Page 59 of Alpha Ruined

Bree perks up, a thought racing through her head.

Could Erik Hart be behind this?

A murdererdidescape Green Woods. He could be the one responsible.

“Do you think it’s the escaped convict doing this?” Bree asks, turning to Darlene.

Her friend shrugs. “I have no idea.”

The clerk shakes her head. “No one has any idea.Elmwood has a small police department, and they’re in charge of this newest case, too. They haven’t said much.”

“How do you know all this?”

The clerk shrugs, then smiles. “There’s not much else to do around here besides follow the news.”

“That’s why Bree is here.” Darlene motions to the Omega, who blushes. “She’s writing an article about what happened at the prison.”

The clerk’s eyes flash excitedly. “Oh, you’re a reporter?”

“A journalist. I thought the story of Erik and Ellie was interesting,” Bree shrugs, giving the salesperson a shy smile.

“Oh! Could I give you my opinion?” The older woman looks thrilled, and it’s difficult for Bree to say no.

“Sure.”

“I think they were in love! I think he charmed her, and she fell for him, and they ran away together.” The Beta woman says excitedly. Darlene’s eyes widen in surprise.

“Oh, you don’t think he killed her?” Bree asks. “Most people seem to think he did.”

“Of course not,” she snorts. “It’s a forbidden love story—I love it. And so what if he’s a murderer? I’ve fallen for worse, believe me. I have a feeling they’re somewhere in another country, living their best lives and having passionate, wild sex.”

Darlene and Bree stare at the woman in silence until Darlene breaks it.

“Okay, well, I think we’re going to go now?—”

“Nothing can stop true love, ladies.Nothing.”

Bree nods. “Of course.”

Who is she to tell the woman she’s wrong?

But as they leave the shop, Bree can’t stop thinking of Cole.

And when she heads back to her cabin that night, she takes a double dose of her suppressants, just in case.

CHAPTER 19

BREE

She’s going stir crazy.

She promised Darlene that she wouldn’t go wander off on her own in the town—the murders have put her friend on edge.

Darlene’s back at the café, so she’s stuck in her cabin unless she wants to spend her day drinking lattes and munching on paninis.

And as tempting as that sounds, there’s more she wanted to do while she’s here.

Now that her interview with Doctor Porter has been moved to next week, she wants to explore what she didn’t have time to before.