Page 58 of Cuffed By the Wolf

“Carson is driving erratically. He’s pointing a gun at my car.”

“I’m coming, little omega. Drive in a zigzag.”

He shouts orders to other deputies, his voice gone hard and fast in a way I’ve never heard from him, not the grumpy sheriff, not the possessive alpha, something colder and more focused than both.

The dirt road spits me out onto asphalt, and I take the turn too fast, tires screaming, back end sliding wide before I wrestle it straight. My hands are shaking so hard on the wheel I can barely feel my own grip.

“You were right about Jenny. There was something off about her. I have proof she was working with Carson. He set the entire plan in motion. He played me,” I cry.

Frantically, I wipe at the tears blurring my vision, one hand still locked on the wheel.

“We can talk about that later. I need to get to my little omega. I have to keep you safe.”

“One more thing. Carson is a wolf shifter. He wants to rip me apart.”

The impact comes before I finish the sentence. Metal shrieks against metal, and my head jerks forward hard enough to blur my vision at the edges. My worst nightmare has come to pass. He’s going to try to kill me.

Carson slams into me again.

By this time I’ve tuned Gavin out. I’m trying to survive. The road ahead splits and blurs, headlights and darkness and my shaky knuckles on the wheel, and every instinct I have is screaming at me to just keep the car straight, keep it straight, keep —

But I tug the steering wheel too hard from being rear-ended and lose control of the car. Fear claws up my back. My life flashes before my eyes — Charleston, the gallery, Tara’s face, Gavin’s hands on me, all of it flickering past faster than I can hold on to any single piece of it. My eyes widen as the rows of trees come into view.

“No,” I yell.

The Mercedes slams into the trees, and everything goes black.

Chapter Fifteen

GAVIN

With the blinds closed, I sit at my desk picking out gifts for Sasha online. She’s perfect for me. I smile at the thought of her being the only person who can handle my grumpy ass.

I should be at the festival, but I’m focused on getting these gifts rushed to my house before the weekend. Sasha finished work at five, while I’m staying late until seven. She said she’d unwind at Spout and catch up on some gallery work until I’m done. She’s been putting in extra hours trying to sell Genevieve’s painting too. This weekend, I’m making sure she rests—no work allowed. She’s been nonstop since arriving in Lupton.

I never expected my brother to take to Tara so quickly. Jax, the eternal bachelor, actually warmed up to Genevieve. Maybe she’s exactly what my friend needs, a workaholic like himself.

I chuckle at that thought.

My phone rings.

“Sheriff Drake speaking.”

“Gavin, Carson and Jenny spotted me.” I hear the panic in her voice.

My heart races in my chest.

“What? Spotted you where?” I’m already out of my seat. I can get to the coffee shop in two minutes.

“Carson is driving erratically. He’s pointing a gun at my car.”

Deep down, I panic. The death of Lily rears its ugly head. I can’t lose Sasha. This woman was made for me.

“I’m coming, little omega. Drive in a zigzag,” I force out the words in a calm tone, even though I’m losing my mind.

I bark orders at Fitch, Blake, and Jennings.

I shove an earbud into my ear as I climb behind the wheel of my SUV. I tap the tracking app and quickly pinpoint where she is. Yes, I put a tracker on her car.