The Alpha Took Me As A Stand-in, he regretted

Curiosity gnawed: When'd he sniff it out? What'd crack that mask?

Door sealed tight, I palmed the paw extra-haul out every "gift" he'd pawned off, lies wrapped in shine. Dump the lot.

Trash for trash. Him included.

Morning bled away unnoticed. I figured lunch out, then pack my scraps and ghost. But at the threshold? Them-Ian and Clara, thick as thieves.

She'd gone soft in a white sundress, all dewy edges, cradling this butter-yellow fluffball pup. Her eyes hit mine-face curdling sour. "You slinking around here?"

"My house." I stepped back, clapping a paw to my muzzle.

Fur allergy hits like lightning-nose itching fierce already.

"Afraid of pups? Perfect-you mind this one." No asking, she jammed the squirming bundle my way.

I yelped, twisting clear. Claws raked deep-arm split open, blood hot and quick.

The little terror yipped wild, hit dirt, latched onto my pant leg-teeth grinding.

Panic spiked; I lunged for Ian's chest on instinct, that old safe harbor. He sidestepped cold, iron.

Paw hung stupid in the air. I met his stare-frostbite blue, shredding me clean.

Heart in shards.

Back when he hunted me, he'd clocked the allergy, the fear-ditched his three-year shadow pup without a blink. Street strays? He'd scoop me up, detour wide.

Now? Forgotten like yesterday's scraps.

Ankle fire-tiny jaws crunching skin. I hissed sharp, shaking free.

"Tina! You hurt my pup?" Clara's roar shook the air; she snatched it close, crooning. "Ian-rein her? Laying paws on it like that? Slap to my muzzle. Can't swallow this. She spooks easy? Lock her in with the pack-see if fear chokes her out!" Voice climbing, eyes pinned on him, all venom threat. "Side her? We're done-you don't hunt me down again."

Ian scowled, shadows pooling deep. Flicked me a flat glance, then melted for her. "Do your worst."

My world dropped, gut hollow. "You can't... not like this!"

Silence. A lazy paw wave.

They hauled me to the kennel pits-crammed in a chain-link hell, hundreds of snarling beasts rattling cages, foam-flecked fury.

Hackles rose; breath snagged, chest a vise.

I pounded iron, tears flooding, raw-throated screams. "Out! Ian-fur chokes me, you know the fear..."

Clara lounged at the gate, peeking the chaos, glee sharp.

She beamed, looping his arm, nestling close.

Ian paused, even keel. "Settle, pup. Hold tight-just a beat."

Then gone, her on his arm. That chill shrug? Severed my fire for him, clean cut.

"Ian... I hate you." Terror drowned me; sneezes racked, air turning sludge.

Black edged in, waves crushing. Last gasp-I hit enforcer lines.

Enforcer shadows loomed; I blacked, spent.

Next glimpse? Them, in the enforcer station. I dug claws in-intent to maul, charges filed.

"Babe, mix-up. Drop it." Ian moved first, urging withdraw. "Joravia Town rules, pup. You think you cage a Quinn?"

"Enforcers bend for no one?" I dodged his reach, glare arctic. "Blow this wide-Clara bleeds rep. You too, Ian. Pay up." No give.