Or tell him I never stopped missing him.
That I thought about him every day. That I wanted to call so many times…
The door clicks shut behind me, and I press my back to it, heart hammering, skin buzzing, breath shallow.
What. The. Fuck.
What am I doing?
Whatwasthat?
And more importantly…
Why did it feel like coming home?
CHAPTER 8
Beck
I’m walking home from the station, my mind full of the usual chaos—calls, paperwork, all the mess that comes with a job like mine, when I hear her.
“Beck.”
I stop, boots scraping against the gravel, before I turn toward the voice. It’s Officer Lara West, leaning casually against a streetlamp as if she’s been waiting for me all night.
The way she stands, relaxed but alert, makes it clear she’s not here for pleasantries. Lara knows how to get right to the point.
“Lara,” I say, giving her a nod. “What’s going on?”
She raises an eyebrow, her gaze calculating as she takes me in. In a small town like ours, the local cops always know more than you think, especially an Alpha like Lara. She doesn’t let her eyes stray far from mine, and that alone makes me uncomfortable.
“Not much,” she answers, a casual tone masking something simmering beneath the surface. “Just another day of the usual. But I did hear something interesting.”
My stomach tightens. “Yeah? What’s that?”
Lara’s lips curl into a faint smirk, but it’s sharp. Too sharp for it to be friendly.
“Lo Marsh is back in town.” She lets the words hang between us, weighty and charged. “Imagine that.”
I’m not sure how to respond to that, but I keep my face neutral. “Yeah, she is.”
Lara doesn’t miss a beat. She leans forward, just enough to show she’s in this conversation for real. “You talked to her yet?”
I run a hand through my hair, hoping it looks casual, but I can feel my frustration burning. “A bit. She’s… around.”
Lara doesn’t let it go. She never does. Her stance tightens as if she’s not just asking questions, she’s digging for something.
“Around, huh? You sure you’re not avoiding the subject? I mean, she’s not exactly the easiest person to ignore when she’s standing in front of you.”
I hesitate for a moment, choosing my words carefully.
“We’ve got history, Lara.” I let that statement settle between us, letting her hear what’s unsaid. “And I’m not looking for a drama show.”
She doesn’t back off. Her gaze sharpens.
“You’re so good at pretending, Beck. You think people don’t notice? They’ve got you figured out. Always keeping your cards close to your chest. And maybe that works for you… but Lo? She doesn’t get the same luxury. Her name is like a red flag for this whole town. How do you think Sheriff Dempsey is taking this?”
I can feel my pulse quicken, the old anger bubbling up. “I’m sure this is hard,” I growl, protectiveness burning through me. “Believe me, I know exactly how this town feels about her.”
