The Alpha's Pursuit

Copyright © 2024 by Olivia Grayson All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact livygray1201@o*********m. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. Book Cover Art: BetiBup33 design studio; betibup33@gmail.com http://thebookcoverdesigner.com/designers/betibup33/ First edition 2024 Editor: Angie Swits Editing in Progress. Parker dashed around large, lumbering trees, attempting to escape a man who 'claimed' her, reminiscent to the creepy gang on “The Walking Dead." Her heart raced furiously, threatening to explode out of her rib cage. Ragged breaths burst from her lips, and her chest ached as she dodged tree roots protruding from the earth. Ducking and weaving, she evaded outstretched, jagged outgrowths that seemed to lunge at her arms and legs. A yelp erupted out, bringing agony when one successful culprit smacked its target, slicing her across the cheek in a vicious sting. A persistent inner voice urged her to look over her shoulder—compelling her to scan her surroundings for a dark figure she imagined followed closely behind. Nothing sprung out to grab her. No shadow raced behind her, but she pushed forward, pumping her legs as hard as she could. Tears staining her cheeks. The possibility of him catching up to her outweighed her fear of losing her footing and falling to the ground. Tears welled up in her eyes again, as the dangerous dash toward freedom appeared hopeless. The man, though hypnotically gorgeous in a way that short-circuited her brain, only thirty short minutes prior to her squeezing through the gas station bathroom window, made it clear he would never let her go. She was his, so he told her. Not only that, he insisted on the delusion that he was not only her mate but a wolf shifter. The man truly was certifiable. The worst part, she couldn’t deny how she was drawn to him, despite his claims of being a werewolf. He had to be crazy, which made him dangerous, but she couldn’t stop the irrational fear that he wasn’t insane. The vision of a massive wolf pouncing on her leaped forth in her mind. Her imagination gripped her in terror as she pictured razor-sharp teeth dripping with saliva, tearing the flesh from her bones. Without looking back any further, she pressed on, driven by the haunting image. She raised her arms to shield herself from the relentless strikes of branches and thorns. Hopping over obstacles on the forest floor, she navigated them with ease. Fallen logs, rocks, uneven ground, and various plants surrounded her, all trying to trip her mercilessly. High school track proved to be helpful in ways she never dreamed. When teachers told students how algebra was necessary in life, most kids didn’t believe it or see its practical application. And in this moment, track joined the ranks with math. Not just lip service, but real use beyond high school heyday memories to be boasted about to whoever would listen. The desire to celebrate her agility surged in a moment of pride, but she quickly dismissed it. The reckless thoughts faded as terror reignited, reminding her of her stark reality; however, she realized her stamina was waning as her lungs hurt and her panting increased. The woodland stretched out into an endless path of darkness, its shadowy canopy of treetops forming a dense, impenetrable barrier, blocking out the sunlight. Doubt and defeat crept into her mind, slowing her pace even more. A sob threatened to spill from her throat, but her jaw stiffened in refusal to yield. Her feet pounded the earth and the ground trembled as she ran faster, sending a reverberating echo throughout the forest. Her stalker’s ridiculous acute hearing would find her quickly. Don’t cry! Don’t give up! The mantra repeated in her mind. The stalker, kidnapper, lunatic, wolf, or whatever that was tailing Parker came out of nowhere almost a week ago, talking crazy. Attempting to abscond with her, he tore her away from her life and any remaining control over it when she felt the need to go on the run. Four years earlier, another man tried to take possession of her, minus the Little Red Riding Hood fairytale, but this time included attempted kidnapping and the profound betrayal of her own body, which resisted logic and reason. The most frustrating part of this nightmare was her traitorous libido, which seemed to side with her abductor, undermining her sanity at every turn. Once she was out of his reach and regained her senses, she broke free from both him and her uncontrollable desires. His touch set her skin ablaze, leaving her feeling vulnerable and excited. Sparks of electricity scorched her flesh in the most delightful ways each time their skin made contact. A frown formed on her mouth at the recollection. The fucker's smug grin caught her attention when she pressed her thighs together and her n*****s tightened from the simple contact. It annoyed her. He noticed her reaction and she swore his head swelled from the satisfaction of her own body agreeing with his insistence that we belonged together. His own body reacted as well, but the large bulge in his pants brought no shame to his face. He remained unbothered with a hint of pride. She tried to convince herself that peeking at the region of his zipper was unintentional. Sadly, it wasn't the first time her gaze traveled in that direction and stayed there for one too many Mississippi's. Smacking his face off would suit her fine, so he never smirked again. After running for what felt like hours, her back collapsed against the trunk of a giant tree. The bark scratched her spine, but she didn’t care. The physical exertion, coupled with anxiety, drove her to near panic. Sweat poured down her forehead and back as she leaned over, resting her hands on her knees while gulping in air. Her eyes darted in every direction. The pulse in her neck throbbed and her heart was beating so loudly, it drowned out any chance of detecting imminent danger. Breathing through her nose to steady her heart rate, she contemplated which path to take. As she scanned the area for potential hiding spots, she realized there wasn’t anywhere he wouldn’t be able to sniff her out. She almost laughed at the thought—he could track her from 300 miles away. A hunter of his caliber would easily find her given the short distance separating them currently. He made it abundantly clear that the thrill of the hunt only heightened his desire and his “wolf” couldn’t resist the chase. The madness of everything he told her, if