Cam: Police officers just left out of the back. U ok?
Josie: They talked with us for a few minutes, but all good now.
“They must have seen the cops leave,” Poppy said. “Mine are texting me, too.”
“How many seconds until they’re in here?” Clementine asked with a small smile.
“Less than thirty sec… oh wait, here they are,” Westin said with a chuckle.
Cam stormed into the bakery, a furious expression on his face. He was followed by Maximo, one of Poppy’s alphas, who looked equally angry.
Cam came to my side, crouching down so we were closer to eye level. “What happened?” he asked, taking my hands in his.
“They just asked us some questions,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “But then they were called away.”
“How fucking dare they harass you? It’s not illegal for you to eat out,” Maximo said, jaw clenched as he leaned over Poppy.
Cam’s nostrils flared as he took in my scent, and his eyes immediately softened.
“You’re scared,” he said, cupping my cheek.
I leaned into his touch, letting his scent wash away those of the cops. His thumb ran across my hand and he frowned, looking down at the indentions on my palm.
“Josie,” he said disapprovingly.
“I know,” I said. “I’m okay now.”
“Do you want to go home?” he asked.
I bit my lip. “I’d like to stay.”
Cam didn’t say anything, and I knew he was stuck between needing to keep me safe and wanting to make me happy.
“Okay. I’m just going to stand right there by the wall. You won’t even notice I’m there.”
I snorted, laughter bubbling up in my chest. I looked over at my friends, who were grinning.
“I won’t even notice you?”
“What?” Cam asked, looking around.
The table next to ours was filled with teenage beta girls who were openly gawking at Cam and Maximo.
“Cam, you’re an enormous, hot alpha. I’m pretty sure people will notice if you’re standing against the wall, glaring at everyone,” I said, smiling. “Why don’t you go back with the others? We should be fine now.”
“Yes, no boys allowed,” Poppy announced, giving Maximo a little shove. He looked about as amused as Cam.
Cam growled and gripped my chin. “You will call immediately if something happens.”
“I promise.” I ran my hand through his hair, which he’d kept down today, and his face softened again.
He huffed out a quiet sigh. “Fine.”
But before he left, he pulled me in for a kiss. I thought it would be a light peck, but he deepened it, gripping my face in his hands. I surrendered to it, forgetting where we were until Poppy cleared her throat.
I broke away from Cam, my cheeks burning.
He smirked. “Now everyone here knows you’re mine.”
