26. Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Jack

I t seems like the cute blonde from the store has a stalker. A really nasty, vicious stalker who needs to be cut down to size. I don't give a fuck that he's an Alpha. He's clearly delusional, and that makes him dangerous. I won't let him hurt her.

The feeling I've had since I saw her earlier today starts to make sense after I tell him Beth's our mate, not his. It's not normal to feel this protective of someone I'm not connected to in any kind of meaningful way. It's happening because those words I blurted are the truth.

She's meant to be with us.

Whoever the hell this guy is, he's someone she needs to be protected from, and it's up to me and my pack to do that.

"You don't even know her," he snaps at me. "She was backing away from you. She wasn't interested. Take a fucking hint!"

I shake my head. "I don't know you, but she's ours, and I won't let you hurt her."

He takes a swing at me, and I'm too shocked to duck out of the way.

My chest takes the hit and I stumble backwards, thrown off-balance, and about to take another hit. That one smacks into my chin, giving me a jolt of pain, but otherwise barely making an impact because I was already about to hit the ground before it connected.

I jump back to my feet quickly, and I see the look of determination on his face.

He's ready for this to be over, and he thinks he's going to knock me out.

The smirk he gives shows how superior he thinks he is.

"Last chance to end this without blood," he offers.

I narrow my eyes at him. "Leave Beth alone, and I won't have to kick your ass."

He laughs, and then he launches a punch that I duck and swerve to avoid before I slam my head into his stomach and knock him to the ground.

A flash of light tells me someone's taking a picture.

Apparently, we've got an audience.

I can hear people talking nearby.

A crowd is starting to gather.

This probably isn't the right look for the restaurant.

I guess that makes it a good thing that we're kind of invisible right now.

The creep grabs the front of my shirt and yanks me upward.

I don't know what's happening until his head smacks into mine, and holy fucking hell, the world starts to spin. I make a grab for his throat, but he's already won, and I know it.

I just can't accept it.

Clearly, he's dangerous.

I have to protect Beth.

"Sweet dreams, asshole." The creep pushes me into the wall.

I watch as he gets up and walks away, in roughly the same direction that Beth did.

Feeling sick, I fight to drag myself up off the sidewalk while my head is still spinning.

I stumble up onto my knees, ignoring the whoops and flashes from the small crowd nearby.

Getting back to the restaurant door takes a bit of effort, but I make it.

I'm too messed up to go after Beth's stalker myself, and I can admit that.

But I can at least explain to my mates what's going on and get one of them to go find her.

I push the door inward and tumble to the reception area floor, dropping the keys at my side.

"Jack!" I hear Arrow's anxious cry right before I collapse and pass out cold.