Page 30 of Stalked By the Alphas

29

HAZEL

I look up at Carter with a stiff smile as I unlock my front door. I’ve never had anyone in here before, so this feels intrusive of my personal space. When we step inside, I close the door and lead him into the lounge.

He looks around with a soft smile before he returns his gaze to me. “I love this. It’s very you.”

“Thanks,” I mutter. “Uhm, feel free to grab a drink or whatever from the kitchen while I go and pack.”

He nods but doesn’t move as I move quickly away from him and his damned alpha scent that is affecting me in ways it has no right to. Shaking my head as I open my wardrobe, I pull out the small suitcase on wheels and fling it on the bed. I throw in some clothes for work, some pyjamas, some casual clothes for hanging around in, and then move to my dressing table. Pulling open the underwear drawer, I grab some knickers and a couple of bras and throw them in as well. I pause, chewing my lip and then open the drawer further to reveal the sexy lingerie I have never worn at the back. I only bought it to make myself feel good, but the opportunity never really presented itself. I grab a pair of black lacy knickers, wondering what on earth I’m thinking when I stop dead. They are folded and stuck together. Frowning, I pull them apart and then drop them.

“Eww. What is that?” I mutter, staring down at the crispy white flakes stuck to the fabric. Picking them up gingerly, I throw them in the laundry hamper, wondering when I will even get a chance to wash them.

“Need any help?” Carter asks from the doorway.

I jump a mile and shake my head. “No. I’m just contemplating that I need to do some laundry.”

“Bring it to mine. I have a washing machine. It’s built into the utility. It’s a very handy house.”

I chuckle at his description and place the lid on the hamper. “Won’t we look silly carrying that down the street?”

He picks it up with a grin. “Silly? No, absolutely not. Manly alphas don’t look silly, dear Hazel, even carrying laundry hampers full of dirty clothes down the road.”

Dirty . The way he said the word was full of innuendo and sent a tingle down my spine. “Well, you are the one carrying it, so that’s up to you then,” I say, trying not to giggle like a schoolgirl. I have to remember this is Carter . My friend. Not some alpha I’m trying to date or mate with.

That brings the pact slamming into the forefront of my mind. Does he remember that? Is that why he’s here? Panic floods me, and my brain seems to rotate in my head. My palms go damp, and I sit heavily on the bed. Carter drops the hamper and comes over quickly, crouching in front of me.

“Are you okay?”

I shake my head, avoiding his gaze. “I think maybe I need to take some of those tablets.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Not since this morning. But it was an entire pizza.”

He chuckles. “Yum. What was on it?”

“Pepperoni.”

“My favourite.”

I remember .

I smile weakly at the memory of countless shared pizzas in our youth. “Mine too.”

Carter’s blue eyes soften with nostalgia. “Good to see some things never change. Remember that time we ordered the extra large and tried to eat the whole thing ourselves? I thought I was going to burst.”

A genuine laugh escapes me. “And Noah kept trying to steal slices when we weren’t looking.”

“While Zach lectured us about the nutritional value, or lack thereof,” Carter adds with a grin.

For a moment, I’m transported back to simpler times. No hallucinations, no anxiety, just four friends sharing greasy pizza and laughter. The ache in my chest intensifies.

Carter seems to sense my shift in mood. He squeezes my knee gently. “Hey, why don’t we grab some food on the way to my house? You shouldn’t take those pills on an empty stomach.”

I nod, grateful for the distraction. “Okay. Just let me finish packing.”

As I move around the room, gathering toiletries and a few personal items, I can feel Carter’s eyes on me. There’s an intensity to his gaze that I’m not sure how to interpret.

“Ready?” he asks when I zip up my suitcase.

“I think so,” I reply, glancing around the room one last time. Am I really doing this? Moving in with Carter, even temporarily?

But as another wave of dizziness hits me, I know I don’t have much choice.

Carter somehow manages to juggle both the hamper and the suitcase as we head back downstairs. His broad shoulders practically brush the walls on either side as he descends easily, with me trailing along, clutching my handbag. I spot the cam bear shoved up against the wall from when I opened the door earlier this morning and chew my lip. Should I bring him? It might make me feel safer.

Him . Thinking of it as a him makes me feel oddly comforted. Carter opens the front door and wheels my suitcase out, still gripping the hamper. I look back over my shoulder and gulp. It’s not forever, and it’s not like I’m not going to be five minutes away. I can come back whenever I want. I will have to at some point to pick up any work stuff I might need, anyway. With Carter waiting for me, I close the door partially to scoop up the bear and shove it into the top of my bag, his furry head sticking out. Carter raises an eyebrow at it but says nothing.

“We’ll cut across the park,” he says when I’ve locked up. “It’s quicker. There is that small Co-op supermarket on the corner. We can go in there and pick out some things you’d like.”

“I don’t want to put you out. I eat almost anything.”

He chuckles. “Okay, you got me. It’s like Mother Hubbard’s in the kitchen right now. We need to stop and shop.”

I let out a loud laugh, feeling a lot of the tension in my shoulders go. “Okay, well, thank you for not keeping up the ruse of shopping for me as an excuse.”

