Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
SASHA
Iexhale as I step inside the bar, a smile spreading across my face at the familiar mix of alpha, omega, and beta scents swirling with the sharp tang of stale beer and salty peanuts. After two days working alongside Sheriff Drake, I’m craving two strong drinks.
The man is unbearable. What woman in her right mind would consider settling down with him?
I’m starting to think he’s enjoying this—piling on these impossible tasks just to mess with me.
I’m so buried in work that Fitch and I haven’t had a proper lunch; we’ve been eating at his desk in the garage.
I notice the sheriff shooting us daggers. I’m not sure why he cares if I date one of his deputies. Fitch seems to think the sheriff likes me. I told him he’s mistaken.
Drake is controlling, hellbent on pushing me out of town as quickly as possible.
Still, I was caught off guard when he offered to help me track down the bastard who destroyed my life. It touched me that he cared enough to offer. And part of me liked the idea that he wanted me protected. Maybe that’s the whole fated mate bullshit.
Because honestly, all I wanted was to run my hands over his chest and whisper, thank you, alpha.
“Sasha, welcome,” Harry yells, waving me over from behind the bar.
A smile lifts my cheeks. “Harry, it’s good to see you again.”
“I’m really glad you’re here. What can I get you to drink?”
“I’ll have a strawberry margarita on the rocks.”
“Coming right up.” he grins.
So far, the only place that made me feel unwelcome was Everette’s antique shop. Even Ms. Gloria had been friendly. I sweep my gaze around the bar. Several locals sit chatting at tables while others play darts and pool.
“How was your day?” he asks, sliding the drink across to me.
“Busy. I’d like to forget today. What about you? Anything interesting happening in town?”
Harry fills me in on the latest gossip.
“The women sheriff sleeps with just walked in,” he says.
I turn toward the three women who’ve just arrived. They all look between twenty-five and thirty-five.
They settle at a nearby table. Perfect, time for some eavesdropping.
“He said he’s coming over tonight. A new employee’s got him stressed out.”
I clench my teeth as I listen in.
There’s absolutely nothing I can do about them fucking my fated mate.
Shit, they aren’t even pleasing him. I knew that before he said he’d have me in some compromising positions all over the room.
It’s clear the man. The wolf wants to fuck me.
He’s also clearly jealous of other men being around me. Maybe it’s a wolf thing.
I can’t believe he eavesdropped on my conversation outside my camper. The absolute nerve of that man.
I thought I could get out of taking my scent suppressants daily. It’s difficult when I’m constantly wet for the grumpy sheriff.
“Harry, put this round on me,” I say with a grin.
“Got it,” he replies.
A waitress delivers the drinks and nods toward me.
I smile as they break into song, “Thank you.”
“You all are welcome.”
“Hey, aren’t you Gavin’s secretary?” the blonde asks.
“That’s me,” I say, walking over.
“Has he mentioned me?” I ask. “Mind if I sit?” I gesture to the empty chair.
“Go ahead,” the redhead answers.
“I’m Sasha Walker,” I introduce myself, shaking each hand as they do the same.
The blonde is Kiley Erickson. The redhead is Rebecca Ford.
And Luxi Maverick is the one with the dark hair and bright blue eyes—youngest and prettiest of them all.
A familiar tingle creeps through my fingers, like the one I felt when I shook Ms. Gloria’s hand.
But this one’s different—dangerous. I discreetly lower my hand beneath the table because the possessive mate in me wants to rip their pretty heads off for fucking my mate.
“Sorry, did you say he’s talked about me?” I ask.
“Gavin says you’re making his life a living hell,” Kiley replies.
“We’re both making each other’s lives hell,” I say, raising my eyebrows.
“Who better to handle him than his own secretary? No one else in this town dares stand up to him.”
“I’ve tried putting my foot down. Yesterday, I mentioned to Gavin I want more from him,” Kiley pipes up, crushing my heart with her heeled boot.
“I don’t want more from Gavin. Don’t get me wrong—he’s incredible in bed and very sexy—but I want a mate. Gavin made it perfectly clear he doesn’t believe in mates. It’s time for me to move on,” Luxi adds.
