Run Away from My alpha a thousand times

Lucia spotted the black car parked outside her house and felt her blood begin to boil. She jumped off the bed and stormed downstairs, determined to give that arrogant man a piece of her mind.

The moment she stepped outside, there he was. Kaiden Cross. Standing by the car like a Greek god carved in stone.

But looks weren't the issue.

Without hesitation, she marched toward him, raised her hand high, and slapped him. Hard.

"How dare you?" she snapped. "How dare you take advantage of me?"

"Lu, I mean, young madam," the driver stuttered as he rushed out of the car toward his boss.

"I'm not your young madam," Lucia snapped at him as the man stopped in his tracks.

She took a deep breath, glaring at the man she'd just struck. Kaiden hadn't flinched. He didn't say a word. He just stared at her as if daring her to do it again.

"Young madam… please try to be considerate," the driver muttered awkwardly.

Lucia turned a sharp glare on him.

Considerate? They should try being considerate to her.

The driver's frown deepened. A moment ago, he had felt a shred of sympathy for her. But now it was gone. She was rude. Reckless. And clearly had no idea who she was dealing with.

If she weren't the Alpha's mate, he thought bitterly, her head might have been on the floor by now.

Without a word, Kaiden moved toward her.

Lucia took a wary step back, but he reached out and grabbed her hand.

The driver's mouth fell open.

Kaiden Cross, the man who hated being touched since childhood, was holding hands with someone. No one, not even his own family, had ever been allowed this close. Yet here he was, gripping her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Lucia stared at the contact in shock. Then frowned.

"What do you think you're doing?" she said sharply, trying to pull her hand free.

But Kaiden's grip tightened, and a sharp jolt of pain shot through her wrist. She gritted her teeth.

"Let go of me."

Her tone was firm, but her resistance only seemed to fuel him. His eyes blazed with a strange intensity. A quiet rage burned behind piercing green irises.

"Let. Go!" she shouted again, twisting against his grip.

Still, it was no use. He held her tighter, punishing her defiance with silence.

Kaiden's cold, commanding stare pierced right through her. His presence was overwhelming. It was as though his entire being radiated power, something ancient, something not human. She couldn't explain it, but her body tensed in response, instinctively afraid.

Suddenly, Kaiden pulled her forward. Hard.

Lucia stumbled in shock, nearly falling, but he caught her. Not gently. He dragged her to the car, opened the door, and shoved her inside.

"Hey.." she started.

But when she looked into his eyes, those icy, furious eyes, her words died in her throat. She sat, stunned into silence.

"Drive. Home," he ordered the driver, his voice low, hoarse, and dangerously smooth. It sent a strange shiver down her spine. Not the good kind.

As the car sped away, they passed a vehicle she recognized instantly.

Will's car.

Lucia's heart leapt in her chest. She lunged toward the window, slapping it with urgency.

"Will! I'm here! Will, I...."

Before she could finish, a large hand clamped around her neck.

Her breath caught.

In an instant, Kaiden had grabbed her by the throat, his grip cold and unrelenting. He pulled her sharply toward him, his body practically swallowing hers as he pressed her against his chest.

Her entire body stiffened. Her heart pounded violently.

Her throat tightened beneath his grip, and she clawed at his wrist, trying to loosen the pressure, but it was like steel.

His face hovered inches from hers. The fury in his eyes was terrifying. She couldn't speak. Couldn't move.

Then, he buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing her in.

Lucia's mind screamed.

What is happening? What is this man?

She couldn't explain the panic in her chest, the way her instincts screamed at her that she was in danger, but also… that she wasn't.

She was trembling, breathless, helpless.

Across the road, the car she had tried to signal stopped. The driver's window rolled down slowly, and Will leaned out with a nervous expression.

"Lucia?" he called, looking toward Kaiden's car.

But the windows were tinted black. He couldn't see a thing inside.

Lucia's eyes widened. She tried to respond, to scream, but Kaiden's grip on her neck tightened.

He pulled her close, lips brushing her ear.

Kaiden's voice was icy and soft. "You called another man's name in front of me."

Lucia's vision began to blur. The pressure on her throat increased. Her thoughts turned frantic.

I shouldn't have slapped him.

I didn't know he was this dangerous.

Her world went dark.

Lucia fainted, collapsing into his chest.

Kaiden caught her, holding her tight.

He didn't look away from the man in the other car. His green eyes narrowed coldly at Will, who was still peering through his windshield with worry.

Kaiden's lips curled into a dark smirk.

Then he raised a hand and made a single mocking gesture, half wave, half warning, before the car sped off.