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Claimed by My Bestie's Alpha Daddy novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28

It had been four days since the blowup. Since I walked in on my ex-best friend and my ex-boyfriend and found out, in the worst possible way, what they really thought of me.

I was trying to be a better person. A calmer one. Maybe someone who didn’t get into screaming matches with

the people who used to know her best. Someone who didn’t cling to the idea of community after losing the only

two people she thought she could count on. Someone who didn’t stress-bake muffins on a Sunday morning just

to feel less alone.

But somehow 24 apple-cinnamon muffins ended up on my counter.

They weren’t great-one batch came out sunken and the others overbaked-but I boxed them up anyway and

knocked on the door of the apartment next to mine. I’d seen the guy in passing, always with his hoodie up and a

mask on, leaving early and coming home after dark.

No answer.

I was about to turn away when I heard a rustling sound.

The door opened a crack. He was tall and pale, with dark, deep-set eyes above the mask. “What?”

“Hi,” I said, holding up the lopsided box. “I’m your neighbor. These are muffins. For… peace and goodwill.” As

soon as I said it, I wanted to shrink into the floor. Peace and goodwill? Who was I, a Hallmark card?

He stared. I couldn’t tell if he was judging me or if that was just his resting face.

He blinked at the box. “Are these… for me?”

“Yeah,” I said, shifting my weight. “Muffins. They’re not very good, but I made too many.”

There was a beat of silence. Not uncomfortable, just… blank.

“Thank you,” he said, voice flat but not unkind.

11

Another pause. Then, “Hey-have you seen a small dog around here? Brown fur, kind of scruffy looking? She slipped out.”

“Oh,” I said. “No, I haven’t. Do you want help looking?”

His eyes widened. “Yes.”

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Chapter 28

+25 BONUS

We ended up searching the alley behind the building together. It was awkward. He barely spoke. I made small talk until I spotted the tiny brown mutt cowering behind a trash bin.

He crouched down, murmuring softly, and the dog bounded into his arms like it had been waiting for him all

day.

When he looked up, he lowered his mask.

His face was sharp, almost delicate, but not unkind.

“Thank you,” he said. “I’m Simon.”

I smiled. “Amelia.”

A few days later, I stayed late at work catching up on reports. The pack house was quiet, the sun long gone.

My boss, Mr. Kellon, stepped into the break room where I was sorting files. “Still here?”

“Almost done,” I said.

“Could you do me a favor? There’s a folder in my office I need for the council session tomorrow. I’d get it

myself, but…”

He gave a weird little smile—like he thought we were in on something, even though I had no idea what it was. It

made my stomach tighten. Still, I stood. “Suré.”

His office was down the hall. I stepped inside and started scanning the shelves.

The door clicked shut behind me.

I turned. He was there, leaning against the frame.

“You’re doing great here, Amelia,” he said. “Really impressive work.”

I tried to keep my voice steady. “Thanks. I’ll just grab those files.”

He stepped closer. “Thing is, performance evaluations aren’t always about numbers. Sometimes it’s about chemistry. Willingness. The right kind of ambition.”

I took a slow breath, heart hammering in my chest. Every nerve in my body screamed that something was

wrong. I smiled tightly and backed up a step toward the desk, keeping my expression neutral.

With one hand, I reached behind me and hit dial-Emma’s name lit up on the screen. She was my closest

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coleague at work, anu prv

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