She looks at me, her dark eyes locking onto mine. Ifeelit. The pull between us, the way she’s trying so hard to keep me at arm’s length.
But I’m here. I’ll always be here.
“I didn’t want to drag you into this,” she finally says, trembling just a little. “But I don’t know what else to do. I just… I need some advice.”
I lean forward, my chest tightening. “I’m still your friend, Lo. Always.”
She takes a deep breath, trying to brace herself for something heavy. I wait, my fingers tapping against the top of my thigh, trying to stay calm, but I feel that old protectiveness crawling up my spine.
“I’ve been running,” she says quietly. “From something. Well, someone.”
My heart stops for a second. “What do you mean?”
I don’t know where this is going, but I already don’t like it. Something’s wrong.
“I don’t even know how to explain it,” she says, her eyes downcast. “I’ve been trying to keep away from an Alpha named Dylan Carr. He’s… he’s been following me, Hayes. Watching me.”
I feel my jaw clench, a cold heaviness settling in my stomach. “Who?”
Her eyes meet mine again, the vulnerability and fear in them almost too much to handle. “Someone I used to work with. He… got obsessed with me. I rejected him, and he just couldn’t let it go. He was just a friend, you know? Someone who shared my passion. I didn’t even realize he was looking for something more until he asked me out on that date all those months ago.”
I stay silent, trying to process the words she’s just thrown at me. My mind is racing, piecing things together, but I don’t know anything about this Dylan Carr. All I know is that Lo’s scared.
And I don’t like it.
She keeps going. “He’s been tracking me for months. Every time I think I’m safe, he finds me again. I thought… I thought coming back here, I’d be safe. I didn’t tell anyone about my past, you know? No mention of Honeysuckle Grove. Wanted to leave it all behind and start fresh. But I guess I was wrong.”
I want to reach across the table and grab her hand, but I don’t. I want to tell her that she’s not alone, that I’ll make sure no one ever hurts her again. But right now, she’s so closed off.
“Tansy thinks I should stay here. That I have people to protect me here, that I shouldn’t take the job I was going to leave for, but I don’t know what’s best. This is my life’s work, you know? Am I supposed to let some weirdo Alpha take that from me? It feels wrong to let him do that.”
I lean forward, my elbows resting on the table, my hands balled into fists, trying to keep the rage bubbling inside me under control.
“Lo,” I start, “I don’t care what job you were planning to leave for. If this guy is stalking you, if he’s threatening your peace, then everything else has to come second. You don’t need to run anymore. I know this town is difficult, but I’m here for you. Iwillprotect you.”
Much as I’m furious, I’m glad she came to me about this. Beck or Ford would have spiraled out of control with the need to protect her. As a Beta, I can be much more levelheaded.
“Maybe,” she finally breathes out. “Maybe I’ll stay. Just for a bit longer, until this thing with Dylan dies down.”
The knot in my chest loosens a little as I know she isn’t slipping through my fingers.
At least, not yet.
The conversation with Lo stays with me all day long, but that peace I felt doesn’t last forever.
By the time I get home, and I see the fancy car parked outside my place, I already know what’s coming. My dad doesn’t wait to call a meeting. He’s always been the type to want face-to-facediscussions, especially when it involves matters that don’t fit neatly into his carefully constructed plans.
I know this talk is going to be about Lo. It has to be.
There’s nothing else I’ve done against his wishes.
I walk into the kitchen, expecting my mother to be there, but it’s just my father sitting at the table, a glass of bourbon in front of him. He’s wearing that smile, the one that hides everything. He’s always two steps ahead, always controlling.
This ismyplace, yet he acts like he owns it.
“Hayes,” he greets me. “Sit down. We need to talk.”
I don’t even sit. I know better. Instead, I lean against the counter, crossing my arms. “About what?”
