Not My Alpha
Shadow Goblins were exactly how they sounded.
They appeared mostly at night, in the shadows, and couldn’t be seen by humans.
Because of our special abilities, we could track them.
They killed mostly for pleasure, not for food.
They were highly territorial, which was why Phillip knew the nest had to be nearby.
Because they used magic, which was brand-new to me, their weapons were made from the same stuff as their body, making it as tough as any blade.
Their saliva and claws mimicked poison and could be deadly even to Hunters if an antidote wasn’t consumed within twenty-four hours.
Lucky for Phil and I, our regeneration abilities eliminated poison. It just hurt like hell.
Also, very few creatures were faster than our regeneration abilities in order to decapitate us, but Shadow Goblins were one of them.
Because of the way they moved and their magical weapon use, our necks wouldn’t regenerate quickly enough to avoid full decapitation.
Any other creature or Hunter wouldn’t be fast enough.
Our neck would regenerate just after they’d cut through it.
But terribly enough, we’d feel it all, and the pain Phillip said was beyond words.
Not really what I expected to hear, and it was sure to give me nightmares for the rest of my eternal life.
Shadow Goblins lived in groups, often twenty or more. Sometimes even hundreds if the group was established enough. Because they avoided sunlight, most nests would be located in underground caverns big enough to house the group.
Taking down a nest of them would require tactical planning, and Phillip was already working out where possible locations of the nest might be. Depending on how many we found, it may be a full-scale operation to remove them.
Ways to kill the bastards included: decapitation, extended exposure to ultraviolet light, and hellfire.
I hadn’t been aware such a thing as hellfire existed, but Phillip explained that it was a magical fire.
It took a minute to realize that magic existed.
It took even longer for me to ask what sort of creature wielded that kind of magic, and Phillip only hinted at it being a fair few things and in time I’d see for myself.
Of course, he was not-so-surprisingly vague.
I guess discussing all the things I didn’t know about this life would require longer than a night, so I didn’t ask more than that.
Honestly, it’d be easier if I just went ahead and assumed everything myth or otherwise existed and I’d probably end up fighting it at some point.
With so many ways to die, how was a girl to choose?
Despite not needing much in the way of sleep, I fell asleep on Phillip’s couch. On his lap, no less. I woke up with an eyeful of his exposed abs. His shirt had scrunched up somehow, and it took every bit of my Hunter training not to freak the fuck out.
But probably most surprising was seeing the other Hunter slumped over, eyes closed, arms crossed laxly over his chest—a pretty vulnerable position to find the formidable vampire hunter in.
His jacket was draped over my chest, and the trash from our dinner was still left out on the coffee table. He must’ve refused to move when I fell asleep on his lap, however the hell that happened.
It was completely out of character for the Austrian. I didn’t know how to deal with this new side of a man who I thought couldn’t care less about anyone else. It also didn’t bode well for my already out-of-control attraction.
After tossing Nigel to the side for the sake of his future, I was an absolute mess emotionally, and having a disgustingly gorgeous older man take care of me spelled trouble.
Big trouble.
I stirred, lifting at the waist a little in hopes of subtle escape, and his eyes opened the second I moved. It was only for a moment, but his face expressed a quiet shock, then the emotion fled. Smirking, he touched my hair and patted it down, likely because it was a mess.
“Awake?”
“What gave it away?” I sassed and moved to get up all the way, ignoring my thundering pulse. “Sorry about that. I shouldn’t have—”
“It was a tough night. I was happy to surrender my body to you for a bit so you could recover from it,” he whispered, voice husky from sleep.
“Could you possibly not phrase it like I jumped you, thanks.” I hid a smile despite how annoyed I was. “I should go home. I’ve got school, and I’m terrified of what rumors might start if anyone saw us together.”
Phillip stretched out his arms and waist, captivating my gaze for a second before I reined that shit in. “It’s nearly six a.m. You’re better off just staying for breakfast and leaving for school early so no one suspects us.”
