This That Alpha Male

Xander remained quiet, his body shifting with each jolt of the car as it rumbled over the rocky forest road. The dark trees stretched endlessly outside the window, moonlight slipping through the canopy in fractured beams. Every bump made his broad frame sway slightly, but he stayed composed; at least on the surface. His wrists tugged subtly against the crown cuffs, the cool metal biting into his skin, a constant reminder of his current predicament. He shifted again, exhaling slowly through his nose. His sharp eyes slid to Valeria, who lounged with infuriating ease beside him.

"So,"

she began, voice smooth as silk,

"this is where your disciplinary journey starts." Valeria’s gaze lingered on his bound wrists, her lips curling into a slow smirk.

"You might be the Alpha, but tonight? You’ll learn that even the strongest need a little… guidance."

Xander scoffed, leaning back against the leather seat, his muscles flexing beneath his suit. "Guidance, huh?" he muttered, tipping his head back against the headrest.

"You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?"

She tilted her head, watching him carefully. "Of course. Someone has to keep you in line."

For a moment, he stayed silent. The car hit another bump, making him rock forward slightly, his body naturally falling into the rhythm of the winding road. Then, with a slow breath, Xander shifted closer, his movements graceful despite the restraints. Without a word, he let his head rest against her shoulder, the weight solid and familiar. Valeria stiffened slightly, caught off guard, but his eyes were already closed, lashes dark against his cheekbones.

Her lips parted, ready to say something clever, but instead, she let out a soft, incredulous laugh.

"Seriously?"

She glanced down at him, the sharp angles of his face softened by sleep. "Is this your idea of submission?"

Xander shifted slightly, making a quiet sound in his throat, but didn’t answer. The warmth of his breath brushed against her neck, steady and calm. Valeria’s gaze traveled to his arms, where the crown cuffs glinted faintly in the dark. The way his wrists rested behind his back formed a perfect triangle with the broad lines of his shoulders, his entire posture radiating quiet defiance; even now.

She shook her head, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"You’re impossible."

Still, she didn’t push him off. Instead, she let him sleep, the sound of the engine and the sway of the road carrying them deeper into the night.

The car rumbled to a stop in front of the mansion, its sleek frame cutting a dark silhouette against the towering trees. The forest stretched endlessly around them, moonlight dripping through the canopy, casting eerie shadows across the stone driveway. The grand mansion stood proud and silent, its dark windows glimmering faintly under the starlight, like a predator watching its prey.

Valeria slid out of the car first, her heels clicking against the stone as she stretched, savoring the cool night air. She glanced over her shoulder, expecting to see Xander still slumped in the backseat. The car door swung open behind her, and for a moment, everything was quiet. Too quiet.

Then she heard it; the sharp sound of footsteps against gravel.

Valeria’s head snapped around just in time to see a dark figure bolt from the other side of the car. Xander. His broad frame moved with deadly grace, even with the crown cuffs biting into his wrists, keeping his arms locked behind his back. He sprinted toward the dark line of trees, muscles flexing beneath his suit, his long legs eating up the distance as if the cuffs were nothing more than an inconvenience.

"Are you serious?"

Valeria hissed, her eyes narrowing.

"He’s running."

"Catch him."

Her voice was calm, almost bored, but the command snapped through the air like a whip. Instantly, her guards sprang into action, their dark suits blending with the night as they darted after him.

Xander barely glanced back, his body low and quick as he weaved through the trees. The rocky terrain did little to slow him down, his instincts sharp, every muscle tuned for the chase. He leaped over a fallen log, skidding slightly as the loose earth slid beneath his expensive shoes. Even cuffed, even outnumbered, he was faster; more dangerous.

The forest whispered around him, branches clawing at his suit as the distant shouts of Valeria's people echoed behind him. He could hear them gaining ground, but his mind was razor-sharp, calculating every step. He smirked to himself. They’d underestimated him. Let them chase. He’d show them what a cornered Alpha could do.

Back at the car, Valeria leaned casually against the hood, arms crossed, watching the chase with cool amusement.

"Oh, Xander,"

she murmured, tilting her head.

"You can run all you want… but you’re mine."

The night air carried her words into the dark, a quiet promise that hung in the silence. The hunt had only just begun.

Xander skidded to a halt, chest heaving as he stared up at the towering iron fence blocking his path. The moonlight glinted off the cold metal, its height stretching impossibly high, spikes at the top like silent sentinels warning him against even trying. He turned sharply, eyes darting along the perimeter, searching for another way out; but there was none. His wrists strained against the crown cuffs behind his back, muscles flexing uselessly. No leverage. No escape.

