Alpha for Valentines (Alpha Meets Omega 1)

“Well, don’t pass that shit to me. I don’t have time for a snotty nose and fevers. Get home and get well before the weekend.”

‘I will.”

Lucy drove home. She had an epiphany as she drove, stopping by the pharmacy and buying a pack of home pregnancy tests. It might explain the nausea, but she was on the pill. Still, it was possible and it was better to know.

Stepping into the house, she immediately felt a sense of unease. There was something off. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but there seemed to be some things that were just enough out of place to be noticeable. She told herself she was just a bit on edge between last night and now the nausea, but it seemed to be passing. Of course, that just led her to believe even more that it was morning sickness.

She went to the bathroom and took the first test, leaving it on the counter to process. Her phone rang. It was Ryan.

“You okay?”

“I think so, but I just have a feeling someone has been in my house.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Maybe nothing at all. It just feels like some things have been moved. I’m probably being paranoid.”

“Don’t take a chance. Call a locksmith and have them come out and change the locks.”

“That seems a bit much.”

“It’s better safe than sorry. We don’t know who took our things. It could have been pesky teens or it could be something else. Don’t forget what I do and that my job title puts me at a higher risk now.”

“It’s fine, Ryan. I’m sure it was just kids pranking us. I’ll be fine. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”

“I’ve got to go. We’ll talk some more about this later.”

Lucy ended the call. She didn’t like his tone. It was a bit too authoritative for her taste, almost as if he was telling her what she would and wouldn’t do. It didn’t set well with her at all. Returning to the bathroom, she was relieved to see that the test is negative. Maybe it was just a bug, she lay down on the sofa for a nap, but was awakened by the doorbell an hour or so later.

“Smythe’s Lock and Key,” the man told her as she cracked the door open. “Mr. Wilson sent me to change your locks.”

“He said you might say that. He told me to tell you he will feel better if you do,” the man replied.

Lucy sighed and pulled the chain off the door, letting him in. He was fast, changing the lock to the front, back and garage doors in less than a half hour. She expected a bill from him, but he just thanked her and started to leave.

“Don’t you need payment?” he asked.

“It was pre-paid by Mr. Wilson,” he told her, making a hasty retreat back to his truck and departing.

Lucy felt frustrated for a number of reasons she couldn’t quite sort out in her head. She was feeling all better now though, so that was at least something. Changing into running gear, she decided to go for a run, something she rarely did in this neighborhood. She was feeling bold for some reason today. It could just be the anger welling up inside her.

On her way back, she noted the same car that had been parked on the street before. There was a man inside. Who was he there to watch? There was no other explanation for his being parked there a second time without getting out. Just as she passed, he opened the door and stepped out. Lucy panicked, speeding up and bolting for her front door, where she fumbled with the shiny new key she had stuck in her pocket.

Glancing back, she saw the man leaning against his car, smoking a cigarette. She couldn’t quite make out his face from beneath the baseball cap he wore, but he didn’t seem to be really hiding. Perhaps he was just waiting on someone to come out from one of the houses. Still, she hurried inside and closed the door, pulling the chain across and leaning against it. Her anger turned inward at herself, frustrated with her own behavior and overreaction.CHAPTER EIGHTRyan

Taking his own advice, Ryan had the locksmith come over and change his own locks.

“It’s not going to do you much good to put new locks on the door when you’ve got a cardboard box taped over the broken window,” the man remarked.

“Very true. I couldn’t get the glass company out until tomorrow to fix that.”

“Well, hopefully you’ll be fine until then,” the man said.

The locksmith finished up while Ryan called Lucy. He could tell that she seemed a bit off but chalked it up to having had a couple of strange days. He kicked himself for getting involved with her. As much as he was into her, it wasn’t safe, not in his line of work and he was beginning to wonder if any of this had anything to do with that.