Page 1 of Stalked By the Alphas
PROLOGUE
Carter
Five Years ago
The abandoned bed& breakfast on the outskirts of town wasn’t my usual meeting spot for business, but this wasn’t exactly official. The summer air was hot and stifling behind the black mask as I check my watch—11 PM. Perfect timing.
Headlights cut through the night as Noah’s Range Rover pulls up beside my Aston Martin.
“He’s following?” I ask as Noah steps out and moves his mask into place.
“Right on schedule. Zach’s tailing him from the club. Our tiny omega’s latest conquest was eager to get in on this ‘deal’.”
I nod, checking my phone again.
We position ourselves in the shadows of the courtyard at the back of the building, waiting. Sure enough,another set of headlights soon penetrates the darkness. A sensible Volkswagen Golf—exactly the kind of practical car an accountant would drive—pulls into the car park, followed closely by Zach’s black Mercedes.
Jonathan Parker climbs out of the car and looks around, stepping back from Zach as he climbs out of the car with his mask in place.
“Evening, Jonathan,” I call out, stepping out of the shadows. “Thank you for joining us.”
He squints and sees the black mask with purple lighting shot through and he gulps, looking around for an escape. “What’s this deal? Why did we have to meet here?”
“The deal is regarding Hazel Bishop. We need to discuss your relationship with her.”
Noah and Zach box him in as he looks around in confusion. “What? I thought this was about an investment opportunity.”
Zach’s fist connects with his stomach before he can finish, driving the air from his lungs. Parker doubles over, gasping.
“Think of it as an investment for your future.” Zach grabs Parker’s hair, yanking his head back.
Parker tries to straighten up, his bravado crumbling. “You’re insane. All of you.”
Noah circles him slowly, as analytical as ever. “Interesting choice of words. But sanity is relative, isn’t it? What’s truly insane is thinking you could have her.”
I watch as Parker attempts to make a break for his car, only to have Zach catch him with a swift kick tothe back of his knees. He goes down hard on the concrete.
“Now, Jonathan,” I crouch beside him, keeping my voice conversational. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Either way, it ends with you breaking things off with Hazel. The only variable is how much pain you experience in the process.”
“You can’t—” I grip his throat and squeeze, cutting him off.
“We can,” Noah corrects, pulling out his phone. “And we have. Many times. Would you like to see what happened to the last alpha who refused to cooperate?”
Parker gags and chokes out, “I’ll go to the police.”
I laugh. “With what evidence? But even if you did report us...” I pull out my phone, showing him a photo. “This is your sister’s flat in Manchester, isn’t it? Lovely building. Jessica works as a primary school teacher, if I’m not mistaken. It would be tragic if something happened to her.”
“You wouldn’t...”
Zach’s boot presses down on Parker’s hand, applying just enough pressure to make him whimper. “We’ve spent the last few years removing every alpha who gets close to Hazel. Do you really want to test what we’re willing to do?”
Parker’s resolve crumbles. They always break eventually. Some need more persuasion than others, but the result is always the same.
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Noah says. “You’re going to text Hazel right now, ending things.Make it cruel. Make it final. Then you’re going to disappear from her life completely.”
“And if I refuse?”
Zach grinds his heel down harder, and Parker screams as something cracks. “That was just one finger, mate. You’ve got nine more, plus all those lovely bones in your feet.”
