Page 5 of Claimed By the Psychos

The guard's head snaps up from his magazine. His pupils dilate the second he sees her, nostrils flaring as he catches her scent. Omega. Unbonded. Interested.

Fucking alphas. So predictable it's almost boring.

I slip behind a marble column and pull out my device, immediately setting to work. The hotel's security system isdecent—for a hotel. But I've cracked military-grade encryption while bleeding from a stab wound. This is child's play.

"Lost?" The guard's voice drops an octave, trying to sound commanding. "Where are you trying to go, miss?"

"I don't even know." Juniper laughs, the sound tinkling like glass windchimes. "I had a few drinks at the bar, and now all these hallways look the same."

She's so good at playing innocent it scares even me sometimes.

The code flows across my screen, beautiful in its simplicity. I isolate the past four hours of footage, my fingers working from muscle memory while my eyes stay locked on Juniper through the feed showing the outside hallway. She's leaning against the vending machine now, playing with her hair like she doesn't have a senator's blood under her fingernails.

"Maybe you could help me?" She bites her lip, and I watch the guard's Adam's apple bob. "I'm supposed to meet my friend, but..."

"Sure, sure." He's already putting his wallet back in his pocket, pre-shift snacks forgotten. "What's your room number?"

Delete. Replace. Loop. The footage disappears into the digital void, replaced with hours of empty hallways and nothing suspicious. Just another quiet night at an overpriced hotel.

"Oh, I can't remember." Juniper's giggle could melt titanium. "Isn't that silly?"

The guard launches into what sounds like a detailed explanation of the hotel's layout, clearly trying to impress her. I catch something about emergency exits and elevators, but mostly I'm focused on finishing the job. Almost there. Just need to scrub the backup servers and?—

"Did you know the Cardinals are up by twelve?"

What the fuck?

How long was I tuned out for?

I risk a glance around the column. The guard is holding up his phone, pointing at stats like Juniper gives a single shit about sports. But she must have asked him about it. Or he's the worlds' worst flirt. She's nodding along, but I can see the glaze in her eyes from here. That's her "I'm thinking about murder" face.

"That's... fascinating," she says, in a tone that suggests it's anything but.

"Right? And their defensive line this season?—"

I type faster, willing the progress bar to move. But clearly, Juniper's bought me a few more minutes. The guard drones on about batting averages or touchdowns or whatever the fuck the Cardinals do. Juniper's smile is starting to look strained, like a rubber band about to snap even through the grainy feed.

Done.

I pocket the device and step out from behind the column, making enough noise to announce my presence. Both heads turn toward me.

"There you are." I don't have to fake the relief in my voice. Another five minutes of sports talk and Juniper might have strangled him with his own tie.

"Felix!" She practically bounces away from the desk. "I was just—this nice man was helping me find you."

The guard deflates like a punctured balloon. "Oh. This is your... friend?"

"Boyfriend," I correct, because fuck this guy. My arm slides around Juniper's waist, pulling her against me.Mine."Thanks for keeping her company."

"No problem." He's probably wondering why she isn't bonded since he can smell the alpha pheromones on me, but he sinks back into his chair and looks vaguely frustrated with himself, already reaching for his phone again. "You folks have a good night."

Juniper wiggles her fingers at him in a wave that's somehow both flirty and dismissive. We make it to the elevator before she speaks again, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"Think he'll be a problem?"

"No." I hit the button for the parking garage. "We're leaving the city anyway."

The doors slide shut, sealing us into our own little world. She immediately cuddles into my side, her head finding that spot on my shoulder that seems designed for her.