“Level five,” I reply in a small voice, nuzzling my cheek against his shoulder, needing his scent. When I look up at him, he cups my face and uses his thumb to brush away my tears.
What if they hadn’t come? What if Jensen had followed me? What if I hadn’t been able to get the door shut? I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, trying to stop my racing thoughts.
“Let’s get you home.” Hunter picks me up, my legs going around his waist. We all leave the stairwell and head towards the elevator. Zachary walks ahead of Hunter and me, Alric close behind us. With them here, my breathing evens out. They came when I needed them. Their presence soothes me and keeps me grounded.
When we get to my place, Zachary pries open my clenched fist to remove my keys. He takes my palm into his hand and kisses it, rubbing away the angry red imprints from the metal marking my skin. Once he opens the door, we all walk in and someone turns the dead bolt.
Tonight could have ended so differently. I’ve never been more grateful for anyone than I am for them right now. I’m safe here with my alphas.
Hunter carries me over to my small, worn couch and sits down, pulling me even tighter against him. I gulp down his donut and creamy coffee essence, never wanting to let him go. Zachary and Alric sit on either side of us, cocooning me in their arms.
“Thank you for coming,” I whisper because I can’t handle the silence.
“Babycakes,” Hunter says softly, “what happened? Who is this guy?”
I can’t keep this from them now.
“Marc Jensen. I met him on the same dating app we all use, Knotty. He wanted to be a client. We went out on a couple of dates to see if we would be a good match. We weren’t. He sent money and gifts like all alphas do when they’re trying to have access to me. I told him it wasn’t going to work, and then didn’t think anything of it. When I opened Knotty to find new clients, I found out that he had been leaving me messages for months. I’ve also been getting texts from an unknown number, I think it might have been him.”
Zachary hesitantly asks, “What kind of messages?”
“At first, it was just cocky and flirty. Then it progressively got ruder and meaner. He found my number. I’m not sure how, probably another alpha who had it. It’s not my real phone number, but the calls and texts go to this phone.”
I hold it up, waving it a little.
“Madeline, what happened outside?” Alric asks carefully.
I tell them everything. “I kicked my suitcase at him and ran into the building. Did you see it outside?”
“No, sweetheart, we didn’t see anything outside. No lingering cars, no alphas.”
Tears stream down my face. I had everything important in my carry-on bag that Zachary set on the table, but still, my favorite bathing suits were in that suitcase. Clothing. My toiletries. Expensive fucking perfume.
Bastard. I don’t want to think about what he’s doing with those bathing suits.
Zach gets up and brings me over a bottle of water from the fridge. I greedily drink it down, realizing how dry my throat is. It’s such a comfort having them here.
Alric curses under his breath. “We need to report him. He can’t terrorize an omega like this or ever find you again.”
I pull open my phone and open the Knotty app. I scroll through all my messages now that I’m back on it. There’s quitea few new ones, but he’s gone. Alric’s shoulders tighten. I know he can see my screen and all the alphas trying to chat with me there.
I’m about to tell him that I’m not going to message anyone ever again, but Hunter interrupts my thoughts. “Where’s your nest?”
They glance around the tiny rundown apartment and a new fear trickles in, one that has nothing to do with tonight’s terrors.
They all speak at the same time.
“Babycakes, why are all your clothes in the living room?”
“How many bedrooms is this?”
“How old is this building?” Alric slowly gets up, walking around the place. Hunter reluctantly releases me after I scramble to stand up.
Rule number seven.Alpha-free home.
I know they’re all judging it. This is exactly why I only ever allowed Harper over. I can see the apartment through their eyes. Everything is dated. The only thing about the place that has been updated in the past ten years is the fridge and oven, which I replaced when the landlord wouldn’t, but it sticks out in the vintage kitchen.
Alric marches to my bedroom, flipping the light switch on. I follow him, my humiliation grows with each step. “Hey, you’re not allowed in there.”
