“Isn’t it?You’re my boyfriend.If it’s not my place to protect you, whose place is it?”
“You can’t protect me against my will.You also can’t go back on your word.”
“I promise I’ll tell you everything once this guy has been taken care of.You can still have your story.”
“You think I’m angry because I won’t have my story?”It was true that Austin didn’t know Caleb well, but still.It was offensive.“I don’t care about my story.I care about this asshole being stopped.I care about him not hurting anyone else ever again.Fuck my story, and fuck you for thinking that of me.”
Fuck.This was what Caleb got for letting someone in after so many years.He should’ve thought things through better, shouldn’t he?
* * * *
AUSTIN DIDN’T WANTto lose Caleb.He didn’t want them to break up, but he also didn’t want anything to happen to Caleb.
He didn’t know what Eric Tate was capable of, but the guy had burned down five different businesses, including the community center.There had been people in there, both shifters and humans.There had beenkidsin the building, one of which Austin had carried to safety.The little girl could have died because of Eric Tate, and Austin wanted the guy to pay.
But he was scared.He couldn’t go to the authorities, which was why he hoped that Caleb would give him the name of a police officer he could talk to.It was clear that Caleb wasn’t going to do that as long as Austin kept him out of the loop, but Austin wasn’t sure he could include him.He’d never forgive himself if something happened to Caleb because he’d told him the truth.
“I never said you were in this only for your story,” he tried.
“Good, because that’s not the case.Do I want people to know about this?Yes, of course.Do I care about recognition?A little.It’s nice to know that people read my stuff.In this situation, though, the only thing I care about is stopping the arsonist.”He shook his head.“I can’t believe you’re changing your mind about doing this together.”
“Please, Caleb.”There was a good reason Austin had changed his mind.Surely, Caleb had to see that.
But he was already walking toward the door.Austin reached for him, but Caleb shook him off.He didn’t even look back.He opened the door and stepped out, and even though Austin called for him, he closed the door behind himself.
Austin stared at it.He could go after Caleb and beg him to forgive him, but it wouldn’t change anything, would it?He wasn’t planning on telling Caleb about Eric Tate because knowing about the guy would put Caleb in danger.If Tate didn’t hesitate to hurt children, he wouldn’t think twice about hurting Caleb.
Austin had been trying to protect Caleb because he was terrified of losing him, but it looked like he might have lost him anyway.He’d pushed Caleb hard enough that he’d left, and he didn’t have to ask to know that Caleb wasn’t going to drop this.No, he would continue to investigate, especially now that Austin had mentioned a firefighter being involved.Caleb was probably as angry as Austin about that, and he’d want Tate to pay for what he’d done.
Austin did, too.He was just terrified.
And his fear had pushed him to ruin everything with Caleb.Austin took out his phone, hoping to explain himself there, but he wasn’t surprised when Caleb didn’t answer.Of course he wouldn’t.He was angry and thought that Austin didn’t respect him.He didn’t understand because he didn’t know.
Was it too late for Austin to do anything about this now?Should he even try?He didn’t want to lose Caleb, but at the same time, focusing on Tate was more important.Maybe he could reach out once Tate was taken care of.
Except that he didn’t know how to take care of Tate because Caleb hadn’t given him the names he needed.Austin had no idea how to contact anyone in the police department.They worked together sometimes, but he’d never known any of the cops on his scenes to be shifters.Austin also didn’t know who else to go to.
There was only one person who might be able to help now.
Caleb hadn’t answered Austin’s phone call, but West did.“Miss me already?You know we don’t have to spend all of our time together, especially when we’re not working, right?”
“I fucked up.”
That was enough for West to stop teasing.“What happened?What did you fuck up?”
“It’s Caleb.”
West groaned.“That means he’s going to show up here, doesn’t it?”
“I don’t know where you are, but if it’s with Jonathan, probably.He’s also going to be pissed when he does show up.”
“What did you do?”
“Caleb and I have been working together to find the arsonist.”
“I know,” West grumbled.“You already told me that, and I told you it was a stupid idea.Someone’s going to get hurt.”
“That’s why when I found out who the arsonist is, I decided not to tell Caleb.I might even have stood him up on our date, but that was because I was freaking out and forgot about it.”
