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Alpha Picked 13
“Hey, don’t cry. Shortie, I promise I will help you find your daughter.” Manzitti’s voice brings me out of my tormented reminiscing. I have wasted so much time trying to change Alan, trying to be something I am not to make him happy. I am done.Before I realise it, Manzitti’s big, strong arms are around me, and the physical contact brings more tears to my eyes. My little Summer, my little ray of sunshine, I hope she is safe wherever she is. I need her back with me, I cannot bear not knowing where she is and if she is safe and cared for.It feels so good to be in Manzitti’s arms, to be held like I mean something to him. I have so many questions about who he is, what he is and what I am to him. I will be completely transparent and honest: I do feel a connection to him, and if I am going to end my marriage properly maybe this is something I would be willing to consider in the future. Although the thought of being intimate with another man and him judging my performance too scares the liv
Last Updated : 2022-09-17Alpha Picked 14
*** Melanie ***This is the first time I have ever been to Alan and Helen’s house, and I am both in awe and jealous at the same time. They live in a quiet cul-de-sac in a private estate. Their house is modest but immaculately kept. It is decorated tastefully and with pride.Apart from one photo of Helen and Alan together, there is no evidence of Alan belonging here. The photographs of Summer are numerous and it’s the first time I have seen the daughter of my lover. She is cute, although there is hardly any of Alan in her, she favours her mother in looks.I feel inadequate as I look around. My rented home is nothing in comparison to this place, why on earth would Alan want to leave this comfortable and beautiful home with his wife and daughter to come and live with me?Then it hits me all at once: it’s because he loves me! He has never ever said it to me even when I have asked him, he’s replied yes but he’s never said the words. But now I understand, he must really, really love me and
Last Updated : 2022-09-17Alpha Picked 15
Seven years ago, he said he was almost finished with her. Only a couple of months later he broke my heart into a thousand pieces when he announced to everyone that he and Helen had eloped, and he had popped her cherry. He announced it in the bar in front of everyone giving me no heads up or inclination of what was happening. Alan told us all he and his gorgeous wife were off to start a new life in Germany. He didn’t even make eye contact with me, he just acted like I didn’t exist or matter. He just sat there pulling Helen all over him, pawing at her and bragging about her.Later that same night he came into my bedroom through the window, and we made love for the last time. I didn’t know it was going to be the last time but he basically called it a leaving present afterwards. I wasn’t sure if that was for me or him.I point out the small photograph of him and Helen on their wedding day and Alan scowls at me. “Not now, Mel, for fucks sake,” he snarls at me before placing the photograph
Last Updated : 2022-09-17Alpha Picked 16
*** Halle ***When I get to my father’s office, Brad is inside with a leggy blonde with far too much leg and breast on show. I stay outside and listen to what is happening.“Bring me the files and leave them on my desk.” I hear a filing cabinet sliding open. “Is this all the stuff we have on social services, Erin?”“Yes, sir, but my name is Bethany, remember?” There is a small silence followed by rustling and more drawers opening.“Yeah, yeah whatever, love. Look, Ms Morales will be here any minute and she needs help locating a little girl. I need the contact we have for social services, child protection, the lot. Who is our contact?”There is some page turning, “Oh, here it is, Mr. Suarez, it’s a guy named Gerry, he works in child protection.”“Okay that’ll be all, Stephanie, could you please show Ms Morales straight in when she arrives? Thank you.”I hear a huff of exasperation and some muttering under her breath. “My name is Bethany!” I can’t help but smile when the blonde comes ou
Last Updated : 2022-09-17Alpha Picked 17
“I don’t think there is anything to say. You are being trained to take over from MY father because you have a dick and I don’t. You get to take my inheritance, my birthright, because I am a silly woman who could never cope in this man’s world.” He raises his eyebrows at me and I see a smirk starting to grow.“Ok then, so the elephant stays for now but maybe later you will give me a few moments of your time to correct you on what is actually going on here. Until then, we have a little girl to track.”As he starts to show me everything, he has collated in the time it has taken me to drive over here, I cannot help but be impressed with him. Our first port of call is one of our moles in Child Protection. I go to get out my phone when Brad places his hand on mine, and I feel like he has filled my body with an explosive.Whenever I get near, I start to feel weird around him, like a desire like I’ve never known before. My vibrator is going to be pounded tonight and I’m sick to my stomach tha
Last Updated : 2022-09-17Alpha Picked 18
*** Melanie ***Alan is raging as he drives my car like a maniac through the streets back to our side of town. “She thinks she can just bring some other man into my house with my kid in it. Well, she’s got another thing coming, she is getting no divorce from me, the whore. Who does she think she is?”“But I thought that was what you wanted Alan, to be able to divorce Helen and move on with me? I don’t see why you are so angry. She was the one who caught us in the act, remember,” I tell him. The words are hardly out of my mouth before he stops the car abruptly.“Get out now!” he shouts at me; his eyes are wide and wild and his spit flies everywhere, making me cringe. “Get out of this fucking car now, Mel, before I punch your face in.”Tears roll down my face. “This is my car; we are driving to my house. I am not a pushover like Helen, you can’t talk to me like you talk to her.” I stand up to him for the first time knowing if I allow this to happen, this will set the tone for the rest o
Last Updated : 2022-09-17Alpha Picked 19