I squeeze her hand gently. “I’m sure your mate is out there somewhere.”
“He said he doesn’t do mates,” Rebecca says next. “He was very clear our deal is strictly sex. I’m fine with that.”
“So, you’re content with meaningless hookups?” I press.
She exhales deeply. “I secretly have feelings for him, but I won’t tell him. I’ll take whatever small piece of him I can get.” Erasing her from existence starts sounding like a tempting idea.
No, Sasha, it isn’t.
Suddenly, I feel calm.
“You ladies are pretty cool. Mind if I get a photo with you?”
“Yes, of course,” Kiley replies.
I move around the table and stand between them, smiling as I snap the picture.
I wonder how the sheriff will react when he finds out I’ve been getting close to his omega fuck bunnies. Something tells me if I mention to him I’d hook up with Fitch, he’d burn the entire sheriff’s department down.
As I saunter into work, I speak to my coworkers, then power up my computer. My gaze moves over to the sheriff’s office. His blinds are drawn. Guess he’s not in yet. Dang it. I bought his favorite coffee. I know it makes him a little less grumpy. He’ll probably be in soon. I’ll put it on his desk.
I throw open the door. His gigantic form is reclined in his chair, arms folded, sleeping.
Instead of making a scene, I close the door behind me quietly and place his coffee on the desk.
I halt in front of him. “Sheriff, did you have a long night?” I ask.
His eyes pop open. “You could say that.”
I pull my phone from my skirt pocket and find the picture in my camera roll. “Were you with them?”
His eyes widen as he stares at the picture. “Why did you take a picture with them?”
“Oh, you mean your omega fuck bunnies. I don’t know we were bonding over the grumpy sheriff.”
Pocketing my phone, I shove the coffee into his hand. “Drink up.”
Dispatch comes over the radio.
Lacy says, “There’s a battered woman near the lake. The victim says she almost drowned. She’s not cooperating. We don’t know if there was foul play.”
My eyes widen.
Was she in a domestic dispute? Did her boyfriend try to kill her? Maybe that’s why she’s not saying. Or it could be attempted murder?
“What if someone tried to kill her?” I gulp and place a hand over my chest.
Sheriff places the cup on his desk. “Calm down. You can’t jump to conclusions.”
“I’m trying not to. Now you’ve got me thinking? Am I safe out at the camper?”
He leans forward, sighs, and gently grips my arm. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you safe. I’ll send a patrol car to check out the campgrounds.”
The zing of energy that washes over me does something to my insides I’ve never felt before. Even though he’s not personally going to watch over me. He’ll make sure I’m safe. I better get out of his office before my scent suppressants fail again.
I smile and release a breath. “Thanks, Sheriff.”
He stands to his full height. “Sasha, I’ve got to go.” He lifts the cup.
My heart skips a beat in a good way. He called me Sasha.
Craning my neck to look up at him, I watch him take his first sip and nod.
“I needed this. Thanks for the coffee.”
“You’re welcome,” I say, taking a step back so he can exit the office.
Now that he’s touched me, I want his big, strong hands on me all the time.
No, no, Sasha, you don’t.
“My mate’s going to make sure I’m safe,” I mutter under my breath.
The warm feeling that comes over me grounds me.
I feel safe.
The sheriff never came back to the office. Deputies came and went. A few of them questioned potential suspects.
After work, I park a few streets over from the main street. Figure I’d get to know more shop owners. A cute little ice cream shop called Sugary catches my attention. There’s a line out the door. A few tables are occupied in front of the cute, cream-colored shop.
I wonder if this is the only ice cream shop or the ice cream is really delicious.
“In the summer there’s always a line,” I hear from behind.
I turn and peek at the woman. A smile lifts my cheeks. “Is the ice cream good?”
A big smile widens on her tanned face, and her blue eyes brighten. “Yes, I’ve been camping in this little town since I was a kid.”
“That’s great.” Pipe down, Sasha don’t sound so eager to get to know someone who isn’t from this town but possibly has a lot of knowledge about the town.
“Sorry, I meant to say that’s cool that you’ve camped in Lupton over the years.”
