Page 39 of The Alpha's Fated Bond

Lily’s lips curve in a wicked smile. “You did do something. Spill.”

“I created a barrier around my window that has an electrical surge. I was just trying to make sure they wouldn’t get in. I would have done the same for my door till I remembered that you were down the hall, probably sleeping. So, I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Lily’s eyes turn warm. “You came here to protect me?”

“Of course.” I feel a little awkward with the way she’s looking at me.

By now, the alarm has sounded, and I can hear the echoes of a fight taking place outside.

“Should we look?” Lily can barely hold her excitement.

“I think it’s best to stay put, out of sight. Alex will find us.”

Sure enough, after half an hour, I hear Alex’s voice roar my name. “Sophia!”

“That’s your cue.” Now sitting cross-legged on the bed, Lily looks at me. “He sounds upset.”

I push the dresser away from the door and remove the barrier. I’ve just barely pulled open the door when somebody shoves it toward me, making me stumble back. A firm hand wraps around my wrist and yanks me forward, straight into Alex’s chest.

“Are you all right?” His voice is a scratchy growl.

“I’m fine!” I try to pull away, but he seems to have no plan to let me go. “Where were you?” I demand, looking up at him now. His expression flickers, and my eyes narrow. “Alex? This isn’t the first time you’ve left my bed. If you want to sleep in your own house, that’s fine. Just tell me first, so I don’t wake up in the middle of the night to see you gone.”

It’s not like we’re doing anything in bed. We just started sleeping next to each other after we left my pack. I never even questioned it. And now it feels weird, asking him where he was.

He lowers his voice. “I’ll tell you later. You really are okay?”

“Yes. I saw two guys dressed in black making their way toward the guest house. They didn’t look like your men, so I came in here, and Lily and I fortified the room.”

“That was a smart decision.” Alex looks relieved. “Those were Karina’s soldiers. They must’ve figured out that I wasn’t here. They tried to break into your room through the window, but they got a nasty shock. Their shouting alerted the guards, who alerted me.”

“Karina’s soldiers? The ones who guard the nannies?” I ask, alarmed.

He nods. “I’m glad you’re okay. And I’m glad you didn’t decide to try to fight them. Karina’s soldiers are not men you should be taking lightly. Don’t ever try to engage with them.” He looks over his shoulder and barks, “Jared!”

A moment later, Jared enters the room, and Alex orders him, “Stay here with Sophia and Lily. I want to deal with this mess outside.”

Jared enters the room and closes the door behind him. “If you two ladies want to get some sleep, I can keep guard.”

“Sleep?” Lily blinks. “Who could sleep now? I’m going to go take a shower. And then I want to have breakfast.”

“It’s four in the morning,” I point out.

“So?” Lily grabs a change of clothes. “I’ve been traumatized. I need food to make me feel better.”

With that, she slams the bathroom door shut, leaving me and Jared alone.

“How ’bout you?” he asks.

I shake my head. “I can’t eat anything. I just want to know what happened.”

Jared makes himself comfortable, perching on the dressing table. “They probably tried to break in to stop the negotiations.”

“What?” I’m having a hard time following him. “What negotiations?”

“About the shop opening here.” Jared explains. “The story is that you and Lily are here to consider opening a clothing store, right?”

“Oh, yeah.”

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