G72
Even after we returned home, even after Nathan double–checked every lock, even after I tucked Nicholas safely
9:38 AM O
Kept the Alpha’s Secret Hea
into bed–I couldn’t breathe.
Dean had been following our son. He had given him a teddy bear. He had been close enough to touch him. And I had done nothing.
Nathan emerged from the kitchen, two cups of tea in his hands. He placed one in front of me before sitting down beside me. His expression was tense, his jaw locked in quiet fury.
“Hannah.” His voice was gentle, but there was something unbreakable beneath it. “We need to talk about this.” I stared into my cup, watching the steam swirl. “What’s there to talk about?” My voice came out hoarse. “He’s coming after us. After Nicholas. It doesn’t matter what we say or do–Dean won’t stop.”
Nathan exhaled sharply, his hand tightening around his mug. “I know.”
The weight of his words crushed me.
For years, I had convinced myself that Dean was gone. That our lives–our home, our son–were untouchable. That Nathan and I had won. But we hadn’t.
I turned to him, my eyes burning. “What do we do?”
Nathan’s gaze darkened, his fingers twitching as if itching for a fight. “We protect Nicholas. We stay ahead of him. We-”
“He already got close once.” My voice cracked. “What if he does it again? What if next time, he-”
Nathan set his mug down and pulled me into his arms, his embrace solid, warm, grounding. “I won’t let that happen,” he whispered into my hair. “I swear to you, Hannah. I won’t let him take our son.”
I believe him, but deep inside me, something cold and paralyzing coiled around my ribs. Because I knew Dean. And I knew that when Dean wanted something–he took it.
The next morning, I walked Nicholas to school myself.
His tiny hand was warm in mine, his excitement buzzing as he talked about a new game he and his friends had made up.
But I wasn’t listening. I kept my eyes scanning everything. Every car. Every street corner. Every stranger who walked past.
And still, I felt it. The weight of being watched.
I knew Dean wasn’t here–not physically. But he had planted something in me last night. A seed of fear, growing in the pit of my stomach, twisting my insides into knots.
When we reached the school, I knelt before Nicholas, adjusting his scarf. “Remember what I told you?”
He nodded solemnly. “No talking to strangers. No taking anything from anyone. And if I see Mr. Dean, I run
straight to my teacher or call you.”
My throat tightened. “Good boy.”
He beamed, leaning forward to kiss my cheek. “Bye, Mommy!”
I watched him go, my chest aching as he disappeared through the doors.
He was too innocent. Too pure for the shadows that lurked around us.
I turned on my heel, ready to head back home-
But I froze.
There, across the street, parked by the curb, was a black SUV.
Tinted windows. Silent. Watching.
A surge of ice–cold fear shot through my veins. Dean. I didn’t have proof, but I didn’t need it.
My breathing turned shallow, my hands clenching at my sides. My heart screamed at me to run. But I didn’t.
I squared my shoulders, staring at the car. Daring whoever was inside to come out.
For a long moment, nothing happened.
939 AM
1apt the Alpha Two Ho
Then, as if taunting me, the window rolled down just slightly. Just enough for me to see a familiar pair of dark
eyes staring back.
A slow, knowing smirk curled on his lips.
I turned away before I could let the fear consume me and forced my feet to move.
I burst through the front door, my pulse hammering as I found Nathan in the kitchen.
“He was there,” I said, breathless. “At the school.”
Nathan’s entire body went still.
“Where?” His voice was deadly calm.
“In a car across the street. Watching
Nathan grabbed his phone and stormed out the door.
“Nathan, wait-” I reached for him, but he was already moving. “Where are you going?”
“To end this.” His eyes burned with rage. “I let him breathe for too long.”
I stepped in front of him, pressing my hands against his chest. “And what, you think storming into his pack will stop him? That you can just walk up to him and tell him to leave us alone?”
Nathan’s jaw clenched. “If I have to.”
Tears burned in my eyes. “He wants this, Nathan. He wants to pull you in. Make you reckless. Make **us** react.”
I grabbed his hands, squeezing tight. “Please. Don’t let him win.
His chest rose and fell heavily, but slowly, he let out a sharp breath. “Then what do we do?”
A sharp knock sounded at the door, making us both freeze.
Nathan’s arm shot out in front of me protectively before he moved toward the door.
It was another letter. But this time, when Nathan tore it open, his entire expression changed. His grip on the paper tightened. His breathing grew shallow.
“What?” I asked, my stomach twisting. “What does it say?”
Nathan swallowed hard, then handed me the letter, I scanned the words, my heart stopping as I reached the
bottom
It wasn’t from Dean. It was from Cecelia.
[Leave town. Now. Take your family and go far, far away. If you don’t… You won’t make it out alive.]
I staggered back, my entire body going cold. Nathan met my gaze, his own filled with disbelief. “Hannah… what
the hell is going on?”
I didn’t know. But one thing was clear. Dean wasn’t the only monster we needed to be afraid of.
