ALPHA THORNE: Claimed by the Billionaire Beast

stared at it for over an hour, flipping it between my fingers like it might change, like it might spell out something more than a single word: S

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

ght understand what was going on. Layla was the only person who came to mind. She was my closest friend, and I

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

rne Global," I replied. "Y

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

ting up. "What is it

common enough. But... Evie, I dated someone a few years ago. Real smooth, charmi

ard, my heart

oss wasn't... normal." I laughed

im Alpha," s

hip, but then he said things. Dark things. About... loyalty. 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 an

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

nt. We both froze. Another knock, this time harder

new we had to act fast. "Do you

, the door exploded inward. Splinters flew. Layla screamed. And I saw him. A man. Tall. Dark hair. A black

rd the back. But she was too slow. He

er marble fruit bowl-and hurled it. It struck his t

s burned. My vision blurred. Somewhere behind me, I heard another

something had reached inside my

sheets. A fire crackling somewhere to my right. I sat up too fast, and

he

Only this wasn't the tailored-suit CEO I remembered. He was dressed in black slacks and a loose, open-collared

though fear coiled hot in my chest, a part of me felt li