Chapter 769 Him Again

Hayley’s POV:

Hera sensed the danger the same moment I did. Instantly, she went into battle mode inside me, ready for action.

I kept my face calm and stopped beside a car, pretending to touch up my makeup in the side mirror, while secretly keeping an eye on the reflection.

As expected, the car to my right started to empty out–one man after another stepped out, each of them eyeing me like a predator sizing up its prey.

They carried clubs and all kinds of weapons in their hands.

Hera picked up their scent–they were rogues, all of them criminals.

I pretended not to notice, calmly brushing a hand through my bangs before continuing down the sidewalk.

When I picked up my pace, so did they, jogging to keep up, as if I might vanish if they didn’t stay close.

We left the hotel entrance behind and stepped into quieter streets. I knew they were waiting for the right moment to make their move–somewhere out of sight. So I turned a corner into a narrow alley.

Right on cue, I heard the leader chuckle behind me, his voice filled with anticipation.

“She’s walking right into it. Let’s go!” he ordered excitedly.

I moved quickly down the alley and, after putting enough distance between us, ducked behind a corner. Using the crates and trash bins stacked beneath a roof overhang, I climbed to the rafters and crouched, waiting. The plan was simple–jump down when they passed and scare them senseless.

The group lost sight of Hayley at the corner of the street and immediately sped up.

Their leader was sharp, though–just before rounding the corner, he raised his club and slowed down, eyes wary.

But before he could make the turn, one of his guys bumped into him from behind, knocking him straight into the opposite wall.

He spun around, ready to yell at him, but the words died in his throat. Somehow, behind them, a man in a suit had appeared out of nowhere.

“Who the heck are you?” The leader snapped. “Best mind your own business.”

The man calmly straightened his suit, then lifted his hand with the casual flick of a finger. “I’m not in the mood for games. Come at me. All of you.”

That was the final straw. The rogues snapped. With growls and snarls, they shifted–long claws, sharp fangs, and snarling muzzles. Together, they lunged at him.

But Truman didn’t flinch. He lifted one foot, ready to shift into his wolf, until he remembered Hayley had seen his wolf form before. If he shifted now, she might recognize Lawrence.

That would blow his cover.

So he had no choice but to rely on his own hand–to–hand skills.

Thankfully, he was an Alpha and stronger than any of them. He grabbed one rogue by the throat with one hand, knocked out two more with a swift spinning kick, and kept moving like he’d done this a hundred times before.

Hayley’s POV:

Meanwhile, I was still crouched up on the rafters, waiting. But no one came. Instead, I started hearing the sounds of a fight–grunts, growls, and bodies hitting walls. Confused, I dropped down and began walking back to check it out.

As I turned the corner, that familiar chill ran down my spine. Danger. Again.

A shadow fell across the pavement at my feet, unmistakable. A razor–sharp claw swiped toward my back from behind!

I spun around to defend myself–but before I could move, a tall figure dashed in front of me, taking the hit for me.

Thud! I quickly spun around.

The wolf was gone. But standing in front of me, shoulder bleeding and looking like he was about to collapse, was Truman.

The gash on his shoulder was deep, and he was swaying on his feet.

I instinctively reached out and caught him before he could hit the ground.

“Ms. Carson,” he murmured, his voice faint but smug. “Now do you believe it? We were meant to be together. Don’t you think?”

I let out a long sigh and asked helplessly, “What are you doing here?”

“I couldn’t help it,” he said, trying to sound romantic. “I caught your scent and had to follow. I didn’t want anything to happen to you, so I threw myself in the way.” He gazed at me with deep affection.

Yeah, right. Alphas don’t get hurt that easily–and they definitely don’t act this dramatic.

That wound should’ve already started healing by now.

I rolled my eyes and let go of him.

He stood upright just fine, rubbed the spot where he’d been hit, and then gave me that signature, annoying, cocky grin. “You’ve got to admit, Ms. Carson, I deserve a big thank–you this time.”

I was about to reply when the rest of the rogues came charging around the corner again.

“None of you are getting away!” the leader yelled. “Get them!”