Pheromonal: One Night With the Alpha novel Chapter 162

Chapter 162: A Kept Woman

Logan sighs and brushes my hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering at my temple. The tenderness of the gesture makes my stomach drop; it’s not him being sweet. It’s him softening a blow.

"Scott’s girlfriend came forward. As a witness."

This... isn’t the surprise. They’d already mentioned the rumors. Still, I shift uncomfortably. "It’s confirmed?" ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

He nods, his expression grim. "And apparently she has footage of you arguing with Scott. The night he was murdered."

This is the blow.

My brain stutters, trying to process what he’s saying. I pull back, breaking contact with his hand, and press my fingers against my temple. The memories of that night are still nonexistent, but I know one thing—"That’s impossible."

"Nicole—"

"No, I mean it. There’s just no way. Where is it? Where were we? Because I didn’t go anywhere that night, and woke up covered in his blood. I never would have let him in."

He draws in a deep breath, then lets it all out at once. "I know."

"Then why are you looking at me like that?" A hot flicker of panic shoots through my chest. "Like you’re not sure."

"I’m not looking at you like anything. I’m just telling you what they’re saying. I know you didn’t kill him, Nikki. You couldn’t even if you wanted to. It doesn’t matter if they brought forward a video of you stabbing him in the chest—Scott was a beta. There’s no way you could overpower him."

I run a hand through my hair, trying to calm the storm building inside me. "So she’s lying. Obviously. But why would she do this?"

"The video appears to show you two having a heated argument outside his apartment building. According to the timestamp, it was taken approximately ninety minutes before his estimated time of death."

My mouth goes dry. "That’s bullshit. Complete fucking bullshit. There’s no reason on this planet I would go to his apartment."

I slide off the bed; the mood’s been irrevocably cancelled.

"I know that. The problem is the footage looks real. Professional analysis, not just some guy with a laptop claiming it’s authentic. It’s a problem. I’m not blaming you or saying it’s real, Nikki. I’m on your side, remember?"

My heart keeps beating like crazy, alternating between weird, swoopy flutters and jackhammer pacing. But I nod. No point in being defensive against someone who already trusts me.

My anger should be directed at the right people. This isn’t a moment for Irrational Nicole.

"So what, they’ve got a shape-shifter? A doppelganger? It’s a magical fucking community, Logan. There are a thousand ways to fake this."

Yep, I’m so fucking calm.

Squeezing the bridge of my nose, I grit out, "I’m sorry. I’m not trying to take it out on you."

"I know, Nicole." His eyes rove over my face, and I wonder if even my expressions look different.

They probably do.

I sigh. This is a mess of a situation.

Thanks for the fucking headache, Scott. I know he’s dead and I probably shouldn’t lay the blame at his cold zombie feet, but come on. What did I do in a past life to deserve this?

"There’s a nifty concept we call spies, Nicole."

I nod again. I do trust him. Really. It’s just me who feels like a fragile thing right now—like blown glass that’s still hot and malleable, beautiful but ready to shatter at the slightest touch.

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