Chapter 18 #2
Reed laughs. “My dear man, I’m simply stating biological facts. If that makes you uncomfortable, perhaps you’re the one with the problem.”
Jasper’s hands curl into fists. And I know with absolute certainty that I made the right decision to focus on Reed instead of these men.
Because these Alphas are good—fundamentally, bone-deep good.
And Reed is everything wrong with the world.
“I’ll just go inside,” I mutter, heading for the salon doors.
I hear Slater following, his footsteps heavy on the deck, and my heart starts racing. He follows me into the salon and shuts the doors firmly behind us.
Through the windows, I spot Jasper immediately engaging Reed and Rex in conversation about fishing techniques, being professional even though he clearly wants to throw both clients overboard.
Slater turns to face me, and the fury in his eyes makes me take a step back.
“Maybe I had you all wrong, Ash.” His voice is low, but the anger simmers underneath. “But that bullshit I heard out there? That doesn’t belong in my business. What the fuck, man? Why are you sucking up to a dickhead like that? Are you seriously desperate to be like him?”
“I was just curious about whether he was legit,” I start, scrambling for an excuse that doesn’t expose my real intentions.
“Legit?” Slater laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “The guy’s a fucking con man. He sells insecurity to Alphas and packages it as strength. He profits from making Omegas feel less than. That’s his entire business model.”
“I just wanted to understand—”
“Understand what?” He steps closer, and my body shudders from his proximity, from that sinful voice, from my body having no control, and from the dread of having his anger pointed at me. “You want to know what a real Alpha is?”
I nod mutely, not trusting my voice.
“A real Alpha is loyal. Protective. Loving to his pack, to his Omega. He puts her on a pedestal and ensures that she’s the best person she can possibly be.
She stands on his damn shoulders to reach higher, not gets shoved down to make him feel taller.
” His voice is passionate now, intense. “A real Alpha knows that his strength comes from lifting others up. That his dominance is earned through respect and care.”
I’m staring at him, my heart in my throat, and I’ve never wanted to kiss someone more in my entire life.
“Reed doesn’t understand that,” Slater continues.
“He’s a weak man playing at being strong.
And if you can’t see that, if you actually buy into his garbage, then I don’t know what the hell you’re doing working for me.
” Then he turns and marches out, leaving me standing here trying to remember how to breathe.
I collapse onto the leather sofa, my legs suddenly unable to support me.
Yet, I’m swooning like some ridiculous romance-novel heroine.
Every interaction with Slater leaves me utterly ruined. Turned on beyond belief. Falling for him in ways I never expected. And stunned at how much he surprises me.
I have no idea what to do about it.
For the rest of the trip, I stay inside with my laptop, uploading and editing photos. Trying to lose myself in work so I don’t have to think about the mess I’ve created.
Through the windows, I notice that Slater is nowhere to be seen. Jasper handles the clients. And I feel the weight of every lie I’ve told pressing down on me.
When we finally dock, I finish up my work and head outside to say my farewells.
Slater is up top, steering the boat close to the pier. Jasper is already tying us off.
Reed approaches me.
“Hey, listen,” he says, lowering his voice like we’re conspirators. “You want to know about real Alphas? Come see me. Call me up. I could really use a social media person, and you’d fit perfectly on my team.”
He pulls out a business card, pressing it into my hand.
“I watched these men today.” He glances toward where Slater is upstairs and Jasper is working. “They aren’t what I’d call true Alphas. They’re weak. Soft. You deserve to be surrounded by those who’ll guide you right.”
He turns to leave, Rex following like a shadow, and they head along the ramp Jasper has set up.
I quickly tuck the card into my pocket just as Slater climbs down from the flybridge.
We both watch the men leave, and Slater grumbles under his breath, “That’s his last trip with Wilde Charters.”
Then he turns to look at me, and the disappointment in his eyes hurts worse than his anger did.
“I can’t even look at you right now,” he says quietly.
“I’m furious. But I can’t tell you what to do with your life either.
Just be fucking careful who you associate with, Ash.
Because the company you keep says a lot about who you are. ”
He glances at Jasper. “Instead of coming into the office, you need to take the supply boat over to the north dock. Take Ash with you.”
Jasper nods once, understanding that this is about getting me away from Slater before one of them says something they’ll regret.
Slater marches off the boat without another word, and I exhale loudly, trying to keep it all together.
It pains me to see him that way and to know I put that look of disappointment on his face.
But more than that, I’m realizing something terrifying. If I want anything real with these men, any kind of future beyond lies and deception, I can’t continue like this.
I can’t keep being Ash while also being Anita.
The thought alone leaves me dreadfully scared that I’m going to lose them, but I need to make a change and come clean soon.
Or I can focus on my job. Take Reed up on his offer. Infiltrate his operation. Expose him for the fraud he is and walk away from Mistberry Cove with my investigation complete.
But as I glance up at Jasper, who’s waving for me to follow him, my heart squeezes painfully at the thought of never being with them again.
Sure, I could walk away as Ash and continue seeing them as Anita. Keep the two identities separate.
But what then? Keep lying about having a brother for the rest of our lives? Maintain this massive deception forever?
That’s not sustainable. That’s not fair to them or to me.
Shit. This is getting so messy.