Warren’s trying to block me out, but our bond is too new and open for him to fully control.
I can still feel everything pulsing with him. The tight coil of his anger, the sharp edge of his focus, the restraint he’s forcing on himself. He clearly doesn’t know how to shut me out yet.
I swallow hard, then keep moving.
The second I reach the stairs, Beck appears at the top. He’s carefully carrying a sizable mirror that used to be in his room. It’s nearly as wide as his shoulders, the frame clutched awkwardly against his chest as he squints down at the steps.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Getting rid of this.” He adjusts his grip, walking sideways down the stairs. “I don’t want it in my room anymore.”
“Why?”
He shrugs. “Bad vibes.”
Before I can ask what the hell that means, Warren’svoice cuts through the house from the kitchen. It’s sharp, angry, and unmistakably aimed at Jimmy.
Beck freezes, mirror still in his arms. He looks at me, brows knitting together. “…What’s going on?”
I grimace. “Jimmy’s here,” I say quietly. “I saw him in the backyard.”
Beck’s eyes widen. “Thebackyard?” He pauses, then adds, “That can’t be good.”
“No,” I agree.
The beta carefully lowers the mirror to the floor, leaning it against the wall like it’s suddenly the least important thing in the world. Then he turns and starts toward the kitchen.
“Beck,” I whisper loudly, panic creeping into my voice. “What the hell are you doing?”
He keeps walking, “Eavesdropping.”
“What?” I rush after him. “That’s a terrible idea.”
Beck glances back at me, already halfway there. “It’s anexcellentidea.” He gives me a pointed look. “This ismyhouse, and that jerk isuninvited, and Warren sounds like he’s about to peel paint off the walls. If something bad happens, someone needs to call for help.”
I hover at the edge of the living room, heart hammering, torn between following him and bolting upstairs like Warren told me to. My bond with the alpha hums tight and uneasy, Warren’s anger bleeding through despite his clumsy attempt to block me out.
I swear under my breath, then follow after Beck.
The closer I get to the kitchen, the louder Warren’s voice becomes.
I round the corner, instantly finding Beck lingering near the kitchen island, staring at the backyard.
The glass door is wide open, letting in a rush of warmair. Warren stands on the porch, shoulders rigid and hands clenched at his sides.
Jimmy is a few feet away, just off the edge of the porch. He looks livid. Face flushed red, jaw clenched so hard I can see his muscles tick. His hands keep flexing at his sides like he doesn’t know what to do with them.
“How fucking dare you show up at my house!” Warren snaps.
“I just want to talk,” Jimmy shouts back. “But you didn’t give me a chance. You're treating me like I’m not worth your fucking time. Like I’m?—”
“This is not open for discussion,” Warren fires back. “Things didn’t work out, we let you go, and now you’re trespassing.”
My bond with my alpha spikes hot and jagged. Warren’s anger isn’t just loud. It’s coiling, tightening, slipping closer to something he’s barely holding in check.
My stomach twists. “Beck.” I moved to my beta’s side. “We should leave.”
“Yeah.” Beck nods once, then mutters under his breath, “This is escalating.” He pulls his cell phone out of his pocket. “I’m texting Cass.”
