Chapter 15
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.
What is she doing way out in the Tundra Forest?
“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,” she cries.
The sound of gunshots has my wolf wanting to rise up and take control.
Soon, I say to my wolf.
“We can talk about that later. I need to get to my little omega. I have to keep you safe,” I say, trying to calm her, but I know it’s a lost cause.
That motherfucker is trying to take my woman from me.
“One more thing. Carson is a wolf shifter. He wants to rip me apart.” She’s crying hysterically this time.
Fuck, I hadn’t gotten the chance to tell her he was a wolf shifter.
“I’m on my way. Hold on, Sasha.”
It feels like my heart will beat out of my chest.
“Sasha. Sasha,” I roar.
“No,” she yells.
And this time my heart stops beating.
There’s a loud bang. Then silence.
“Little omega, answer me.”
I pick up the walkie. “Dispatch, send paramedics.”
I rattle off the location.
Throwing the police SUV into park, I jump out, gun stretched out in front of me. I’m looking for that motherfucker. I will fill him with bullets. “Jennings and Blake, search the area. Fitch, help me get her out of the vehicle,” my voice shakes.
I don’t know if my omega is alive or—
Gavin, you have to think positive.
Holstering my weapon, I don’t waste time tearing off my shirt. I can’t see inside the car. The white airbags surround her.
My body partially shifts and I rip off the door. Fitch does the same, ripping off the passenger door.
I know I can’t move her. She’s not moving.
“Sasha, can you hear me?”
I turn my head to the sky and howl. It’s my distress signal. Tyson and Jax will hear it. They’ll come to my aid. Carson, the wolf shifter, has to be put down.
The moment I met Carson, I knew something was off about him. He confirmed who he was when I held Sasha against my body at the festival. Gold rings flashed around his pupils, revealing his wolf. He wanted me to know he wouldn’t go down without a fight. Good, because I damn sure won’t.
Today started out on the right track. The plainclothes officers I had assigned to watch Brooke, the lake victim, caught a man trying to break into her house through a window.
We soon discovered why Brooke had been unwilling to share information—she’d stolen drugs from Jake, her ex-boyfriend and dealer.
But it wasn’t just a small amount; she had broken into his stash and taken a kilo.
She had handed it over to her new dealer boyfriend, Tatum, who then disappeared without a trace.
Brooke had been at the lake, unsure if she wanted to live or die.
But when Jake tried to kill her, she made the choice to live.
The officers managed to persuade her to turn against Jake, his associate Gram, and Tatum, who was now selling drugs in Lunnerville.
Just as I was about to share the good news with Sasha, she called, terrified out of her mind.
My phone vibrates in my pocket as I pace the hospital waiting room floor.
I tap the earbud. “Sheriff Drake speaking.”
“Sheriff, there’s a man on the line claiming he has a lead on Sasha’s killer,” Lacy says, her voice trembling with hurt and panic.
Those words make me wince.
“Is she?” Lacy’s voice breaks.
“No update yet. The doctors are still working on her. Patch him through,” I command.
I already know who it is. The fucking narcissist shit-starter.
“Sheriff Drake here,” I say, stepping away from our family and friends to the other side of the room.
“Sheriff, you have something I want.”
“What’s that? My fist slammed down your throat?” I growl.
He laughs, low and dark. “The other painting Sasha was trying to sell. It’s not at Genevieve’s studio.”
“You broke into her studio.” Not a question—an accusation.
“Did you play the good alpha, then lose it and put your hands on Sasha when she pissed you off?”
Sasha’s annoyed expression around him, the flicker of unease in her eyes—none of it sat right with me.
“She has a smart mouth. Once, I punished her so badly she had to stay in the house for a week. After that, she learned to keep her mouth shut—mostly. If she’d had magic then, she’d have fought back. I wonder when she realized her power. It doesn’t matter. I’ll rip her fucking heart out.”
My fists clench at my sides, a low growl rumbling in my chest. “You’ve got a death wish. You’ll never lay a hand on my omega again.”
