Page 29 of Cuffed By the Wolf

SASHA

Ibarely had a chance to ask Fitch about being a bear shifter. He and the rest of the deputies had been busy searching for the lake suspect.

It’s nice to know my secretarial skills have come in handy. I have the office running like a well-oiled machine. The officers love not having to do extra work.

It’s Friday night and I think a couple of drinks is a nice way to start the weekend. Who knows, I might even go to the local club tomorrow night. Just to unwind and forget about all the shit that has gone wrong in my life back home.

I saunter inside. The smell of varnish, peanuts, and cigarette smoke hit my nose as I approach the bar.

A loud yell startles me from behind. I peek over my shoulder. Fitch and Sanchez are shooting pool. I smile. I should join them. There are a handful of people sitting at the bar. And most of the tables are filled.

“What can I get you?” The female bartender asks.

“I’ll take a light rum with lemon and lime soda.”

“Coming right up.”

“Sasha,” Fitch yells.

I smile and wave.

“Come join us,” Fitch motions me over.

“No, Sasha, come sit here, now.”

This motherfucker and his alpha bark is really setting me off. I hear him but don’t see him. I follow his tantalizing scent: The forest floor is sharper now, dark, and heavy—evoking damp earth and pine needles.

The bartender places the drink in front of me. I reach into my purse to grab my debit card.

“The sheriff paid for it.”

I nod, then mosey further down the bar, and the sheriff comes into view. He’s nursing a whiskey neat.

He slaps his big palm on the bar stool beside him twice. I take in his black t-shirt that’s tight across his chest and around his muscled arms. The tattoos snaking up his arms only make me want to run my tongue along them.

He’s also wearing khaki shorts and black boots. I’d never seen him dressed down before. He looks sexy as fuck. I sink onto the red stool beside him.

“You only called me over here because you didn’t want me hanging with Fitch.”

He doesn’t answer me. His eyes move over the green mini dress I’m wearing.

“Stop eye-fucking me, sheriff.”

He leans into my ear. “Stop tempting my deputies.”

I chuckle. “You mean stop tempting you.”

He gulps down his whiskey. “I wanted to help you with your search. But we haven’t found this fucking suspect,” he growls.

I place a hand on his arm briefly. “Gavin, it’s okay.”

“It’s not. I’m trying to keep you safe. I mean, keep the people in my town safe.”

The alpha cares about me. Why?

“Do you have any leads?”

He sighs. “No. The victim still won’t give more information about the incident. She’s scared.”