I hang up and sit here in the quiet apartment.
The weight of what I’m doing is starting to settle in. The lies. The deception. The investigation that’s getting more complicated by the hour.
And underneath all of it, the undeniable truth I don’t want to face—I’m in trouble. Big, complicated, potentially catastrophic trouble.
I came here to investigate. To find evidence. To expose the truth.
Instead, I kissed one of my suspects. Flirted with all four of them. Let myself get swept up in their scents and their attention and the way they made me feel seen.
I lean back in my chair and stare at the ceiling.
“What the hell am I doing?” I whisper.
But I don’t have an answer, because part of me knows exactly what I’m doing.
I’m falling. Fast and hard and completely out of control, and I have no idea how to stop it.
Or if I even want to.
The thought terrifies me because if Jasper is my scent match—if any of them are—then everything changes. My investigation. My plans. My entire future.
I stand up, turn off the lights, and head to bed.
But I know I won’t sleep with Jasper’s scent still clinging to my skin. Or with the memory of his kiss burning through my mind, and not with the terrifying possibility that I’ve found something I didn’t even know I was looking for.
And definitely not with the knowledge that, tomorrow, I have to go back.
Face them again as Ash.
Pretend that kiss never happened.
Pretend I’m not completely and utterly screwed.
12
ANITA
“Fuck, against the front door of your apartment?” Nina’s eyes are wide, but she’s grinning like this is the best gossip she’s heard in months. “You know the whole neighborhood probably saw that, right?”
I’m sitting across from her at a corner table in the bakery, dressed as Ash, nursing the best coffee I’ve had in weeks and trying not to die of embarrassment. The almond croissant on my plate is flaky perfection, but I can barely taste it because my face is on fire.
“No, they wouldn’t have,” I protest weakly. “It was late, and everyone was asleep.”
“Girl.” Nina leans forward, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “This is a small town. Everyone’s favorite pastime is gossip. You wait. I bet I hear at least three people talking about it today. ‘Did you see that new girl getting absolutely ravaged by Jasper outside her apartment?’ It’ll be the talk of the town.”
“Oh God.” I drop my head into my hands. “Great impression I’m making. New to town and already on the rumor mill for being pinned against my door by a hunk.”
“And what a hunk!” Nina is practically bouncing in her seat. “Seriously, you couldn’t do better if you tried. Those four men are literal gods. And mostly untouchable. They’ve made it pretty clear over the years that they’re not interested in anyone in town.”
I look up at her, curious despite my mortification. “You tried dating them?”
She shakes her head, taking a sip of her coffee. “Nah. But I know lots of Omegas and Betas who have, and they all failed spectacularly. Some got lucky with one-night stands, but that’s all those men were capable of giving. Casual, no strings, don’t expect more. But maybe it’s different with you.”
“Why would it be different?”
“Because I’ve never seen them all so captivated by one person before.” She tears off a piece of her croissant, popping it into her mouth. “At dinner, the way they were all looking at you? Like you were the only person in the room? That’s not normal for them. They don’t look at anyone like that.”
A flutter bursts through my stomach.
