Chapter 7 – The Store
Inside—
First came looks.
Then whispers.
—
After that…
laughter.
—
Low.
Muffled.
—
But not low enough.
—
Terry heard it.
—
—Really…? —murmured one.
—Look at him… —said another.
—
—A customer dressed like that?
—
Laughter.
—
—The used clothing store is about fifteen blocks away —added another—. If he keeps going straight, he might get lucky.
—
More laughter.
—
Terry gripped the garment in his hands.
—
—I just asked for a size —he said.
—
No one answered.
They just looked at him.
And laughed.
—
Something inside him…
began to move.
—
—I'm a customer —he added, firmer—. I'm buying.
—
The employee tilted his head.
—
—You don't look like one.
—
Silence.
That was enough.
—
—What the hell do you think you're doing? —Terry's voice rose—. What are you laughing at?
—
The laughter didn't stop.
—
—At you.
—
Simple.
Direct.
—
And then—
—
The guards moved.
—
Fast.
—
One grabbed his arm.
Another from behind.
—
Terry tried to break free.
—
Mistake.
—
They pushed him.
—
To the ground.
—
The impact was dry.
—
Knee on his back.
Hands forced.
—
Cold metal.
—
Handcuffs.
—
Wrists.
—
And then—
—
Ankles.
—
—What are you doing?! —shouted Terry.
—
—Controlling a problem —one of the guards replied.
—
And all around—
—
Laughter.
—
No longer muffled.
Open.
—
The manager appeared.
He looked at the scene.
—
And he didn't say "stop."
—
He smiled.
—
—Call the police.
—
Time
Minutes.
Long.
Heavy.
—
Terry on the ground.
Restrained.
—
Rapid breathing.
—
Stares on top of him.
—
As if he were something that didn't belong there.
—
The Police
They arrived.
Without hurry.
Without doubt.
—
—Is this him? —asked one.
—
—He tried to steal —said the manager—. But we stopped him in time.
—
Terry turned his head.
—
—That's a lie!
—
It didn't matter.
—
They lifted him.
Unnecessary force.
—
—Move!
—
Shove.
Another.
—
As if he were already condemned.
—
The Door
Opened.
And they entered.
—
Five.
Coffee in hand.
Half-dead laughter.
—
Until they saw.
—
Silence.
—
Mateo dropped his cup.
—
—…what the hell…?
—
Iván froze.
—
Lin Mei stepped forward.
—
And then—
—
Paulina.
—
She didn't walk.
She advanced.
Straight.
—
—What is happening here?
—
Her voice wasn't loud.
But everyone heard it.
—
The manager frowned.
—
—And who are you?
He pointed at Terry.
—
—Part of his group?
—
—What group? —Iván replied, confused.
—
—This man tried to steal —the manager continued—. But we were smarter. Now the police will handle it.
—
Light laughter around.
—
Paulina didn't smile.
She didn't react immediately.
She just looked.
—
First at Terry.
On the ground.
Handcuffed.
—
Then at the guards.
—
Then at the manager.
—
Silence.
Slow.
Cold.
—
—What the hell are you doing?
—
Her voice changed.
It was no longer a question.
It was a warning.
—
The manager tensed.
—
—And who do you think you are?
—
Pause.
Bad question.
—
Paulina stepped closer.
—
—Do you know my name?
—
Silence.
No one answered.
—
—I am Paulina Volkov.
—
Another pause.
—
—And this store…
—
Slight tilt of her head.
—
—is mine.
—
Absolute silence.
One second.
Two.
—
And then—
—
Laughter.
—
—Sure… —said the manager—. And I'm the king.
—
More laughter.
—
Paulina didn't change her expression.
She took out her phone.
—
—Wait —she said—.
—
She dialed.
Without hurry.
—
—Now we'll find out.
---
Animalistic Version (Continued)
Paulina didn't move.
Phone still in hand.
Call already sent.
—
The laughter hadn't died yet.
It crawled under her skin.
—
The manager smirked.
—Well? Should we wait for your proof?
—
No answer.
She just breathed.
Slow.
Deep.
Like a predator counting heartbeats.
—
Then—
The doors opened.
—
Not violently.
Authority doesn't need noise.
It smells different.
—
A man stepped in.
Suit.
Sharp.
Cold eyes.
Followed by another—
Uniform.
Higher rank.
Badge gleaming like a fang.
—
The officers holding Terry stiffened.
Instinct.
Their spines remembered something their minds hadn't caught yet.
—Captain —one of them said, almost relieved.
Like prey recognizing the alpha wolf.
—
The man's eyes scanned.
Fast.
Precise.
—
Terry.
On the ground.
Restrained.
Breathing like a trapped animal.
—
The guards.
—
The manager.
—
And then—
Paulina.
—
Everything stopped.
The air itself went still.
—
The captain's expression shifted.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
Deep.
Instinctive.
—Release him.
No hesitation.
—
—Sir, he— —one officer started.
—
—Now.
The tone dropped.
Colder than the metal on Terry's wrists.
—
That was enough.
The cuffs came off.
Wrists.
Ankles.
Too fast now.
Too careful.
Like handling something that might bite back.
—
Terry didn't move.
Still on the ground.
Still breathing hard.
—
The manager stepped forward.
—There's been a misunderstanding. This man attempted to steal—
—
A sharp sound cut him off.
The captain turned.
—
—Be quiet.
Not loud.
But final.
Like a muzzle slamming shut.
—
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Thick.
Breathable only for those who belonged.
—
—Do you even understand who you've restrained? —the captain continued.
No one answered.
No one dared.
The manager swallowed.
His throat clicked.
—We were just protecting the store—
—
Another step forward.
The captain's shadow stretched over him.
—From its own owner?
—
The words landed.
Claws sinking into flesh.
—
The manager blinked.
—Owner…?
—
Too late.
His scent had already changed.
Fear.
Sour.
Unmistakable.
—
The captain stepped aside.
Just slightly.
Making space.
For her.
—
Paulina didn't raise her voice.
Didn't rush.
Didn't need to.
Predators don't announce themselves.
They simply arrive.
—
—You touched someone under my protection.
Pause.
Let it sink.
—You restrained him.
Another.
—You called him a thief.
—
Silence.
Now the laughter was gone.
Devoured.
—
Replaced with something else.
Fear.
Pure.
Primal.
—
The manager's posture broke.
His shoulders dropped.
His eyes widened.
—Miss… I— we didn't know—
—
—That's the problem.
Flat.
Controlled.
Final.
Like a death sentence delivered without emotion.
—
Behind her—
Eliza watched.
Silent.
Still as a wolf in tall grass.
—
Lin Mei didn't blink.
Her pulse was the only thing moving.
—
Mateo and Iván didn't speak.
They didn't even breathe.
—
No one moved.
Because the hierarchy had shifted.
Completely.
Like a pack changing leaders mid-hunt.
—
And everyone felt it.
In their bones.
In their blood.
—
Paulina turned slightly.
—We'll discuss consequences.
Not a threat.
A promise.
Territorial.
Inevitable.
—
The manager's legs gave out.
He didn't fall.
But he almost did.
His body remembered how to kneel even if his pride didn't.
—
The captain straightened.
—We'll take care of this.
—
Paulina didn't even look at him.
—You will.
No gratitude.
No acknowledgment.
Just expectation.
The kind a pack alpha gives to a subordinate.
—
Because in this room—
there was only one authority that mattered.
And it wasn't the law.
It was her.
And her territory had teeth.