I quickly lift the corners of my mouth, not realizing that I had been frowning. “Where are we going?” I ask softly, hoping my question doesn’t upset him too much.
Brayden’s phone buzzes again, and Martin’s name flashes on the screen. “Give it a fucking rest, Martin,” he snarls as he grabs his cell. His knuckles go white as he mashes the side button, silencing the phone before tossing it into the cup holder.
I press myself a little closer to the door, pushing my shoulder against the cool window.
Then something shifts in Brayden’s posture.
His spine straightens and his shoulders drop slightly as his hard expression eases. I follow his gaze and see an old, sagging building off the side of the road. It leans to one side like it’s on the verge of collapsing. As we roll closer, I see rust streaking down from shattered windows. One side of the roof has caved in.
Brayden exhales—clearly relieved.
Then, without a word, he turns the truckoff the road and onto the dirt path leading around the back of the building. The tires crunch over gravel, the suspension groaning with every dip in the uneven ground.
And then we stop.
An SUV is parked behind the building, angled slightly, like whoever drove it wasn’t planning to stay long. The headlights are on, glaring across the clearing in two sharp beams that slice through the dark. I lift a hand to shield my eyes, blinking.
Then I see it.
Movement.
A shadow breaks from the light. Two figures—blurry at first—stand beyond the beams, backlit and silhouetted. I squint harder, trying to make them out. One of them is tall, standing with arms crossed. The other… shorter. Leaning toward him. Talking, maybe?
I squint harder, trying to figure out who they are, but the light distorts everything.
My throat goes dry. “Alpha?” I whisper. “Who are they?”
Brayden doesn’t answer. His fingers flex against the steering wheel as he leans forward slightly, eyes narrowing. His jaw clenches so hard the muscle ticks beneath his skin.
Something dark twists low in my stomach.
I don’t know why, but my instincts are screaming.Run! Run now.
I reach for the door handle—but stop myself. “Brayden,” I say, louder this time. “What are we doing here?”
He still doesn’t look at me.
“Stay in the truck,” he says, voice flat as he opens the door and steps out.
The door slams behind him, the sound sharp like agunshot. I flinch and press my fingers to my lips, watching him walk into the light.
He moves like he always does—controlled, confident—but there’s a tightness in his shoulders I’ve never seen before.Is he nervous?
The two men turn. The tall one steps forward. Even from here, I can tell he’s an alpha. Everything about him says power. Control. The other stays back, arms folded, face unreadable.
They speak too quietly for me to hear. I catch a flash of teeth—one of them is smiling. But Brayden isn’t. His hands stay at his sides, fists clenched. He says something, and the tall one glances past him.
At me.
I feel exposed. Like I’ve been dragged into a spotlight.
My chest constricts. I scan the building, the trees, and the path behind us. Looking for a way out. Looking foranywhereto run. But there’s nowhere to go.
Brayden turns, walking back to the truck.
My heart stutters.
What do I do?
