Alpha's Vet

Stalker

Lucas POV

I am standing outside her small house like the stalker I clearly am.

Moonlight spills across the yard, catching in the thin curtains of her window. Through the glass I can see her tiny living room—simple, clean, full of mismatched things she’s clearly been collecting piece by piece. She deserves better. She deserves… everything.

She’s sitting on the floor, legs crossed, wearing shorts that should be illegal and a tiny tank top that does absolutely nothing to help my self-control. My blood heats instantly. If she ever walks outside dressed like that where other men can see her—

Calm down, Lucas. Breathe before you shift through her wall.

She’s studying. Her brow furrows when she concentrates, lip caught between her teeth. She taps her pen against her notebook, mutters something under her breath, then flips a page with determination that should not be this attractive.

“Baby,” I whisper to myself, “you really don’t ever have to study or work again if you don’t want to.”

The idea of her struggling makes my wolf, Lex, bare his teeth inside my mind.

She checks her watch and gets up. I follow her silhouette as she moves into the bedroom, humming some soft song. She sings off-key, not that I care. It is the most beautiful thing I’ve heard in years.

And then—goddess help me—she walks out dressed in jeans that hug her thighs in ways I am not mentally prepared for and a white top that is one drop of water away from being completely see-through. Her hair is pulled up in some messy bun that shows her neck. Her delicate, perfect, tempting neck.

I swear she is doing this on purpose.

I’ve never thought so many descriptive, poetic words in my life. I don’t have poetic words. My vocabulary normally consists of orders, reports, and threats. But for her? My mind won’t shut up.

Beautiful. Intoxicating. Breathtaking. Mine.

She locks her door and jogs to her car—an ancient red VW that sounds like it’s held together by stubbornness and duct tape. The engine chokes when she turns the key.

That car is a death trap on wheels.

Lex growls. Unacceptable. Fix it. Replace it. Burn it if needed.

“Eric,” I link immediately.

“Yes, Lucas?” His tone is cautious. He knows what my moods mean.

“I need someone to fix her car tonight. Quietly. New tires, new engine belt, the works.”

“Of course. But—where are you?”

Too late. I shifted while linking and forgot to break it.

“I’m following her,” I say through Lex’s voice. “I think she’s going to work.”

Silence. Then:

“Lucas… you shouldn’t be out alone. The rogues—”

“No. No wolves near her yet. Not one. If anyone looks at her the wrong way, I won’t be able to control myself.”

Lex rumbles in agreement.

Eric sighs. “All right. I’ll handle the car. But you need to come home soon.”

“I will,” I lie and cut the link.

Lex is faster on four paws, gliding through the trees as we follow her car at a distance.

She has no idea she’s being shadowed by a very large, very possessive wolf king.

I know this is insane. I know I should leave her alone.

But the pull is unbearable.

I need her safe.

I need her close.

I need… her.

Lara POV

I know today is supposed to be my day off.

I told myself I would study. I tried. Really, I did.

But after rereading the same paragraph four times, I gave up.

I need to see Lucky.

I need to check on him.

And maybe clean the cages a bit… and maybe reorganize the shelves… and maybe sweep the floors…

“Yeah right,” I mutter as I pull on old jeans and a black tank top. “I’ll be there all afternoon.”

I grab my keys, tie my hair up in a messy bun, and head for the door. I’m not trying to impress anyone. It’s just Dr V and the animals.

But as I step outside, that feeling washes over me again.

That eerie, skin-tingling sensation that someone is watching.

It’s ridiculous. This neighborhood is quiet. My landlord is seventy-five and barely leaves her porch. The young couple next door works weekends. No one is out here.

I shake it off and climb into my car. The engine coughs, complaining like always.

“Please just get me there,” I beg, patting the dashboard. “Don’t betray me today.”

As I pull out, the sensation intensifies. I rub my arms. Maybe it’s lack of sleep. Maybe it’s stress. Or maybe… maybe it’s something else entirely.

Last night’s memory flashes through my mind—the man at the club. The one with the powerful aura. The one who grabbed the creep off me as if he weighed nothing. The one who disappeared the moment I tried to look him in the eyes.

His presence still clings to my skin, warm and electric.

I don’t even know his name.

And yet… something about him felt so familiar. So comforting. Like stepping into a storm but knowing you’ll never be struck.

“Stop thinking about him,” I scold myself. “Guys like that are trouble.”

Besides, I won’t see him again. That’s how these things go. A moment of adrenaline, a moment of safety, then gone.

I focus on the road instead.

Tonight is movie night with Roxy and Steven. They’re still mad at me for ditching them yesterday, so I promised a full evening of snacks and a rom-com marathon.

What they don’t know is that I’m planning to ask Dr V if I can take Lucky home for a few days. He shouldn’t be in the clinic alone at night, and I can’t sleep there forever.

I smile to myself.

Yeah. I’ll convince him somehow.

First, I just need to shake this weird feeling.

Like shadows trailing behind me.

Like someone unseen is keeping pace.

Like I’m not as alone as I think.