Shattered by the Alpha Stronger Than Ever novel Chapter 26

Chaptera

Keith

As I focused close on her features from the dimly lit room and the pulsating music surprise enveloped me. My heart skipped a beat as [froze, my eyes locked on her.

truly her, Rose.

If it wasn’t for her eyes, I might have missed recognizing het altogether. The distance of more than a decade had altered her features, sculpting her face into a sharper, more refined version of its former sell

She appeared thinner, almost fragile, a gloomy contrast to the vibrant, beautiful girl I remembered from our high school days. The passing time had etched its mark on her, but those innocent eyes remained unchanged, sparding with a hint of the same kind–hearted spirit that had captivated me su long ago.

Memories came flooding back Rose in the school hallway, in class, sometimes glancing at those hazel eyes that made my heart race

As her eyes met mine, a jolt of electricity ran through thy veins, transporting me back to a time when life was simpler, and my heart was full of hope. For a fleeting instant, the years melted away, and I was once again the lovestruck teenager, gazing into the eyes of the girl who had captivated me.

The memories came flooding back the way my heart skipped a boat when she smiled, the way my palms grew sweaty when she was near, the way I felt like I was drowning in the depths of her eyes. It was as if no time had passed at all, and I was still that awkward, smitten teenager, desperate to make her

Her

paze broke away, and she bed back to the person calling her. Her movements rense, as if she was trying to hold herself together.

I was left standing there, my heart racing, my mind reeling, wondering if I’d imagined the whole thing. Why would I suddenly hallucinate about her though?

“Taylor, what the hell? Roman exploded, his voice echoing through the room.

“Who give you permission to bring in dancers?” Byron’s face tumed beet red with rag

“Relax, guys,

they’re not strippers,” Maties interjected with a sly wink, try to diffuse the tension.

“You’re in for a world of hum, Taylor, Dexter growled, his voice low and menacing, as he struggled to contain his anger. It was rare that you’d see him losing his calm “Keith is going to lose it when he sees this!

Taylor’s grin twisted into a wicked sanile as he sneered,

“Keith’s an uptight bastard, and so are the rest of you. You all peed lessons on how to have fun.” His laughter sent a chill down my spine, the sound dripping with hostility.

I stood there, paralyzed by rage, my mind reeling from the toxic mix of alcohol and fury. My head was slightly heavy clouding my thoughts, as I struggled to comain the explosive anger building inside me, all directed at Taylor’s smirlang face

“Well, well, well! Look what we’ve got here Keith Nelson! His irritating voice echoed through the room, as his gaze landed on me, his words dripping with a sarcastic enthusiasm that made my skin crawl

The sudden interruption shattered the fragile surprise I was surrounded by, and I watched in dismay as she flinched, her head cast down like a startled

“Reunion of high school sweethearts,” he crooned, his voce dripping with malice, as he gazed at Rose and me with a wicked glint in his

eye.

As Taylor’s words boomed through the air, Rose’s eyes widened in terror, her gaze darting around the room like a sacrifice seeking escape. Her slender frame began to tremble, her shoulders shaking with a quiet fear that made my heart ache Taylor’s grin grew wider, his eyes glinting with a sinister light, as he reached out and grasped her wrist, his fingers closing around it like a vice.

“Come on, Rose, sit on my lap,” he cooed with false sweetness as he pulled her down, his filthy palms purposefully resting on the exposed skin of dughs, as he grinned wide at me.

Ther

Her face went white, her lips parting in a silent protest as she tried to pull away. But Taylor’s grip only tightened, his fingers digging into her skin. Tyle a surge of anger and helplessness as I watched Rose’s fear unfold before me. I wanted to intervene, to shield her from his predatory advances. Lego of her Taylor, I snapped. Something inside me broke free, and I unleashed a fury I’d never known 1 possessed

tylists clenched, I charged at him, grabbing him by the collar and slamming into him with a force that sent us both crashing to the floor. Taylor’s smirding face was the last thing I saw before my vision turned red

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