Page 17 of Cuffed By the Wolf

“I took a temporary job as secretary at the Morgan County Sheriff's Department. I need to find out who ruined my life. This is the best way. Sheriff Drake is aware of what I’m up to. Girl, get this. The man is such an asshole; he refuses to call me by my first name. He calls me Walker.”

I scrub the cleaning chemicals into the counter harder as I remember how he looked at me as I sat across from him at his desk.

“During the interview, he looked at me like he wanted to kill me and put me through the mattress at the same time. Is that possible?”

“Let me look this man up,” she says. “Sasha, girl, he’s gorgeous.”

“His grumpy demeanor ruins his looks. I bet he can’t wait to bark orders at me tomorrow.”

“Does he know you’re an omega?”

I sigh. “Yes. On the application, I left the space blank where it asked if I was a beta or an omega. The asshole used his alpha bark ordering me out of his office. I was forced to call him Alpha Gavin.”

“There’s definitely some sexual tension here.”

“I don’t want to have sex with him, but I’d do it to help this town, because whoever he’s fucking ain’t fucking him right. Not with the huge chip on his shoulder. I’d at least have him so fucked up in the head he’d walk around with a half-smile.”

We laugh again.

“Down, girl. Keep your mojo locked up. You had Carson sniffing behind you like a lost puppy.”

I stop scrubbing and squeeze my eyes shut briefly.

Sasha, you’re my everything, baby. I can’t see life without you.

"Until he fucked Carla, my fucking assistant, behind my back," I grit out. "It meant nothing, baby." I repeat his words.

"I told you she had a crush on him," Evie adds.

"Carson is a narcissist. If I wasn't stroking his ego every two minutes, he'd find someone who would. I bet she strokes his ego and dick all the time."

"One day you'll find your mate,” she says.

"Do you believe in scent matches and fated mates?” I asks.

"In the fiction sense. I mean, there are people in our town who are fated mates, but it's so rare. If I wasn't married to my work, maybe I'd let a guy into my heart."

"Your paintings are absolutely gorgeous. And once I clear my name, I'll get back to work on selling yours,” I tell her.

"You've got a customer for life, bestie."

I smile. "Thanks, bestie."

"Why did you ask about scent matches and fated mates?” Evie questions.

“I was at a psychic store earlier, and the woman — Gloria — told me I can't hide from my fated mate. She said it like she knows something I don't."

"Wow. Do you think your fated mate is in Lupton?"

"If he is, that's too bad, because I'm returning to Charleston."

The phone rings on FaceTime. I remove a rubber glove and tap the button, and my best friend's beautiful mocha face comes into view.

"You're hiding something. Sasha, I'll give you a little time to work it out, then I'm coming there."

"You sound like Tara."

"We're worried about you." Her smile rises and falls. "You've got two weeks. Then I'm coming to Lupton."