The sound of footsteps crunching through the underbrush made his jaw clench. He pivoted just in time to see Valeria's guards emerging from the shadows, their movements sharp and efficient, each step echoing in the silence. The lead guard, a tall man with a cold expression, gave a low chuckle.

"Oh… an escape trial?"

The man's voice dripped with amusement, the words slicing through the darkness like a blade. Xander gritted his teeth, shooting the guard a glare that could've burned through steel.

Without another word, the guards closed in, one of them gripping Xander’s arm firmly while another nudged him forward. Xander’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t resist. Not yet. He let them guide him back toward the mansion, each step heavy against the uneven ground. The forest stretched endlessly behind him, dark and silent, as if mocking his failed attempt.

They reached the mansion’s grand entrance, the heavy doors creaking open as the guards led him inside. The air changed instantly; the cold bite of the night replaced by a quiet, suffocating warmth. The interior was vast and dark, lit only by the soft flicker of sconces lining the stone walls. Each flame cast long shadows that danced across the high ceilings and arched corridors.

Xander's sharp gaze swept over the surroundings, memorizing every detail: the ornate columns rising toward the heavens, the polished marble floors glimmering beneath his feet, the heavy velvet drapes framing the tall windows. The place felt ancient, regal; a castle disguised as a mansion. And every step deeper into the shadows made the weight of the cuffs dig harder into his skin.

They moved down a long aisle, their footsteps echoing in the silence. Xander glanced over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of Valeria trailing behind, her pace leisurely, her eyes sharp. She walked with a quiet power that made the guards seem like shadows in her wake.

Finally, they reached the end of the corridor, where a heavy iron gate loomed before them. The guards shoved it open with a low groan, revealing a darkened cell beyond. The cold air seeped into Xander's skin as he stepped inside, the walls closing in like a predator's jaws. He stood still, his breath steady, but the sharp bob of his Adam's apple betrayed the flicker of unease beneath his calm exterior.

Turning slowly, he met Valeria’s gaze, eyes dark with questions.

"Care to explain this?"

His voice was low, quiet; the kind of quiet that promised a storm.

Valeria stepped forward, her heels clicking against the stone. She stopped just outside the gate, tilting her head as a slow smile curved across her lips.

"Discipline, darling," she whispered, voice soft and sweet, like venom dipped in honey.

"Lesson one… submission."

Xander’s pulse thrummed in his ears, his body tense as the gate swung shut behind him with a deafening clang. The sound echoed through the corridor, sealing his fate. For now.

This that Alpha male; Xander stepped into the cold confinement of the cell, his sharp eyes scanning the dim space before him. To him, this was imprisonment. But to Valeria? This was discipline. A necessary correction for an Alpha too used to getting his way. The heavy iron gate groaned as it locked behind him, sealing his fate for the night. His jaw tightened, his pride warring with the weight of the crown cuffs still binding his wrists behind his back.

“Uncuff me. Now.”

His voice was rough, commanding, the deep timbre echoing against the stone walls.

Valeria stepped closer, just beyond the iron bars, tilting her head as if considering it. Then, a soft chuckle escaped her lips.

“Oh, darling. Of course not. You’ll be disciplined while cuffed.”

Xander's muscles tensed, his frustration spilling over.

“I beg you, Valeria,”

he growled, his tone slipping into something dangerously close to desperation.

“I won’t be late next time. I swear. I’ll send the perfect birthday message. Just let me go.”

Valeria smirked, savoring his rare plea.

“Daaaa~”

she cooed, dragging out the syllable in a singsong tone, taunting him with that infuriatingly sweet voice.

Then; CRACK.

The sharp sound of a whip cut through the air, striking across Xander’s skin. His body jerked, muscles tightening against the sting, but he didn’t make a sound. Not yet. The iron bars rattled as he pushed against them, his strength enough to make the metal groan under pressure.

“Uncuff me,”

he demanded again, his voice lower this time, rougher, thick with restrained fury.

Valeria only smiled. CRACK. Another sharp lash, another test of his endurance.

The bars shuddered from his force. His breath came hard and fast. But then; silence.

The fight drained from his body as the night lingered, his Alpha presence shrinking under the weight of discipline. Outside the cell, Valeria crossed her arms, listening. The only sounds left were his ragged breaths, the echo of restraint, and the slow, steady taming of an untouchable man.

