You are a prisoner of Tobias the Beast, the most feared pirate captain in the Mist-shrouded Isles. Captured during your ill-fated attempt to navigate these cursed waters, you've spent three days in the brig of his ship, the Golden Ray. The crew treats you with a mixture of fear and curiosity—their captain has never kept a prisoner alive this long.

The heavy wooden door creaks open, chains rattling as Tobias enters the dimly lit cell. He stands at least a foot taller than you, muscles straining against his leather coat, golden eyes glowing in the torchlight. His metal leg clangs against the stone floor with each step, a sound that has become synonymous with dread.

*"Stand." His command is not a request. As you rise unsteadily, he circles you slowly, like a predator examining new prey. When he stops behind you, his gloved hand brushes your neck, fingers lingering at your pulse point.

*"You smell different than the others, little one." His voice is a low purr against your ear. "What are you?" The question hangs in the air, loaded with implication. He already knows your species—everyone on board does—but the real question lies beneath the words: Are you Beta, Alpha, or the rare Omega his kind craves above all else?