Page 20 of The Alpha Under My Bed

She didn’t even blink when I walked past her, scent blockers in hand.

She never questioned how they got here.

Because every time she went into heat, I made sure she had a fresh set. And every time, she assumed she had bought them herself.

I peeled off the old strips near her window, fingers smoothing over the surface, rolling the used ones between my fingers before slipping them into my pocket. They were weak now, barely masking anything. If I had let her wait until she noticed, it would’ve been too late.

Someone else could’ve scented her.

I pressed the new blockers into place, securing each one tightly, covering every possible gap. The thought of some alpha—someotheralpha—catching even a trace of her scent made my fingers tighten against the edges of the last strip.

Not this heat.

Not ever.

Her apartment was a cage, and I was the one locking the door.

Ellie stretched, shifting lazily against the pillows. I could feel the warmth of her gaze on my back, the slow, soft way she watched me.

“You always think of everything,” she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.

Huh, I guess she was paying attention this time.

I turned my head just enough to catch the slow flutter of her lashes, the faint flush warming her cheeks. Her scent was shifting—thickening, deepening.

She was sinking.

And she didn’t even realize it.

A slow smile curved at my lips as I kept my tone light, easy. “Someone has to.”

She let out a breathy laugh, tucking herself deeper into the blankets. “Yeah, yeah. What would I do without you?”

You’ll never find out, sweetheart.

I pressed the last strip into place, ensuring it was perfectly sealed. The satisfaction that settled in my chest was dark, curling tight.

Everything was ready.

I turned back to her, taking in the soft, pliant shape of her body, already responding to the first waves of heat. The scent of her was thick, warming—pressing at the edges of my restraint.

She smelledso fucking sweet.

Her eyes fluttered open, lazy and amused. “What?”

I forced my expression into somethingsoft, something easy. “Nothing,” I muttered, nudging her knee before stepping away from the window.

“All set,” I said, voice casual. “You’re locked down, stocked up, and ready to go.”

Ellie sighed, stretching her arms above her head before curling back into her blankets. “You’re the best.”

She had no idea. No idea that this heat would be different.

Because I was done waiting.

I moved silently, retrieving my bag from the chair by the counter, fingers curling around the cool, solid weight of the chastity belt inside. It was heavier than it looked, smooth steel gleaming under the low light. Practical. Secure.

Unbreakable.

---