Page 111 of Stolen By the Alpha Hunter
Ephraim doesn’t hesitate.
“Come here, Esther,” he says, like a curse.
He grabs my arm and drags me down the hall, just like before. It’s a blur—the lights, the shadows, the screech of rusted metal. I barely feel the floor beneath my feet. I don’t resist. There’s no point.
We reach the door.
He flings it open.
I brace myself for the pain, for the emptiness?—
But Ephraim leans down.
Right into my ear.
“They’re coming tonight,” he breathes. “And I want you to take me with you.”
I stop cold. My eyes fly to his face, searching for the trick, the lie, the smirk.
But it’s not there.
Only grim determination.
“You’reserious?” I whisper.
“If that Angel comes back, they’ll know I helped you,” he mutters. “Things are about to get a whole lot worse around here—and I don’t need to join your stupid little pack, I just want off the Rig.”
I narrow my eyes at him and pull my hand away. “If you get us out of here, you’re welcome to a ride. But after that, I don’t ever want to see you again.”
His jaw tightens.
“Same here.”
I slip inside the room and shut the door, but I don’t hear it lock again. Ephraim is leaving it open for me—for us—to escape. I face the door and breathe deeply, trying to collect myself before looking at Javi again, wondering if I’m about to find him dead.
I’m on the precipice…everything could change in the next few seconds.
I gather my strength.
But when I turn around, he’s gone.
I left him unresponsive right here, and now there’s just an empty space.
I look around the room, but I don’t see any sign of him. The light is dim, a single lamp by the door, but my vision is good enough to see into the darkness. I scan each of the shadows, my heart pounding, remembering one of the side effects of kraken overdose.
Violent outbursts.
“Javi?” I whisper.
A low growl comes a few seconds later, from the darkest corner of the room. I go still and look toward it, and I find a pair of glassy green eyes staring at me, then sharp teeth. That’s all I can see, Javi’s coat so black that it blends perfectly with the shadows.
He looks like he’s ready to strike.
I stay by the door, prepared to flee if necessary but knowing they’ll just lock me in here again if I’m caught. And this is Javi—my mate, the man who’s promised to protect me, the father of our child. I trust him.
Even if he’s out of his mind, I have to believe he wouldn’t turn his rage on me.
“You’re safe,” I tell him, raising my hands. “We are safe.”
