Watch Me Win, Alpha

Chapter 19

Olivia’s POV

The hotel hallways felt different now.

Too quiet.

No distant footsteps, no chatter, not even the usual hum of soft music that most luxury places played to fill the si- lence. I walked with a steady pace, trying not to let my uneasiness show. The walls were polished, the carpets too clean, the lighting just dim enough to feel off.

I reminded myself— Amelia wouldn’t do anything reckless now. The Hawthrone family had power, yes, but not enough reason. They had already won. Ethan would get his clean break. Amelia would get her headlines. And I… would be gone.

I took a deep breath and checked the time on my phone. 7:40 p.m.

I typed out a message to Mike as I moved toward the main lobby: “I’m here…”

That’s when it happened.

A woman in a staff uniform turned the corner quickly and bumped right into me.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, ma’am,” she said, her, tone rushed and nervous. She looked like a hotel server-tight bun, tray tucked under one arm, black slacks and a crisp shirt.

“It’s fine,” I said automatically, distracted by my phone.

But the next second, I felt a sharp prick on the side of my neck.

My hand flew up in reflex, but it was already too late.

“What the hell-” I tried to say, but my voice didn’t come out fully.

The woman muttered, “Careful, let me help you,” as she slipped one arm under mine, like she was assisting me. But her grip was too tight, too deliberate. I stumbled, my legs suddenly shaky.

Yve, my wolf, howled in warning inside me. Something’s wrong. Danger. Run.

But my limbs weren’t listening.

My vision blurred, and my knees buckled slightly as I was led away, down a side corridor off the main hall. I knew this hotel had dozens of quiet exits, private rooms, hidden service routes.

I wasn’t being helped. I was being taken.

0.0 %

13:29

Panic set in fully now, but my body refused to cooperate. My breath hitched, heart pounding, and I felt myself sway- ing like I might pass out. My fingers twitched. I couldn’t scream, but I remembered one thing-

My phone.

It was still in my pocket.

I fumbled for it, my hands shaking, my fingers barely working. The screen was still open to the message for Mike.

I couldn’t see clearly anymore. My eyes weren’t focusing, but I could feel the keyboard. I tapped blindly-maybe one or two more letters. Anything.

My thumb hit send.

The message went out.

Then everything started to go black.

Alexander’s POV

The meeting with Twilight Pack ran longer than expected. We closed with whiskey.

don’t drink much. One glass-enough to relax, not enough to

Hotel, sitting in silence, eyes half-shut. Mike entered

never walks that

just got a message

I looked up.

me, but… something’s

handed me his

message. “I’m here…” followed by a string of letters that didn’t form

“athekp”

Read

autocorrect. A random string under pressure.

I stood. “Call her.”

925

answer. I took the phone from him and started

It rang. Then connected.

22.8 %

13:30

There was faint, rapid breathing. Something scuffed

Barely audible. But it

She wasn’t okay.

call. “Get to the front desk. Find out if she checked in.

Mike was already moving.

my jacket

hallway was too quiet for this time

a woman matching her description came in just after seven. Dropped off a package. Didn’t leave. No record

I was already moving.

they say she

was headed toward the tea room, but

hotel layout.

turned the corner

off the grid inside a hotel I

Olivia’s POV

me onto the bed like a rag

five-no, six-men in towels standing around with disgusting smirks on their faces. Rogues. I could smell it through the

the foot, were objects I refused to let my

Wolfsbane.

“Can you fight? Can you

No response.

“Yve-please.”

Still nothing.

41.5 %

13:30

The drug was working.

rogues muttered as

better than the picture,” another added, licking

to sit up, but one of them shoved me back down by

already going under,” the first

waitress. She’d shed her

from my bag. “Don’t forget

as she forced the paper under my hand and pressed it against the inkpad, then onto the page. “There. Legal and

are you?” I

amusement. “Your husband doesn’t want to pay after the divorce.

hit me like

body went cold. “Ethan…

But don’t worry, once the footage