Page 7 of The Librarian and Her Alphas

“Oh my god,” I whisper to myself—my voice barely audible above the howling wind. A single thought pounds through my brain relentlessly.

It could just be my co-workers coming back briefly. Or even…Gunnar?

CHAPTER2

Damon

Waiting for my next kill has never felt so exciting.

Thunder rolls overhead, and rain falls in heavy sheets, drenching me to the bone as I stand outside the IT Solutions building. It’s a miserable night, but my anger keeps me focused, my mind occupied with thoughts of killing him tonight.

The man, a waste of space, isn’t innocent at all, and now it’s time to put an end to him. Water streams from my black hair, dripping onto my face and obscuring my vision, but it doesn’t bother me.

I can still see the entrance to the building.

“We finally tracked him down,” Max says, standing next to me, his bright red hair visible in the rain. “Took us long enough.”

Gunnar grunts in agreement, his steel-gray eyes gazing intently at the building. “Now that we know it’s him, he’s not getting away.”

My blood boils every time I think about the man who works inside these walls—a child abuser, the lowest form of scum. My pack and I have been surveilling him for weeks, and tonight, we’ll make sure he pays for his crimes.

A civilian had taken a risk and contacted us, hoping we could do what the police had so far failed to do.

“The man you’re after,” he had whispered over the phone earlier in the day, “he’s not just another thug. He’s running a trafficking operation that’s tearing the city apart. Children have gone missing, and I can send you a photo of him.”

His voice quivered with fear and anger—he knew what was at stake if this man was allowed to roam the streets.

My pack and I are ready for him. This is our livelihood, but I do it mostly for myself.

A roll of thunder sounds overhead, snapping me back to reality. I take a deep breath and steel myself for what is to come.

“Can’t afford to make any mistakes,” I say. “We need to confirm it’s him and that he matches the picture we have. I don’t want anyone else to suffer because of this piece of shit.”

The human had provided us with valuable information, but we’ve also hijacked the town’s police system, cross-referencing records to ensure the people we’re after are indeed criminals. Our pack only hunts those who deserve it, and we need to be sure we’re pursuing the correct targets.

“Don’t worry, we’ve double-checked everything, Damon. This guy’s got a record as long as my arm,” Max assures me.

“Let’s just hope he gets out soon,” Gunnar mutters, his gaze fixed on the entrance. “I think that’s him.”

“Oh yes, that’s him,” I growl, fury coursing through my veins, heating my blood when I see him leaving the building. The stories I’ve read about this guy sicken me to the core. I clench my fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms.

“Here he comes,” Gunnar murmurs, his voice low as Max stiffens beside me.

We all focus on our target. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, moving with a confidence that sets my teeth on edge.

Thomas.

His name is seared into my memory from endless nights of research, a dark stain on my conscience that won’t be removed until justice is served.

I know without a doubt that it’s him.

“That’s him. He looks exactly like his picture,” I say, my voice barely audible over the rain. My packmates nod, their faces set with grim determination.

Thomas walks toward his car, glancing around as if sensing something’s off. We still have the element of surprise, for now. I nod as he reaches for the door handle, and Gunnar moves like a shadow, ambushing him from behind. He clamps a hand over Thomas’s mouth?—

—and Thomasexplodes.

He slams Gunnar backward with brute strength, his eyes flashing amber, claws extending.

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