*** Brad ***I realise how lucky I am that Halle has trusted me enough to help her. It has been frosty between us for over three months and as much as I am annoyed at both our parents for poking their noses in, I cannot deny that I want her. I want Halle Morales like my life depends on it. I would be a fool to not want her, she is incredible.This started off as a business arrangement, but boy could that woman keep me honest. She takes none of my crap, she stands up to me, she has a brilliant mind and work ethic, and it does help that she is sexy as hell and fiery and passionate.Ever since that night when I caught her before she fell down the stairs head first, all I can think about is the connection between us. There is a chemistry there that I have never felt with any other woman, she has me enraptured and her elusiveness just fuels that even more. To prove my point, I start to harden at the memory of her in my arms.We are just coming out of the local authority building and she is
Last Updated : 2022-09-17Alpha Picked 20
*** Slayne ***I have been on the hunt for a couple of hours trying to find the little girl. There is nothing in the systems and, despite intimidating some young girl who works within the child protection department, all I had found out is that Summer was assessed by a woman called Carole Berkley who has called into the office sick now.I call Ivan, and I want to cry with how distant he sounds to me. “Yes?” That’s how he answers my call, he used to always call me beautiful, and I would chastise him. Now I have to settle for a ‘Yes’!“Beta Ivan, could you please run a check for me, I need everything you can pull on Carole Berkley who works for children services.” I wait for his reply but it’s not what I had hoped for.“I will send it through now, bye.”It feels like my heart drops into my boots. This feels like the long goodbye. I need to do something fast to show Ivan that I do care, but after all this time, will that be enough?True to his word, all the information about Carole Berkl
Last Updated : 2022-09-17
Latest chapter
Alpha Picked 79
FANEI grabbed another crate of flowers and put them in the cooler. The door to the shop opened and Thorne walked in carrying two more.“Where do you want these?”“Are those the daffodils or the baby’s breath?” I asked.He glanced inside the crate and made a face. “This one is baby’s breath, and this one looks like curly twigs.”I laughed. “They’re curly willow tips.” I pointed to where Liv stood at another cooler. “Let Liv have them. They go in that one.”He walked her way, and I stared at him, still blown away that he was mine. It had only been two weeks since the night at my apartment when I asked him to stay after everything with Brooks happened, but it felt like we’d always been together. There was an ease with Thorne I had never felt with Brooks.Life was magical with him.Liv took the crates from Thorne, and then I noticed her checking her watch. That had to be the tenth time in the last few minutes. When she chewed the inside of her cheek—her telltale sign she was nervous—I kn
Alpha Picked 78
THORNE Nadine had asked me to stay the night, which was more confirmation she wasn’t freaked out by my wolf. This meant everything. My wolf vibrated with triumph. He’d expected things to go this smoothly, though.After all, he had already known she was his mate.He also had high hopes for what would happen between us tonight, and as I walked up the stairs to her apartment, I growled at him mentally. Nothing would happen tonight. Not unless Fane initiated it. She’d been through a lot and I would push for nothing.When we reached her front door, she glanced at me and smiled. I caught sight of the purple bruise shading her cheek and any sexual thoughts fled my mind and my wolf’s.My vision tunneled, and red rage flared through me instead.My teeth gritted together as I tried my damnedest to force my anger away, reminding myself she was safe, and that there was no way Brooks would ever hurt her again. It didn’t help.“What?” she asked, innocently.“You need ice,” I said. “Let’s head ins
Alpha Picked 77
FANE Either Brooks had passed out or he was being really quiet. Goose bumps prickled across my skin, but not in a good way. I gripped my cell tight and shifted my gaze from window to window. Thankfully, my apartment was above my sister’s garage and not at ground level, which meant there was no way for Brooks to climb through any of the back windows. If he got inside, it would be through either of the two windows alongside the front door or through the door itself.Even knowing this, my anxiety was still through the roof.I’d never seen Brooks like this before. Typically, he was controlled while in the public eye, and he rarely let himself get this drunk unless we were home. My heart beat triple time against my ribs, becoming the only thing I could hear. Until the sound of a motorcycle broke through everything.Thorne.Tension melted from my muscles, and my grip on my cell loosened. I pulled in a deep breath and exhaled it slowly, glad he was here. When it sounded as though he’d pulle
Alpha Picked 76
