Chapter 276

I come out of my blissful state in record time. Archer tosses the used condom into a nearby trash can. We both dress as fast as we can. Then we both take off like bats out of hell, desperate to get back to the house before the Alpha King’s car.

I still couldn’t believe Alpha King Hayes himself would show up. When I say as much to Archer, he replies, “He must be nearby.”

“But why show up… on his own… at all?” I’m pushing myself as hard as I can to keep pace with him. As I struggle for breath, he’s barely panting at all. I think he seemed more exerted while we’d been having sex.

I know he’s holding back his super speed on my behalf. He won’t leave me behind due to his desire to protect me. It’s frustrating though. His holding back to protect me could leave the others in danger if we aren’t quick enough.

“Your parents could turn away almost anyone this late at night,” Archer says. “But not the Alpha King himself. He’d be welcome any time of day or it’d be treason. He knows that.”

Archer pulls out his phone. I don’t have to see the face to know he’s calling Neil.

“He have to jump this fence,” he says. “You gonna be able to do it?”

“Watch me,” I snap. I’m not going to hold him back any more than necessary. I fly over the fence with ease. He’s quick behind me.

“Good,” he says, and I preen inside, proud of his genuine praise. We dash across the neighbor’s backyard.

“It’s his car alright,” Archer says into the phone. “He’ll be there any moment. Prepare however you can.”

By the time we’re on the other side of the yard, about to jump the other fence, Archer’s phone is back in his pocket.

Together we dash the rest of the way. The Alpha King’s driver must have been driving the speed limit, or they got lost, because they’re not there yet. Following Archer’s lead, we burst into the house. Archer locks the front door, as I hurry into the living room.

Neil is there, speaking with Mom.

“We need to put Mia to bed right now,” he says.

Mom, holding Mia, seems taken aback by his sudden urgency, even while she’s trying to be polite.

“I don’t understand, Neil. Surely she can be late to bedtime by a few minutes.”

“Mom!” I say, rushing toward her. “Neil’s right. It’s really important that we put Mia to bed.”

Archer comes in behind me. He stands at my back in agreement.

“You are all acting strangely,” Mom says. She looks at my head with a curious expression. Then she reaches out and plucks a stray leaf from my hair. “Chloe.”

“Mom, we can talk about this later. Let’s just go upstairs, okay?” I take her arm and start to coax her forward.

“You kids are acting weird,” Isaac said.

“They know what’s best for that baby,” Wyatt says to his father.

“I guess,” Isaac says, unsure.

Then, suddenly, the doorbell rings. Everyone freezes. Except Isaac, who is glancing around in visible confusion. “What is going on with you lot?”

“Don’t answer that,” Neil says.

“Neil, it’s just the door,” Isaac says.

“I’ll answer it for you,” Archer suggests.

“It’s my house,” Isaac says. His eternal patience is beginning to run out. It’s visible on his face, as the friendly veneer starts to crack. “I can answer my own door.”

He starts forward, no longer listening to anyone. As he leaves the room, Archer follows along behind him.

The doorbell rings again, longer this time.

Neil, Wyatt, and my faces all go pale.

Mom leans closer to me. “What is going on, Chloe?” she asks in a whisper.

Gods, I don’t even know where to begin. “Mom, we’re all in danger,” I tell her.

She gives me a strange look. “From what?”

Before I can answer, Isaac returns.

“Darling, you will never believe who decided to stop by!” Isaac calls.

We all turn to him. Beside Isaac is Archer looking stern and furious. Behind them both is Alpha King Hayes in the flesh. He’s flanked by four security men who wear suits like his, albeit likely not nearly as expensive.

“Hello there,” the Alpha King says. His smile shows too many teeth. It’s unnatural, predatory. It sends an unpleasant shiver down my spine.

Mom is no less confused looking, but she bows respectfully. “Alpha King! What a surprise! We welcome you into our home.” Her enthusiasm is false, made clear when she looks at me.

I don’t know what kind of face I’m making. Mortification, maybe. I’d only ever seen the Alpha King on television. The one time he talked to me had only been on the phone, and I hadn’t replied.

Now, he’s right here, walking toward me.

Neil immediately steps in front of me, blocking his path. One of the security goons starts forward, but the Alpha King raises his hand, stopping him.

“It’s alright,” the Alpha King says. He laughs though it sounds tense and fake. He looks at Isaac. “You have to forgive my sons. They have been so misguided lately. Rebellious stages, you know how it goes.”

Isaac slides his gaze to Wyatt. Yeah, Isaac probably does understand.

The Alpha King’s gaze returns to Neil. “Don’t be rude, Neil. Step aside so I can greet the young lady of the hour.”

“No,” Neil says.

The tension in the room amps up by a thousand percent. While Neil and his father stare daggers at each other, everyone else in the room exchanges glances. Even the security guys seem unsure, looking at each other.

“Now, Neil.” The Alpha King’s voice drops down low to icy levels. “Don’t be rude in front of these innocent people.”

The threat is obvious. If he doesn’t move, other innocent people will be. People like my mom.

I touch Neil’s shoulder. “It’s okay,” I tell him.

As he tilts his head toward me, I can see his jaw clench, but slowly, begrudgingly, he steps to the side. He does not make a second step, forcing his father to walk around him.

The Alpha King comes right up to me. He peers over me, his gaze catching on my breasts in way that makes me cross my arms to cover myself. I remember one of Hayes matriarch’s threats. That if I didn’t do what she said, she’d let her husband do whatever he wanted with me.

I can see the very real possibility of that now. And I felt even more deeply sorry for Carrie and what happened to her.

“Yes, I can see why they think you are special,” he says to my breasts, because he hasn’t looked back up at my face yet. Even with my arms blocking most of the way, he still stares openly at what he can see.

My mom takes notice and a small bit of understanding wipes away some of her confusion. She looks at me with sudden worried eyes. I swallow hard as I stare back at her. I know she’s worried but I’m begging her not to do anything.

One step out of line could mean the end of her.

Gods, I was such a fool for thinking that I could come here to protect her. I should have known I’d just bring them all into more trouble.

The Alpha King licks his lips. When he looks back up to my face, it’s with a lecherous grin. “A pleasure to finally meet you, Chloe.”