Page 53 of Alpha Ruined

The whimpers grow louder, and John pleads with his eyes, desperate to stay alive.

“Answer me, youfucking imbecile,” Cole growls, slamming the barrel into the side of John’s temple.

John cries, then nods rapidly, an enthusiasticmmhmmsounding from behind his gag.

“Yes, then. Give her space?”

More resoundingmmhmms.

Cole smiles and stands up, pointing the barrel at John’s forehead.

“Thank you. I knew I should do the opposite of what you told me to do.”

Then he pulls the trigger.

After cleaning up his mess,he heads back to Breana’s cabin, parking his car further away from her house.

He’s attuned to her scent now, after rubbing his own on her. He marked her, so no one else will dare try to claim her.

There must be something he missed about her during his research.

Something spooked her hours earlier, and he’s sure it wasn’t because of him.

He does another deep dive on her, using the same programs he uses when he researches his next kill.

Breanna’s an only child, and her father passed away when she was fourteen

Her degree is in journalism, which she completed in three years instead of four.

But that’sit.

Her electronic footprint is almost nonexistent, except for her articles.

She’s a talented writer; covering everything that happens in her tiny town, from baking contests to choir competitions.

He was captivated by the way her eyes lit up when shetalked about her work at the restaurant. He could have listened to her go on for hours about what she does, and how she loves to tell other people’s stories.

Her heart is pure, and it makes him want to claim it more.

With a few emails and a couple of electronic password changes, his plans are set into place.

She’s not leaving this weekend.

The front door of her cabin is latched, but the back door on the wooden porch is infuriatingly easy to unlock.

“What if someone was stalking you, sweetheart?” he mutters to himself. “Anyone could just come in here.”

When he steps into the cabin, he’s met with her sweet scent, now merging with his.

Fuck.

It’s as if they’re already mated.

He’s up the stairs and into her bedroom in moments, transfixed as she rests underneath the pile of blankets and pillows, her face almost completely buried in the fabrics.

She built a nest.

She’snestingfor him.