“Again, rephrase,” I growled, slouching. “But I guess you’re right. These clothes are cleaner than most of the ones I go to school wearing.”
“That’s terrifying,” he replied with a grin. “If we’re going to be partners, you’ll be washing your clothes on a regular basis. Also, you’ve got clothes in a drawer in the guest room.”
There’s a guest room?
“I what?”
“I bought a few things when I was out yesterday. We’re partners. It’s going to happen often, you and I staying out together and sharing a place to sleep. Just smart to have something here for you to use.”
I was uncomfortable with how well the dude thought this all out. “Something tells me they’re nothing like the usual things I wear.”
“I refuse to have a partner with no style,” was all he said and I groaned audibly, knowing that I’d hate every item of clothing. They’d be name-brand and expensive, and I’d look like an absolute asshole.
But if it was one thing the night had done for me, it was to save me from being alone to drown in my heartbreak. Sure, it was with a jerk who didn’t know when to filter out the thoughts in his head, but I actually had fun.
I enjoyed our little movie night and story share about Grams. I learned a lot about who she was, and her personality never changed.
She never changed. She was still the same ballbreaker now that she was when she first started as a Hunter.
Ironically, she also found Phil annoying and didn’t give him the time of day for nearly three years before he weaseled his way into her heart.
Guess Grams and I were a lot alike.
“Can you even cook?”
“Fruit Loops not going to do it for you?”
I scoffed, not the least bit surprised. “Do you even have anything in your fridge?”
Phillip hummed and fingered his hair absently. “I did grab some things from the grocery store just in case you came by.”
“That’s cute of you,” I remarked sarcastically and stole away to the kitchen.
Finding enough to make a couple of omelets, I searched the cabinets for cookware.
Thankfully, he had stuff like that. Because if he didn’t cook, I wouldn’t be surprised if all his cabinets were empty.
Every cabinet was packed with everything a professional chef needed.
Weird for someone who didn’t cook at all, but who was I to judge.
I served up a couple plates of food, then quickly scarfed down my portion like I hadn’t eaten in years to the horror of my partner. Before leaving, I tossed Phillip a look. “Thanks for the other night.”
His shock showed on his face. “So you can actually say thanks.”
“Also, find another way to get to school.” I held up the car keys I’d swiped from his pocket, and the Austrian’s eyes widened comically. “I’ll make sure to park it far enough away so that no one suspects us.”
Phillip couldn’t match my speed out the door by the time I pulled out of his driveway. I headed to school with a big grin on my face.
The dude worried about the cleanliness of his car over the fact that I’d been covered in tar-like liquid. He had it coming. Phil needed to get acquainted with my petty side.
Ah, vengeance is sweet.
And when I walked the short distance from where I parked his car to the school, still amused by the thought of Phillip struggling to find a way to get there, I wasn’t ready for the person waiting for me in front of the parking gates.
My mouth opened and I froze. “Nigel?”
Dark eyes lifted, catching the light and giving them a golden hue. “V.”
Next to him was a man I didn’t recognize.
The beefed up stranger sported glasses over a pair of striking grey-blue eyes.
His dirty blonde hair was tossed to the side, and his jawline was covered with a similarly colored beard.
Tattoos marred his arms, and one in particular snagged my attention.
It was some kind of crest. Looked sort of like an ancient depiction of a wolf howling.
The new stranger’s silent stare was dangerous and skeptical when it landed on me, and I didn’t know what to make of it.
“What are you doing here?” I questioned, stalled where I stood.
Nigel eyed his counterpart, then tried to walk my direction. But I swiftly recovered the space with a few backwards steps of my own. “This is my beta, Topher. He insisted on coming.”
“Bet he did. Still haven’t answered my question,” I demanded, and Topher’s agitated glance suggested he didn’t like my tone.
Not that I cared.
“I’m not leaving until you explain why you changed your mind about us.” Nigel’s tone suggested he meant business, but it was the very reason I had to meet it on level ground.
“It’s not working.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“It doesn’t matter if you do. I’m capable of making my own damn decisions, and you’re not going to intimidate me out of this one.”
