Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Alpha broken mate: Kabanata 231 - Kabanata 240

The public defender assigned to my case was a young, overworked woman, and spoke so fast I barely heard what she was saying.“First offense, no priors, well, no record at all actually, and given your… condition, I was able to work out a deal with the prosecutor,” she shuffled papers without looking at me. “Seventy-two hours served counts as time served. You plead guilty to petty theft, pay a fifty-dollar fine when you’re able, and you walk today.”“I don’t have fifty pounds.”“Then you’ll work it off through community service. Twenty hours. Someone will contact you.” She finally met my eyes. “Look, I know you claim to have amnesia, and maybe that’s true. But the city doesn’t have resources for someone in your situation. No ID, no address, no income. You’ll need to figure that out on your own.”“How am I supposed to,”“There’s a shelter on Fifth Street. St. Mary’s. They don’t require ID. Start there.” She stood, gathering her files. “Good luck.”And that was it. Three days in a cell, a

The cell door opened with a mechanical click that jolted me from my sleep. I’d been lying on the narrow bed, staring at the concrete ceiling tiles.I heard a knock. I turned to see a figure standing in the doorway; he was wearing the Protector uniform.“Get up,” he said. “We’re moving you.”I sat up slowly. “Moving me where?”“Shut up,” he said, his expression unreadable. “Just follow me. Don’t make this difficult.”He led me through the exit. A car was waiting outside; the windows were tinted.“Wait here.”He walked to the driver’s side. The car window rolled down. I couldn’t see the person he was exchanging words with. Then he returned.“Any problem?” I said, still confused about the whole scenario.He pulled out a gun and pointed it at my head. “Get in the car. Now.”My stomach dropped. “You sold me out.”“Everyone has a price. Now do what you’re told.” His expression didn’t change as he threatened me. “Get in the car. I won’t ask again.”I walked with him towards the car. He opene

The rooster’s crow dragged me from sleep at five-thirty.I dressed in Dale’s work clothes and headed downstairs. The kitchen was already alive with activity—Emma at the stove, the smell of coffee and bacon filling the air, and Maggie at the table with her laptop.She looked up when I entered, her hair still damp from a shower, flannel shirt sleeves rolled to her elbows. “Morning. You’re up early.”“Couldn’t sleep.”“Nightmares?” Emma asked, not turning from the stove.“I think so. But I can’t remember them once I wake up.” I poured coffee, the mug warm against my palms. “It’s like my brain is trying to tell me something.”Maggie closed her laptop. “That’s actually normal with amnesia. Your subconscious retains more than your conscious mind. The memories are there, just locked away.”“You took psychology too?”“Minor. Mostly I just read a lot.” She stood, stretching. “I’m riding out to check the north fence line after breakfast. Want to come?”“I should help your dad with—”“Dad’s handl

Victor’s hand was still on Maggie’s waist when he turned to look at me. His grip tightened slightly—was he trying to be possessive of her in my presence?“Who are you?” Victor asked, his tone carrying that edge men get when they’re sizing up competition. “Haven’t seen you around before.”I kept my expression neutral, even as every instinct screamed at me to wipe that smug look off his face. “I’m staying with the Keatons. Helping out on the farm.”“Helping out.” Victor’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. He looked me up and down. “That’s generous of Dale, taking in strays. Dale loves doing charity work for homeless people.”The word hit exactly how he’d intended—reducing me to a homeless, helpless, pathetic person. And technically he wasn’t wrong. But the contempt in his voice made my hands curl into fists.“Victor,” Maggie said, pulling away from him. “Don’t.”“What? I’m just making conversation.” But his tone said otherwise. He was marking territory, staking claim to something he thought

I stood there in her apartment, trying to process what she’d just said. She was watching me, waiting for a response.“Sophie—”“You don’t have to say anything.” She held up a hand. “I know the timing is terrible. You just got beat up, you’re dealing with amnesia, there’s obviously something complicated happening with Maggie. I just…” She paused, seeming to gather her thoughts. “I wanted you to know. That’s all.”“We just met. How did you—” I started, then stopped.“Just forget about it,” Sophie said softly. “I don’t know why I said it. Let’s put this behind us.” She picked up her purse.Dale was waiting on the porch when I pulled up. One look at my face, and his expression shifted from worried to furious.“What happened?”“I had an accident—”“Don’t.” His voice was hard. “Don’t lie to me, son. Who did this to you?”The kindness in that word—son—nearly broke me. “It doesn’t matter.”“The hell it doesn’t.” He came down the steps, getting close enough to examine my injuries properly. “Th