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• Stuck Between Two Alphas   103

  Evelyn’s POVThe second I saw the grand iron gates of Bluestone compound come into view, my entire body tensed like I’d just walked into a cold shower. My pulse quickened, palms clammy on my thighs.God… how long had it been? Months.The last time I was here, Christian had basically thrown me into a car and spirited me away to Nevada, told me I needed space. Some time off. And I let him. I needed it back then, didn’t I?But now, here we were again. Full circle.Christian slowed the car and then… stopped, just a few meters before the gate.I blinked and turned toward him. “Why’d you stop?”He didn’t answer immediately. He cleared his throat, then gave me a sideways glance. “You sure about this?”“Yes,” I said quickly, maybe too quickly. My throat felt tight, like I was swallowing rocks.He exhaled and nodded. “I’m glad you’ve decided to change your mind but…”Oh no. No no no. I knew where that was going.“Don’t jinx this,” I cut him off, holding up a hand before he could let the full s

• Stuck Between Two Alphas   102

  Evelyn “Christian?” I said again, softer this time, like maybe if I repeated it enough, it would feel more real.He didn’t move, just stood there with that same crooked smirk, hands in his pockets, eyes locked on me like he’d never left. My heart was punching against my ribs, loud and hard. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.Little feet padded past me. Mika, curious and fearless as ever, peered up at him from behind my leg. “Are you here to see my dad?” she asked, craning her neck to get a better look at him.Christian chuckled, his voice still deep and annoyingly smooth. “Nope. I’m here to see Eve here.”Eve.God, I forgot how the way he said that made my chest ache and burn all at once.Mika looked up at me like she needed confirmation. I nodded, gently brushing her back. “Go on upstairs, sweetheart. Natasha’s waiting.”She hesitated, then gave Christian one last glance before skipping off, her curls bouncing. Once I heard the stairs creak under her weight and the muffled voice

• Stuck Between Two Alphas   101

  Evelyn(Two months later)For a town with less than five thousand people, Charming sure had a knack for cramming everyone into one damn spot. People laughed, cars honked, someone was yelling into their phone about a late deliveryl, it was noisy, it was alive. It almost felt like real life again.But not for me.I adjusted my coat and headed toward the building up ahead. The hospital.My usual spot.The second I stepped through the doors, the sterile smell of antiseptic mixed with blood rushed up my nose like a punch. It was heavy, sharp. I always hated that smell. Always have. I don’t know how human noses tolerate it.But the smell wasn’t the only thing that hit me.Heartbeats. So many. Too many.Some slow and faint. Others erratic. A couple strong and steady. I could hear them all. Like a twisted orchestra of the dying and healing. It made my head spin. For a moment, the hallway looked like it was tilting. Shit.I didn’t let it show. I kept walking, casually like I wasn’t two seconds

• Stuck Between Two Alphas   099

  EvelynI stood up for a few more seconds before I sat back down on the couch, my eyes locked on the fire. My mind had been on an endless loop since I sat down. Christian, he was probably home already. Maybe he was with Rein, chasing ghosts and vengeance, or maybe he was in Crescent losing his goddamn mind trying to figure out where the hell I went.I could almost see the scene in my head, Christian shouting, his fists clenched, pacing like a caged beast. Tyler yelling back, because of course he would. He always had to one-up everyone, even in panic. Leo would be there too, trying to calm both of them down, probably with that same tired look on his face he always got when dealing with alpha testosterone.God, what a mess.I shifted on the couch, swinging my legs around so I was sitting upright. The crackle of the fire was the only sound in the room, until...Thump.I froze.There it was again.Not a creak. Not the wind. A heartbeat.Then another.And another.Three distinct heartbeats,

• Stuck Between Two Alphas   098

  EvelynWe all sat around the dinner table. I could feel Ellora’s stare burning a hole through my skull, and I didn’t blame her. I was a stranger in her home, showing up with her husband and sitting at her table like I belonged there. I kept my head down, trying to be as invisible as possible.Across from me, Natasha kept stealing glances while pretending to focus on her plate, and the little one,.Mika, leaned in close to her sister and whispered something. Natasha laughed lightly, then turned to me.“She says you’re really pretty,” she said with a smile.I couldn’t help but smile back. “Tell her thank you.”Matthew finally walked in, wiping his hands on a rag, and took his seat at the head of the table.“Well, let’s eat. Supper won’t wait,” he said.I reached for my fork, my stomach practically grumbling from hunger, but Natasha held out her hand to stop me.“Wait, we say a prayer first.”I froze awkwardly, fork halfway to the plate. “Oh, right. Of course.”Everyone at the table joine

• Stuck Between Two Alphas   098

  EvelynI stood up for a few more seconds before I sat back down on the couch, my eyes locked on the fire. My mind had been on an endless loop since I sat down. Christian, he was probably home already. Maybe he was with Rein, chasing ghosts and vengeance, or maybe he was in Crescent losing his goddamn mind trying to figure out where the hell I went.I could almost see the scene in my head, Christian shouting, his fists clenched, pacing like a caged beast. Tyler yelling back, because of course he would. He always had to one-up everyone, even in panic. Leo would be there too, trying to calm both of them down, probably with that same tired look on his face he always got when dealing with alpha testosterone.God, what a mess.I shifted on the couch, swinging my legs around so I was sitting upright. The crackle of the fire was the only sound in the room, until...Thump.I froze.There it was again.Not a creak. Not the wind. A heartbeat.Then another.And another.Three distinct heartbeats,