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Rushing out of the ballroom, down past the side rooms still full of people hanging out and talking, she headed towards the stairs in the lobby. At this point, she just wanted to get up to her room so she could think straight. Constantly being hit on…that was normal even before she started her secret video channel, but this was more. She was used to getting random messages and anonymous tips to PackNewsOne, but the threats from thepeople she exposed hadn’t bothered her.She had made sure she was protected. She had made sure it would all be directed towards her secret identity.
Last year, starting a news channel in a time of impending war, vicious rivalries, disappearing wolves, and angry witches meant every move she made was a risk. She had built corporations and false names, DBAs, and alternate addresses in order to keep herself safe. Ava, now her Alpha and best friend, would have insisted even if she hadn’t already done it.
She had thought these personal threats were a fluke at first, but this one person—man, shifter, whatever—had been emailing her for months, and lately it had been scaring her more and more. At first, it was once or twice a week, and it would be conversational, like he knew her personally. She had convinced herself that if she ignored it, he would think she wasn’t getting the messages and assume he had the wrong email, and hopefully the wrong person.
But lately, it had gotten creepier, telling her she was meant to be with him, that she should give up this life and come home with him. The messages would come in from a new email address each time after she blocked him, and now they were coming at least a few times a week.
But she had it handled. She didn’t want to burden Ava, not after everything they had gone through, and the guys she traveled with for protection…they would make it a bigger deal than it was. Her friends, two male shifters from her pack, Aisling, and one of the alpha sons of the neighboring pack, Tuisa, stuck with her at Ava’s insistence, allowing her parents to stay home. Hell, even her parents would insist she leave the tour, and she couldn’t do that. Not when her channel was at an all-time high of subscribers and viewers.
This was the first time the messages had been in person though. And that changed things…unless…
He could be bluffing.
Unfolding the paper as she walked, the same scrawled writing jumped out at her.
I’ve been watching you.
Sucking in a quick breath, a sick feeling formed in her stomach as she stared down at the words. She had just reached the stairs when a hand appeared from a dark doorway, clamping on her arm and yanking her into an empty closet. Yelping unexpectedly, panic and fear raced through her body.
As the lock clicked behind her, and she was pushed up against the door, a hand covering her mouth, she could only think about how dumb she was for being distracted and not aware of her surroundings. Ajax, their long-time pack trainer, would ream her out for relaxing on all her training.
She struggled hard, her fist connecting with a hard stomach, before she inhaled a familiar scent.
“Fuck, Bailey. Stop, it’s me. Shit, I need help.”
“Damnit, Travis, you scared the hell out of me. Let go.”
“Right, sorry. I’m just relieved it was you walking by right then. I didn’t want them to see me. And since when did you get so strong?”
“The better question is, how are you so weak as our future pack Beta? I don’t know why Ava would keep you around. You’d get her killed in a fight.”
“Because Ava doesn’t need brawn—she’s already the ultimate Alpha. I’m like her emotional support Beta. There for comedic relief.”
“Travis.” The frustration in her voice rose, and she shoved him back. With her eyes adjusting to the dark, she watched him trip over the mop bucket and slam back first into the corner. “Why are you hiding in here like a five-year-old?”
He picked himself up, then poked his head out the door, checking to see if the noise he made called attention to them before closing the door again. She was getting annoyed by their pack Beta. Well, their beta-to-be. Thankfully, his father still held that position because this fool was a hot mess.He would be useless in a fight and could never help run their pack if he couldn’t keep his mind off women.
“So, there’s this girl.”
“Of course.”
“I’ve been trying to have some, ahem, alone time with her all weekend, but her brother is hella cock-blocking. Won’t let us have any fun. Every time we sneak off, he finds us, and last time, he made it clear that if I didn’t get lost, he would break me in half. Dude is giant and scary as fuck. Big like Keoni, maybe even Makaii. Local Alpha and all. So, she—”
“For fuck’s sake, you have an Alpha trying to kill you, and you’re still chasing her? There are too many women out there, Travis. Let her go.”
“Not like her. She’s special. I may be in love, and she wants me bad. Said she can’t find anyone willing to risk dealing with her brother. All the sneaking around is making it hot, like scary hot. Like I’m gonna come-in-my-pants hot anytime I’m around her.”
“Uh-uh, too much information.”
“Sorry. So, she’s going to this little after-party at a friend’s house. She told her brother she was staying the night with a friend, and I needed to meet her there. But this crazy brother—”
“The huge Alpha of the local pack.”
“Yes, him. He cornered me before I could leave, and all his little friends are looking for me now. Literally, they are stalking the halls trying to find me. I only need help getting him off my trail. Can you help a poor guy out? I’d be eternally grateful.”
Travis lifted his hands in mock prayer, and he tried to make sad eyes at her. At least he was a welcome distraction, and sincehe was her roommate, if he was gone, then she could have the room to herself tonight. That was the real selling point here.
“Fine, but we’re doing it my way. Play along, or I’ll let him beat you to a pulp.” She grabbed his arm, dragging him from the closet and back towards the ballroom.