Nigel’s jaw worked. “It’s not my intention to intimidate you. It just doesn’t make sense why you would end things without even talking to me first.”
“Says the dude who ignored all my texts,” I clapped back angrily.
Nigel’s look was apologetic. “I know. I’m sorry. I had a good reason, I promise.”
“I’m sure you did, but it doesn’t change anything. It’s just better for us to part ways.”
“You don’t actually believe that,” he accused, stabbing me where it already hurt. “V, you’ve convinced a lot of people you don’t care, but I know better. The girl I know would never cut someone off like this without a good reason.”
“Then trust I have a good reason.”
Our stares locked, and Nigel went silent. Still, something changed in the way he looked at me. “If there’s a reason, then I need to know it. If you’re worried about me getting hurt, don’t.”
My throat burned from trying to hold back tears. “We’re not suited for each other, Nigel. You’re amazing and wonderful, but we’re not meant to be together.”
“I don’t believe that when you haven’t even tried.”
Angry, I glared. “I have. More than you know. You’re the one who handled me like I was made of glass.”
I hated myself for the things I said in desperation to get him to leave. I hated myself more than any time in my life. Even if it was for a good reason, I didn’t want to hurt him.
Not like this.
Never like this.
And the defeated expression, the visible pain from the words I said, the desperation to get me to listen, to explain, projected in his eyes. They all battered me emotionally in a way nothing ever had.
I don’t deserve him.
Topher’s warning growl cut through the sound between us. “This is ridiculous. Let’s go before we cause more of a scene.”
“Problem?”
A deep voice was suddenly beside me, and I looked over to find Phillip standing there, dressed in his usual garb for school, but with a look I’d only seen one other time on his face. It was the same one he offered Anita when he questioned her.
“Did you really bring your beta to talk to her, or are you here to force her hand?”
Nigel’s face twisted into an expression not at all like him. “I would never hurt V. Topher insisted on being here. I only wanted to talk to her for a second. It has nothing to do with you.”
“Oh, but it does,” Phillip responded coolly, even when Topher’s chest rumbled violently. “Whether or not you like it, I’m her partner. It’s my job to make sure she’s safe.” The vampire hunter’s eyes narrowed on Topher. “And he doesn’t seem friendly at all.”
“Topher,” Nigel said so deeply it registered more as a growl. “Stand down.”
Topher rolled the tension from his shoulders. “This isn’t the right place to talk it out. You should’ve listened when I said to leave it. She’s clearly not interested in being with you. I don’t get why you keep trying to make her see reason when she’s got nothing but mean things to say.”
“The words of a bitter man, if you ask me,” Phillip commented offhandedly.
Nigel’s jaw visibly strained. “Don’t talk about her like that, Topher.” Then my ex-boyfriend’s gleaming eyes connected with mine. “We need to talk about this. I’m not going to stop until we do. I need an explanation.”
My heart suffered under his intense, pleading stare. “It’s not going to change anything, but I’ll talk to you.”
He sighed a thankful breath. “Meet me at our spot after school. I’ll wait as long as it takes for you to get there.”
And then he was gone, moving so fast that no human would be able to see him leave. I tracked his escape all the way down the street, until he disappeared around the corner.
Shit.
“I’ll come with you,” Phillip said when I didn’t move, staring absently the direction Nigel fled. “If this is what you want, I won’t let you do it alone.”
Sighing, I smiled to keep from crying. “It’s fine. I think if you come with me, it’ll just make everything worse. I can handle this much.”
“You’re still being watched. I don’t want you going anywhere alone for the time being. Not when your abilities still haven’t reached their full potential. But we may need to depart sooner for many reasons.” Phillip touched my shoulder before his hand dropped out of sight and he walked ahead.
I scanned the area for other students, catching sight of Cici and her friends.
That’s not good.
And when their hushed whispers reached my ears, it was clear we’d been seen. The rumor mill was a vicious beast, and the day would no doubt suck now that our interaction was witnessed by someone like Cici.