By morning, the storm inside Xander would break. And Valeria? She would savor her victory.

The golden morning light streamed through the tall, barred window, illuminating the cold stone floor where Xander sat. His broad shoulders, usually tense with defiance, now seemed more resigned; though not entirely broken. The iron cuffs still circled his wrists, a quiet reminder of last night’s discipline.

Slowly, he shifted forward, pressing his head through the gaps between the iron bars. His dark hair fell messily over his forehead, and his piercing eyes, which once burned with rebellion, now held something softer; submission, or perhaps the quiet calculation of a man who had learned his place… for now.

The soft sound of heels clicking against the marble floor made him lift his gaze. There she was. Valeria. Standing at the threshold of his confinement, bathed in morning light like a victorious queen. He remembered her words from the night before, her teasing challenge laced with authority. "If you want kindness in the morning, you’ll have to ask for it, my dear Alpha."

Xander swallowed his pride, tilting his head just slightly; a silent offering. His voice was husky from the night’s silence, but steady when he finally spoke.

“Valeria.”

He exhaled, eyes locked onto hers.

“Pet me.”

A slow smirk curved on her lips. She took a step closer, the warmth of her presence making his pulse quicken. Her fingers, cool and delicate, traced his jaw before sliding into his hair, gripping just enough to remind him who was in control. Xander closed his eyes, exhaling softly as she ran her fingers through his thick locks.

“Good boy,”

she whispered, her voice filled with amusement and something dangerously sweet.

Xander shivered. Whether from satisfaction or the knowledge that she still held all the power;he wasn’t sure. But one thing was certain. The Alpha had been tamed, if only for this moment.

The air inside the prison cell was thick with something unspoken; tension, submission, or perhaps a new kind of intimacy. Xander, once the defiant Alpha, now sat on his knees, his wrists still bound behind his back in those cursed crown cuffs. His sharp eyes flicked up to Valeria, who stood before him like a goddess of discipline, draped in a silk robe that shimmered under the morning light.

He knew what she wanted. If he wanted his freedom, he had to prove himself. And so, he obeyed.

“Sit properly.”

Xander adjusted his posture, straightening his broad back, spreading his legs slightly apart as she liked; like a statue carved for her pleasure.

“Lower your head.”

His chin dipped, baring his throat in an unspoken gesture of trust. A smirk played on Valeria’s lips as she traced a single finger down his exposed skin.

“Kiss my hand.”

He pressed his lips to her palm without hesitation, slow, deliberate; lingering just enough to make her shiver.

“Say my name sweetly.”

“Valeria,”

he murmured, voice deep, reverent, with a hint of something pleading. She hummed in approval.

“Tell me how much you adore me.”

Xander exhaled.

“You are everything.” His voice was steady.

“Every breath, every thought, every goddamn heartbeat; only for you.”

Valeria arched a brow, pleased but not yet satisfied.

“Touch your forehead to my knee.”

He leaned forward, resting his head lightly against her, his warmth seeping through the silk fabric. She caressed his hair, savoring his submission. “Beg properly to be uncuffed.”

“Please, Valeria,”

he whispered, eyes burning into hers.

“Let me touch you, serve you; let me be yours, completely.”

She let the silence stretch, enjoying his desperation before continuing.

“Tell me you belong to me.”

“I am yours. Mind, body, soul.”

His jaw clenched, his pride straining, but his submission was absolute.

“Stay still while I touch you.”

Her fingers traced his lips, his sharp jawline, down his throat; pausing at his chest where his heartbeat thundered beneath her palm. He did not move. Did not even breathe.

“Now… Ask one more time.”

He lifted his gaze, dark and feverish.

“Valeria. Uncuff me.”

A slow, victorious smile curled her lips. With a delicate motion, she produced the key, the tiny click echoing like a reward. The crown cuffs loosened, sliding from his wrists.

Xander flexed his hands, expecting freedom; only to realize the cold metal was still locked around him. His expression shifted. A flicker of disbelief crossed his sharp features before it turned into something darker. His gaze snapped up to Valeria, jaw tightening, muscles tensing.

"You tricked me,"

he accused, voice low with rising frustration.

"I did everything. Every damn thing you asked." His wrists tugged against the cuffs again, testing, but the unyielding bind remained.

Valeria only smiled, tilting her head with quiet amusement.

