Page 173 of Lonely Alpha

Like Leighton.

Maybe she was safe after all, and everyone had made a mistake.

I tapped the screen, bringing a hand to my mouth to muffle another sob at the sight of the text.

* * *

Leighton: Little sis, if you want your alpha back you’re going to have to come home

* * *

Another text appeared as I watched the screen.

* * *

Leighton: You know what happens if you don’t listen

* * *

Finally, a picture appeared on the screen. It was Tobias’ arm—the cut I’d left on his forearm when he’d first caught me wasn’t fully healed, the scabs visible on his flesh. And in his hand… a gun. Matte black metal, his finger on the trigger.

Throwing the phone onto the bed, I tried to scrub the image from my mind as my body threatened to tear me apart from the inside out. Sweat drenched me, my flesh overheated and itchy. I knew the meaning of the picture, but my brain was foggy. I couldn’t parse together what I was supposed to do about it.

All I knew was my alpha was in danger.

And since there was no way for my muddled brain to process that, all I could do was scream.

FIFTY-THREE

LEIGHTON

Kiara’s sorrow came through the bond, loud and crystal clear. It was strong enough it almost felt like my own, but I wasn’t sorrowful. Not yet. There was still a chance I got out of this in one piece—and even if I didn’t, Kiara would.

Tobias didn’t have her.

My pack wouldn’t let him take her.

“It’s a shame I couldn’t grab my sister while she was at the restaurant,” Tobias said casually.

His employees were manhandling me into the Connolly family home. We were going in through a back entrance, secluded and surrounded by bushes. The dark stairway in front of me led straight down.

“This way might be more fun, though.” Tobias loved the sound of his own voice. He’d keep talking even if I never responded. I wanted to taunt him, rise to the challenges he was throwing out, but I resisted. “Kiara is going to come running when she realizes what I’ll do to you if she doesn’t.”

She wouldn’t.

My bondmate was in heat. She wouldn’t be leaving her nest for days, let alone the apartment once they got her back there. I hoped Ambrose was taking care of her. She shouldn’t have to be in pain for the first heat she’d ever gone through properly.

“We realized after the first date that she was going to go into heat soon, so the slow courting we promised Edith couldn’t happen anymore. That’s why I decided to pay a visit.”

He smacked a hand down on my shoulder, almost pitching me face-first down the stairs. They’d bound my wrists together in the van, leaving me helpless to stop my fall. I growled low and he laughed.

Tobias was having the time of his life.

He was going to pay for this glee, even if I had to die making it happen.

“Cool down, alpha,” he taunted. “You creatures are so fucking feral. I thought the female ones would be a bit better, but apparently you’re all animals.”

I snarled this time. A couple of his guards jumped, but Tobias didn’t. His eyes didn’t even widen. He was far too confident in my restraints.

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