Page 44 of Stalked By the Alphas

43

HAZEL

Slowly placing the glass on the floor, I climb out of bed and creep to the door. Is that Mrs Lewis shouting at Carter?

I wince as my body protests the movement, but I push through, curiosity and a strange joy propelling me forward. I make my way down the stairs as quietly as I can, straining to hear the conversation at the front door.

“I’m telling you, young man, if you don’t let me see Hazel this instant, I’ll have the police here faster than you can blink!” Mrs Lewis’s familiar voice rings out, filled with righteous indignation.

“Ma’am, please calm down,” Carter says, his tone placating but firm. “I understand you’re concerned, but Hazel is safe here. She’s sleeping right now.”

“I’ve been worried sick about her for days!” Mrs Lewis bellows. “And Jerry said this morning that he saw you come in here with her yesterday afternoon. ”

I reach the bottom of the stairs just as Carter starts to respond.

“Mrs Lewis, hi,” I say as steadily as I can.

Both Carter and Mrs Lewis freeze, turning to look at me. Mrs Lewis’s eyes narrow as she inspects me. She can see I’m alive and here of my own free will, so she purses her lips.

“Is everything okay?” she asks. “We were meant to meet about the job and then the bookshop didn’t open for days. I tried knocking on yours, but you didn’t answer. Then, I saw Jerry walking his dog this morning and mentioned my worry. He said this newcomer brought you to this house yesterday afternoon.”

Newcomer. It makes me smile. “I’m fine, Mrs Lewis. I had an unexpectedly early heat and then Carter, who is an old friend of mine from Cornwall, has moved here. I thought I’d stay with him for a while so we can catch up.”

“Old friend, eh?” she asks, giving Carter the stink-eye.

Carter shifts uncomfortably under Mrs Lewis’s scrutiny. I can see him trying to decide how to respond.

“Yes, we’ve known each other since childhood,” I interject, trying really hard not to laugh. Bless this woman. She is a keeper. “We have a lot to talk about.”

Mrs Lewis doesn’t look entirely convinced, but some of the suspicion fades from her expression. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine. I’ll be back at the bookshop tomorrow. We can meet then, if that’s okay for you? ”

“Erm,” Carter starts, but I hold my hand up to shush him.

Mrs Lewis nods, then turns her stern gaze back to Carter. “You take good care of her, young man.”

Carter nods solemnly. “I will, ma’am. You have my word.”

Mrs Lewis gives him one last appraising look before she leaves with a wave.

Carter slowly closes the door. He looks at me with an amused expression. “That was frightening,” he comments. “I’m guessing Jerry is the tough old alpha with the tiny dog?”

I snicker. “You’ve seen him?”

He nods slowly, then frowns as he notices me swaying slightly on my feet. “You should be resting,” he says, moving towards me.

“I’m fine,” I insist, even as my legs threaten to give out.

Carter ignores my protest and scoops me up into his arms. I’m too tired to fight it, so I let my head rest against his chest as he carries me back upstairs.

“You don’t have to go to the shop tomorrow,” he says as he gently lays me back in bed. “You need time to recover.”

I shake my head stubbornly. “I need normal. I’m taking today, and then I have to get up in the morning and feel like my life isn’t completely derailed.”

Carter sighs. “Hazel, I understand wanting to get back to normal, but you’ve been through a traumatic experience. You need time to heal, both physically and emotionally.”

I frown, feeling a flicker of anger. “Don’t tell me what I need. You have no idea what I’m feeling right now.”

His expression softens. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I’m worried about you.”

“I know,” I say, my anger fading as quickly as it came. “But I need to do this. I need to feel like I have some control over my life again.”

Carter nods slowly. “Okay. But will you at least let me come with you? Just to make sure you’re okay?”

I hesitate, torn between wanting independence and acknowledging that I might need support. “Fine,” I concede. “But you stay in the background. It’s my shop, and I don’t want you to interfere.”

A small smile tugs at Carter’s lips. “Deal.”

We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of everything that’s happened settling over us.

“Carter,” I say quietly, “I know we need to talk about... everything. But I’m not ready yet.”

He nods, his eyes serious. “I know. There’s no rush, Hazel.”

I chew my lip and then settle back in the bed, closing my eyes. If I’m going to get out of this bed and pretend like nothing has happened tomorrow, I need to rest as much as possible. As sleep lulls me into a dazed state, I catch a whiff of Carter’s cedarwood scent. It’s familiar and comforting. I turn my head instinctively and find that he has laid a t-shirt on the pillow next to me. It’s a sign of possession that doesn’t make me angry. If anything, it makes me realise that maybe fighting this pact is the wrong thing to do. The three alphas showed up for me yesterday and saved me from certain horror and trauma. That has to mean something.

Doesn’t it?