Page 22 of Beckett's Fate

“I was handling things.”

“Bullshit. But putting that aside, you’re not just taking random trails. It looks to me like you’re looking for something. Want to tell me what it is?”

“You seem to know so much, why don’t you tell me?” She’d deflated for a moment but then straightened her shoulders and looked him square in the eye. “If you must know, I’m from New Mexico. I left my pack.”

“Why?”

“Because I was ordered to mate with a wolf I had no interest in or attraction to. I didn’t trust my alpha not to force me, so I left,” she’d ended with a shrug of her shoulders.

“I don’t believe you.”

“It’s the truth.”

“Is it?” Beck had leaned towards her. To her credit, she hadn’t given ground. “I know most of the alphas in New Mexico, and none of them would pull a stunt like that. You’re hiding something.”

Irene’s lips had pressed into a thin line, her silence speaking volumes.

Beck had exhaled sharply, staring down into her. “If you don’t want me reaching out to the packs in New Mexico to check out your story, then you’d better start talking. Right now, you’re a danger to yourself and everyone else in Silver Falls.”

Her gaze had wavered, her hands balling into fists. “You can’t call them.”

“Why not?” Beck had pressed, his voice low and dangerous.

“Because it’ll put me in danger,” she’d said, her voice trembling slightly before she’d caught herself and straightened. “And you’re just going to have to trust me on that.”

Beck had stared at her. His wolf had growled in frustration, the primal urge to protect her warring with his need for answers. She was hiding something—something big—but the fear beneath her stubborn exterior was real. That much, he couldn’t ignore.

“Fine,” he’d said finally, his tone clipped. “But if you’re lying, I’ll find out. And if it puts my pack at risk, you’ll wish the hunters had finished you off.”

She hadn’t responded. She hadn’t had to. About that time, they’d arrived at the B&B and Ruby had rushed out to make sure Irene was all right, but her silence had been answer enough.

Beck rubbed a hand over his face, the memory of her words gnawing at him. Something didn’t add up. Irene’s fear was genuine, but her story didn’t fit with what he knew of the alphas in New Mexico. The idea of any of them forcing a bond on a pack member was absurd. But the possibility that Irene might be running from something—or someone else—wasn’t.

His wolf growled again, a low, simmering sound of frustration. Beck stood abruptly, pacing the room as his instincts clawed at him. He needed answers, but Irene was a fortress, her defenses impenetrable—at least for now.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. Desmond stepped inside, his sharp eyes narrowing as they landed on Beck.

“You look like you’ve been chewing nails,” Des said, his tone light but curious.

“Feel like it, too,” Beck muttered, motioning for him to come in. “What’s up?”

Des leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. “Heard about your little adventure in the woods. Ruby said you found Irene, but you’re still acting like a wolf on a chain. What’s going on?”

Beck hesitated, then shook his head. “Irene. She’s one of us…”

“Us as in a wolf-shifter?”

Beck nodded. “And she’s in trouble.”

“That much is obvious,” Des said dryly with a sly grin, and Beck growled, which only made Des chuckle. “What kind of trouble?”

“The kind that doesn’t make sense,” Beck admitted. “She’s running from something, but her story doesn’t add up. Says her alpha in New Mexico tried to force her into a pair bond.”

Des raised an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound like those alphas.”

“Exactly,” Beck said, his expression darkening. “And she doesn’t want me contacting them. Claims it’ll put her in danger.”

“That makes even less sense.” Des was quiet for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. “You think she’s lying?”

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