For years we’d known her as alpha. Professional. Composed. Untouchable.
But now?
There was nopretendinganymore.
Rhett’s hand hit the siding next to the door with a low thump. “She’s alone in there,” he ground out. “She’s alone and she’s—she’s fuckingglowing?—”
“Stop,” Roan said.
His voice wasn’t loud, but it cut like ice.
He finally lowered his hand, his whole frame rigid with restraint. Not a single ounce of scent leaked from him, but I saw it in his shoulders—the pressure, thetightness.
He was unraveling just as much as we were.
But he wouldn’t show it.
Because hecouldn’t.
“Don’t even think about crossing that line,” Roan said, looking straight at Rhett.
“Why?” Rhett snapped, his voice too raw. “Because it’s hers?”
“Yes,” Roan said simply. “Because it’shers.”
That shut Rhett up.
I stared at the door. At the house that still smelled like her underneath the newly laid heat markers. Like cold steel and late nights and too much coffee. Like tension and intelligence and hunger repressed so tightly it left claw marks.
But that new layer…
God.
Itsangto something in me.
Even as a beta, I wasn’t immune. Not toher.
Roan turned away, jaw clenched. “Back to the car.”
“You’re serious?” Rhett said, incredulous. “We’re just going to walk away?”
“No,” I said, clearing my throat and dragging my focus off the door. “We’re going to give her time. We’re going to give her space. And then we’re going to find a better way to do this.”
“If Rylan comes sniffing around?” Rhett’s voice was low, tight.
“Stop borrowing trouble.” Roan looked back at the townhouse once. Just once.
Whatever flickered through his eyes made my pulse skip. I buried that kneejerk reaction. “He isn’t the problem,” I said by way of agreement. “This is about Wren, not Rylan.”
Expression taut, Rhett looked like he was about to argue, but he surprised me when he didn’t. Instead, he just blew out a harsh breath. This whole thing seemed to be provoking their territorial sides. So, I leaned into keeping my breathing even, no good would come from all of us losing it.
We were quiet as we climbed back into the car.
Roan didn’t start the engine right away. Just stared out through the windshield like the answers might be hiding in the shape of the clouds.
“She’s not here,” he said finally.
I blinked. “What?”
