Return of the Alpha by Natalie Shaw Read Free Book Online Page A

the very least, they'd be able to sense my fear.
    “Hi,” one of the shifters said. Another one nodded in my direction.
    “Hi there.” My throat was so dry I could hardly speak.
    “Are you lost?” the younger of the two said.
    For a moment, I froze.
    “You okay?” his companion asked.
    “Yeah. I'm just on my way to the city.”
    “Won't you join us for a coffee?”
    I was within a few feet of them. If they hadn't recognised me as one of their own pack, I'd have known about it by now. The fact they were openly flirting with me was all the confirmation I needed. I hoped Craven had seen enough to be convinced, and that he'd go back to the hillside. If he didn't, and he continued to follow me, we'd be in deep trouble.
     
    *********
     
    What on earth had I been thinking? How had I ever expected this to work? The only thing I had to go on was a name: Marlow. I couldn't even be sure that was his name or that he existed outside of my dream. I'd been wandering around the city for almost four hours during which time I'd asked every shifter I'd come across, but no one recognised the name. Craven would be getting impatient and very nervous. I didn't want him to come looking for me, but I was reluctant to throw in the towel just yet. One more hour and then I'd have to call it a day. There was always tomorrow.
    As soon as I turned the corner, it hit me. The sense of deja vu was overwhelming. I had to lean against the wall of the apartment block. I felt so light-headed that I was afraid I might faint. It took several minutes to steady my breath and regain my composure. Somehow I knew this was the right place. Even before I reached the main entrance, I could see the double-doors in my mind's eye. Sure enough, there they were.
    An elderly female shifter came out of the building. “Hi,” she said, as she held the door open for me.
    Had that been recognition I'd seen in her eyes or did she greet everyone in that way? Once inside the building, I glanced at the names listed above the mailboxes. I didn't recognise any of them. The lifts were at the end of the corridor on the left-hand side. How could I know that unless—?
    I hesitated—not sure if I should call the lift. Just then, there was a ping, and the lift doors opened in front of me.
    “Louise?” The female shifter who stepped out of the lift looked as though she'd seen a ghost. Maybe she had.
    I took a step back.
    “Louise?” she said again. “We thought you were—. Are you okay?”
    “Do you know me?” It was a dumb question, but my brain had turned to mush.
    “It's me, Jessie.” She looked more than a little confused. “Pirus's mate.”
    “Pirus?”
    “Are you sure you're okay?”
    “I had an accident. I lost my memory. Who's Pirus?”
    “Marlow's brother.”
    At last. That name. He did exist. He wasn't just someone I'd conjured up in my dreams.
    “Do you think I could get a drink of water?” I asked.
    “Sure. Let's go up to the apartment. The kids are at school.”
     
    “Thanks.” I took a long drink. “I'm sorry if I gave you a start.”
    “Forget it. I'm just pleased you're alive. We thought you must be dead after all of this time. What happened? Sorry, I guess that's a stupid question with your amnesia.”
    “I've only just begun to get flashes of memories. That's why I came here today. I remembered Semron and the name Marlow. I had to come and find out who he is.”
    Jessie hesitated. I could see it wasn't easy for her.
    “Please. I really need to know.”
    “You and Marlow lived together for over fifteen years.”
    “We were mates?”
    “No.”
    “But if we were together for all of that time?”
    “We thought you were mates. Everyone did. We didn't find out until just before you left that you'd never truly been mates. Marlow loved you dearly—I know that. He'd have done anything for you.”
    I was almost afraid to ask. “Where is he now?”
    Jessie's head dropped. “We don't know. Dead most likely. But then, we thought you were dead