CHAPTER 1: THE PROTECTOR

A month later…

RUNE LOOKED AT HERSELF in the mirror one last time. She was wearing a standard white button-down, long-sleeved shirt, black trousers and her black and white high-cut converse. Two words came to her mind, presentable and comfortable.

She was lucky that her boss wasn’t really that strict when it came to clothing. For him, as long as you look presentable he was okay with it. She let out a sigh while fixing her short, sandy-blonde hair. She checked her watch and saw that she had enough time to get to their office without being late. Putting her black coat on and messenger bag on her right shoulder, she went outside her apartment. The crisp morning air greeted her as she closed her door.

Fifteen minutes from here or depends on how fast she could walk, she would reach Tactica Private Investigation and Protection Agency. Ugh. What a long name. It was where she works as a Private Investigator / Bodyguard. Her last assignment required her to be at her client’s side almost all day, so, she didn’t have the time to drop by. But since it was done, it was time for her to make a report about it.

It was their company policy and it was about damn time to share the misery she felt on that case. She grimaced. It wasn’t that she failed rather she was annoyed with how it ended. It was a stalking case. A famous actress requested for a bodyguard and at the same time, tasked them to catch her stalker.

Well, it turned out that the stalker was the son of one of the industry’s known directors. But not only that, in the end she found out that the two were lovers and collaborated with the stalker thing for the actress to have some noise in her name and so that the director would cast her in one of his upcoming projects. She actually wanted to bang their heads together, but in the end, the couple pleaded with her not to get it out. Anyway, she told them to come clean and that it was the end of her job for them.

She let out a sigh. Maybe she would check other cases as well. She had ample time in her hands now for another one. Reaching the main street, she saw other people getting into the morning rush. That was understandable since this area was at the business center of Hypnosia City. She took a right turn into an alley. This was the easier way to reach Tactica without bumping into any one. She found this shortcut when she got bored and decided to explore the area around for fun. Two more turns. She took another turn into the next alley on her left. She continued until she reached the last one, an alley to her right again. But opposed to what she expected to be a normal routine, today seemed to be not.

She stopped on her tracks when she saw a taxi parked in the middle of the road and was planning to ignore it when a dreadful, gripping sensation suddenly engulfed her whole being. She frowned. Goosebumps were now forming in her skin and her senses heightened. It went to the maximum level when she sensed danger. It was then followed by an overpowering smell of woody, musky smell that filled her nostrils.  Along with it was a sweet, milky scent. Agitation, fear…lust was also in the air, her frowned deepened and she decided to check the vehicle. But before she could take a step, the right side door opened and a terrified young woman came out screaming.

“Help! Help! Hel—”

Her eyes widened when a big hand covered her mouth and pulled her back inside the car. She felt her blood went cold and boil at the same time when she realized the situation. She bolted towards the taxi and opened the door only to be greeted by the sight of huge guy looming over the woman. It was the taxi driver based on the uniform he was wearing.

She didn’t think twice and grabbed him from behind. The back of his head hit the edge of the car and howled in pain. She used her strength to get him out of the taxi, thrusting him towards the road. At that moment, the only important thing for her was to save the woman. She immediately turned to her and helped her out.

“Come on! We have to get out of here!”

Once she was out of the taxi, they ran. With her feet, Rune’s mind was racing as well. Glowing amber eyes, elongated fangs, mating smell…the man was an Alpha in rut! She glanced at the running woman on her right. Based from the scent she was emitting, she was an Omega. But looking at her, determined albeit terrified, Rune figured out that she was not in Heat or anything that could trigger the Alpha’s rut. In this situation, the Alpha guy may have missed his symptoms for his incoming rut. Tch. That was already an offense here in Nyx.

“Miss!” The woman’s panicking voice jolted her as a huge hand clutched her bag and before she knew it, she was being pulled back. Oh no!

“Run!” she shouted at her as she collided with a sturdy body and before she knew it, her back hit the bumper of the taxi when she was thrown at it by this freaking guy.

“F—k!” she blurted out. She gritted her teeth when the pain spread and she fell to the ground.

“How dare you interfere, Human!” The man growled at her

Human. Huh. She glared at him and saw the rage on his face. The smell he was emitting became more potent that she felt nauseous. Her eyes went to her bag which was still in the man’s hands. The strap broke by how strong he pulled her a while ago.

Sh—t. Her stun gun was there and she clenched her fist in annoyance when the Alpha threw it on the other side of the alley, far away from her. Hell. He then turned and ran towards the woman who was standing not far from them, frozen in fear.

“Hey!” Damn it! She didn’t have time to think. She forced herself to stand up and followed him.

She lunged at the Alpha and toppled him to the ground just before he reached the woman. Rune quickly changed her position and used her legs to lock his right arm. The Alpha bellowed and attempted hard to be free but she didn’t let go. The woman was now in distraught. Her fear wafted in her nose and this guy seemed to be thrilled by it.

