I Ran From My Psycho Step-brother Straight Into The Alpha's Lap novel Chapter 7

**When Night Grows Softer Hope Returns To Lead Us by Asa Rowan Finn**
**Chapter 7**

4:15 AM.

Sloane stirred awake, her body alert before the shrill cry of her alarm could pierce the stillness of dawn. Her internal clock remained stubbornly attuned to the rhythms of Fugitive Time—an existence spent sleeping with one eye cracked open, adrenaline coursing just beneath the surface like a coiled spring, ready to snap.

There was no time to linger in the haze of sleep. She shuffled into the communal bathroom, splashing her face with icy water that sent a jolt through her system. With deft hands, she wrestled her wild, fiery curls into a tight bun, a makeshift crown of defiance against the chaos of her life. She then pulled on the only clean outfit left in her meager wardrobe: a pair of black leggings that hugged her legs and an oversized t-shirt she had scavenged from the donation bin, its fabric soft but worn.

As she stepped out of the Hope House, the enveloping darkness felt like a thick blanket, smothering and complete. The streetlights that dotted Hopewell were too far apart, casting long, eerie shadows that stretched like fingers across the pavement, creating pools of yellow light surrounded by deep, inky blackness. Sloane tightened her hoodie around her, lowering her gaze to the ground, her thoughts racing.

Walk fast. Don’t run. Running attracts attention.

Yet, the familiar prickling sensation danced along her skin—a haunting reminder that she was not alone. The feeling of unseen eyes boring into her back sent a shiver down her spine.

She halted beneath a flickering streetlight, her heart thudding in her chest as she whipped her head around, scanning the empty street. Silent houses loomed like sentinels, their darkened windows offering no comfort.

But she could sense it. She could feel it deep in her bones. A shadow flickered near an alleyway half a block back, moving with a speed that felt unnatural, too low to the ground.

A dog?

No time to ponder. Without a second thought, she practically sprinted the last two blocks to Sip and Drip, her heart racing in her chest. Fumbling with the lock, her trembling hands struggled, but she finally managed to throw herself inside, slamming the door shut and securing it behind her with a decisive click.

“Morning, sunshine!” Helen’s warm voice called from the back, the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air.

Sloane leaned against the door, her breath coming in ragged gasps. “Morning,” she managed, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

She quickly grabbed an apron and dove into the comforting rhythm of her morning routine. Grinding beans, wiping down counters—these mundane tasks anchored her in a world where, for a few fleeting hours, she could forget that she was a runaway. In this moment, she was simply Sophie, the barista.

As the clock ticked toward 8 AM, the bell above the door jingled, announcing the arrival of a customer.

“Welcome to Sip and—” Sloane looked up, her voice trailing off as she froze in place.

The figure stepping through the door was… overwhelming.

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