AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"The last time he approached me, I ended up injured, remember?"
Eyes grazing over my ankle, Bob grimaced. "You were the trespasser then." He gave me a wicked grin. "Be careful though, he's not neutered."
My eyes went wide, and my mouth dropped open as Bob turned to walk down the stairs. "Wait, what's the dog's name?"
"Alpha." Bob turned to smirk.
That name brought back the memory of a cruel voice whispering in my ear.'I'm the Alpha now, sweet thing. You're mine.'Blood suddenly cold in my veins, I trembled with the memory of his hand, fisting my hair as he held my face down on the table. A sob choked out of my throat before I could stop it.
Frowning, all humor vanished from Bob's face as he stepped towards me. "Vera, what is it?" Shaking my head, I stumbled back to my room as the tears cascaded down my cheeks. "Vera?" The screen rattled as Bob tried to open the door, cursing when he found it locked. "Vera, was the man who hurt you called Alpha?"
Blubbering a quiet yes to my chest, Bob cursed again, then the place grew silent. Crying out the memories of the past fourteen years, I hugged myself, rocking back and forth. After a long time, I lay down exhausted and fell asleep.
Two nights later, I was sitting on my hammock reading when I heard a noise. Turning my head, I noticed the large dog sitting on the other side of the boundary. Easing myself out of the hammock, I went inside and filled a bowl with ice cold water, then a second bowl with the remainder of the stew I'd made for dinner.
During the week, the dog's appearance was sporadic but guaranteed every weekend. Taking it easy down the steps, I placed both bowls on the ground. Moving backwards up the steps, I lowered down to sit at the top stoop.
"I'm sorry I trespassed that first night I was here. I'd never been free to wander outside before, and it was too much to resist. Do you think we can be friends now?"
Tilting its head, the dog observed me. When it stayed where it was, I clasped my hands together and looked over the back yard. "It's beautiful here. I grew up in a house like the one up the hill. It was so big, a child should have been free to run and play, but my father yelled at me if I got underfoot." Taking a deep breath, I moved my eyes back to the dog. He'd come forward and was sitting by the bottom of the steps watching me as I talked.
"Bob told me your name. I'm trying not to hold it against you. My father held that title." Top of his nose scrunching as if he smelled something wrong, the dog stepped back. "No, he was a good man. He wasn't a great father, but he never hurt me. While he ruled the house, everyone ignored me. The chef basically raised me, and a teacher living in the house home-schooled me."
While I spoke, the dog came forward and sniffed my ankle. On instinct, I moved my leg away, and he sat back down to watch me.
"It was the man who held the title after my father that I hated. He didn't ignore me." Swiping at a stray tear running down my cheek, I hugged myself with my arms and shivered. Meeting the dog's eyes, he was intent on my tears. "Sorry, I'm rambling, aren't I? I'm not good at making friends. Freedom is still very new to me."
Rising up, I started back inside. As I shut the screen door, I looked back at the dog. "Try the stew. It was one of the chef's best recipes." Locking the door, I turned off the inside lights and moved to my bedroom.
The next night, I cooked up the steaks Jeremy purchased me, insisting I needed the protein. Right on time, Alpha appeared in the yard. Serving up dinner on the plates, I walked out onto the patio.
When I'd collected the bowls later yesterday evening, all the stew was gone. The dog didn't stay by the boundary tonight. Last night I'd invited him to cross the boundary line, and he was taking that as an open invitation. Setting the plate on the bottom step, I went back to the porch and sat down with my meal. "Bon appetite."
Licking his steak for taste, Alpha rumbled then scoffed it down. Eating my half-portion, I smiled at Alpha, licking his chomps and eyeing my meal. Placing my plate aside as he came up the stairs, slowing as he approached me, I held my breath. Sniffing my ankle first, the one I twisted, Alpha made a weird noise, and I tensed. When he licked my ankle, I jumped a little then giggled. "It's okay, no long-term damage done."
Lifting his snout, Alpha licked where I'd cut my shin. Lowering my hand with caution, I slid my fingers into the silky hair on his head. Tremors passed through him from head to tail when I combed my fingers down the fur of his neck. My fingers sparked with static electricity, relaxing me. Exhaling hard at the sensation that passed up my arm, I bit my lip and moaned. The tingling vibrated through my chest, making me aware of my heart. Butterflies took flight in my stomach, my belly hollowed, and things tightened below.
Opening my eyes wide, I blinked at my body's reaction to his soft fur. Sniffing up my leg and along my bare thigh, Alpha shoved his nose between my legs where he took a deep whiff. Jumping up, I pushed his head away as I stepped back. "Oh my god! When Bob warned you weren't desexed, he wasn't joking."
Raising his head, I swear his eyes were laughing at me. When I went to collect my plate, Alpha shoved his nose into the crook of my neck and made a sound of appreciation. Confused, I tilted my head to look at him, and as I did, Alpha licked straight up the side of my face.
"Yuk! That's gross. It's bad enough when a man does it. Why do males always think it's okay to leak their bodily secretions all over a girl?" As I backed away, I swear Alpha raised a brow at me and laughed. Rolling my eyes, I walked back inside. "Now I need a second shower."
After showering and redressing in my pajamas, I came back out to collect the plates. A man was standing at the bottom of the steps. Halting my actions when I realized it wasn't Bob or Jeremy, I stepped back inside, locking the screen door.
Turning at the sound of the lock sliding into place, the man's deep indigo eyes watched me tremble. He was tall, with an athletic build, pale bronzed skin, dark hair, and the most luscious lips I'd ever seen on a man. He wore suit pants and a long-sleeved black business shirt, despite the summer heat outside.
It wasn't his looks I feared, but the air of authority he gave off. He held the composure of someone who got his way all the time. Not cockiness or ego, but the confidence you couldn't deny him whatever he wanted. Much the same as my father, and much the same as Malcolm. That's what made me shrink back from the door as he took the first step.
Collecting Alphas plate as he came up onto the patio, he held up a placating hand. "I'm not here to hurt you, Vera," his caramel voice assured.
Instantly, I felt at ease, but that set of its own set of alarms. Tears sprang to my eyes, my teeth gnawing on my lower lip.
"My name is Dale Hearn, I own the manor house."
Recognizing the name of the man who hadn't wanted me to own the cottage, I found it difficult to swallow. Was this about Bob and Jeremy?
Lifting the plate up before setting it down outside the back door, Dale cocked a brow. "You like dogs?"
