Page 26 of The Alpha Under My Bed

No. No, no, no.

I twisted, shoving back the blankets, my entire body recoiling at the realization sinking its claws into my chest.

I had been bonded.

Bred.

My mate had already taken me, claimed me, and locked me up.

I forced in a breath, but my lungs refused to expand. The walls of my apartment pressed in tight. My body wasn’t mine anymore. My heat had come and gone, and I had woken up in someone else’s aftermath.

And then I saw it.

A thick white envelope, waiting on my nightstand.

Terror crawled up my spine, but my fingers were already reaching for it, numb and unfeeling as I tore it open. A stack of letters spilled onto my lap, carefully folded, edges worn with time.

I unfolded the first one. My breath stalled.

Dated three years ago.

My heart stuttered.

Three years.

I wasn’t ready, but I read it anyway.

“I know you don’t know me yet. But you will. You’re mine, Ellie. I’ve waited so long to claim you. To be inside you. To make you mine in every way an omega can belong to their alpha.

You don’t remember me holding you during your heats, but I was there. I’ve always been there.Taking care of you. Fucking you. Making sure no other alpha ever gets the chance to ruin you.

You’re meant to be filled by me. Not them.”

The letter slippedfrom my fingers as nausea churned in my stomach, thick and suffocating. My breath came in short, sharp gasps. I grabbed another one—three months ago.

“You were so beautiful this time. I almost told you. Almost let you wake up with me still inside you, my knot still keeping you exactly where you belong. But I know it’s not time yet. You need to trust me first. You need to be ready for me.

One more heat, baby. Maybe then you’ll be ready to know.”

I slappeda hand over my mouth, a broken sob ripping through me.

This wasn’t real.

It couldn’t be real.

My fingers shook violently as I shoved the letters aside, my breath coming in quick, broken gasps.

And then I saw the box.

Small. Wrapped carefully. Like a gift.

I didn’t want to look.

But I couldn’t stop myself.

The lid lifted easily.

Polaroids.

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