Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Julian
Earlier that morning
Something about today feels... off.
I’m sure it’s because I’m about to introduce eleven new people all at once to my staff. That would make anyone in my position nervous. They’ll be just as many new hires as there are veterans when it’s all said and done.
Unfortunately for me, that’s the way of things.
Ever since I found out many of my own men were disgusting pigs who thought torturing an Omega was fun, I’ve been taken to not giving a fuck what other people think. The idea of keeping up appearances is what kept me from seeing the scum that was working in my own office.
Now I’ve got my eyes wide open. I won’t let anyone on this force be anything less than an upstanding citizen.
In my office, I prepare to go out to meet the recruits. We’ve spent months going over applicants. Everyone on staff is more than thrilled today has finally arrived. It means no more excessive overtime as we hustle to cover every shift needed.
With a balanced staff, I can split people down the middle to get the normal routine back in order. Sure, there will be hiccups as we adjust, but I believe in the men and women I chose. They were all the best of the best we could find.
And boy, did I look far and wide. We’ve got people coming in from clear across the country. Donna was thrilled when I told her I’d given them all her information for rentals. As the town’s only realtor, she knows who has what available to rent or buy, depending on what the new-to-towners wanted.
I rub my hands over my face as I pace my office. The door is closed, and the blinds are shut, giving me a moment of peace before venturing out there.
Today has to go well. I can’t have any more losses under my belt. Not when this town — when this county — needs me. I’ve already failed them in such great ways.
My phone pings with a text. Pulling it out, I grin at the group chat as it explodes with well wishes.
Davie: You got this, Julian!
Harper: J-man! We believe in you!
Ezra: Davie’s got his fingers and toes crossed for you.
Rylan: Zeke’s in a meeting, but he told me to wish you luck too.
Osvaldo: Jonathan and I are an emergency donut delivery away if you need us.
Zeke: Remember, you’re in control. Nothing can go wrong because you’re prepared. Boss man to boss man, you’re going to be fine.
It should have been weird, me being friends with a group of guys so much younger than me. But it wasn’t.
I’d known most of them their whole lives in one way or another. Ezra, especially, kept me on my toes through his rebellious teenage years.
Despite me not being there when Davie needed me, he still welcomes me into their friend group with open arms. It’s been nice considering being Sheriff doesn’t always lend people to want to be nice to me. They see law enforcement and freeze up.
It’s not like I haven’t done my fair share of illegal activity over the years. I used to steal and smoke and do all the things in excess that I spend my days patrolling now.
I’m not the hardass so many people might think.
And I have a feeling that’s why these guys have taken me in. That, and I was insistent in getting Davie justice for what happened. I might not have been able to help him while he was going through hell, but I damn sure caught each man involved. I didn’t stop until they were all behind bars serving time for what they’d done.
Now if only I could finish up my other long-standing case — the dog fighting rings.
Right before shit went down with Davie, we’d busted up the main location of the ring and caught most of the men involved. Regrettably, one of them escaped. Shortly after, my entire focus became finding and weeding out the bad seeds in my department and in the surrounding areas.
With the last of the men prosecuted, I have the energy and resources to track down the lone dog fighting ringleader. Whispers have already started about more of the rings popping up just outside of town.
My timer on my phone buzzes to tell me it’s showtime. I straighten to my full height, then march from my office to the conference room. At the door to the space, I let myself peruse everyone’s faces. I’m working to not only memorize them, but to analyze for anyone looking unsure of their place here. They’ll be the ones I need to partner up with one of the vets to keep them on track.
As I check everyone out, I get the feeling of being examined just as thoroughly. When my gaze lands on a ridiculously handsome man with shoulder length hair and a beard that looks made for my fingers to run through, I almost lose my calm facade.
He’s a vision. I’m captivated at the mere glimpse I get as I force myself to continue around the room.
From there, I channel my focus on the task at hand — Welcoming everyone to their first day. This casual meet-and-greet is a way for them to see who else is new and in the same starting position as them.
I walk through a generic welcome, taking time out to thank them all for applying. After I’m done, I suggest we all get to know one another by introducing ourselves along with a few random facts. It’s meant to break the ice, though it also gives me insight into each person.
