Mesmerised by the Alpha

Chapter 20. Whispered Warnings

After finishing my breakfast and making a few excuses to the others, I slipped away from the lively buzz of the hotel and wandered outside, needing some space. A soft breeze danced through the crisp morning air, stirring the last of the autumn leaves. I followed the winding gravel path through the gardens, my thoughts still tangled from the night before.

Eventually, I stumbled across a rose garden. It was tucked away behind a high hedge, hidden like a secret. The roses were still in bloom—deep reds, pale pinks, even golden yellows—and their perfume lingered delicately in the air. In the centre of it all stood a carved wooden bench, aged and inviting.

I sat down, letting the morning sun warm my face, soaking in the calm.

But the peace didn’t last long.

Ashton’s voice echoed in my mind, soft and serious: “Don’t worry about that horrible man from today. He won’t be bothering you anymore.”

A shiver prickled up my spine. I hadn't told anyone what he'd whispered, not even Nora. At the time, I’d brushed it off. A sweet moment from a sweet kid. But the more I thought about it, the more it unsettled me.

He was talking about Nick—he must’ve been. What else could he have meant? But how could Ashton have known Nick was going to leave? Had he overheard something? Seen something?

I stood abruptly, brushing invisible dust from my trousers. I had to know. Maybe Ashton would speak to me again. Or maybe Nora could shed some light. Either way, I wasn’t going to find answers by sitting here.

As I headed back towards the main building to change and head into town, I spotted Nate across the courtyard. He was chatting to a few of the construction lads, pointing up at some render details near the east wing. The minute he caught sight of me, he excused himself and jogged over.

“Morning,” he greeted, slightly out of breath. “How’re you holding up?”

“I’m okay,” I said, adjusting the sleeve of my jumper. “I heard about Nick.”

He nodded. “Yeah… bit of a mess, really. I tried to give him more chances than he deserved, but it didn’t work out.”

“You two were friends, weren’t you?”

“Back in school. Lost touch for years, but he got in contact recently. Thought he could use a break and I could use an extra pair of hands, but—” He shrugged. “Something changed in him. He wasn’t the same guy I remembered.”

“I appreciate you stepping in when you did,” I said, meaning it. “You didn’t have to.”

“Well, I didn’t want you feeling unsafe on my watch,” he said, eyes warm. “What are you up to at the moment?”

“I think I'm going to pop into town. Need a bit of headspace.”

He hesitated. “You fancy grabbing a drink later?”

I paused, mind flashing to Theo. Something about Nate had always been solid, kind—but still. My instincts told me to keep some distance.

“Probably best if we keep things professional,” I said with a slight smile. “Last thing I want is to ruffle any more feathers. Especially Stella’s.”

He chuckled. “I understand. But just so you know—there’s never been anything between me and Stella. Never will be.”

“That’s probably wise.”

We shared a small grin before I headed inside to get changed.

Half an hour later, I was parked up in town, sipping on a takeaway coffee from the little café near the square. I made my way to Nora’s boutique, heart tapping an anxious rhythm. I wasn’t sure if Ashton would speak to me again—but I had to try.

Inside, I lingered near the back, pretending to browse through a rack of dresses. Nora was rushed off her feet, darting between the tills and the changing rooms. A group of girls was making a scene—loud, brash, and rude. Barking orders for different sizes, throwing criticism at everything she brought them.

Despite the pressure, Nora stayed polite. Calm. Professional. But I could see the cracks beneath her composure.

From their chatter, I pieced together that they’d all gone to school with Nora. One of them, a girl with pin-straight hair and way too much lip gloss, was clearly in charge. She demanded discounts at the till, and when Nora tried to gently decline, I caught her eye and gave her a small, firm nod of the head.

Nora straightened a little. “Sorry. No discounts today. The items are full price.”

The girl sneered. “You’ll regret that. One day, when my sister is Luna, I’ll pay you back for this embarrassment.”

Then they stormed out, knocking a stand of handbags onto the floor as they went. I crouched to help Nora pick them up.

“You did the right thing,” I said softly. “Don’t let people like that walk all over you.”

She smiled faintly. “They weren’t always like that. We used to be friends. But… things changed after I left school. After my parents died.”

“I’m sorry, Nora.” I hesitated for a second, then added, “What did she mean, though? That thing she said about her sister becoming Luna. What’s that about?”

Nora’s smile faltered. She glanced away, fiddling with a loose thread on one of the handbags. “Oh… it’s just a silly nickname. A local thing. Some of the girls in town have this clique—like a little high school hierarchy. The whole ‘Luna’ thing is part of it.”

I frowned. “So, what, like… a queen bee?”

“Something like that,” she replied quickly.

There was something too rehearsed about her tone, like she’d practised it before. I didn’t quite buy it, but I let it go—for now.

“The ringleader—her name’s Viva. Valerie’s sister.”

I groaned. “Of course she is.”

We shared a dry laugh before I asked, “Where’s Ashton?”

“In the back. Come on.”

She led me through to a small sitting area, where Ashton was curled up on a beanbag, completely absorbed in his game. He looked up when he saw me, offering a shy smile.

“I wanted to ask you something,” I said gently, kneeling down beside him. “Last night—you said the bad man wouldn’t bother me anymore. What did you mean?”

He glanced at me, then at Nora. Gave me a quick hug. And went right back to his game.

I sighed. “Guess I caught him on a quiet day.”

Nora chuckled lightly but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. She’d gone still, staring off into space. I stood, brushing imaginary lint from my leggings.

“He doesn’t want to talk,” I said. “But if he says anything later—about what he meant—please let me know?”

“I will,” she promised, walking with me back into the main shop.

We’d barely stepped out before Theo appeared, jogging up the street, breathless and glowing with sweat. I opened my mouth to say hello, but something passed between him and Nora. A silent exchange I wasn’t part of.

I cleared my throat. “I’ll leave you two to it. Got a busy day ahead.”

But just as I turned to go, a chirpy voice called out, “Oh, there you are!”

Stella. Wearing cropped leggings and a tiny top, bounding over like a labrador. “One minute you were beside me and the next—pfft—you’d sprinted off!” she said, bumping Theo’s shoulder.

Then she turned and flashed me a smile. “Oh! Jasmine. Didn’t see you there. Just bumped into Theo during our run. He’s so gracious, showing me the best spots.”

I forced a tight smile. “That's lovely of him. I’ll leave you both to it.”

My phone rang—perfect timing. I answered it as I walked away, heart thudding. I didn’t even remember what the caller said. Something about a delivery. I barely responded before hanging up.

I couldn’t believe how much it stung, seeing Theo and Stella together. I didn’t think he was actually interested in her—he’d looked genuinely guilty when he saw me. And Stella? She didn’t even like exercising. Her idea of a workout was lifting a cocktail to her lips.

I climbed into my car, eager to get back to the hotel and leave town—and everything in it—behind for now.

When I arrived, I spotted George crouched beside the ruined flowerbed, carefully replanting what Nick had torn up.

“Need a hand?” I called over.

He glanced up, wiping his forehead. “All sorted, nearly. Thanks, though.”

I nodded, offering a tired smile before retreating to my room.

The minute the door clicked shut, I dropped onto the bed and closed my eyes. The weight of everything hit me all at once—Nick, Ashton’s words, Theo and Stella. There was something simmering beneath the surface of this place, something I couldn’t see yet.

But I was determined to find out what it was.