Always Watching
658 Words
Cole
Cole walked away from Alyssa’s building, his steps intentionally slow, but kept his heart steady. The kiss had surprised him, not because it happened, but because of what it meant. Trust...maybe the first thread of something real between them.
He hadn’t expected it to happen tonight.
But now that it had happened, he didn’t want to let go of her, not ever, he was wiling to do whatever it took to keep her safe and make her his.
Zodiak hummed beneath his skin, restless but satisfied for once. Their mate was behind that door, safe and close. This was the first time in his life he felt anything even close to feeling for someone. Sure he had the occasional fling, but that where it always ended.
He turned the corner, unaware he was being watched, which is rare for his wolf to not pick up the scent. He was just too focused on Alyssa to notice. Which meant he was also unaware she was being watched too.
Aiden crouched low across the street, hidden behind a crumbling dumpster soaked with rain and city stink. His scent was layered thick with wolfbane and ashroot, it was just enough to suppress his presence even from an Alpha’s senses.
He stayed still, breath slow, eyes fixed on the door Alyssa had just stepped through.
She was the target. Had been from the beginning.
He hadn’t expected a complication. Definitely not one with that scent.
Aiden
The moment the man, Cole, stepped into view earlier, Aiden had gone stiff.
That wasn’t just any wolf.
That was an Alpha, he smelt of old blood, ancient and powerful. He exuded power in every step, every breath.
And he was with her.
Aiden’s phone buzzed once in his hand. A text from Lucas:
“ Update. Now. “
He tapped the call button.
Lucas answered instantly. “Report.”
“She’s alive. I just watched her go inside.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, its the same girl. Shes'Blonde and looks to be in her late twenties.”
Lucas’s silence crackled like static before he spoke again.
“Anyone with her?”
Aiden’s eyes narrowed at the sidewalk where Cole had walked moments ago.
“She wasn’t alone. There was a man with her.”
“Human?”
“No.” Aiden’s voice dropped, tension sharp in every word. “He’s a wolf, strong seems like hes Alpha-level, he might even be old-world, with an ancient pack. He carries himself like he's been around awhile.”
Lucas went quiet.
Then: “Does he know who she is?”
“Hard to tell. They’re close, but casual. Talking and laughing a lot. He walked her home and kissed her like it was nothing.”
Lucas growled low through the line. “Then it’s already worse than we thought. If an Alpha’s sniffing around her, we’re running out of time.”
Aiden adjusted his position, eyes still locked on the building’s second-story window.
“You want me to move in?”
“No. Not yet. Keep your distance. Follow her. Find out who he is. If he’s tied to a pack, I want to know which one.”
“And the girl?”
“Same plan. Watch her. I want to know if she tells anyone what she did, I can use it against her. See if there's an opening for you to bug her place, we need everything we can get to torment her with later.”
Aiden nodded, then realized Lucas couldn’t see it.
“I’ll stay on her.”
“One more thing,” Lucas added, voice like broken glass. “If that Alpha gets in the way...”
“I’ll handle it,” Aiden said flatly.
The line went dead.
Aiden pocketed the phone and stepped back into the shadows, boots silent against the wet pavement.
Above him, a light clicked off in Alyssa’s apartment.
He stayed there. Watching. Waiting.
- Writer
