Stuck with the enemy

Chapter 38: A Summons from Alpha

It had been only a day since I opened my eyes, but life was already clawing its way back to normalcy. I was preparing to return to work at Alya's café when a sudden knock on the door shattered the quiet of the house.

The sound sent a jolt through me. It wasn't the secret knock. No familiar voice followed. Jacob and Aras had keys, and Alya would never knock.

A cold shiver ran down my spine. My instincts kicked in as I stepped toward the drawer in the living room and pulled out the small knife I kept there. A name flickered in my mind. Leo. The thought alone chilled me to the bone.

I approached the door cautiously, my grip on the knife tightening. That's when I noticed the glass on one of the windows was shattered.

"Who's there?" I called out, keeping my voice steady despite the tremor in my hands.

"We're guards of Alpha Lucian," a deep voice responded from the other side.

Alpha Lucian. Derek's father. The name struck like a lightning bolt, igniting a mix of dread and curiosity.

"Please open the door and come with us," one of them commanded coldly.

"And why should I?" I challenged, my fingers sliding the knife back into the drawer by the door.

"You know why," the guard snapped, his tone sharp and final.

I hesitated for only a moment before pulling the door open. Immediately, one of them reached out to grab me, but I jerked my arm away.

"Don't touch me," I said firmly. "I'll come on my own."

Without waiting for a reply, I stepped outside, my eyes narrowing at the black car parked by the gate. Its polished exterior bore the insignia of Alpha Lucian's patrol, but that did little to ease the unease twisting in my chest.

The door clicked ominously as I climbed in, the locks engaging with a cold finality.

"Where are we going?" I asked after a heavy silence.

"To the Alpha's office," one of the guards replied curtly, his tone leaving no room for questions.

I reached inward, desperate for Derya's guidance. "Can you sense anything? Are they really who they say they are?"

"They're not rogues, that much is clear," Derya replied, her voice calm but cautious. "But their intentions... that remains to be seen."

The reassurance did little to calm the storm in my mind as the car sped down familiar roads. My stomach tightened as we turned onto the grand estate that could belong to no one else. Derek's home loomed before us, a sprawling mansion that was every bit as intimidating as I imagined.

The guards ushered me inside without ceremony, their grip firm but their words few. My gaze wandered across the lavish interiors—towering ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and ornate carvings that screamed wealth.

"I'll say one thing," I muttered under my breath, "they don't hold back on luxury."

One of the guards glanced at me sharply but said nothing.

Every detail of the house seemed designed to remind anyone who entered just how powerful the Alpha was. The cold luxury of it all made me feel out of place, a glaring reminder of my own roots in the streets. The smell of polished wood and expensive cologne clung to the air, almost suffocating.

We ascended a grand staircase, the echo of our footsteps filling the quiet space.

"Last door on the right," one of the guards instructed. His tone was clipped, like he was addressing a soldier.

"And if I don't want to go?" I shot back, my defiance sharp.

The guard stopped and turned to face me, his jaw tightening. "You're here because the Alpha summoned you. This isn't a request."

I rolled my eyes, but I knew I had little choice. Straightening my shoulders, I walked past them, refusing to let them see my fear.

The hallway stretched endlessly before me, each step amplifying the pounding of my heart. Paintings lined the walls—portraits of regal-looking men and women, no doubt ancestors of the Alpha family. Their gazes seemed to follow me, judging, mocking.

"I hope this is worth my time," I said aloud, though I wasn't sure if anyone was still listening.

The door at the end of the hallway loomed like a silent threat. I knocked softly, and a raspy voice answered from within.

"Come in."

I pushed the door open, stepping inside to face the man who held more power than anyone in the pack. Alpha Lucian sat behind a massive desk, a newspaper in hand and reading glasses perched on his nose. His white hair was slicked back, his chiseled features cold and commanding.

"Alpha," I said, closing the door behind me. "You called for me."

He looked up, his piercing gaze settling on me. For a moment, he seemed to struggle to recall my name.

"Deniz," I offered stiffly.

"Deniz," he repeated, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Yes. Thank you for coming."

His casual tone ignited a spark of anger in me. He didn't remember. The man who had taken my childhood home, thrown my family onto the streets, couldn't even remember the eight-year-old girl he'd left homeless.

"How can I help you, Alpha?" I asked, keeping my tone formal and cold.

He leaned back in his chair, studying me. "I wanted to thank you. For saving my life."

I blinked, startled by the admission. Of all the reasons I'd imagined for this meeting, gratitude hadn't crossed my mind.

"And," he continued, "I understand Tommy is your brother. I'd like to thank him as well. Perhaps you could invite your parents? I'd like to meet them."

His words froze me. My parents? A bitter laugh bubbled in my chest, but I swallowed it down.

"Tommy isn't my real brother," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "We raised him, but he's not bound to us by blood. And my parents..." I paused, taking a deep breath. "They're gone. Just like everything else you took from us."

A heavy silence hung between us. I could see a flicker of something in his eyes—was it guilt? Understanding? It didn't matter.

"What Tommy did, what I did, wasn't for you," I continued, my voice firm. "It was for the people in the hospital. The ones who couldn't protect themselves. That's all."

Alpha Lucian leaned back, a slow smile spreading across his face. "You're... different than I expected."

"And you're exactly as I thought you'd be," I replied coolly.

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Let me make it up to you, Deniz. What do you want?"

The words tasted bitter in my mouth, but I forced them out. "If you want to help, let the kids from the suburbs join the patrol. Pay them what they're worth. Give them a chance to build a life."

Alpha Lucian's smile faltered, and for a moment, he seemed to consider my words.

"The children there are survivors," I pressed. "The best soldiers you could ask for. If you don't give them a chance, you'll only turn them into your enemies."

He studied me in silence, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded slowly.

"Perhaps you're right," he said at last, his voice softer.

"I know I am," I replied, my tone unwavering.

The moment stretched, the weight of my words lingering in the air. I didn't know if he would act on them or dismiss them like so many before him.

I straightened, forcing myself to meet his gaze. "If there's nothing else, Alpha, I'd like to leave."

Without waiting for his reply, I turned and walked out, my heart pounding. My footsteps echoed in the grand hallway, but I didn't look back. Let him think about what I said.

For once, I wanted to believe words could be enough to make a difference.