prank or a mistake, but I didn't. Instead, I stared at it for over an hour, flipping it between m

ust a simple message - it was a harbinger of something bigger, something that I couldn't quite grasp. Eventually, I shove

meone, someone who might understand what was going on. Layla was the only person who came

re I took a cab to

even the damp wind couldn't shake the unease curled in my chest. I f

ender robe, oversized sunglasses perched on her head like a crown. "God, you

t her into the apartment. "You'll wa

ide a pair of heels and a blanket. "Okay,

sion, the man who came to my apartment, the missing hallway visitor, and the card. L

h or joke. She just asked, "What

eplied. "You've heard of him, right? The f

m." But something in her tone was off, like she wasn't hearing his n

ing up. "What is it?

ommon enough. But... Evie, I dated someone a few years ago. Real smooth, charming

ard, my heart

rne. Said his boss

usly. "What's t

im Alpha," s

ip, but then he said things. Dark things about... loyalty and bloodlines. Bonds that can't be

mind reeling. "Are y

t a man leaving claw marks on my damn window

"You never t

want to

ate for that

t ten-thirty in the morning. "Evie, whatever's going

a. I don't plan to go anyw

oo

him. Someone came to me. And no

her window. "Maybe we

-dollar company might be sending cryptic stationary

nd neither did I. We sat in

You shouldn't ha

wed the message to Layla a

asked, my voice bar

d her face went pale. "It's the same number," s

re in stunned silence. I didn't know what all this was or what was going on. After

h the apartment, and we both froze. A

new we had to act fast. "Do you

t to the hallway, the door exploded inward. Splinters flew everywhere, and I heard Layla s

rd the back. But she was too slow. He

r marble fruit bowl-and hurled it. It struck his tem

gs burned, and my vision blurred. Somewhere behind me, I heard anoth

black. Like something had reached insi

stared at the stone walls, the soft sheets, and then to the fire crackling somewhere to my right.

ere

with his arms crossed. Only this wasn't the tailored-suit CEO I remembered. He was dressed in black slacks and a loose, o

aid soon, but