The second I stepped out of the alley, I knew I'd screwed up. Big time.

The air felt heavier, the kind of weight that sends every hair on the back of your neck standing at attention. It was too quiet, too still, and for someone like me who thrives on instincts and experience, that silence screamed trap.

I didn't even get a chance to think.

"Oi, Deku."

The voice was a low, menacing growl, and I didn't have to turn around to know who it belonged to.

Bakugo Katsuki.

The soulbonded alpha wolf himself.

Oh, for the love of—

"You've got some nerve," Bakugo continued, his footsteps slow and deliberate as he stepped into my line of sight. The dim streetlights caught the sharp edges of his smirk, and his crimson eyes gleamed with a kind of fury that promised nothing good for me.

My heart was racing, but I forced myself to stay calm, to play it cool. "Well, if it isn't the neighborhood delinquent. What, couldn't find anyone else to yell at tonight?"

Bakugo's smirk widened. "You're funny, Deku. Real funny. Let's see if you're still laughing after this."

I barely had time to move before he lunged at me, his speed ridiculous for someone who couldn't fully shift. Soulbonded alphas, man. Freaking cheats.

I twisted just in time, his fist grazing past my shoulder as I ducked out of the way. My body moved on autopilot, instincts taking over as I sprang backward, creating distance between us.

"Is this how you welcome everyone, or am I just special?" I taunted, my ears twitching as I listened for any other threats.

Bakugo didn't answer. He didn't have to. The look in his eyes was enough to tell me I wasn't getting out of this without a fight.

Fine, I thought, cracking my neck. You want to dance? Let's dance.

He came at me again, and this time, I met him head-on. My speed was the only advantage I had, and I used it to its fullest, ducking and weaving around his strikes with precision.

Bakugo was strong, no question about it. Every punch he threw carried enough force to take down a normal person in one hit. But I wasn't normal. I was faster, more agile, and every move I made was calculated to keep him on edge.

For a while, it worked.

I landed a kick to his ribs, the impact enough to make him stagger back, and I didn't let up, following it with a quick jab to his side.

But Bakugo was relentless.

He recovered faster than I expected, grabbing my arm mid-strike and yanking me forward with enough force to throw me off balance.

"Gotcha," he snarled, his smirk feral.

Before I could react, he slammed me into the nearest wall, pinning me with a strength that made it clear just how outmatched I was in raw power.

"Not bad, Deku," he said, his breath warm against my ear. "But you're gonna have to do better than that."

Okay, yeah, this is bad.

I growled, my tail flicking in agitation as I twisted in his grip, trying to break free. My claws scraped against the wall, and for a moment, I considered shifting entirely. My animal form was faster, stronger, and way harder to pin down.

But Bakugo wasn't giving me a chance.

He tightened his grip, his free hand grabbing my wrist and forcing it behind my back. "You're quick," he admitted, his tone almost... impressed? "But you're not faster than me."

"Could've fooled me," I snapped, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Bakugo just laughed, a low, dangerous sound that sent a chill down my spine. "You're lucky I need you alive, Deku. Otherwise, this would've ended five minutes ago."

I froze.

Need me alive?

That wasn't good. That wasn't good at all.

Before I could think too much about it, Bakugo shifted his weight, pressing me harder against the wall. "Night-night, kitty," he said, his voice mockingly sweet.

I didn't even see it coming.

His elbow caught me just below the temple, the impact sending stars exploding across my vision.

And then... darkness.

When I woke up, my head was pounding, and the taste of iron lingered in my mouth. I groaned, my senses slowly coming back online as I realized two things:

I was still alive, which was... surprising.My hands were bound.

I blinked, my vision blurry as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. A dimly lit room, the faint smell of burnt metal in the air, and the distant sound of someone—probably Bakugo—yelling at someone else.

"Great," I muttered to myself, wincing as I shifted in my seat. "Just great."

Whatever Bakugo wanted with me, I had a feeling it wasn't going to be good.

But hey, at least I wasn't dead.

Yet.