The Alpha Next Door

Stella aggressively pushed away

image that just so happened to be in Mandy's antiquities book of mythic rituals. Benn

prepaid for the term, so at least her courses were covered. She liked to run 3.2 miles, ju

g playlist. With both the rpms—rhythms per minute— and her heart rat

e the man hidden among the n

shadows. A hoodie pu

stepped out of the darkness

r spine. Instinct.

nd man emerge from the shadows. He angled himself on

from the left, flan

lla had no idea what was happening. All s

ket. She felt her keys. Bingo, sh

Fully expecting to

for a beat, cursing hers

she had

learned to do in a self-defense class she took

t had any real practice. But what c

track. She was going t

he eyes. And to strike hard and fast. Then run like crazy scr

er, she heard a whistle. Soft and l

appeared in

ll that’s holy! This

it

l while saying a silent prayer that perhaps this was just a dream. Or at

e the men

rm. The men pulled them apart until they

uck is fac

coffee and stale ciga

Her guts turned to ice. Sh

ing on his stinking face. Wouldn’t that

e that reminded Stella of fingernails on a chalkb

tobacco stained finge

not safe to run alone

ol. Hide the terror she felt inside.

monsters since I was six y

the half of it.” The man grin

Stella could see they weren’t typi

f monsters hiding in p

g the other men. They joi

ella’s spine like an icy hand

de the man l

oved h

an more clearly. He wa

sh of a steel b

kn

oat. He was going to kill

a trap. Her world started crum

she had

h. It was do or die. And

not withou