1302 The Alpha (The 13th Floor) Read Online Free PDF

well enough, I made my plan to escape. I begged Starr to come with me, but she loves Matt. Bastard. She wanted to get married and have a family. Maybe they already did. I don’t know. It’s been just over a year since I ran.”
    Stefanie had left her sister. Her only family. And Scott, he was like family too, no matter if he betrayed them. He was only a kid really. She should’ve forced them to come with her. Surely they wouldn’t hate her forever for it.
    She sat back, leaning against the cushioned back of the couch, hoping her trembling wasn’t noticeable. “So, there you have it. That’s why they’re hunting me. No superhero story. Just me running away.”
    James was silent for a few minutes. Stefanie gripped one of the couch pillows, pulling it against her body. He’d certainly think she was a coward now. Would he leave because he was disgusted by her? Would he laugh? Maybe either way he’d leave and then he’d be safe. Perhaps that was for the better.
    Then he was moving. He came to sit beside her on the couch, not too close and using a healthy dose of caution. His right hand clenched and unclenched a few times. He placed it over hers.
    “Running was the only thing you could do. The smart thing to do. I couldn’t imagine what would’ve happened if you stayed. I’m sure you don’t want to either.” He squeezed her hand, holding on.
    Not at all. Stefanie still had nightmares about what Wyatt did to her. Her chin quivered.
    “I’m sorry you lost your pack. More so, your sister. I have three little brothers, and it was just hard leaving them to come to the university here. Never mind leaving them to the mercy of people like that. No, not people. Animals. Beasts.” He spat out the last word. “Whatever I can do to help you, I’ll do it. I won’t let them take you back.”
    He was suddenly hugging her. Grateful was not a strong enough word for what she felt. She wouldn’t let him put himself in any more danger, but just the offer alone was enough.
    It had been so long since she had an ally, a friend. Sure, she and Marc kicked back, had a few beers, and watched football. He felt like her father in a way, but that was probably only her heart trying to fill up the hole left by her parents’ death. Harriet was sweet, but they didn’t have much in common. Meira was too much of a priss, and Xan was hardly around. He didn’t say much anyway. As for the vampire at the end of the hall, she refused to have anything to do with him.
    Maybe she should push James away. Part of her wanted to do just that as much as another part needed to be held. He was too good for her. She needed to focus.
    James held her, rubbing her back. He was a wolf, and another thing she hadn’t had in a long time was a pack. She missed the camaraderie, the bonding, the feeling of belonging to one another. She wanted that back again. Wanted it badly.
    His cheek rubbed against hers like a warm caress. Stefanie’s stomach flipped. Feeling something more than just gratefulness rising, she pushed back. Reluctantly.
    “Let’s get to work then.”

CHAPTER 5
     
    “I’m trying. Don’t rush me.” Stefanie growled, trying to focus on her body and her environment. Matching scents. What kind of nonsense was he teaching her? Well, nonsense that worked for him, obviously.
    “Don’t overthink it. Just let it happen.” James stood beside her in the stairwell. Two of the light bulbs had burnt out and a third was flickering.
    “How can I not overthink it? It’s not like I usually smell like the inside of a building.” It was supposedly an easy trick. Masking your scent by blending it in with the environment. James really didn’t turn off his scent, but let it smell more like what was around him than himself. He did it instinctively now that he’d been doing it for so long.
    “It’s not like I do either. But you can’t smell me now, can you?” He didn’t smirk or brag, but she glared at him anyway.
    “No.” She snapped, hating that