Page 17 of Stalked By the Alphas
I slip out of the alley and make my way down the street away from Hazel, away from watching her, and make my way to the house I rented around the back of the high street, where it is quieter. Pushing open thedoor, I see Zach tying Rob, gagged and bound to my desk chair.
I stride into the room, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. Rob’s eyes widen in fear as he sees me approach. Good. He should be afraid.
“You just couldn’t stay away, could you?” I growl, circling him slowly. “We gave you very clear instructions. Break up with Hazel. Cut all contact, and yet here you are, trying to ‘make things right’.”
I stop in front of him, leaning down so we’re eye to eye. “Did you really think we wouldn’t find out? That we wouldn’t be watching?”
Rob tries to speak through the gag, but all that comes out is a muffled whimper. I straighten up, disgust twisting my features.
“Pathetic,” I spit. “You’re not worthy of her. None of you are.”
Zach moves to stand beside me, his arms crossed over his chest. “What should we do with him, Carter?”
I consider for a moment, my gaze never leaving Rob’s terrified face. “I’m done fucking about. He can’t be trusted.” My hand clamps around his throat, and I squeeze. Rob’s eyes bulge, his face going purple as I tighten my grip. The thrill of the kill is coursing through me. I wish Hazel were here to see it. I’d like nothing more than to claim her next to Rob’s dead body, so she knows the lengths I will go to be with her.
I squeeze Rob’s throat tighter, feeling his pulse racing beneath my fingers. His eyes are wide with terror as he struggles futilely against his bonds. The room issilent except for his muffled choking sounds. He shudders, and his eyes roll back. He is seconds away from death. I clamp down tighter, my hand like a vice, until Rob stops moving, stops breathing.
I let him go and step back. “Get rid of the body,” I say to Zach.
He nods as I turn away from him.
As Zach begins the grim task of disposing of Rob’s body, I pull out my phone to call Noah. Our omega may think she’s found a new protector, but she has no idea what’s really coming for her. And by the time she realises, it’ll be far too late.
11
HAZEL
With a smilethat I genuinely feel for the first time in what feels like forever, I push open the door to the bookshop.
Mrs Lewis looks up from her reading and grins. “How was it?”
As much as I try, I can’t quite hide my pleased expression. “It was nice. Ayden seems like a good guy.”
“Just nice?” Mrs Lewis presses, raising an eyebrow. “That handsome alpha swept in to rescue you, and all you can say is ‘nice’?”
I feel my cheeks flush. “All right, it was more than nice. He’s charming, intelligent, and...” I trail off, remembering the way Ayden’s blue eyes had sparkled when he laughed.
“And?” Mrs Lewis prompts eagerly.
I shake my head, trying to clear it. “And nothing. I barely know him. It was just tea.”
Mrs Lewis clucks her tongue disapprovingly. “Don’tlet a good one slip away, dear. Not all alphas are like that Rob fellow.”
A pang of unease goes through me at the mention of Rob. His strange behaviour earlier still bothers me. What had he been trying to tell me?
“Speaking of,” I say, glancing around the shop, “did Rob come back while I was gone?”
Mrs Lewis shakes her head. “Not a peep. Good riddance, I say.”
I nod, trying to shake off the lingering unease. “You’re probably right. Thanks for watching the shop, Mrs Lewis.”
“Any time, dear,” she says, gathering her things. “Since my Joe passed, I’ve been a bit lost. I don’t know what to do with myself… if you ever need someone to watch the shop, I’m happy to do so.”
She gives me a look that shows me she hates to ask but feels she has to for her own sanity. I get that. More than she will probably ever know.
“You know what,” I say brightly. “I was thinking, with summer coming along, to open up for a few hours on Sundays. How does that sound?”
Her face lights up. “I’d love that!” She comes over to me and grips my hands, tears pricking her eyes. “Thank you, Hazel. I hated to ask, but this has been the most fun I’ve had in over a year.”
