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Page 56 of Stalked By the Alphas

55

CARTER

It’s twilight when I finally pull back up to the hotel. I needed to drive, to think, to have something to do that didn’t send me straight to Hazel. The time was well spent, rehearsing what I’d say. It’s the lawyer part of me that was bashed into my soul since I was old enough to debate. It’ll come naturally once I’m in front of her, but I need a basis of where to start, a middle and an ending. The air is still warm and humid as I step out of the air-conditioned Range Rover. I see the Rolls Royce almost immediately, parked not too far away, and I grimace at it. Then, I ignore it and, gripping the package tightly, I stalk up the pathway towards the hotel entrance.

I hear the car door open and shut and then my father’s voice, clipped and pissed off, “Carter.”

I don’t respond. I have nothing to say to him, either of them .

“Carter!” he snaps and lets out a low growl.

I force myself not to turn around.

His footsteps are right behind me, and then he grips the collar of my tee, forcing me to a halt and choking me in the process. “Get the fuck off,” I snarl.

He spins me around and glares at me with steel blue eyes that have never seen any warmth or light.

“Excuse me,” he snaps. “Who do you think you’re talking to?”

“To one of the arseholes who made Hazel disappear from our lives.”

His eyes narrow as my mother sidles up, her face pinched. I can see it now. The disdain they have for her.

“That omega is not worthy of you, Carter,” she says. “When will you realise it and let her go? There are so many eligible omegas waiting for a chance with you. Forget about that girl and focus on your future.”

“Never. Hazel is my future. Our future. And I won’t let you or anyone else dictate who I choose to love.”

My father’s expression turns dark. “You are being ridiculous. After everything we’ve done for you, this is how you repay us? By throwing your life away on some common omega?”

“Common?” I laugh bitterly. “Hazel is anything but common. She’s extraordinary, and if you weren’t so blinded by your prejudice, you’d see that.”

“Darling,” Mum says, “we only want what’s best for you. Think of your career, your reputation. An omega like her will only hold you back. ”

I take a deep breath, trying to control my anger. “No. You only want what’s best for yourselves. Your precious reputation. Your social standing. Well, I’m done living my life to please you.”

Dad growls at me again. “If you don’t forget this silly escapade and come home right now, you can forget about ever stepping foot back at Richmond & Associates and don’t even think about crawling back home when this all goes to shit, and mark my words, Carter. It will all go to shit.”

I stare at my father, his threat hanging heavy in the air between us. For a moment, I’m tempted to cave, to fall back into the familiar pattern of obedience and compliance that’s been drilled into me since childhood. But then I think of Hazel - her smile, her laugh, the way she challenges me and makes me want to be better. I think about how we’ve hurt her and need to make it up to her, and that means more to me than anything else.

“Is that supposed to be a threat?” I ask. “Because from where I’m standing, it sounds like freedom.”

My mother gasps. “Carter, don’t be hasty. Your father doesn’t mean?—”

“Oh, I think he does,” I cut her off. “And you know what? I don’t care. I don’t need your money, your connections, or your approval. I have everything I need right here.”

Dad’s expression turns even more furious, if that were possible. “You ungrateful little shit. After everything we’ve done for you?—”

“You’ve done nothing but try to control me,” I interrupt, surprising myself with my boldness. He, they, are the two people that I have never been able to stand up to in my entire twenty-five years. Every other fucker I can wipe the floor with them, but these two… I shake my head, feeling the weight of expectation lift from my shoulders and drift away into the humid air. “I’m done being controlled. I’m done living up to your impossible standards. I’m going to fight for Hazel, with or without your blessing and when we succeed, when we build the life and the family we’ve always dreamed of, don’t you dare try to worm your way back in. You are dead to me.”

With that, I turn on my heel and walk away, ignoring their calls behind me. My heart is pounding, but for the first time in years, I feel truly free.

As I enter the hotel, I spot Noah in the lobby, his expression concerned as he takes in my agitated state.

“What happened out there?” he asks as I approach.

“I just told my parents to go to hell.”

Noah raises an eyebrow. “Nice. So I guess that means lawyer you is retired.”

“For now. Maybe I can open a small practice here, assuming Hazel ever forgives us. In the meantime, Dad doesn’t know I’ve been squirrelling away large chunks of my trust. His first call will be to the bank to cut me off, but…” I grin.

“Nice. Always thinking ahead.” He claps me on the shoulder. “Good for you, man. It’s about time you stood up to them. ”

We head towards the lift, and he taps the package. “What’s that?”

“Something for Hazel.”

“Not sharing?”

“Not got any ideas for your own penance?”

He snorts. “Ouch. Okay, okay, I hear you.”

We head up to our rooms in silence, both lost in thought about our meetings with Hazel. As we reach our floor, Noah pauses.

“Carter,” he says quietly. “Do you really think we have a chance? After everything?”

I consider his question carefully. “I don’t know,” I admit. “But I know we have to try. We owe her that much.”

Noah nods, but I’ve never seen him so unsure about anything.

We part ways, and as I enter my room, I carefully place the package for Hazel on the desk. I hope it will help show her how much she means to me and how sorry I am for everything we’ve put her through. I know it will take more than gifts to earn her forgiveness.

I strip off my clothes and head for the shower, letting the hot water wash away some of the tension from the confrontation with my parents. As I stand under the spray, I go over again about what I’ll say to Hazel tomorrow. It’s going to be a long wait to see her after work, but I won’t force her into an uncomfortable position.

After my shower, I lie in bed, just wanting to sleep so that tomorrow can be here. However, I end up staring at the ceiling and sending up a little prayer to whichever deity is listening, hoping that Hazel will give us a chance to make this right.