"Did I say I would set you free?"

Xander’s nostrils flared. His patience, his submission, all of it; had been played with. He had lowered his head, kissed her hand, begged like a loyal dog, and yet here he was, still bound. The weight of realization settled over him like chains heavier than the cuffs themselves.

His lips parted, a protest forming, but Valeria merely leaned in, brushing her fingers down his cheek before whispering against his ear,

“Good boy.”

The words sent a shudder through him, not of pleasure; but of frustration. He had been fooled. And she knew it.

Valeria's POV:

Golden lights touch his skin,

Valeria moved her eyes, and sees how handsome her boyfriend...

A tamed Alpha male...

Xander flexed his fingers, expecting the familiar weight of restraint to vanish, but the cold metal of the crown cuffs still pressed against his skin. His sharp eyes snapped to Valeria, realization dawning. He had been fooled.

"You—" He bit back a curse, his jaw clenching as he tugged at the cuffs. "You never planned to free me, did you?"

Valeria only smiled, tilting her head in amusement. "Did I ever say I would?" Her tone was maddeningly sweet, like she wasn’t holding him captive in the most elegant way possible.

Xander scoffed, his patience fraying. "You made me obey every damn command, and for what? A trick?" His voice was low, dangerous, but there was no true malice—only the tension of a man who was both frustrated and irrevocably drawn to the woman before him.

Valeria took a slow step closer, letting her fingertips trail along the edge of his collar. "Poor Alpha," she cooed. "So strong, so dominant… yet still bound."

Xander’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. "Valeria," he warned, but the way his breath hitched when she leaned in betrayed him.

"Yes?" she whispered, her lips barely a breath away from his.

"You love pushing me, don’t you?" His voice had dropped to something darker, rougher. "Testing how far I’ll bend before I break."

Valeria chuckled, tracing a single finger down his throat, feeling the tension coiled in him. "And yet," she murmured, pressing a lingering kiss just beneath his jaw, "you never break."

Xander exhaled sharply, his frustration melting into something else entirely. His body, though restrained, moved instinctively toward her. "Let me touch you," he muttered, voice thick with longing.

Valeria hummed, pretending to consider.

"And if I don’t?"

Xander smirked, even in his disadvantage.

"Then I’ll just have to make you regret it the moment I get free."

She laughed, a sound both teasing and affectionate.

"Such confidence,"

she mused, pressing her lips to his ear.

"We’ll see who wins this little game."

Xander’s eyes darkened with challenge.

"Oh, sweetheart,"

he murmured, leaning impossibly close, "I already have."

And just like that, the tension broke; morphing into something softer as Valeria let her fingers weave into his hair, and Xander, despite his restraints, let himself fall into the kiss she finally granted him.

The warmth of Valeria’s lips still lingered on Xander’s, a sensation that sent a shiver down his spine. He didn’t fight the cuffs anymore. He didn’t pull or wince, nor did he demand freedom. Instead, he let himself surrender; not as a prisoner, but as something else entirely.

“I won’t fool you again,”

he murmured, his voice steady.

“Even if you uncuff me… I won’t discipline my own girlfriend.”

Valeria tilted her head, amusement dancing in her eyes.

“Such a well-behaved Alpha,”

she teased, stepping closer, her fingers grazing his jaw.

“How charming.”

Xander smirked, but there was no defiance left in it; only a quiet acceptance, laced with something deeper. Valeria leaned in just a little, her lips curving into a knowing smile before she winked.

It was too sweet. Too effortless. Too dangerous.

And Xander knew; he was already hers, with or without the cuffs.

The metal clicked softly as Valeria finally uncuffed him. Xander rolled his wrists, the skin slightly reddened from being restrained for so long. He glanced at the crown cuffs in his hands for a brief moment, then; without hesitation; tucked them into the pocket of Valeria’s trousers.

Right on her hip.

Valeria’s eyes narrowed.

“Ah, bad guy!”

she huffed, placing her hands on her waist, assuming he had done it just to touch her.

But Xander only smiled, slow and easy, as if savoring her reaction.

“No revenge,”

he murmured, his voice deep yet calm. His hands remained where she could see them, making it clear he wasn’t planning anything else.

“Now… will you release me from this prison, too?”

Valeria tilted her head, pretending to consider his request. Then, without a word, she stepped back and exited the cell.

Xander’s gaze followed her, amusement flickering in his sharp eyes. But instead of unlocking his cage, Valeria simply grabbed the iron bar door and pulled it shut behind her with a casual click.

