Page 11 of Stalked By the Alphas

10

CARTER

“Who the fuck is that?” I growl as I see Hazel sitting in the window of the tea shop with some idiot who needs to have his face rearranged.

“Ask this fucker,” Zach snarls as he slams Rob up against the alley wall to the side of the newsagent’s near the car park. “You were told to stay away. Do you have a death wish?”

Rob struggles against Zach’s grip, his eyes wide with panic. “I—I was trying to make things right with her.”

I grab Rob by the throat, squeezing just enough to make him rasp. “Maybe I didn’t make myself clear the other night? Do we need a rehash?”

Rob’s eyes widen as he knows he fucked up. Big time. I’m done with threats; this arsehole is going down just as soon as I get him away from this village where I have no doubt we are already making a scene. I let him go with a growl. Hazel can’t know we are here yet. It will ruin everything.

“Who’s that alpha she’s with?” I ask him instead of killing him.

Rob shakes his head frantically. “I don’t know! He just showed up at the bookshop when I was trying to talk to Hazel.”

Frustration surges through me. This wasn’t part of the plan. Some random alpha swooping in and getting close to Hazel could ruin everything we’ve been working towards.

“We need to get rid of him,” I mutter, glancing back towards the tea shop where I can see Hazel laughing at something the stranger said. The sight makes my blood boil.

Zach nods in agreement. “And what about this one?” He jerks his head towards Rob, who’s still cowering against the wall, looking terrified.

“I think it’s time we remind him what happens when he disobeys,” I growl, my eyes locked on Rob’s trembling form. “Take him to the house. I’ll deal with him later.”

Zach nods, a cruel smile twisting his lips as he grabs Rob roughly by the arm. “With pleasure.”

As Zach drags Rob away, I turn my attention back to the tea shop. Through the window, I can see Hazel smiling and chatting animatedly with the stranger. My fists clench at my sides, rage bubbling up inside me.

Who does this alpha think he is, swooping in and getting close to our omega? Doesn’t he know she belongs to us?

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. We can’t afford to lose control now, not when we’re closing in on our goal. This is just a minor setback. We’ll deal with this arsehole, just like we’ve dealt with every other alpha who’s tried to get close to Hazel over the years, just like every person in her life that has tried to take her away from us or control her. Her friends. Her parents... they were all part of the plan to isolate her. We didn’t foresee her deciding to move up here, hundreds of miles away from us, but even that wasn’t an insurmountable problem. We wanted her to have her shop and do the things she wanted to do and be. We love her. We want nothing more for her than the life she deserves. But she made a very grave error in cutting us out of her life, and she will pay for that.

I force a smile on my face as an old man walking his dog gives me a glare. I’m still loitering in the alley, probably looking suspicious as fuck. “Afternoon,” I say with a nod.

He narrows his eyes at me and carries on.

There is nothing for it. I’m going to have to abandon my post. That tea shop alpha can be dealt with later. Right now, Rob needs a lesson in who not to cross.

I slip out of the alley and make my way down the street away from Hazel, away from watching her, and make my way to the house I rented around the back of the high street, where it is quieter. Pushing open the door, I see Zach tying Rob, gagged and bound to my desk chair.

I stride into the room, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. Rob’s eyes widen in fear as he sees me approach. Good. He should be afraid.

“You just couldn’t stay away, could you?” I growl, circling him slowly. “We gave you very clear instructions. Break up with Hazel. Cut all contact, and yet here you are, trying to ‘make things right’.”

I stop in front of him, leaning down so we’re eye to eye. “Did you really think we wouldn’t find out? That we wouldn’t be watching?”

Rob tries to speak through the gag, but all that comes out is a muffled whimper. I straighten up, disgust twisting my features.

“Pathetic,” I spit. “You’re not worthy of her. None of you are.”

Zach moves to stand beside me, his arms crossed over his chest. “What should we do with him, Carter?”

I consider for a moment, my gaze never leaving Rob’s terrified face. “I’m done fucking about. He can’t be trusted.” My hand clamps around his throat, and I squeeze. Rob’s eyes bulge, his face going purple as I tighten my grip. The thrill of the kill is coursing through me. I wish Hazel were here to see it. I’d like nothing more than to claim her next to Rob’s dead body, so she knows the lengths I will go to be with her.

I squeeze Rob’s throat tighter, feeling his pulse racing beneath my fingers. His eyes are wide with terror as he struggles futilely against his bonds. The room is silent except for his muffled choking sounds. He shudders, and his eyes roll back. He is seconds away from death. I clamp down tighter, my hand like a vice, until Rob stops moving, stops breathing.

I let him go and step back. “Get rid of the body,” I say to Zach.

He nods as I turn away from him.

As Zach begins the grim task of disposing of Rob’s body, I pull out my phone to call Noah. Our omega may think she’s found a new protector, but she has no idea what’s really coming for her. And by the time she realises, it’ll be far too late.