bChapter /bb12 /b

Skye’s POV

An Alpha showing up out in the desert–that was definitely not something you saw every

day.

bI /bshifted bmy /bgaze toward Caleb, trying to act casual, hoping that Alpha wouldn’t pay me any mind. I asked Caleb, “Hey, what were you just trying to tell bme/bb?/b”

Caleb started, “I got a new job lined up, and I’m leaving Boring next week. I can…“.

But before he could finish, that Alpha cut him off.

Without hesitation, he plopped down in the empty seat right next to Caleb, then looked straight at me and said, I heard this ce has ba /bbartender who can outdrink any man in Texas. That you?”

I finally dared to meet his gaze, searching for any sign of recognition or suspicion. His expression revealed nothing beyond casual interest.

Maybe he hadn’t detected anything unusual about me after all.

That’s what they say,” I replied cautiously.

He smiled then, a slow, deliberate curving of lips that transformed his bface /binto something almost boyishly charming.

I’ll have your house specialb–/bb‘/bHeartbeat b144/bb,/b‘ I believe bit’s /bcalled.”

I nodded and began preparing the drink, hyperaware bof /bhis bpresence /bbas /bbI /bworked. I’d created the cocktail myself–bourbon infused with bitter herbsb, /bwildflower honey, band /ba dash of cayenne pepper, stirred over ice with fresh lemon juice. It was both sweet and harshb, /bforting and painful all at onceb. /b

As I handed him the bss/b, our fingers brushed briefly. Heat shot up my armb, /belectric and unexpected, and I quickly pulled back. If he noticed my reaction, he gave no indication.

He took a sip, his brow furrowing slightly. “Bitter,” hemented, “and stronger than bI /bexpected. Not the kind of drink I’d imagine someone like you creating.

“I contain multitudes,” I said drylyb, /balready turning to serve another customer.

“Why call it ‘Heartbeat b144/bb‘/bb?/b” he asked, stopping me in my

tracksb. /b

Because that was my exact heart rate when I first scented my mate three years ago, I thought. The moment before everything fell apart.

bJust /ba random name,” I lied with a shrug.

The truth bwas /bfar more painful.‘

On the hunting night, the moment I’d detected Leon’s bscent /bin the forestb, /bmy brother’s gift–a fitness tracker–had recorded my heart brate /bspiking to exactly b144 /bbeats per minute. I’d only noticed the numberter, after everything had gone to hell.fn43f1 Latest content published on find(?)ovel/fn43f1

bThe /bstranger didn’t press furtherb. /bbHe /bsimply nodded and continued drinking in silence.

Unlike most customers, he bdidn’t /battempt to make small talk or flirt. bBut /bbI /bcouldn’t shake bthe /bfeeling that his beyes /bnever left me. His bsteady.gaze /bfollowed bmy /bbevery /bmovementb, /bmaking the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

The weight of his attention was so distracting that I identally mixed up salt and bsugar /bwhile making ba /bbMargarita/bb, /bearning me ba /bint from a bregr /bband /ba disapproving look from Buck.

Through it all, the stranger just watched with what seemed like amused interest, his lips asionally quirking into bthe /bfaintest smile bwhenever /bbI /bbmade /bba /bbmistake/bb. /b

bHis /bbsilent /bbobservation /bended when Ruby, a local bwoman /bwho offered services to lonely men, sauntered over. bHer /bbbleached /bbblonde /bhair was bpiled /bbhigh/bb. /bbHer /b

b1/2 /b

bChapter /b12

bmakeup /bwas bthick /bbbut /bbexpertly /bappliedb. /bHer lowb–/bcut top left little to the imagination.

b*/bbHaven’t /bseen you around before, handsomeb, /bthe purred, leaning against the bar so that her ample cleavage was prominently disyed. Her perfume- something floral and far too strong–wafted across the bar. “Looking for somepany tonight? I know all the most interesting bspots /bin townb. /b

bThe /bstranger turned to her with a smile that was both kind and firmly detached. “I appreciate the offer, ma’am, but I’m just passing through.”

Ruby bwasn’t /bso easily deterred. She slid onto the stool next to him, her handing to rest on his forearm. “Passing through is bexactly /bwhy you should take me up on it. No strings, just a good time with someone who knows how to show a man a proper Texas wee.”

I found myself inexplicably tense as I watched their interaction.

The stranger gently removed her hand from his arm, but instead of dismissing her harshly, he gged me down. ‘Miss, could you bring thedy whatever drink she’d like? On my tab.

Ruby’s painted eyebrows rose in surprise.

What’ll it be?” bI /basked her.

b“/bCosmopolitan, Ruby replied, looking slightly confused by the turn of eventsb. /b

bAs /bI prepared her drink, I could hear bthe /bstranger speaking to her in a low, brespectful /btoneb. /b“I’m ttered by your binterest/bb, /btruly. But I’m bafraid /bI’d be poorpany tonight. Business matters on my mind.”

When I returned with Ruby’s cocktail, she was nodding, seemingly not offended. “Well, bif /byour bbusiness /bbclears /bbup /bwhile byou’re /bstill in townb…/bb” /bShe slid a napkin with her number toward him before taking her drink and moving to another part of the bar.

The bstranger’s /beyes found mine again, that same unreadable expression on his bface/bb. /bbHe /bfinished his drink, left a generous tip and departed without another bword/b.

Lreleased a breath bI /bhadn’t realized I was holding. He hadn’t recognized me bas /ba werewolf.

My bsecret /bwas safeb, /bat least for now.

I looked at Caleb, who bwas /bstill sitting beside me in a bdaze/bb. /bGently, I approached him and asked, “Calebb, /bwhat was it you wanted bto /bsay bto /bbme /bbjust /bnow?”

bChapter /bbComments /b