You can tell a lot about people based on what they choose to divulge about themselves. Do they talk about family and where they’ve lived? Or do they share accolades about themselves only? Is there tone even or is there an air of importance laced beneath it?
All of it matters when you’re doing first impressions.
Besides getting to know all the people here, I’m also curious about my silent observer. He’s kept his eyes on me the entire time I’ve been in the room. Even though I’m watching everyone else speak, I still see him out of the corner of my eye.
His gaze is locked on me. He hasn’t moved away once.
I wonder what he’s thinking about. Is this his way of challenging me? Will he be a troublemaker of some sort?
Fuck. I don’t want to have to deal with that already.
When his turn comes, I listen intently to each word to find if there’s any hint about the man beneath the stare. His voice has a deep rasp to it. At the first word, I have to grip the podium in front of me tighter as to not fall to my knees. It’s a visceral reaction that I’ve never experienced.
“My name is Nyx Pointe. I’m forty-one years old. Came in from San Panino city after working there for fifteen years. Before that was an array of odd jobs until I realized I needed to focus myself in one place. Shelter Falls sounded like a good place for a bit of change when I decided the city was too stuffy.”
Somehow, I don’t think that’s the whole story. Nyx seems like the kind of person who would thrive in the city. I’m now even more suspicious of him that I was before thanks to his evasiveness.
As the rest of the room speaks, I focus on simply making it through this. I can leave them to socialize alone for a bit while I get my bearings. A minute in my office should do the trick hopefully.
I nearly sprint from the conference room. Shutting my door, I rip my phone out to call the first person I can think of.
It rings twice before Zeke answers. “I’m concerned,” he says with a laugh.
“You should be.”
His laughter abruptly stops. “What’s wrong? I can be there in fifteen minutes, or I can send someone close by quicker.”
The concern in his voice has me wincing. “It’s not that urgent. I’m just… freaking out a bit. Things were intense.”
He hums. “Ok, so what exactly was it that bothered you? Do you think there’s animosity amongst the group already?”
“No, nothing like that.” How do I explain that it wasn’t the group that has me losing my cool? It’s just one man in particular.
There’s a quiet minute before he speaks again. What he says has me slumping into my desk chair.
“Let me guess — there was one individual in particular that caught your attention, right? This person has you off balance.” The last part is said as a fact. Like he already knows what I’ll say.
Since I’m baffled at how he could read the situation so quickly, I mumble a ‘yeah’ at him as I wait for whatever wisdom he has. Never mind that he’s a decade younger than me and I should be the one imparting knowledge onto him. Life doesn’t always go how it should though.
“I think you need to put on your big boy britches and head out to face whoever has you reacting this way. The person could very well be important to the station, or maybe even just to you. What does your gut say, Julian?”
My gut? It’s screaming at me to do things I won’t ever say aloud to Zeke.
“It’s… curious. I want to know why I’m reacting this way.”
“Then you have to be brave enough to find out. No matter what, we’ve got your back. I can still come your way if you need me. Or I can send Rylan. You don’t have to do this alone.” His words are encouraging, though they feel patronizing in a way.
I should have the strength to do this. It’s just a person. Some guy named Nyx. It’s not the end of the world. I’ve faced much worse in my time with my badge.
“Thanks, Zeke. You really helped me out,” I say with an exhausted exhale.
He chuckles loudly. “Glad to know it. We’ll need to do dinner later this week. I’m sure the guys will want the details once they get wind of this.”
“No chance you’ll keep it to yourself, huh?”
“Impossible. Rylan walked in my office shortly after your call. He’s already been pantomiming for me to put you on speaker. He won’t let me finish my workday without a run down,” Zeke admits.
Rylan cheers in the background as I rub my freshly shaved jaw. I’d cleaned up for today. Without my beard, I feel naked, which doesn’t help my already conflicted emotions.
“Alright. Alright. Go gossip about me. I’m going to face this head on like you suggested I do. Thanks again.”
I hear the pair wish me luck one last time as I end the call. Seems like I’ll need it if my body’s reaction to Nyx is anything to go by.
Moving around my desk, I take one last breath before opening the door. I freeze when I see the man in question waiting on the other side. His eyes are wide as he takes me in from head to toe.
With one word, he changes everything around us.
“Alpha,” he whines.
I drag him into my office by his collar, then slam the door shut.