Page 13 of The Alpha Under My Bed

Something small caught my eye—something I hadn’t noticed before.

A thin silver chain, draped neatly on the counter.

I blinked, stepping closer. The metal glinted under the light, subtle but deliberate. I reached out, fingertips brushing against it. Cool. Light. A little scratched, a little worn. Nothing flashy, nothing expensive—just… there.

I turned it over in my palm, frowning.

I didn’t remember having this.

But I knew the way it had been left out, positioned just so, as if meant to catch my attention.

Mal.

Of course.

A smile tugged at my lips. I shook my head, rolling my eyes. He was always doing things like this—finding little trinkets, claiming he’d just happened across them, insisting they made him think of me. He never said a word, never waited for a thank-you. I’d simply find them, tucked into the corners of my life, quiet gestures left behind like breadcrumbs.

Little reminders of him.

Of us.

It was sweet. Unnecessary, but sweet.

I ran my fingers over the metal once more before fastening it around my neck. The chain settled against my collarbone, light and familiar, like it had always belonged there.

I glanced at the time, sighing as I grabbed my bag.

I’d have to thank him later.

Four

ELEANOR

I sighed,flopping onto the couch with a dramatic groan and tossing my phone onto the cushion beside me.

“I think I’m cursed.”

Mal didn’t look up from where he was leaning against the counter, lazily wiping down a wrench with an old rag.

“Oh?”

“I’m serious,” I muttered, rubbing at my temples. “Every single alpha or pack I match with just…disappears.”

I grabbed my phone again, waving it in his direction. “Do you know how rare it is to get a compatibility score over 95%? And I hadtwo. Two different ones. One was a pack, one was a single alpha, and both of them either ghosted me or sent methis weird, polite breakup textlike we were already dating.”

Mal finally glanced over, arching a brow. “What’d they say?”

I scrolled to the last message, reading it aloud with a scowl. “‘Hey, Ellie. We just wanted to reach out and say we really appreciate getting to know you, but we actually found our omega. Wishing you the absolute best in your search!’“

Mal let out a low hum.

I scoffed. “The other one was almost the exact same thing—justpoof. Gone. And they were the best matches I’ve had since I signed up.”

I slumped back against the couch, running my fingers through my hair. “I don’t get it. Maybe Iamcursed.”

Mal didn’t answer right away. He set the wrench down, taking a slow sip of his beer before tilting his head slightly, studying me.

“Maybe the problem isn’t you,” he said, his voice easy.

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