Everything about him radiated raw power and an overwhelming presence.  

"You look nervous." 

The teasing lilt in his voice made me swallow hard.  

And then, he smiled.  

Not a sweet smile. Not a friendly one.  

It was the smile of someone who enjoyed watching others squirm.  

My legs finally obeyed me, forcing me to take a quick, stumbling step back.  

"I… I must’ve walked into the wrong room."  

The excuse fell weakly from my lips. We both knew he wouldn’t buy it for a second.  

But he didn’t back away.  

If anything, he moved even closer.  

"The wrong room, huh?" He murmured, running his tongue over his lower lip as if savoring the moment. "Interesting… because you don’t look like you want to leave."  

Heat rushed to my face, burning me from the inside out.  

Was this a game? Was he toying with me?  

"I shouldn’t be here."  

"No, you shouldn’t." He nodded slowly. "But you are." 

My heart jolted when he lifted a wet hand, as if to touch my face.  

That’s when I realized just how close he really was. And also…  

My gaze drifted downward, involuntarily. And I saw it.  

He was rigid. Hard.  

Was he… aroused?  

Instinct finally screamed louder than the chaos in my mind, and for a brief second, I thought my heart might explode.  

All I could do was spin on my heels and bolt out of the bathroom, not daring to look back.  

I ran down the hallway, my breath unsteady, my face and neck burning. My footsteps barely made a sound against the cold floor. I just wanted to lock myself in my room and pretend none of that had happened.  

But how?  

His image, his voice, the way his eyes held me captive like chains...  

What the hell was that?  

When I finally reached my room, I slammed the door shut and leaned against it, trying to catch my breath. My heart pounded harder than ever.  

After all...  

Who was that man?  

Just some soldier?  

Or… was he really the Supreme Alpha?  

I had no idea.  

All I knew was that, from now on, I needed to be much more careful about which doors I walked through.  

I threw myself onto the bed, trying to steady my breathing. My body was still hot, and his image refused to leave my mind.  

That gaze.  

That presence.  

That shameless provocation.  

I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing myself to get a grip. This meant nothing. Nothing.  

The Supreme Alpha, according to the rumors, was practically invisible. People said he never looked at women—or at anyone, really—with any sort of romantic interest. He ruled from a distance, isolated, untouchable. So... what the hell was that?  

Everyone even said he was gay… So why the hell did he have a hard-on?  

My entire body burned just remembering that scene.  

Was the man I saw in the shower really just a soldier? Someone of high rank, maybe?  

I wanted to believe that, but deep down, I knew the truth.  

That wasn’t just any man.  

That suffocating power, the way he moved like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders…  

If I had to bet, I’d say yes. He could only be the Supreme Alpha.  

But I needed to be sure.  

And I would be.  

Tomorrow was the ball.  

The event I’d been assigned to help prepare. The perfect opportunity to finally see, with my own eyes, the untouchable wolf who ruled over all of us.  

My heart pounded at the thought.  

Because I wouldn’t be the only one seeing him.  

He would see me too.  

And then? What would happen?  

I had no idea. Not a clue.