Chapter 1 – The Mark
The neon lights of Pulse Nightclub flickered above Ava Hart as she wiped down the bar, the sticky remnants of spilled drinks sticking to her fingers. The late-night crowd was buzzing with energy, laughter, and the occasional sharp clash of arguments. Normally, Ava enjoyed the chaos—it made her feel alive—but tonight, a strange tension hung in the air.
She glanced at the clock: 11:47 PM. Only fifteen minutes until closing. She could already imagine collapsing into her small apartment above the club and sinking into the comforting monotony of Netflix and instant noodles. That is, if nothing unusual happened.
And of course, something unusual did happen.
A deafening crash erupted near the VIP section. Glass shattered, and a body flew across the room, landing hard against the polished floor. Screams pierced the music. Ava froze, heart hammering, unsure if she should duck behind the bar or rush to help.
Two men were locked in combat—or something worse. Their movements were unnatural, almost too fast, too precise. One had golden eyes that gleamed in the dim light. The other had a sinister snarl, teeth elongated into what looked like fangs.
"What the hell…?" Ava whispered, gripping the bar for support.
The golden-eyed man's gaze flicked toward her, a flash of recognition—or was it hunger?—passing through his expression. He moved like liquid, silent but fast, and in a blur, the fight ended. The other man collapsed, unconscious, and the golden-eyed one turned fully to Ava.
"You shouldn't be here," he said, his voice low, commanding, and almost… mesmerizing.
Ava blinked. "I… I wasn't—" Her words caught in her throat as a searing pain shot through her chest. She stumbled, clutching her heart, and then she saw it—a glowing mark forming across her collarbone. A symbol she couldn't understand, glowing faintly under her skin.
The man stepped closer. "It's done," he said simply, as if explaining something obvious. "You are marked."
"Marked?" Ava gasped. "By… by what?"
His golden eyes softened slightly, though the predatory aura remained. "By me. You're… bound to me now."
Ava's mind reeled. Bound? Marked? What was happening? She could barely stand, the pain radiating through her chest. Her vision blurred, and the world tilted dangerously.
"You'll understand soon," he said, his voice calm, almost gentle now, but tinged with authority. "But first, you need to come with me. It's not safe here."
She wanted to protest, to scream, but her body refused to obey. Her muscles felt heavy, her heart raced uncontrollably, and that strange pull from the mark itself seemed to be tugging her toward him. Against all rational thought, she followed.
Outside, the night was colder than she remembered, the city streets deserted as if the world itself had paused for her. The man—Dante, as she would soon learn—moved with an impossible grace, his presence commanding every shadow to bend to his will.
"Wait—who are you? What are you?" she demanded, fear and curiosity battling inside her.
Dante stopped, turning to face her. "I am the Alpha of this city," he said simply. "And now… you belong to me."
Ava's stomach dropped. "Belong to you? That's… that's insane!"
He stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers. "Is it insane, or is it reality you've refused to see?"
Before she could respond, a violent surge of energy pulsed from him, and she felt it—her senses expanding, sharper than ever before. Every sound, every movement in the alley, even the faintest scent of asphalt and rain, assaulted her in a way that left her dizzy.
"What… what's happening to me?" she whispered.
"You've been marked," Dante explained, almost casually. "Your life as you know it is over. You're entering my world—a world you didn't know existed. And soon, everyone will want to claim you… or destroy you."
Fear gripped her, cold and relentless. Her mind raced with questions she didn't have time to answer. Why her? Why now? And why… did she feel something else, something dangerous, stirring inside her chest where the mark glowed faintly?
Before Ava could respond, a growl sliced through the night. Dante's expression hardened instantly, eyes narrowing to sharp slits. "Move," he commanded.
Instinctively, Ava obeyed, following him into a narrow alley. From the shadows, figures emerged—tall, menacing, eyes glinting in unnatural colors. Wolves? No… not literal wolves, though their forms flickered in ways that weren't entirely human.
"They've come for you," Dante said, his voice deadly calm. He positioned himself in front of her, body tense, aura radiating power.
Ava's pulse hammered in her ears. "For me? Why?"
"Because you are marked," he replied, teeth flashing as he bared a warning growl. "And because they see what I've claimed."
The creatures lunged. Dante moved with terrifying speed, intercepting them effortlessly. Ava could only watch in horror and fascination as the golden-eyed man fought, each movement precise, deadly, almost poetic.
And then… everything changed. One of the creatures broke through, aimed at her. Before she could react, Dante's hand shot out, gripping her wrist. Energy flared from the mark on her chest, protecting her in ways she didn't understand.
"You're stronger than I thought," Dante muttered, almost to himself. Then, with a surge of power, he expelled the creatures into the darkness, leaving silence in their wake.
Ava's knees buckled, and Dante caught her. "You're safe… for now," he said.
"Safe? That was—" She couldn't find words. "What… what are you?"
He studied her for a long moment, as if measuring her soul. Finally, he said, "I am what protects the balance. And now, Ava… you are a part of that balance. Whether you like it or not."
Her chest tightened as the mark burned faintly, and an inexplicable pull drew her closer to him. A part of her wanted to resist. Another part… wanted to understand.
And in that moment, Ava realized one terrifying truth: her life would never be ordinary again.
Because she had been marked by the Alpha.