Page 44 of Stalked By the Alphas
I bite the inside of my lip, feeling guilt and shame crash over me that Hazel was hurt so long ago, and we never knew about it. She never confided in us or let us help her through the pain. Everything we have ever done was for her, but maybe if we’d known about this abuse, we could’ve spared her some of the deeper trauma. But even as I think that, I know it’s not true. Her parents disliked us and made it known. They didn’t want Hazel hanging out with us. They had to go. I tighten my hand on the back of the chair, nearly snapping the cheap wood.
Noah’s words hang heavy in the air. I turn away, unable to meet his gaze. The guilt I’ve been suppressing for years threatens to choke me.
“We didn’t know,” I mutter, more to myself than to Noah. “If we had known...”
“Would it have changed anything?” Noah asks, his voice uncharacteristically soft. “We did what we thought was best for her. For us.”
I shake my head, frustration building. “But look at her now, Noah. She’s falling apart. Is this really what’s best for her?”
Noah is quiet for a long moment. When he speaks, his voice is measured, controlled. “It’s too late to change course now. We’re committed. Carter can change the plan, and that’s fine. Part of me expected this, but from you, not him.”
The accusation isn’t malicious, just fact. I understand it and don’t get offended.
“So, you have a plan within a plan?” I venture, knowing my packmate all too well.
He grins. “When do I not?”
He turns on his heel, and moments later, I hear him lifting stuff out of the van, but inside, my guts are churning. I’m not sure I want to know what Noah has up his sleeve.
28
NOAH
I arrangesome sad-looking cushions on the sofa, trying to make it look homely as I process this new development. Carter’s impulsiveness has thrown a large pigeon amongst the cats of our carefully laid plans, but I’ve anticipated this possibility. The alpha in him was always going to struggle with the clinical approach we’d agreed on. Seeing Hazel in person, vulnerable and needing protection, was bound to trigger his baser alpha instincts.
But where Carter sees an opportunity for redemption, I see a chance to refine our strategy. Hazel’s deteriorating mental state offers a unique angle we hadn’t factored in before. Her increasing paranoia and hallucinations provide the perfect cover for what we need to accomplish.
Stepping back to admire my handiwork, my mind ticks through potential scenarios. Hazel’s fragile mental state could work to our advantage in ways I hadn’tinitially considered. With the right manipulation, we could use her paranoia to isolate her further, making her even more dependent on us.
I pull out my phone, scrolling through the detailed files I’ve compiled on Hazel over the years. Her psychological profile, her fears, her weaknesses - all meticulously documented. A small smile tugs at my lips as I consider how to best utilise this information.
“What are you thinking?” Zach asks, eyeing me warily as he enters the room with the last bag of miscellaneous items.
“Just considering our next steps. Carter may have changed the immediate plan, but our end goal remains the same.”
Zach shifts uncomfortably. “And what exactly is that end goal now? Because I’m starting to think we’re not all on the same page anymore.”
I fix him with a steady gaze. “The goal, Zach, is to bring Hazel back where she belongs—with us. How we go about that may need to adapt, but the destination hasn’t changed.”
He nods slowly, but I can see the doubt in his eyes. Zach has always been the softest of us, the most likely to waver depending on what mood he is in at any given minute of any given day.
“You with me?” I prompt when he doesn’t say anything.
He nods. “I think Carter wants us to stay out of the way for now.”
“That’s fine. We can do that. Let him make someheadway with Hazel first before we all descend on her and overwhelm her. We can keep up the minor upheavals in her life; in fact, it will probably be easier now that she is here.” My words are perfectly reasonable, and he knows it. He wants to fight it, but he won’t win with me. I have an answer for everything. I always have. I’m quick on my feet, and I pivot when necessary. It’s why I finished top of my class and have more offers than I know what to do with every single day from every institution that even remotely offers any course on psychology. Everyone wants to work with me, to learn from me. But what they don’t get is that I’m not like them. I don’t feel what they do. I am apathetic towards everything except where Hazel is concerned. Then it’s the exact opposite. She is, and always has been, the only one to make me feel anything. Rage, lust, love, frustration... always and only her.
Zach carefully processes my words. His internal conflict is written plainly across his face. The desire to protect Hazel clashes with his loyalty to our pack and our plan. I need to tread carefully here. He is spiralling. I can see the signs as clear as anything.
“Look,” I say, softening my tone, “I know this situation isn’t ideal. But we have to adapt. Carter’s change of plans doesn’t have to derail everything we’ve worked towards. In fact, it could work in our favour.”
“How?”
“Think about it. Hazel is already vulnerable, her mind fracturing. She’s seeking help, stability. Carterswooping in to rescue her plays right into that. We can use this to our advantage.”
“By manipulating her?” Zach asks, his tone sharp.
I shake my head. “By helping her. She needs us, Zach. She just doesn’t realise it yet. We’re giving her what she truly wants—a pack, a family, security.”