He grins, and I move to take the suitcase handle to wheel across the park, but he grips it tighter and still manages to make it look effortless with the hamper as well.

“Wait. Are you seriously going to go in the supermarket with my hamper?”

Carter grins mischievously. “Why not? I’m sure the other shoppers will be impressed by my multitasking skills.”

I can’t help but laugh, shaking my head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Thank you. I try,” he says with an exaggerated bow.

As we make our way through the park, I’m acutely aware of the curious glances we’re attracting. Carter, seemingly oblivious, strolls along with my suitcase in one hand and the laundry hamper in the other. I trail behind, clutching my handbag with the cam-bear peeking out.

We must look quite the sight.

The afternoon sun blazes down, and I realise I’m working up a sweat out here, but it feels nice to bask in it for a while. For a moment, I allow myself to relax, breathing in the scent of grass and wildflowers.

We reach the small Co-op, and I hesitate at the entrance, suddenly self-conscious. “Maybe I should wait out here with the hamper while you grab a few things?”

Carter shakes his head firmly. “Nope. You’re coming in. I have no idea what you’re in the mood for.”

Before I can protest further, he’s striding through the automatic doors, leaving me no choice but to follow. A few other shoppers give us odd looks as we make our way down the aisles, but Carter seems completely oblivious. Mind you, it’s not his knickers in the hamper, so what does he care?

I trail behind Carter, cheeks burning as we navigate the narrow aisles. I grab a basket, and he pauses now and again to toss items in seemingly at random - pasta, sauce, bread, eggs. I add a few things I know I’ll eat, trying to ignore the stares from other shoppers.

“Ooh, ice cream,” Carter says, pausing by the freezer section. “What’s your favourite flavour these days? Still mint choc chip?”

“Always,” I say with a smile that he remembered.

He grabs a tub and adds it to our increasingly full basket. “Excellent choice. Oh, and we can’t forget snacks.”

I follow Carter down the snack aisle, watching as he grabs bags of crisps and a packet of biscuits.

“Anything else you want?” Carter asks, glancing at me over his shoulder.

I shake my head, feeling overwhelmed. “This is plenty. More than enough, really.”

He nods and we head to the checkout. The cashier’s eyes widen slightly at the sight of Carter with my laundry hamper, but she says nothing as she rings up our items. I fumble for my wallet, but Carter waves me off.

“I’ve got this,” he says, pulling out his card.

I want to protest, but the words die in my throat. Everything is happening so fast, I feel like I’m caught in a whirlwind.

We exit the shop, laden with groceries in addition to my luggage.

“Not much further now,” Carter says cheerfully as we cross over the road.

I nod, suddenly nervous. What am I doing? Moving in with Carter, even temporarily, feels like crossing a line I can’t uncross. But as another wave of dizziness hits me, I know I don’t have much choice. I need help, and right now, Carter is offering it.

We stop at a grand old Victorian terraced house, and I gape at it. “Wow. I’ve always admired these. A little out of my price range, though.”

“The rent isn’t too bad. Probably would be a lot to buy, though,” he agrees, even though I know he’s just making a comment. He could probably buy this entire village if he wanted to. He opens the door with a flourish and lets me go in ahead of him.

I step inside, taking in the high ceilings and wooden floors. The entryway opens up into a spacious living room, furnished, to my surprise, with second-hand pieces, which are about as mismatched as you can get. I smile and feel a sense of delight wash over me.

“I have a confession to make,” Carter says, taking my hamper into the kitchen and leaving me to trail behind him.

“What’s that?”

“I only have one bed. I didn’t expect company.” He shrugs and looks a little abashed by this admission.

“Oh,” I say, my heart pounding. “That’s okay. I can sleep on the sofa.”

“No, don’t be silly, I will sleep on the sofa. I just wanted you to know that you would be sleeping in my bed.”

“Well, it’s not like I haven’t done that before,” I mutter.

“True,” he says with his eyes narrowed.

The air between us suddenly feels charged with unspoken tension.

Carter busies himself with putting away the groceries, while I stand there like a spare part.

“So,” Carter says, breaking the awkward silence, “why don’t you go upstairs and get settled?”

Grateful for the excuse to escape, I nod and grab my suitcase. As I climb the stairs, I can feel Carter’s gaze on my back. The weight of it makes me shiver.

The bedroom is large, with a bay window overlooking the street. The bed is pretty much the only thing in here, apart from a built-in wardrobe. I open it, taking a peek inside. Carter’s scent wafts out at me as I see neat rows of suits and more casual attire hung up neatly. There are drawers set into the cupboard, but I don’t peek in there. I wouldn’t want him to do that to me. Suddenly, I remember my hamper and hope to God he doesn’t put the wash on for me. I set my suitcase down and sink onto the edge of the mattress, suddenly even too exhausted to make sure Carter stays well away from my washing.

What am I doing here? The events of the day catch up with me all at once, and I feel tears pricking at my eyes. I pull out the bag of medication, and the dam breaks. How is this my life now?