“Yes, thanks to you. And you can pay for Zoe and Macey's fines,” I snap at him.

“I'm sure if you go down to the office and explain I'm your mate, the fines will be dropped,” he says, and I roll my eyes at him.

“Of course, they will be,” I spit at him. He laughs.

“You already knew that, though, didn't you? Officer Richards told me something very interesting last night,” he says, and my stomach drops. Richards said he wouldn't tell Valen about Valarian—at least not yet.

“Seems I am your mate when it benefits you?”

“Huh?”

“Youdidn'thappen to threaten Officer Richards by using my title?” He smiles, and I glare at him before his words register, because I had done that. Heat rushes over my face.

“Lapse in judgment,” I tell him.

“Oh, I don't mind. But if you want to use my title, I would rather it be because we share it and not just you throwing it around when you want to get out of trouble.”

“I'm sorry. I won't do it again. But I wasn't going to stand by and watch him take Casey from Zoe.”

“He wouldn't have; he's a good man.”

I roll my eyes at him and turn away, only for him to grip my wrist and turn me back to face him.

“Don't walk away from me, Everly. Are you trying to upset me?”

I don’t get a chance to answer before the restaurant door opens again. My stomach feels like it just dropped onto the floor as Beta Marcus walks in. He has his head down and is stuffing a set of keys into his back pocket, but it's definitely him.

“Had to park in the parents-with-strollers parking; no parking–” His words abruptly cut off when he looks up and stares directly at me. Shock crosses his features and his eyes go wide, then he tilts his head to the side. I pray he forgot me, but his following words prove he remembers exactly who I am.

Beta Marcus's face lights up and a smile splits his face as he begins walking over to us.

“I knew I heard that name before! Everly, it's me. You, remember me? Ah, it’s been so long. I sometimes wondered what happened to you. I thought you left the city,” he says, rushing over and enveloping me in a hug. Alpha Valen seems startled and pulls away, observing us closely.

“You must be mistaken,” I try to tell him, trying to get out of his firm grip when he sets me on my feet and holds me at arm's length. I feel my heart thumping into my chest, all feeling gone from my body.

“No, I never forget a face. A name yes, but a face... You really don't remember me? The train station? You asked to borrow a lighter, then I took you to the packhouse.”

I say nothing, trying to escape him and Valen, who is observing the scene playing out in front of him with a look of confusion on his face.

“We looked for you but couldn't find you. I even left a note with the security guards. Gosh, I can't believe it's really you,” Beta Marcus says.

“Wait, you two know each other?” Valen asks suddenly, and we look at him. I quickly shake my head. My heart is pounding in my chest, and I feel like I'm about to pass out.

“Yes, she's the rogue girl—the one from the train station. Remember we went looking for her?” Marcus briefly explains before turning back to me.

“So, where did you go? Have you been here all this time? You work here? Oh, and your son. What was his name… Valcon… Volcom… Gosh, her son has the freakiest eyes—like yours,” he says, gesturing to Valen before continuing excitedly, “The only person I've seen with the same eyes other than your father. So where is he?” he asks, looking around, utterly oblivious to my state of panic.

“Everly isn't a rogue whore; she hasn't got a son,” Valen says, and Marcus looks at him, then groans, holding his hands out.

“How do you not remember? I bitched you out for days about tossing her and her kid out!”

“And what train station? I'm lost. What is going on here?” Valen demands, looking between both of us. Marcus sighs.

“Everly, the rogue girl you chucked out of the packhouse, remember? Years ago. We went looking for her at the train station. We left her car seat with the train guards, remember?” Marcus says.

I just want him to shut his mouth. At this point in the conversation, we have the entire restaurant's attention and Valen is staring at me like it's the first time he's met me.

“You were at the packhouse?” Valen asks, shaking his head. He seems confused for a moment before his head suddenly snaps up and a look of anger crosses his features; his top lip pulls over his teeth as he snarls at me, his eyes narrowed.