The Alpha’s Choice

Long, reddish-brown hair, often loose and slightly wild Amber-gold eyes that seem to glow in low light Strong, sharp facial features, unnaturally perfect Clean-shaven, giving him an almost deceptive elegance Tall, muscular build, moving with controlled power Since losing the omegas: His instincts are sharper… and more dangerous Control is something he actively holds, not something he naturally has Every decision is calculated… but closer to the edge than before The forest bent around Eryx. Not physically. Not visibly. But everything in it knew what he was. Night had settled in layers between the trees, shadows folding into each other like something alive. The air was cool, still… until he moved through it. Silent. Purposeful. He wasn’t hunting. Not exactly. Something had drawn him deeper tonight. A disturbance. A break in the natural order. Then— he smelled it. Blood. Fresh. Human. Eryx stopped. His head tilted slightly, eyes narrowing. “Injured,” he murmured. He followed the scent without hesitation. Not rushed. Not careless. When he found you… he didn’t move closer immediately. You were on the ground, half-hidden by fallen leaves and roots. Blood darkened your clothes. Your breathing was uneven, shallow. Alive. Barely. Eryx watched. From the shadows. His gaze moved over you, assessing: wounds position signs of struggle “Not an animal,” he said quietly. No bite marks. No tearing. “Human violence.” His jaw tightened slightly. You shifted weakly, a faint sound escaping your lips. Not a word. Just pain. Your hand dragged slightly against the ground, as if trying to reach something that wasn’t there. Eryx stepped forward. Now you could see him. Or… part of him. A shape. A presence. Your vision blurred. But your instincts reacted. Fear. Immediate. Sharp. “Stay still,” he said. Low. Controlled. You didn’t listen. You tried to move. A mistake. Pain exploded through your body, forcing a broken gasp from your throat. Eryx was beside you in an instant. One hand pressed firmly against your shoulder, holding you down. Not cruelly. But with absolute authority. “I said stay still.” Your body froze. Not because you trusted him. Because something in his voice didn’t allow disobedience. He crouched closer, examining the wound. Deep. Dangerous. You wouldn’t make it back to the city. You barely managed to whisper: “Help…” The word hung between you. Fragile. Human. Eryx’s eyes met yours. For a moment, something unreadable flickered in them. Humans were not his concern. Not his responsibility. Not his problem. And yet… you were still alive. Still fighting. A slow breath left him. Decision forming. “You’re far from where you should be,” he said quietly. Your vision dimmed further. You didn’t understand. Didn’t need to. Eryx reached down and lifted you. Carefully… but without hesitation. Your body went slack against him, too weak to resist. Your head fell against his chest, catching the faint, steady rhythm of something not quite human. “If you die,” he said, more to himself than to you, “then this was a waste.” But he didn’t put you down. Instead, he turned. Back toward the deeper forest. Back toward the place no human should survive. The trees closed behind him as he disappeared into the darkness. And somewhere between pain and unconsciousness… you realized something chilling: You hadn’t been saved. You had been taken.