Stuck with the enemy

Deniz's Story

I ran from him, my eyes stinging with unshed tears, but I forced myself to keep them in. Crying would only make things worse; I wasn't allowed to be weak, not anymore.

But even as I held the tears back, my mind screamed. What had I expected from him? Nothing. I'd told myself from the beginning that Derek Garcia was trouble-that the Crescent Moon pack Alpha would never look at me twice. And yet, I had felt something when I saw him, something I didn't want to admit.

Did I want him to reject me? Maybe. A part of me had been waiting for this inevitable moment, preparing for the pain. But the rejection still hurt. I wanted to hate him, to feel nothing but anger, but every memory of our encounters only deepened the ache. It was like he'd reached into the most fragile part of me and crushed it with nothing but words.

I walked home in a daze, the streets and people around me blurring together. I wasn't sure how I even managed to get back to my room, where I closed the door, pressing my back against it as I finally let a few tears escape.

"Deniz?" Derya said, her voice filled with worry. "Are you okay, honey?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to sound strong. "Yeah... I'll be better if I can just forget he exists," I said, hoping she wouldn't feel the shakiness in my voice.

There was a long pause, and I could feel Derya weighing her words carefully. "Do you really think you can ignore him? Forget him? The bond between you two... it won't just go away."

"It will if I make it go away. I don't love him, Derya. Maybe I'm attracted to him, because of that stupid mate bound, but it's nothing more than that. It's like a bad cold. With the right remedy, it'll pass."

"And your plan?" she asked, her voice gentle but steady.

"I'll avoid him. If he comes to the café, I'll find some excuse to stay away. I'm sure he'll eventually get the hint." My voice wavered, betraying the hint of desperation I didn't want her to hear.

A heavy silence settled between us. "Deniz," she finally said, "I know you're strong, but this-this bond... It's a powerful thing. Are you sure-"

"Absolutely." I cut her off, not wanting to entertain any doubt. "I've always managed on my own, and this won't be any different."

Derya sighed, but she didn't press further. After a moment, I felt her retreat, leaving me to my thoughts. I dragged myself to the closet, grabbing a sweatshirt and some worn jeans, then slumped onto the bed. I needed sleep-anything to block out the hurt gnawing at me.

The hours dragged on, and when I woke, the house was quiet. I had no idea if Aras had come home or if anyone had noticed me lying there, dead to the world. All I knew was that I hadn't eaten or moved since I'd fallen asleep, and my body felt as heavy as my heart.

When I finally opened my eyes, it was past midnight. I tried to force myself back to sleep, but the memories of Derek's words replayed endlessly in my mind, each one cutting a little deeper. I put on my headphones, hoping the music would drown out the thoughts, but it barely helped.

By dawn, I was wide awake, my head pounding, my emotions a tangled mess. I managed to pull myself together enough to get ready for work, praying that today would somehow be better than yesterday.

But fate wasn't on my side.

As I neared the café, I saw a sleek black Mercedes parked out front. I knew that car. My stomach twisted, but I kept walking, pretending I hadn't noticed it. Maybe if I ignored him, he'd leave.

I reached for the key, planning to slip inside before he saw me, but just as I turned the lock, the car door opened, and the scent of vanilla and coconut filled the air around me.

"Deniz Brown," his deep voice called out, sharp and commanding.

I didn't turn around, but I could feel him behind me, his presence almost suffocating. "We don't have anything left to say to each other, Alpha." My voice was a quiet defiance, but my hands betrayed me, shaking as I tried to unlock the door.

He moved closer, and before I could react, he was standing between me and the door, his gaze locked onto mine. "I said we need to talk," he said, his tone laced with authority. "And you don't turn your back on me."

"Maybe where you're from, people follow commands like that. But where I'm from, Alpha, we don't take orders," I snapped, trying to push past him. But he caught my arm, his grip firm but not painful, his closeness stirring something that both frightened and frustrated me.

"Don't make me use my Alpha command on you," he warned, his eyes darkening, his expression a mix of anger and something else-something I couldn't read.

The word Alpha didn't hold the same weight for me as it did for others, yet there was a rawness to his tone that made me pause. And then, he spoke the words. "I, Alpha Derek, order you to listen to me and obey my demands."

I held my breath, waiting for...something, some sign that his words would force me to submit. But there was nothing. The same anger, the same resolve bubbled inside me, completely untouched by his command. I looked up at him, and for the first time, I saw confusion flicker in his eyes.

"I think your Alpha powers are broken, Derek Garcia," I said, a smirk tugging at my lips.

"What...what's going on?" he muttered, almost to himself, his brow furrowing.

"Looks like I'm not as easy to control as you thought," I said, pulling my arm free and stepping back, enjoying the slight edge of power I had over him.

Derek's jaw clenched, and he took a step back, regaining his composure. "Fine," he said, his tone cold. "But don't you dare breathe a word of this to anyone."

"Why would I waste my breath?" I shot back, walking past him and into the café, my heart pounding in exhilaration.

Once inside, I quickly busied myself at the counter, trying to ignore the lingering thrill of standing up to Derek. I knew I should feel hurt, should be focusing on the rejection, but there was something undeniably satisfying about the way he'd looked at me-lost, uncertain, like he wasn't quite sure what to make of me anymore.

A little later, Alya bounced into the café, chattering about some party she'd been dying to go to. I tried to pay attention, but my mind kept drifting back to the encounter with Derek. His confusion, his frustration... It was all so deliciously unexpected.

"Deniz, come with me!" Alya's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Wait, what?" I blinked at her, barely catching on.

"To the party!" she said, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "We're going to have so much fun!"

"Alya, I really don't think that's a good idea. I'm not exactly in a partying mood."

"Oh, come on," she said, practically bouncing on her toes. "You need this. Besides, we can't have the whole café crew skipping out on the event of the year!"

I tried to protest, but Alya wouldn't hear it. She threatened to fire me, her face serious and unyielding. And despite everything in me screaming to stay home, to avoid the crowds and the noise, something in her infectious excitement pulled me in.

"Fine," I relented. "But if I get bored, I'm leaving."

Alya's grin widened. "Deal. But trust me, Deniz-you're going to love it."

As I finished my shift and headed home to change, I couldn't shake the lingering sense of anticipation. For better or worse, tonight would be a chance to forget Derek, to forget everything that had happened...or at least to try.