Three months later
I watched Alex walk through the door, heart thumping. Anxiously, I waited for him to close it. He paused and turned back to pin me with a hard stare.
“What?” I asked, legs folded as I sat on the sofa with a book in hand. I had to ensure I was the picture of innocence.
“I’ll be back in two hours, tops.” Pointing a finger, he ordered, “Do not leave this apartment. No, you know what? Do not move from that couch.”
Rolling my eyes with dramatic flair, I sighed. “Jesus, Alex, where would I even go? Just go to your Alpha already. He needs you more than I do.”
Alex received a call from Damian five minutes ago. Apparently, there was a scuffle—Alex’s words—with members of Adam Blackwell’s pack. Things got out of hand. Cole wanted his most trusted pack members with him. I’d learned that Cole’s inner circle consisted of Damian, Violet, Alex, Dominic, and Stephan. They were completely loyal to him and only him, which was why they were the only ones from the pack who knew about me. I hadn’t seen much of Stephan because he was the one who always stayed on the pack’s compound to oversee things.
Tonight, with all my bodyguards and Cole occupied, I’d get a little time alone. Being watched twenty-four-seven had me ready to tear my hair out. And being stuck in one place drove me up the wall. I couldn’t wait for Alex to leave. But he stood in the doorway, eyebrows furrowed, still watching me.
“I don’t know, Syd. I don’t like the idea of you being here alone. I’m going to call Cole. If I tell him I’m not comfortable leaving you, he’ll allow me to stay—”