His face heated up anyway.
Storm grinned. “Lookin’ real pretty there, Professor.”
Before Linus could think of a response, Storm grabbed his things, waved, and slipped out through the front door.
The lock clicked while Linus was still staring at where Storm had been.
Storm had akeyto this place.
Linus wasn’t sure what he felt about it, only that his feelings weren’t anything negative.
I’m going crazy,he thought.Olson will kill me if he finds out.
Well, it was a good thing Olson was preoccupied with his own alpha.
Linus’bedtime routine was the same every day.
He brushed his teeth and washed his face. He checked that all the doors and windows were locked.
When he was clean and safe, he shed his clothes and climbed into bed. He tucked his pillows around himself so it felt as though he was being hugged.
Then he poked at the different apps on his phone, his eyelids growing heavier.
Sometimes he dozed off, and the phone fell on his face. Other times, his phone slipped out of his fingers.
One thing remained constant, though: He fell into a deep sleep and didn’t wake easily.
The next morning, Linus’phone alarm went off.
He woke in a panic, patting his sheets to locate his phone.
The sky was still a deep blue, barely turning bright. Why was his alarm ringing so early?
Then he remembered: he had agreed to help his mom pick up some ingredients, and he had to leave soon if he wanted to make it to the farm and back in time for his classes.
Linus whimpered. Why did the ingredients have to be delivered today?
“What the fuck,” someone muttered.
Linus froze, suddenly very awake. Had he imagined that voice? It had sounded low and rumbling, like an alpha.
He grabbed his phone and mashed his thumb against the big purple Off button.
The jangling alarm stopped, and the silence rang in his ears.
He clutched the phone to his chest, his vision a blurred mess because he didn’t dare reach out to grab his glasses.
He kept as still as he could under the covers, waiting in complete silence.
A moment later, something thumped lightlyunder his bed.
Linus barely stifled his scream.
There was someone in the apartment with him. There was someoneunder his bed.
Oh gods. What do I do?
He was almost naked under the sheets. There was no way he could jump out for some clothes, put them on, and flee before the intruder caught him.
