Alpha Hayley's Destined Mate by Andrea Townsend

Chapter 68 No One Is Their Match

Rachel’s POV:

Remembering the warning Hayley had left yesterday, I spent the night in anxiety.

Just as dawn broke, I was startled awake by a loud pounding on the door. “Open up!

“Your loans are due! We’re here to collect the payments! Don’t hide inside!

“Hurry up and pay!”

In a panic, I rushed downstairs.

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My father looked at me with disappointment; he had just learned about my borrowing from loan sharks.

Wave after wave of debt collectors surrounded our home, blocking any escape. “Rachel Softson! Hurry and open the door to pay! Otherwise, we’ll turn into wolves and give you and your family a proper lesson!”

With a loud crash, the front door of our house shook violently, and I was so frightened I could hardly stand,

“You wretch!” My father slapped my face hard, and a sharp sting radiated through my cheek.

I dropped to my knees, crying and pleading, “Dad, please help me! I’m begging you! If you don’t help me, I’m finished.”

“I don’t have any money; you made this mess, so you deal with it.” My father angrily turned away, and I quickly rushed to grab his leg.

“Dad, I really have no way out! They are Beta werewolves who have been to prison, and none of us can stand against them. Our only option is to pay them back…

“Rachel, you …” My father pointed at me, his finger trembling, but before he could finish, he coughed up blood and fell heavily to the ground.

“Dad … Dad … “No matter how much I shouted, he showed no sign of responding.

Then, with a loud crash, our front door was kicked down, and a pack of black wolves lunged toward me, their mouths wide open and sharp fangs bared.

Hayley’s POV:

After I won the public speaking competition, Henry was the first to find me and offer his congratulations.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a new found tenderness in the way he looked at me.

Could he be thinking of choosing me as his mate?

I quickly shook my head, dismissing the absurd thought.

My wolf, Hera, hadn’t reacted to him at all.

at school, Rachel had taken a leave of absence, yet

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One is Their

you hear? Rachel’s family went bankrupt.”

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borrowed money from a loan shark. When debt collectors came after her family, her father passed away from the

totally deserves it. She used to flaunt her wealth and Beta

so now they shared the gossip with a sense of

expected these rumors, given how often

to my house tonight! My mom’s making your favorite paella!” Christine’s voice broke into my thoughts.

of my reverie and happily agreed, “Sure, I’ll head

you’re the

I took out my phone and texted Irving, letting him know he didn’t need

when Christine and I left school, I

a ride,” he

and we can all go to

got into Irving’s car and slowly drove toward Christine’s house.

the car’s music, and one of H’s classic songs started playing. Christine

nodded slightly. “I’ve liked her for

in love with her music from her first song, ‘Forgotten Sea.

the three of us are like–minded friends,” Irving said with a smile, making Christine look at me excitedly. “Hayley, do you like H’s songs

trying to sound

her for years, but it’s a shame… H never appears in public, so I still have no idea what she looks like. Her music has just captivated me all

chimed in, “I’m curious too–what kind of woman would have such talent? Who knows if we’ll ever

two of them in their nostalgic

and with her enthusiastic invitation, Irving joined

graceful woman who greeted me warmly as

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10:26 Thu,

One Is Their Match

you all the time. Welcome

for having me,

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need to be so formal! Please feel free to come by whenever you like,” she replied as she headed

containing songs written by H, except for the impossible–to–find

over the years, and she handed me her prized album with a grin. “Here, I want you to

treasured it, I smiled–and–replied, “I can’t take it from you. You should keep it. But I have the first and third editions at home.

many channels but couldn’t get them. I can’t believe you have them. Hayley,

came in with a plate of fruit and

and said with a mischievous smile, “That’s a secret. I’m not