Page 98 of Alpha Ruined
Eugene still doesn’t lower the gun, though his arms shake from the effort of holding it up.
He’s going to shoot her.
She’s going to die in this cabin, never knowing what happened to Cole. Never saying goodbye to Darlene, never thanking Carl for what he’s done, and without being able to mend her relationship with her mother.
The poor kitten showed up at the worst possible time.
In another life, maybe she and Cole could have raised the cat together.
At least she’ll get to see her father again. She just didn’t know it would be so soon.
“You think I don’t know what your husband’s been up to?” Eugene continues. “What he’s been doing when he’s nothere?”
Bree frowns, confused, as the kitten squirms. “I don’t know what you’re talking about?—”
“Go ahead, Eugene,” a cold voice says behind her. “Tell her what I’ve been up to.”
She whips her head around just as Eugene points the gun to the front door.
Cole stands in the doorway, dressed in all black, his expression murderous. His scent swirls around her, a combination of citrus and thick, peppery anger.
She’s never been so relieved to see him.
“Step back, you son of a bitch,” Eugene warns, his hold on the shotgun shaky. “Or I’ll shoot, I swear.”
And Cole, instead of listening, walks straight up to Eugene, and in one move, maneuvers the gun from him. The Beta man stumbles from the force of it and stays on the ground as Cole points the gun at him.
“You patheticcretin,” he snaps. “I warned you to leave her alone. I?—”
A faint mewing sounds from Bree’s shirt, and Cole snaps his head to Bree and frowns. “Who is that?” he says, his eyes slightly widening as he sees the kitten.
In any other situation, his reaction would be comical. “I found him outside,” Bree whispers, looking between a terrified Eugene and an enraged Cole.
“Oh. So, we have a cat now?”
Bree just blinks as Cole shoots her a quick wink.
But then the Alpha turns his attention back to Eugene, who has unsuccessfully tried to crawl away from Cole.
“And where the fuck do you thinkyou’regoing?” Cole seethes, slamming the heel of his black work boot into Eugene’s leg. The man howls in pain and Bree whimpers at the sound. “You point a gun at mymate? You tried totake her from me?” Cole’s voice is more animal than human. “When I had planned your death, I didn’t take this into account.”
Bree’s eyes widen.
What?
Cole turns back to look at her. “Sweetheart, you’re going to want to go into the other room and cover your ears. It’s going to be a bit loud.”
She can’t move.
“I knew you were coming for me!” Eugene yells. “Does she know?” He turns to Bree, his eyes wild. “Do you know what your husband does?”
“He’s not my husband,” Bree whispers.
“Shut the fuck up,Eugene,” Cole snarls. “You don’t know what you’re saying, old man.”
Oh, god.
“You have the eyes of a killer,” Eugene taunts. “You’re the one behind all the Elmwood murders, aren’t you?Aren’t you? Did you tell her?”