Linus startled so badly, he almost fell.
The shadow backed away and held up both his hands in a gesture of peace. “Sorry. Sorry! I won’t hurt you.” From the low rumble of the man’s voice, he was an alpha. The same one who had given him the pills earlier. He was Linus’... student? “Where would you like to go? I’ll help.”
“Bathroom,” Linus croaked.
The alpha grasped Linus’ arm and held him steady, walking him into the bathroom. All the way to the toilet. “I’m going to leave you here. But if you fall, I’m coming in and helping you with everything. Okay?”
Linus nodded faintly. He couldn’t understand why the alpha was helping him. Gods knew good alphas weren’t interested in him; Linus was broken, getting on in age, and there were so many sweet young things available at the college.
Maybe the alpha was helping Linus out of the kindness of his heart.
Linus waited until the bathroom door had closed. Then he pushed down his pants and briefs, sitting heavily on the toilet. It was easier to pee like that.
When he was done, he struggled to his feet, pulling his clothes back up. His head throbbed.
The alpha was waiting for him outside the bathroom.Right outside,so close that they almost crashed into each other. Linus jumped.
“You alright?” The alpha frowned. This close, Linus realized that the alpha was a head taller than him, and almost twice his width. “Back to bed?”
Linus nodded.This is crazy. I don’t even know him.
Strong hands carefully grasped his waist. The alpha brought him back to his bed, easing him onto the mattress and covering him with the same light blanket. A muscular forearm pressed against his forehead.
“Still warm,” the alpha murmured. He handed Linus a glass of water and helped him upright to drink some of it. “Are you hungry?”
Linus shook his head. “I’m okay. You should sleep.”
“Yousleep. I’ll keep you safe.”
Strange how those words stole away all the tension in his body. The alpha picked up Linus’ empty glass and made to leave the room.
Linus reached out and grabbed his hand. It was so warm under his fingers, strong and calloused.
It almost felt like a shock; it was so different from his own.
“Don’t go,” Linus mumbled.
Where had those words come from?
The alpha sucked in a slow breath. “I won’t go anywhere. You’re safe.”
At ease now, Linus fell back into the darkness.
Linus driftedin and out of consciousness. Twice, he opened his eyes to find his bedroom in shadows, lit faintly with a bluish-white glow. A keyboard tapped quietly to the side.
Once, he woke when the room was pitch-black and silent.
When he woke up again, the sky was bright.
The kind of bright that struck fear into his very soul.
He sat bolt upright, panicking.I’m late! How did I wake up so late?He shoved his glasses onto his face and patted under his pillows, trying to find his phone.
“What’re you looking for?” someone asked.
Linus squawked and whipped around, blankets tangling around his legs.
An alpha leaned against the doorjamb—young, blue-eyed, his pecs and biceps stretching his shirt.
