"Julian's been gone since October. Place was just sitting empty." Levi leans against the doorframe, amber eyes assessing without judgment. Then he glances at the window, mouth quirking slightly. "That's Bea Wilson. Works at the general store across the street."
I grunt, taking a drink of coffee to cover the fact that I was definitely staring.
"Ben Wilson's younger sister, if you end up at his garage," Levi continues. He's not teasing, just matter-of-fact. "She just moved back home recently. Omega."
Something in his tone makes me look up. "Recently?"
"Came home a couple weeks ago. Had some kind of situation with her ex at the Thanksgiving Festival last week." Levi sips his coffee, watching me with that same thoughtful assessment. "I didn't see the whole thing, but apparently he showed up trying to talk to her, and she ended up kissing Deputy Seth Monroe to get away from the conversation."
My hand stills on the mug. "She what?"
"Kissed the deputy. Right there in public." Levi shrugs. "Then pretty much ran. Her ex left town that night, and she's been dealing with the aftermath ever since. Small town gossip being what it is."
An omega desperate enough to kiss a stranger rather than deal with her ex. That takes guts. Or panic. Maybe both.
Something about that boldness is attractive. Inconvenient, considering I literally just moved here.
"Bet that's been awkward," I say, because Levi seems to expect some response.
"For everyone involved." He straightens from the doorframe. "Anyway, welcome to Honeyridge Falls. Where the gossip is relentless but the people mean well."
"Good to know."
"Elijah says you do good work. That's recommendation enough for me." Levi gestures to the main room with its high ceilings and natural light. "Studio space should work well up here. Separate entrance from the bookstore, so you won't disturb customers. Or they won't disturb you."
"That's the idea."
He leaves me with my coffee and the knowledge that I've already been caught watching the one person in town who probably doesn't need another alpha's attention.
Great start, Grayson.
I return to the window. The general store sits quiet across the street now, door locked. She's gone—probably to wherever she was headed with that purposeful stride.
Time to unpack and stop staring out windows.
By mid-morning,I've got the important stuff done. Tattoo equipment set up in the main room—chair, cart, sterilization station. Inks organized by color because chaos in my work space makes my brain itch. Sketches taped to one wall, designs I've been working on for months.
This is the part of me that makes sense. The art. The ink. The only thing I've ever been consistently good at.
Living space takes longer because I keep stopping to stare out the window like a creep.
I don't own much. Clothes that fit in two duffel bags. Books I've read so many times the spines are cracked. My music collection on my phone. Foster care taught me not to get attached to stuff. Places. People.
Twenty-four years old and I still pack like I might need to leave in a hurry.
Probably should work on that.
I'm hanging my favorite piece, a phoenix rising from flames that took me three weeks to get the feathers right, when movement outside catches my attention.
Bea Wilson, walking back toward the general store. Coffee cup in one hand, what looks like a muffin in the other. Still moving with that same purposeful stride.
She disappears into the store, and I realize I've been staring again.
Not my business. I came here to disappear, not get invested in local drama. Especially not in an omega who's clearlydealing with enough without some new alpha watching her from windows.
I go back to unpacking and tell myself to stop looking.
My phone buzzes around two.Elijah:Levi says you made it. Place work out?