“Hey, lady!” her scream jolted the woman up. “Our office is just around the corner, find Tactica and ask for help there!”

“What about you?” The woman’s face was filled with worry.

“I can handle him!” The Alpha was now grabbing her legs using his left arm with so much force but she endured the pain. “Now! Leave now!”

“I’ll come back!” The woman shouted before she turned and ran away.

This time the Alpha grappled with her but she stubbornly held on to him. But as soon as the woman was gone from their sight, her captive broke free from her legs and flung her to the nearby wall. Her head collided with the concrete and she literally saw stars on the impact. A warm liquid trickled down her face from her right temple. She touched it and saw her blood on her fingers. F—k!

She took a deep breath to steady her as he faced the Alpha. The man was tall and had a muscular built. She gritted her teeth when she felt his anger rose to another level. He made a sudden dash towards her and swung his right leg for a kick but she was able to avoid the attack. She then removed herself from his path.

“You will pay for this!” The guy was now seething in anger.

She took another deep breath to calm herself down. She wiped the blood from her temple, took off her coat and threw it on one side.

“As a citizen of Nyx, you must know that forcing someone to mate with you is a criminal offense here,” She then rolled her sleeves.

“I don’t care about your rules! I want that Omega and you ruined it for me!”

“Tch. With that kind of logic, you’ll learn your lesson the hard way.”

“Shut your mouth!”

The guy attacked her again but she was able to dodge it easily since his movements didn’t have any discipline in them. Now, it was her chance for a counter-attack. She calculated the space between them and when she got the right distance, she swiftly moved her left foot forward and using her right fist, gave him a solid punch on his solar plexus. The Alpha doubled-over as he gasped for breath.

“You b—ch!”

She looked down on him. “There are agencies that can help you with your situation, why don’t you go to them and not force yourself on anyone.”

The man stood up and attacked her again, aiming for a punch. She easily evaded it and gave him a neck chop. He fell down but didn’t lost consciousness. She clenched her teeth when she saw that. Curse Alpha strength! This secondary gender was stronger when it came to their physical strength and this guy was in rut. Most Alphas were rough and wild while in this state. They also had the tendency to shut down and listen to no one.

“See, if you don’t stop now, you’ll get worse than that. I’m sure that the woman already called the authorities. So, if I were you, I’ll control myself.” she added a warning.

The Alpha went on to his knees and took something from the breast pocket of his uniform. It was a small, transparent, plastic vial with a bluish liquid inside.

He glared then grinned at her. “I’ll then take you as a replacement since you’ve let that Omega run away.”

The smug expression on his face sent shivers on her spine. He then opened the vial and drunk its content. A few minutes later, the danger she was feeling multiplied that she pulled back away from him as much as possible. An unfamiliar scent filled the air and mixed with the pheromones this alpha was releasing. She felt her head throb with the odor. Something is very wrong here.

The man stood up, the smug expression became sinister now. “My, my, we’re just starting, my lady.”

Her brows knotted as she prepared herself to fight him, but her eyes widened when the Alpha moved in such a speed that he was already an inch away from her face.

“What the hell?” she blurted out as she almost trip on her feet evading him.

His eyes were now all black with bright red pupils, his muscles bulged, his canine teeth became longer and the same goes with his nails. Red veins also started creeping on his face and his aura became menacing.

“The f—k?!” She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. What in the world is that substance?

A booming laughter filled the alley and the guy started talking to himself.

“What he said is true! Ah! I feel it! I’m becoming a Prime!”

Prime? No, this man was becoming a Feral! She gritted her teeth hard. A Feral was already dangerous for everybody, but a Feral Alpha in rut who took some f—d up substance was deadly! She needed to get out of here as soon as possible! 

“It’s time for our mating, my dear!” he growled again as he made his way towards her.

Her brain screamed for her to run and so she did, her heart pounding on her chest. She eyed the end of the ally. Few more steps! But her survivor instinct was set off when a hand grabbed her arm. The Alpha caught her! She was rattled by how fast his movements became compared to earlier. Nevertheless, she wouldn’t let him do what he wanted. Releasing a powerful punch and kick combo, she was able to free herself from his grip. She further the distance between them and to her chagrin, he didn’t seemed to mind her attacks. The malicious grin displayed on his lips disgusted her. He made his way for her again but this time, a dart landed on his chest. He looked at it as if it was just a fly and it didn’t stop him from coming towards her.

The dart was then followed by another…and another…and another one, but the man was still on his feet, fighting off its effects. Disbelief rose in her but the shooter released another dart and it did its part. The Alpha fell unconscious to the ground with a heavy thud. Catching her breath, she turned to see a pair of cobalt-blue eyes and in the hand of its owner was a tranquilizer gun. She let out a deep sigh of relief.

“Thanks for coming, Boss.”