Page 24 of Beckett's Fate

Beck’s fingers curled into a fist as his jaw tightened. If Irene was chasing the treasure, she wasn’t just putting herself in danger. She was stirring up interest in a secret the town had worked hard to bury.

The wind shifted, carrying with it a faint trace of her scent. Beck straightened, his wolf stirring at the familiar pull. She was close—closer than she should have been.

His gaze swept the tree line, sharp and searching. Irene had a knack for slipping away unnoticed, for keeping herself just out of reach. But she wouldn’t stay hidden forever.

Beck’s lips curved into a faint, wry smile as he turned back toward the trail.

You can run, Irene. But I’ll find you. And when I do, we’re going to have a real conversation about why you’re here.

The thought sent a surge of fierce intent through him, his wolf growling low and possessive in the back of his mind. Whatever Irene was hiding, Beck would uncover it. And when the truth came to light, he had a feeling neither of their lives would ever be the same.

The morning sun dappled the trail ahead of him as he headed back toward town. His wolf paced within him, restless and uneasy, its instincts sharpening as his mind churned over everything Irene had told him—and everything she hadn’t.

Her secrets were like smoke, elusive and impossible to grasp. But he was now certain that she was here for the treasure. It wasthe only thing that made sense. She was searching with purpose, following trails and patterns that most hikers wouldn’t notice. Her movements betrayed her intent, even if her words remained carefully guarded.

And if it’s the treasure she’s after,Beck thought grimly,she could be walking into trouble.Beck didn’t believe in the treasure per se, he just knew it had brought grief to a lot of people—many of whom had never been heard from again.

The stories about the cache of silver up above the falls had been around for almost as long as the town itself. There were legends about it and a lost silver vein hidden deep in the mountains, guarded by a curse that had claimed the lives of more than one would-be fortune seeker. It was a tale told to children to keep them from wandering too far into the woods—but Beck had seen enough over the years to know the curse might be more than a story.

He couldn’t shake the image of Irene, defiant and fierce, standing in the clearing surrounded by hunters. The thought of her facing danger alone—whether from men with guns or the supposed curse—set his teeth on edge. He couldn’t let her continue down this path, not without understanding why she was so determined to find the treasure.

And not without protecting her from whatever threats might be lurking in the shadows.

Beck reached the pack estate as the sun climbed high in the sky. The place was quiet, the stillness punctuated by the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. Most of his men were out on patrol, keeping an eye on the hunters who had yet to leave the valley.

His beta, Des, was leaning against the porch railing when Beck approached, his sharp eyes scanning the woods.

“You look like a man with too many thoughts in his head,” Des said, his tone light but knowing.

Beck grunted in response, stepping onto the porch and folding his arms across his chest. “Irene.”

Des raised an eyebrow. “Figured. What’s the latest?”

“She’s after the treasure,” Beck said bluntly, his voice edged with frustration. “Or at least, I’m almost certain she is. And if that’s true, she’s going to bring a hell of a lot of trouble with her.”

Des tilted his head, studying Beck carefully. “You worried about the curse?”

Beck shot him a sharp look. “I’m worried about her safety. The treasure’s been nothing but a myth for decades, but the hunters are real. And if they think she knows something that would help them find it, they won’t hesitate to use force to get it out of her.”

Des nodded slowly. “You’ve got a point. And if she actuallyfindsit...”

“It won’t stay secret for long,” Beck finished grimly. “We’ve kept Silver Falls off the radar for decades. That treasure’s not just silver—it’s a beacon. The kind of find that would bring people in droves, poking around where they don’t belong.”

“And putting everyone here at risk,” Des said, his tone darkening.

Beck’s wolf growled softly in agreement, the protective instincts flaring at the thought of Irene in danger.

“I’m not letting anyone hurt her,” Beck said, his voice low and firm.

Des’s expression shifted, his mouth twitching into a faint smile. “You sound like a man with a personal stake in this.” Beck shot him a warning glare, but Des only chuckled. “Hey, I get it. She’s... unique.”

“She’s my fated mate, asshole, and you know it,” Beck admitted after a pause, his voice quiet but resolute.

Des blinked, and the grin widened. “Well, shit. That does explain a lot.”

“Doesn’t change the fact that she’s hiding something,” Beck said, his jaw tightening. “I don’t know what brought her here, what’s driving her to risk her life for a legend—but I’m going to find out. And I’m going to make damn sure she stays alive long enough to tell me.”

That evening, Beck followed Irene’s trail back toward the ridge she’d mentioned. He moved silently through the trees, his senses tuned to every sound, every shift in the air. Her scent lingered faintly on the breeze, drawing him onward like a thread woven into the fabric of the forest.

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