Sired to the alpha

4

Josh had been my best friend since high school—the kind of friend who could make you laugh until your stomach hurt and who always seemed to know when you needed someone close. So, when I called him after my bizarre encounter with Ryker, there was no hesitation on his end.

“Be there in ten b***h ,” he said, and true to his word, he showed up with a bag of snacks, a throw blanket, and his favorite oversized hoodie.

By the time he arrived, I was already out of my soaked clothes and curled up on the couch in a fresh pair of sweats, still trying to wrap my head around what had happened.

Josh dropped his bag near the door and gave me a once-over. “Girl, you look like you’ve seen a ghost. Spill.”

I sighed, pulling my legs up under me as he flopped onto the couch beside me, his hoodie smelling faintly of his signature lavender laundry detergent.

“It’s nothing,” I started, though the words felt like a lie even as they left my mouth.

Josh gave me a look. “Evangeline. When have I ever let you get away with that?”

I groaned, running a hand through my damp hair. “Fine. It’s just… something weird happened on my way home.”

His eyebrows shot up in interest, and he grabbed a bag of chips from his stash, popping it open. “Weird like how? Creepy weird or sexy weird? Please tell me it’s the second one—I could use some drama.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop the faint blush that crept up my neck. “It wasn’t sexy. At least, I don’t think it was. It was just… unsettling.”

Josh leaned closer, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Oh, this is gonna be good. Keep going.”

So I told him everything—the fall, the rain, the guy who seemed to appear out of nowhere, and the way he told me I was bleeding before I even realized it myself.

“And then,” I said, the words tumbling out faster now, “he just casually said my name. Like it was the most normal thing in the world.”

Josh froze, a chip halfway to his mouth. “Hold up. Your name? Like, full-on Evangeline? Not some random nickname?”

I nodded. “Exactly. I never told him who I was, Josh. I’ve never seen him before in my life.”

Josh’s eyes narrowed, and he put the chips aside. “Okay, that’s either mega-stalker vibes, or…” He trailed off, tapping a finger against his chin.

“Or what?” I prompted, feeling a flicker of unease.

“Or he’s one of those mysterious, brooding types who just knows things. You know, like in the books you’re obsessed with.”

I groaned, sinking deeper into the couch. “You’re not helping.”

Josh laughed, throwing an arm around my shoulders. “Relax, babe. It’s probably just a coincidence. Or maybe you mentioned your name to someone in passing, and it got around. You’re pretty memorable.”

“Yeah, but not in a good way,” I muttered, my cheeks still warm.

Josh gave me a playful nudge. “Stop that. You’re a freaking catch. If this Ryker dude is weird, I’ll handle him for you. But if he’s hot…”

I shot him a look, and he burst out laughing.

“Fine, fine. I’ll reserve judgment,” he said, holding up his hands in mock surrender.

But as the night wore on and we traded gossip and stories, I couldn’t shake the lingering feeling that Ryker wasn’t just some random stranger. There was something about the way he’d looked at me, like he knew me—like he’d been waiting for me.

Josh stayed up with me until I finally dozed off, his presence comforting in a way that almost made me forget about the encounter. Almost.

Because even in my dreams, I couldn’t escape the sound of Ryker’s voice or the way he’d said my name like it meant something more.