“Yeah, no, it’s cool,” she chuckles.
“Where are you from? If you don’t mind me asking?”
“South Carolina.”
“Where are you from?” I ask.
“New Hampshire. The summers in Lupton are beautiful and much warmer than where I’m from.”
She stretches her hand out for mine as the line moves. “My name’s Jenny.”
I shake her hand. “Sasha.”
“Are you on vacation?” She asks.
“I wish. I love small towns. I’m trying to find a person who stole something from me.”
Her eyes widen. “So sorry to hear that. I wish there were more good people in the world.”
“Me too,” I sigh.
“I’m going over to the small gallery in town. See if they know anything.”
“You’re interrogating people. Sounds fun.”
I laugh. “Not sure it’s really fun. I got into it with a shop owner when I first arrived. Landed my ass in jail.”
“Damn. Hmm, there has to be a way to get information in a harmless manner.”
“I’m trying to introduce myself and be polite as I can.”
“How about I tag along. You know to the gallery. I can meet you over there. And since I know my way around town, maybe I can help you dig.”
I smile. “That would be awesome. I work during the day now. So it’s taking me longer to get answers.”
“Let’s exchange phone numbers, and we can discuss our findings.”
The ice cream turned out to be delicious. And having Jenny with me when I went to the gallery worked out well. She and the gallery owner discussed the perfect place to watch the sunset. Because she had knowledge of the town, the gallery owner’s guard was lowered.
The gallery owner wasn’t aware of a wire but said if she heard anything she’d reach out to me.
Hopefully, I’ll get answers soon.
Settling in for the night, I call Genevieve from the comfy bed.
She answers on FaceTime from her studio. The phone is on a tripod, so her hands are free to work.
“Sasha, how’s it going?”
“Well, Evie, I’m no closer to finding who took the wire transfer yet. However, with the help of Jenny, a woman I met in town today. She visits Lupton every summer and has a better rapport with the townspeople. I think I’ll find the thief by the end of the month.”
Genevieve smiles. “That’s wonderful. If she’s been there every summer, I’m sure she’s even built relationships with some of the townspeople.”
“Yeah.”
“How’s work coming along with Sheriff Grumpy?”
“Let’s see, he’s got Fitch washing the patrol cars instead of doing his actual job. All because he’s warmed up to me.” I shake my head.
“The overbearing asshole got in my space the other day. We got into a bit of a heated argument. He also told me he’d put me in some compromising positions around the room if I touched him.”
Her dark brown eyes widen as they fall on the screen. “What? Girl, sounds like he wanted a taste yesterday.”
We burst into laughter.
“I even met the omegas he sleeps with. I’ll send over the pic.”
As I scroll through my phone and locate the picture, I say, “Evie, I wanted to hurt them. "
“Why?”
I pause for a beat.
“Because they’re fucking the sheriff. My mate,” I whisper.
“Why are you whispering?”
I turn on the radio beside me. Hopefully, if the wolf is outside, he won’t be able to hear what’s being said in here.
“The sheriff came to make sure I was safe out here and was ear hustling outside the camper. He heard me say he doesn’t have a stick up his ass but a branch. I know because he threw those words back at me.”
“So the grumpy, possessive, obsessed alpha is your mate?” She whispers.
“Yes. Sorry I didn’t tell you the other day. I was in denial. Still in denial. I can’t be with him. He’s not looking for a mate. I won’t become one of the many omegas he sleeps with. The more I’m around him and we share a connection, I have to take more suppressants.”
“Forget those other women. It sounds like he’s really interested in you.”
“Evie,” I say with a straight face. “I won’t get with another man who doesn’t feel like I’m enough.”
“Listen, continue to get to know the sheriff. He might surprise you.”
I smirk. “I’ll let you get back to work. Make sure you go to sleep soon,” I tell her.
“Be sure to refill your scent suppressants prescription. Because if your mate catches your scent too, he might insist on claiming and bonding with you.”
“Can’t have that. Love you, Eve. Talk soon.”
“Love you too, goodbye.”
I disconnect the call, flip off the radio, and lamp.
Remembering the way he touched me earlier today, I smile and doze off.