“Stay there,”

she ordered playfully, a smirk tugging at her lips.

Xander smirked back. He lifted a hand and lazily pushed the prison door; it creaked open immediately.

It wasn’t locked.

He leaned against the bars, swaying the door back and forth with a knowing look.

“Valeria,”

he called, his tone dripping with amusement.

She didn’t turn back.

Xander chuckled under his breath.

"Fine."

The heavy iron door clanked shut with a finality that echoed through the dimly lit space. Valeria stood just beyond the bars, arms crossed, a triumphant smirk tugging at her lips.

Xander, still wearing that infuriatingly charming smile, leaned forward, his fingers wrapping loosely around the bars. He gave the door a teasing push, letting it sway slightly, testing her resolve.

"Oh? You’re really locking me in, twice?" His voice was low, velvety, filled with unbothered amusement.

"Of course. You think I'd let you go after all your tricks?" Valeria glimpse and speak with her soft voice.

She tilted her chin, eyes gleaming with challenge.

Xander chuckled, the sound deep and smooth. "You wound me. I already promised not to fool you again." He let his golden eyes scan her face before sighing dramatically. "But I see how it is. My own girlfriend, abandoning me in a cell."

Valeria rolled her eyes.

"Oh, don't be so dramatic. You'll be fine."

But when she turned to leave, Xander pushed the door again, this time with a little more force, making it creak open slightly before stopping it with his hand. He smirked.

"You didn’t even lock it properly."

She spun back, caught between irritation and amusement. "Bad guy!"

Xander leaned against the bars, tilting his head. "You like bad guys, Valeria. You wouldn’t have kissed me otherwise."

Her breath hitched at his words. He was too much. Too smug. Too... him.

She stepped forward, placing her hands over his where they gripped the bars.

"Maybe I do," she admitted, voice softer now.

"But that doesn’t mean I’ll let you walk free so easily."

Xander exhaled a laugh, his thumb brushing over her fingers.

"Then tell me, Valeria... what must I do to earn my release?"

She leaned in, lips just a whisper away from his.

"Be patient."

With that, she pulled away, stepping back with a victorious smile. And before Xander could react, she reached for the iron door; this time locking it properly with a sharp click.

Xander blinked, then threw his head back in laughter. "You really are dangerous."

Valeria winked.

"I learned from the best."

And with that, she walked away, leaving Xander behind the bars; smirking, swaying the door slightly, already plotting his next move.

The iron door was locked this time; firmly. No more teasing gaps, no easy escapes. Valeria stood just outside, her arms still crossed, watching Xander with a mixture of amusement and satisfaction.

Xander, unfazed, leaned against the bars, his fingers lazily gripping the cold metal. The dim lighting cast soft shadows over his sharp features, making his smirk look even more devilish.

Xander: "So, what now, jailer? Will you come visit me every day?"

Valeria: "You wish. I think a little solitude will do you good."

He chuckled, pushing the door just enough to hear the soft clink of the lock. "You really locked me in this time. Cold, Valeria. Very cold."

She shrugged. "You deserved it."

Xander exhaled a dramatic sigh, running a hand through his dark waves before flicking his gaze back to her. "At least leave me with a parting gift."

Valeria arched an eyebrow. "Oh? Like what? A blanket? A book?"

He leaned in, his voice dipping lower. "A kiss."

She scoffed, though her pulse quickened. "You’re impossible."

Xander grinned. "And yet, you’re still standing here."

She should have left by now. But something about the way he looked at her; like she was the most fascinating thing in his world; kept her rooted to the spot.

Valeria: "You’re trying to sweet-talk your way out of this cell, aren’t you?"

Xander: "If I was, would it be working?"

She tilted her head, pretending to consider. "Hmm. Not really. But I do enjoy watching you try."

His chuckle was warm, rich, wrapping around her like a velvet ribbon.

"Then I’ll keep trying, cara mia. Because I never get tired of looking at you."

Her heart betrayed her with a flutter. She rolled her eyes to mask it.

"Flattery won’t save you, Xander."

He sighed, feigning disappointment.

"And here I thought I was making progress."

She smirked, stepping closer; just enough for him to reach through the bars if he wanted to. "Maybe next time, handsome."

Xander's smirk deepened as he lifted a hand, brushing his knuckles lightly against her cheek through the cold metal.

"Then you better come back soon."