Mia didn't remember passing the place on the way in. Then again, she'd been focused on other things.
She stayed very still, terrified that there were alphas inside. It was late—past two in the morning—but could Boundaryland bars really be expected to follow beta curfew laws?
Somehow, Mia doubted it.
She inched forward, letting out a ragged breath. The place looked empty, but just to be safe, she crossed to the opposite side of the road as she hobbled by.
She had just limped past the corner of the lot when the sound of creaking hinges stopped her mid-step. The slam of a heavy door followed.
Mia froze. Afraid to breathe, she tucked her arms in tight, making herself as small as possible.
Maybe she'd be okay. She was out of the light, just past the line of sight from the front door. As long as she stayed still and quiet, she might go unnoticed.
She closed her eyes at the sound of heavy footsteps. Wood planks groaned as someone walked down the bar's front steps.
Mia had never seen an alpha before—not a live one, anyway. Very few people had. There was a part of her that wanted to see for herself just how massive the creature behind her actually was, but she didn't dare turn around to sneak a peek.
Curiosity wasn't the same thing as stupidity.
The night was almost unnaturally still, and Mia's heart thudded in time with the crunch of boots on loose gravel. She silently willed him to walk the other way, to get in the truck, to go back inside. Anything except come closer.
"Bad news, lady," a deep voice growled. "You've been left behind."
Mia jumped at the sound and took a few staggering strides as her knee surged with fresh pain. Somehow, she swallowed the cry that threatened to spill out of her lips.
Maybe he wasn't talking to her. Maybe there was someone else in the parking lot. Maybe—
"You must be new. Though you're not going to make it in this profession if you spook that easy."
She was as good as dead.
Mia opened her mouth to beg for her life, but fear had stolen her voice. She could barely breathe.
"Relax." His footsteps grew louder. He was coming closer. "Worrying won't do any good. There's nowhere to go until morning."
Mia didn't know if she could run. Then again, she didn't have much of a choice. If she was lucky, a surge of adrenaline would kick in and numb the pain.
"Next time, make sure you leave a little earlier." The alpha kept talking, his voice devoid of emotion. "Nicky likes to make sure all the girls are out of here by two."
Nicky? The girls? What the hell was he talking about? Mia finally glanced over her shoulder in consternation, and the sight caused her breath to lodge in her throat.
The alpha was huge. So much bigger than she'd imagined. He had to be over seven feet tall, and as wide as Josh and Dustin put together.
But that wasn't the most shocking thin…he was gorgeous. Not pretty. Not movie-star chiseled. But sexy, and virile, and overwhelmingly masculine. The sight of him was both terrifying and intriguing at the same time. Mia couldn't look away.
Unfortunately, he seemed just as interested in her. She could feel his gaze intensify as he cocked his head to the side.
"I don't remember seeing you before," he said, almost conversationally. "What's your name?"
Mia opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
He stepped closer. Too close. Out of the parking lot and onto the edge of the road.
Instinctively, Mia drew back, trying to maintain a buffer between them. She winced as her knee buckled under her weight, and the alpha's gaze went to her injury.
Even from where she stood, she could see his expression harden.
"You're hurt." His voice had taken on an edge, as if the sight of her blood made him angry. "Did someone do that to you? Is that why you were late getting back?"
With each question he took another step closer. At this rate, he'd be on top of her in a heartbeat.
Mia threw her hands out in front of her. "Please, stay back." Her voice squeaked with terror, but at least she could talk again.
Not that it did any good.
The alpha closed the distance between them. Mia stumbled back, wincing in pain.
Up close, she could see that his eyes were unusual, dark but somehow still luminous in the moonlight.
"Did someone do this to you?" he demanded. "Who were you with tonight? Tell me his name."
Mia didn't know what he was talking about. She didn't know any Nicky, and she sure as hell wasn't going to tell him about Dustin and Josh.
"Please," she tried again. But even as the word tumbled out of her mouth, she knew it wouldn't do any good.
Begging and pleading had never gotten Mia anywhere. Not with Dustin. Not with her father. Not with anyone. No one ever listened.
The only thing she could do was run.
She spun on her heel and ignored the searing pain that shot up her leg with every step. Her knee was swollen and tight, but it wasn't broken. Even though it hurt like hell, she forced herself to move.
But she didn't make it far.
The alpha closed in on her almost instantly. That's when she realized she never had a chance.
It wouldn't have mattered if Mia had been in perfect condition. She could have been an Olympic sprinter, and it still wouldn't have done any good. The alpha was too damn fast.
Mia didn't even have time to scream as massive arms snaked around her waist and lifted her off the ground. Her spine pressed against his hard chest, and she felt...warm.
So warm.
Mia's pulse slowed as she drew in the first steady breath of the night. Then another. Without thinking, her head lolled back, resting against his huge, hard shoulder. She took in a deep breath, filling her lungs with the scent of him.
Sawdust and wood smoke and whiskey.
Without thinking, Mia
