The apartment was still and quiet, but she swore she could hear the bond laughing at her.
And why shouldn’t it? He wasn’t going anywhere. Grayson had made that abundantly clear. Hell, he was living with her in this small space. No matter how much she wanted to believe she could hold him at arm’s length, she knew deep down that his presence in her life was permanent, inescapable. That thought sent a fresh wave of frustration rolling through her, because how was she supposed to untangle her feelings when he was always there, always watching, always staying?
Chapter 8 - Grayson
Grayson leaned against the hood of his truck as he watched the dirt road leading up to the edge of Bellefleur’s wooded perimeter. Ryder and Zach were late. He wasn’t surprised—pack business rarely adhered to a schedule—but the extra time only left him alone with his thoughts, and those were dangerous these days.
The scent of pine mixed with the faint trace of diesel from the distant logging road. His wolf paced in the recesses of his mind, restless and alert as if sensing the tension that coiled tighter in his chest with every passing second. The encounter with the unknown shifter a few days ago replayed in his mind. The casual smirk. The veiled threat. The way he’d blended into the streets so easily.
Bellefleur had always been a sanctuary—a fragile, imperfect one—but a sanctuary nonetheless. That safety had been fraying at the edges for years. Grayson knew it and had seen the signs long before this mission. The auction network infiltrating its borders wasn’t a question of if but when. And now? He had proof.
The low rumble of an approaching engine broke through his thoughts. Grayson straightened as a black SUV pulled up beside his truck. Ryder climbed out of the driver’s seat, and Zach followed from the passenger side.
“You look like someone kicked your dog,” Zach greeted, slamming the door shut. “Or is that just your default?”
Grayson didn’t rise to the bait. “You’re late.”
“Traffic,” Zach quipped, gesturing to the empty road behind him. “You know how it is.”
Ryder ignored the banter and asked, “What’s this about?”
Grayson didn’t waste time. “A shifter followed us the other day. Not one of ours.”
Ryder’s frown deepened. “How sure are you?”
“Sure enough to run him off,” Grayson replied. “He wasn’t just passing through. He was watching Cora.”
Zach’s grin disappeared entirely. “Watching her how?”
“Tracking her movements. Taking his time. He didn’t get close but knew what he was doing.”
“Did you get a name?” Ryder asked.
Grayson shook his head. “He didn’t stick around long enough for introductions once I approached him. But he was too comfortable. Too prepared.”
“And you think he’s tied to the auction,” Ryder guessed.
Grayson gave a single, curt nod. “It fits. Voss isn’t stupid. If he’s making moves here, he’s not doing it alone. There’s a network, and they’re testing the waters.”
“Shit,” Zach muttered, leaning back against the SUV. “You think this guy was just recon? Or something worse?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Grayson responded. “Either way, he’s here because of Cora. That means they haven’t given up.”
“We’ve had reports of new faces in town,” Ryder acknowledged. “Shifters, mostly. They’re keeping to themselves for now, but they’ve been seen near the outskirts. Close to the old quarry.”
“And you didn’t think to mention this sooner?” Grayson demanded.
Ryder didn’t flinch. “We didn’t have a reason to think it was connected. Not until now.”
Zach ran a hand through his hair. “So what do we do? Just sit around waiting for them to make a move?”
“No,” Grayson insisted. “We keep them from making one.”
“Easier said than done,” Ryder pointed out. “If they’re tied to Voss, they won’t spook easy. We can’t just muscle them out without proof.”
Grayson’s wolf bristled, but he forced it down. “We don’t need proof to keep eyes on them. If they’re here for Cora, they’ll slip up.”
“And if they don’t?” Zach asked.
