Fated to my Saviour Alpha

Sophie stood frozen, her pulse roaring in her ears. Darius's cryptic words hung in the air, their weight pressing against her chest. The fire in his dark eyes burned deeper than she was willing to admit.

What did he mean? You'll find out soon enough.

He lingered a moment longer, as if savoring her confusion, before finally stepping back. The distance offered little comfort, his presence still commanding her attention as though he owned the air she breathed.

"Do yourself a favor," he said, his tone measured, like he was schooling himself in restraint. "Be careful where you play your little games, Sophie. This world… it's bigger than you think."

She bristled, the embers of her earlier fury reigniting. "Don't pretend you know anything about me. You're just another arrogant jerk who thinks the world owes you something because you've got a fancy car and a—"

"Power you can't imagine?" he interrupted smoothly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

She gaped at him, momentarily thrown off course. "I was going to say 'bad attitude,' but sure, let's go with delusions of grandeur."

Darius chuckled, a low sound that sent an involuntary shiver down her spine. He tilted his head, studying her as if she were a puzzle he was determined to solve.

"Careful, little human," he murmured, the words barely audible over the sound of the wind picking up. "You might not like what you uncover."

Something about his voice—low, dangerous, and impossibly certain—stirred a strange unease in her. Sophie didn't back down, though. She couldn't, not with the anger still thrumming beneath her skin like a second heartbeat.

He gestured toward her car with a slight tilt of his head. "That's going to cost you."

Sophie grimaced, then straightened, smoothing her hair back. She knew she had to play this smart. Maybe even play him.

"I don't know," she said, tilting her head and letting a small, coy smile tug at her lips. "Seems like we could settle this... differently."

Darius's brow arched slightly, but he said nothing, his dark eyes scanning her with a curiosity that made her feel both exposed and oddly empowered.

She took a step closer, her fingers brushing the hem of her jacket as she spoke, her voice softer now. "It was an accident, right? No harm in letting it slide this one time."

His silence stretched, and her heart raced. Was she reading this wrong? He wasn't giving her much, but he wasn't stopping her, either.

"You think flirting will fix your car?" he asked finally, his voice low and edged with something she couldn't quite name.

She blinked, caught off guard by his bluntness, but recovered quickly. "Well, I don't know about fixing it. But maybe it could make you a little... lenient?"

Darius chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that sent a shiver down her spine. "Lenient, huh?" He took a step toward her, his movements slow and deliberate. "And what exactly are you offering in return?"

Sophie's breath hitched, but she forced herself to maintain her composure. This was a game, and she wasn't going to lose.

"That depends," she said, her voice steady despite the flutter in her chest. "What do you want?"

For a moment, he just looked at her, his gaze intense enough to make her squirm. Then, without warning, he reached out, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from her face.

"What I want," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, "is honesty. Are you really this desperate, or are you just this reckless?"

Sophie's cheeks burned, and she took a step back, suddenly feeling like she'd been caught in a trap she hadn't even seen.

"Desperate? Reckless? Wow, way to flatter a girl," she said, forcing a laugh that sounded more brittle than she'd intended.

Darius didn't respond, his gaze never wavering.

She crossed her arms, her attempt at seduction crumbling under his scrutiny. "Fine. You want honesty? I can't afford to pay for this, okay? Happy now?"

Something shifted in his expression—pity, maybe, or understanding. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by that infuriatingly calm demeanor.

"Get in," he said, nodding toward his SUV.

"What?"

"I'll drive you home."

Sophie hesitated, every instinct screaming at her not to trust him. But the alternative was staying here, stranded and humiliated, with no plan and no options.

"Fine," she muttered, brushing past him and climbing into the passenger seat.

The interior of the SUV smelled faintly of leather and pine, a sharp contrast to her battered sedan. Darius slid into the driver's seat and started the engine without a word.

The silence between them was heavy as they pulled onto the road. Sophie glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, trying to read him, but his face was a mask of calm.

"You don't talk much, do you?" she said finally, more to break the tension than anything else.

"I talk when there's something worth saying," he replied, his eyes fixed on the road.

"Wow. Deep."

He smirked but didn't respond, and Sophie found herself studying him again, her initial annoyance giving way to curiosity. Who was this guy? And why did he make her feel like she was playing a game she didn't know the rules to?

As they approached the edge of town, Sophie suddenly sat up straighter.

"Wait," she said, glancing back at the road they'd just passed. "That's not the way to my place."

Darius didn't slow down. "You're not going home."

Her heart leapt into her throat. "What do you mean I'm not going home? Where are you taking me?"

He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Relax. You'll see soon enough."

"Relax?" she snapped, her voice rising. "I don't even know you! For all I know, you're some psycho—"

Darius let out a sharp laugh, cutting her off. "If I wanted to hurt you, Sophie, I wouldn't need to drive you anywhere to do it."

His words sent a chill down her spine, and she pressed herself against the door, her hand hovering over the handle.

"You know my name?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the tires on the pavement.

He didn't answer, his focus fixed on the road ahead.

Panic bubbled in her chest, and she fumbled for her phone, only to realize it was still in her car.

"Pull over," she demanded, her voice trembling. "Right now."

"No."

Her stomach twisted, fear and anger battling for control. She had no idea where he was taking her, but one thing was clear: this wasn't just about a car accident.

The SUV slowed as they turned onto a narrow dirt road, the thick forest swallowing what little light remained of the day. Sophie's breaths quickened, her mind racing.

"Why are we here?" she asked, her voice barely steady.

Darius parked the car and turned to face her, his eyes dark and unreadable.

"Because, Sophie," he said, his voice low and steady, "you're about to learn the truth about who you are—and why you're not as free as you think."