1302 The Alpha (The 13th Floor) Read Online Free Page A

1302 The Alpha (The 13th Floor)
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surroundings. He didn’t walk farther than the entry until she closed the door and went in ahead of him.
    “I lost my key. No one’s going to break in here.” She walked over to the fridge and retrieved a pair of soda cans. She tossed one at James without asking if he wanted one. It was the only thing she had to drink other than water, and she needed to wash out that foul taste from her mouth. The sewer stench lingered with a fetid tang.
    Stefanie popped open her can and drank nearly half before pausing to swish the cola around her mouth. It was good to concentrate on the stink rather than the fact there was someone in her apartment. Her den. And not just someone, a male wolf.
    “Yeah, okay, but what if some man breaks in while you’re sleeping and—” James stopped and then shook his head. “That man would then be toast.” He tapped the bottom of his can and then opened it. Taking a swig, he surveyed her place. “So, this is cool. Retro artist. Even though I saw you at the store looking at supplies, I didn’t peg you to be the artistic type.”
    “Why not?” She narrowed her eyes.
    “Well, uh,” he stumbled with his words, head bowing down under her glare. “You’re a tough woman. Quite fit, for obvious reasons. Obvious to us anyway. And you’re a little bit country.”
    “What? I’m not a little bit country.” Stefanie snorted and finished off the rest of her soda. It helped a tiny bit, but she needed to get out of her clothes and into a shower.
    “It’s the northern accent and the cowgirl attitude.” This time James grinned as she glared at him. “You can’t deny it. You’re in charge and you won’t let anyone forget it.”
    All right. She did have a bit of a Wisconsin accent, but no one else ever commented on it. But a cowgirl attitude? Where did he come up with these things? “You read too many comic books.” She tossed her can into the garbage pail. “I am in charge of my life. No one controls me and I mean to keep it that way. But that’s all I’m in charge of.”
    Now. It hurt to say it. She was meant to lead a pack not stay hidden away in a little apartment in the city alone.
    “You’re a natural leader. I find myself following you and I can’t help it.” James took another swig as he regarded her. His brows slowly rose. “That’s your pack chasing you. You were the Alpha. But something happened and now you’re not. They’re hunting you far from your territory, which says something about what you did.” He nodded, excitement building. “Okay, let me guess. You must’ve done something pretty bad.”
    Stefanie was across the room and nearly chest to chest with him within a second. “I didn’t do anything. Don’t you start thinking I’m some big villain for you to battle. You don’t know me or anything that’s happened. My life isn’t a party game. Shut up, don’t sit on anything, and don’t you dare touch my paintings.”
    Stefanie stalked off into the bathroom and slammed the door. She grabbed the edge of the sink and took several deep breaths. So James guessed she was an Alpha. There really was no hiding that from another wolf. She didn’t want him making her life into some superhero story, though. It was far from it. She’d lost and she’d fled. Nothing heroic about that.
    He was already involved way too much. But then didn’t he deserve the full story? Yes. No. Maybe. Stefanie shook her head and stripped off her clothes.
    Long hot shower first. She turned it on and hopped in, washing her hair three times. Much better, but the smell of the sewer still was there. All the shampoo and body wash in the city probably couldn’t help her now.
    Drying off, she wrapped the towel around herself and scooped up her clothes, deciding not to throw them into the hamper lest they make the basket itself stink. She dropped them in the corner of the hall as she stepped out.
    “You.” Stefanie motioned to James as she walked into the living room. “Wash up. I’ll find you
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