Read From Ashes to Alpha :: saved by beauty

The night air was thick with the stench of garbage and desperation. My heart pounded in my chest as I sprinted through the labyrinth of crumbling buildings, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

Behind me, the growls of the wolf soldiers grew louder, their laughter echoing off the walls like a macabre symphony.

“James Davis,” one of them sneered, his voice dripping with malice. “You can’t run forever.”

I skidded around a corner, my boots slipping on the wet pavement. My mind raced, searching for an escape, but the alley was a dead end. I turned to face my pursuers, my back pressed against the cold, graffiti-covered wall.

There were four of them, their eyes glowing with a feral light. They moved with the grace of predators, their muscles rippling beneath their tattered clothing.

I could smell the sweat and blood on them, a pungent reminder of the violence they were capable of.

“You’ve caused us a lot of trouble,” the leader said, his voice a low growl. “Time to pay the price.”

I clenched my fists, my mind racing. I had no weapons, no allies, and no way out. I was going to die here, in this filthy alley, at the hands of these monsters.

But then, something happened.

A flash of silver light cut through the darkness, so bright it blinded me for a moment. When my vision cleared, I saw her.

She stood between me and the wolf soldiers, her back straight and her head held high. Her hair was a cascade of silver, shimmering in the moonlight, and her eyes were like chips of ice, cold and unyielding.

She was tall and lithe, her body radiating a quiet strength that made the wolf soldiers hesitate.

“Who are you?” the leader snarled, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

She didn’t answer. Instead, she took a step forward, her movements fluid and deliberate. The wolf soldiers took a step back, their confidence wavering.

“This doesn’t concern you,” the leader said, his voice rising. “Step aside, or you’ll regret it.”

She tilted her head slightly, a small, almost imperceptible smile playing on her lips. “I don’t think so,” she said, her voice calm and steady. “Leave now? Or wait to be beaten down and then leave? You still have a choice.”

The leader growled, his eyes narrowing. “You’re one against four. Where does the arrogance come from?”

She laughed, a low, melodic sound that sent a shiver down my spine.

Before anyone could react, she moved. It was like watching a shadow come to life, her body a blur of motion.

She struck with precision, her movements so fast I could barely follow them.

One by one, the wolf soldiers fell, their bodies hitting the ground with a sickening thud.

"Get out of here," she growled, her voice low and commanding. "And don’t let me catch you near him again."

The wolf soldiers scrambled to their feet, their tails between their legs as they fled into the shadows.

The alley fell silent, save for the sound of my ragged breathing and the faint rustle of Amelia’s fur as she shifted back into her human form.

When it was over, she stood amidst the wreckage, her breathing steady and her expression unreadable. She turned to me, her icy eyes meeting mine.

“Who are you?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She regarded me for a moment, her gaze piercing. “My name is Amelia Jones.” she said.

I swallowed hard, still immersed in a state of shock.

She mistook my shock for an expression of some kind of admiration. "Don't be so exaggerated. I know I'm much cooler than on TV. They always film me as a domineering female president, which is extremely old-fashioned."

TV？female president？What on earth is the background of this cold woman in front of me? I am really extremely puzzled.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my nerves. "Why did you help me then?"

She tilted her head, her dark hair cascading over her shoulder like a shadow. “Because I can't stand seeing others being bullied. Although I really think you are very much like a loser.”

I swallowed hard. Considering that she had saved me, I decided not to hold a grudge against her. "Thank you."

She smirked, a faint curve of her lips that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “You don’t have to. But if you want to get stronger, if you want to survive the next time a wolf comes for you, you’ll meet me tomorrow night. The abandoned factory on the edge of the district.”

I frowned, my mind racing. “Why teach me??”

There was only silence in the air. She was gone, swallowed by the shadows of the alley, leaving me alone with the weight of her words and the pounding of my heart.

Tomorrow night, the factory.

Tomorrow night, Amelia Jones.