“Look at you, all soft for her. Maybe you actually care. Sasha’s got talent, and I’ve profited from it. You’re in the way. So it’s time for you to go fucking bye-bye.
“I’ve unleashed a pack of wolves that’ll tear you and your little crew apart. Call me back in fifteen minutes with the location of the other painting, and I’ll call them off.”
I chuckle, “Nah, send them.” I press the earbud, ending the call.
He thinks he can send his hit squad to take me out in my own town. It’s time I show him how we do things in this shifter town.
I scan the worried faces filling the waiting room.
Tyson and Jax soothe Tara and Genevieve, while Fitch is ready to let his bear free.
Bethany, a fae and owner of Spout, along with Ms. Gloria from Enchanted Visions, have come to offer their support.
My deputies and dispatchers are all pulling for Sasha, my non-mate who’s only recently arrived in our town but has already touched so many lives.
The last time Sasha looked at me, her gaze felt like it pierced straight into my soul.
“Tara Walker,” Dr. Cane calls out.
She rises to her feet. “Gavin, come with me, please.”
I nod and walk with her toward the doctor. It’s a good thing Tara is in town. The doctor can only give her sister information.
We halt in front of the doctor.
“Hello, Dr. Cane,” I say.
“How is she?” Tara asks.
“Ms. Walker sustained a leg injury in the crash, with bruises on her chest and stomach.”
My hands clench at my sides. I feel my wolf stirring, eager to break loose and hunt down Carson and his pack.
Dr. Cane adds, “But she’ll fully recover.”
I exhale sharply.
“Can we see her?” Tara asks.
“She’s resting now, but yes. Room 303.”
“Thank you, doctor,” Tara and I say.
“Yes!” I exclaim.
I face the group gathered for Sasha. “She’s going to make a full recovery,” I announce.
Soft clapping begins to ripple through the room.
A few minutes later, Tara and I enter Sasha’s hospital room. My eyes move over Sasha’s bruised face and arms.
My wolf growls at the sight of her. We immediately want to burn this world down to keep her safe. Dropping in the seat on her right, I pick up her hand.
“Sasha, your sister is here.”
Tara lifts her other hand. “Gavin and I are here for you.”
Sasha’s fingers twitch in mine. Her eyes flutter open.
“Where am I?”
My heart thuds inside my chest with a kind of pain I didn’t know existed.
“You’re in the hospital,” I tell her.
“Ms. Gloria. I need to see her.”
Her eyes open and close again. “I couldn’t contain my magic.”
“Magic?” Tara questions.
“We’re, we’re witches,” Sasha announces.
“What?” Tara asks. “They must have you on the good stuff. You’ll feel better soon.”
Sasha winces as she turns her head, meeting my gaze.
I brush a thumb over the back of her hand lightly. “Sasha, take it easy.”
She smiles. “My mate.”
A half-smile lifts my lips. Sasha doesn’t want to be non-mates. She wants to be my mate.
Her eyes close again.
“Tara, you’re right, she’s on heavy painkillers. I’ll send for Ms. Gloria,” I say.
I hit the call button on the remote and ask the nurse to send Gloria Morris up.
In the meantime, I peel back the blanket to get a look at Sasha’s body. I need to see what that asshole did to her.
Her right leg is badly injured. My hand runs over the bandages wrapping her leg. I’ll have to wait to look at her chest and stomach later. I pull the blanket up to her neck, covering her body.
A sharp rap sounds on the door.
“Come in,” I respond.
Gloria steps inside, smiling warmly. “Hello, Sheriff.”
“Thanks for coming, Gloria.”
I introduce her to Tara.
“Sasha’s drifting in and out of consciousness, but she specifically asked for you. She said she couldn’t control her magic. I know there’s magic here in town, but how could Sasha have it?”
Tara’s face twists as she blurts out, “She said we’re witches.”
Gloria laughs softly and rests a hand on Tara’s shoulder. “What Sasha said is true—you’re both witches.”
Shock and horror come over Tara’s face.