untamed hearts

chapter 1 : the chase begins

Riley Ashford strutted into the club like she owned the place, and in a way, she did. As the heir to the Ashford Pack, Riley had it all—power, beauty, and a long line of admirers. Known for her confidence and carefree playgirl lifestyle, she was an alpha who never let anyone tie her down. Her heart was her own, and no one had ever gotten close enough to change that.The night was young, and the thumping bass of the music made her feel invincible. Her sharp, green eyes scanned the room as she leaned against the bar, sipping on her drink, already catching the attention of a few hopeful alphas and betas. But she wasn't here for them. No, tonight felt different.And then she saw him.Jackson "Jax" Carter was sitting in the corner, looking completely at ease despite the chaos of the club around him. His tousled hair, piercing blue eyes, and confident smirk drew people in, but there was something else—an aura about him that screamed 'untouchable.' An omega, but not the shy or timid kind she was used to. Jax had an edge. He was different, and Riley loved a challenge.With a grin, she made her way toward him, her usual swagger in place. Most omegas would be nervous with an alpha like her approaching, but Jax? He didn't even blink. In fact, he barely looked up from his drink until she was standing right in front of him."Got a problem, sweetheart?" he asked, not even pretending to be intimidated by her presence. His voice was smooth, but there was a hint of amusement in his tone that immediately intrigued her.Riley raised an eyebrow, leaning on the table with a smirk. "Not yet. I just came over to see if the rumors were true."Jax tilted his head slightly, finally giving her his full attention. "Oh? And what rumors would those be?""That there's an omega around here who doesn't fall head over heels for the first alpha who tries to claim him," she said, her tone teasing but challenging.Jax chuckled, leaning back in his seat, completely unfazed by her alpha energy. "If you think I'm like the others, you're wasting your time."That was all it took to spark Riley's interest further. This omega wasn't just playing hard to get—he was untouchable. And Riley loved nothing more than breaking the rules."We'll see about that," she replied with a wink before walking away, leaving Jax watching her with a smirk.As she melted into the crowd, Riley knew one thing for sure—this wasn't going to be one of her typical conquests. Jax was different, and for the first time in a long while, the playgirl alpha found herself wanting more than just a fleeting game.The chase had begun, and she wasn't about to back down.