THORNE We walked to where we parked by the light of Fane’s flashlight on her phone. I didn’t need it, but I didn’t say so. Thanks to my wolf, I could see just fine in the dark.As soon as we reached her car, she spun around to face me and I knew what words were building on the tip of her tongue.“Nope,” I said with a shake of my head. “I don’t want to hear you say you’re sorry for the things that happened tonight or thank you to me again.”She smiled. Damn, she was pretty when she smiled.“Okay, so what do you want to hear me say, then?” she asked, and I swore she was flirting with me.I liked this side of her. This flirty, confident side that came out from time to time.It was sexy as hell.I took her hand and brought it to my lips, kissing along her knuckles while staring into her eyes. Her pupils dilated and my wolf picked up on a light scent of arousal. He released a howl and urged me to kiss her like before. I didn’t. A kiss on the hand was what she needed right now.Someone to b
Alpha Picked 75
FANE When Thorne pulled into a gas station, I assumed it was because he needed gas for his motorcycle, but when he parked in a space instead of at a pump, I realized that wasn’t the case. I pulled into the parking space beside him, wondering what we were doing here.“I’m heading inside for something. Be right back,” he said, sliding off his bike, looking sexy as hell.I leaned against my seat and exhaled a slow breath while watching him walk inside. This day had been a roller coaster. My teeth sank into my bottom lip as my thoughts drifted from one moment to another. I glanced at my wrist. It was still wrapped like Thorne suggested. While it was tender to the touch, I was glad I’d gone through with covering up Brooks’ name. I wanted nothing to do with him ever again.Thorne came back, his presence pulling me from my thoughts. There was a six-pack in his hand and a lopsided grin on his face. I smiled back, but narrowed my eyes.What did this guy have up his sleeve? He looked like he w
Alpha Picked 74
THORNE I hated Brooks. He was like a pimple that popped up at the most inconvenient time. Fane and I had been having a good time before he’d rudely interrupted us. Our thank-you drink was becoming a celebratory one. It was great she’d worked out a deal with May and was buying May’s Flowers. It was a beautiful thing when someone knew what they wanted to do with their life and made it happen.And then here was this douchebag tripping her up.Fane was moving forward, but he kept pulling her back.“Can we go?” she asked, looking directly at me. There was fear in her eyes. Clearly, she’d seen this side of him before.“Yeah, sure,” I said without hesitation. Bars weren’t really my scene, anyway.I tossed a twenty on the bar to pay for our drinks, even though she said she would buy, and gave Joe a nod before lacing my fingers through Fane’s and steering us toward the exit.“Holy shit!” Brooks shouted from behind us, causing my wolf to go on high alert. He’d picked up on Brooks’ anger escala
Alpha Picked 73
FANE I walked toward the doors of Last Drop, my mind racing. I couldn’t believe I’d asked Thorne Beckett out for a drink. It was a bold move, but after everything with Brooks and my tire, it felt right. Thorne had helped me more than he could ever know today.“Fane,” a familiar voice called from behind me while I walked through the parking lot.I spun around to see Thorne weaving his way toward me.“Hey, you came,” I said, unsure why.“Of course I did. You offered to buy me a drink.”“Right, that I did.” Ugh. I sounded like a complete idiot!“I’m kidding. I would have come even if you hadn’t offered to buy me a drink,” he said, still sauntering toward me. An adorable grin hung from his lips, one that sent butterflies through the pit of my stomach.Thorne was hot—smoking hot.I scolded myself for the thought. This wasn’t a date. It was me buying him a drink because he’d helped me with my shitty Brooks issues more than once today. I shouldn’t feel butterflies while in his presence.“Re
Alpha Picked 72
THORNE Nadine was scared. I could tell. And it was driving my wolf wild. He didn’t like smelling her fear saturating the air around us. All he wanted was for me to fix it. To comfort her and make her feel better.The problem was, I didn’t know how.Talking to her and getting her mind off her asshole ex seemed like the way to do it, but I didn’t know what to say. My mind was drawing a complete blank, and it didn’t help that my wolf was pulling me in multiple directions. While he wanted me to stay here with her, to protect her and make sure she was okay, he also wanted me to track Brooks down and make him bleed for hurting her.I had an internal battle waging inside me, tearing me in two.I outlined the last petal of her lotus and then cleaned her skin. The shop door opened as I covered her tattoo with plastic wrap and secured it. I didn’t have to look over my shoulder to know who had entered. I could tell from the way Fane’s fear intensified in the air and how her body tensed.Brooks
Alpha Picked 71
FANE I found a parking space on Main Street and cut the engine of my car. To say I was excited to get Brooks’ name covered with a lotus flower was an understatement.However, I was also excited to see Thorne.As I thought about the conversation we’d had on the phone the other night when I called to book my appointment, I wondered for the millionth time if he’d cared that I had shortened his name to Cal.I hoped not.I exhaled a slow breath as I slid out of my car and made my way down the sidewalk toward Inked Wolf. When I spotted Ms. Lynette on the bench beneath the clock tower in town square, I smiled and waved at her. She motioned for me to come over, so I headed in her direction. There was still ten or fifteen minutes before my appointment with Thorne. It was enough time to say a quick hello to her and then make my way back across the street.“Hello, Ms. Lynette,” I said when I reached her.She held up her index finger. “I have something for you,” she said, before rummaging throug