it was real; “sniffing” her out would be a simple task. The woods would be a wolf’s natural habitat, if he were a werewolf. But that’s crazy. This was crazy. Screaming in her head at the sheer absurdity. Her palms stung and bled from her clenched fists, digging her nails into her tender flesh. “s**t! Another thing to alert his nose. f**k! f**k! Fuckity f**k! Dammit, Parker! No, it’s ridiculous! Just run, who cares!?” The whispered tirade escaped her lips effortlessly. The wild story he told couldn’t possibly be true. Chiding herself for being so ridiculous, she took a deep breath, bracing her body to push off the tree and continue her flight. Her head snapped up as a howl vibrated through the small, wooded area. “No no no no no no no! It can’t be, it can’t be!” Her lip trembled as she realized she had, in fact, chummed the waters with the scent of her blood drifting in the wind. The mournful outcry made her pursuer's strange rant that he had unleashed earlier in the day about being a supernatural being seem anything but crazy. Jumping to her feet in her trendy combat boots, she felt a chill run down her back and began to sprint. Coincidence or not, a wild animal howled in the woods. The teal top and dark blue skinny jeans she wore provided warmth, but the temperature had dipped to fifty degrees. The new rips created by the unforgiving branches in her sweater allowed a bitter draft to kiss her skin. Racing forward, she caught sight of a break in the darkness that illuminated the asphalt. A road! Whispering a silent prayer of thanks, she quickened her pace and ran toward her salvation. She stepped into the ditch and paused, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet as she waited basking in the warmth of the sun that now kissed her skin. Another bay of the wolf echoed closer, causing her to shudder. Stiffening her posture, she fought against a strange impulse to track down the yowls of haunted pain and comfort the one in turmoil. What the hell was happening to me? she wondered. “God damn it! No! Don’t you dare!” she whispered to herself. Squeezing her eyes shut and keeping her feet planted, she fought the torturous urge to go to him, assuming it had to be him. Only he drew these feelings from her. “Oh dear God. It can’t be real.” Nervous energy bubbled within her as she pleaded for a rescue, a savior, or even a lobotomy. A wave of renewed terror surged through her veins as it dawned on her that the very person she was trying to escape might be in a car that might come to a stop. However, if he really was the wolf, then he couldn’t be in two places at once, she rationalized. If the cries in the wind were his, he couldn’t be in a vehicle, right? The howling came from behind her, but perhaps he enlisted help from his Beta, Chris. Isn’t that what he called him? She stepped back to hide herself from the road, waiting nervously by the trees. A snap of a branch echoed 100 yards away. Her heart raced as she stumbled forward onto the highway. Parker was prepared to dash across the road and push through the wooded area on the other side. Tears began to trail down her dirty, scraped cheeks, and sweat coated her whole body. Desperate for someone to drive by, she walked along the white dividing line. The idea of jumping onto the hood of any passing vehicle seemed like a completely logical option to her. In her mind, risking bodily injury to ensure they stopped was worth it. The sound of a car engine purred in the distance, almost as if she willed it into existence. Her calf muscles throbbed as she bounced up and down on her toes once more, glancing behind her every few seconds. Then, he appeared. With her legs now feeling wobbly and weak, she fixed her gaze on the enormous black wolf, its piercing green eyes locked onto hers. Green, like his. “Oh. My. God.” The majestic creature stood firm in its place, among the trees from where she had just emerged moments before. The would-be predator studied her, tilting its head in an eerie, almost human manner. Her heart raced faster, and her head spun as reality began to slip away, with bile rising in her stomach. Distracted by the terrifying sight of the beast, she had forgotten entirely about the approaching car. She snapped out of her thoughts when the screeching of tires tore through the silence. Bracing for impact, she closed her eyes as the approaching SUV attempted to stop. However, seconds before her eyes closed, she saw the gigantic furry creature lunge. A few feet in front of her, the bumper stopped just short of hitting her. Wasting no time, she ran to the passenger door, shouting. “Wolf!” The stranger, a man, unlocked the door and frantically motioned for her to get in, his panic evident. The mysterious man, with brown hair and striking blue eyes, accepted her warning completely and reacted without hesitation. Parker suspected that women were drawn to this rescuer. With his toned, muscular build and towering height, he was an impressive sight, even while seated behind the wheel. The man reminded her of the stalker who had pursued her, and to some degree, her ex. Where were these men coming from? The gym? The set of Magic Mike? The woods where they chopped wood all day? She shook off the thought, relieved to be safe. The savior accelerated just as the giant animal landed on the blacktop. She sighed in relief and squinted at the driver. The words “thank you” died before they could form on her lips. A pinching ache radiated from the side of her neck, causing her to hiss at the discomfort. Surprised, she clutched her hand over the pain. Parker’s eyes furrowed in confusion as she never took them off the man driving. Did a bug bite her? She pulled her hand up to inspect for a dead insect. Nothing. The savior remained stoic, focusing on the road ahead and not sparing her a glance. Her vision blurred, yet she managed to peek into the backseat. A large, imposing man with blond hair pulled into a man bun and a bushy beard sat in the back. His familiar blue eyes swirled like oceans and glimmered with amusement as he waved a now empty syringe. “Miss me, Park?” he chuckled. How did she not notice him when she dove into the passenger seat? The damn wolf distracted her, that was how. The man who jabbed her with the needle was unrecognizable at first, until his voice reached her ears. He winked at her with a devilish smirk when he noticed the recognition and defeat in her eyes. Her eyelids grew heavy, and darkness pulled her under.