Chapter 173

Chapter 21: Theo “Everything okay?” Will asked.

I had shot out of bed in a panic when Ayla’s pain woke me up. I ended up knocking the clock off the nightstand as I searched for my phone, so Will was up with me now.

I nodded. “Yeah, she’s fine,” I told him. “Just tripped.”

I ran my hands over my face. I should have tried to get some more sleep, but I was wide awake. So, that wasn’t going to happen.

Especially since I could still feel the sting of Ayla’s injury. The pain wasn’t bad, but it was just another reminder that I wasn’t there with her.

I headed to the bathroom to take a cool shower. I might as well get back to the station to get this over with. When I got out, Will was on the phone with Beth and the kids. I had felt guilty about keeping my distance as long as I had, but that guilt lessened every time I heard him on the phone. He may have felt hurt, but when I thought about my complicated life and relationship, I couldn’t feel bad for not dragging him into it all. I just hoped that he would be able to go back to his life after this trip.

I got dressed and grabbed my wallet and keys as Will got off the phone.

“You get cleaned up. I’ll grab us something to eat,” I told him as I headed for the door.

There was a diner a few doors down from the hotel. I pulled up and went in to order something to go. I sat at the counter and grabbed a menu. A waitress came over with a bright smile and was entirely too perky for me to handle today.

“Hey, there,” she greeted me. “My name is Maddi. What can I get for you today?”

I gave her the food order, letting her know it was to go.

“Aw, that’s too bad,” she said. “You sure you don’t want this for here? I would love the company.”

“No, I would like this to go, please,” I said, trying to remain polite. “But you can bring me a cup of coffee while I wait.”

“Will do.”

She walked off, and I pulled my phone out, texting Ayla. I knew she was probably in class by now, so it was a pleasant surprise when she messaged me back right away. I messaged her back and our conversation continued. She told me about something else she discovered during her research into her family. Even through text, I could feel her excitement.

“So, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here before,” the waitress said as she leaned on the counter in front of me. “Are you passing through or sticking around?”

“Passing,” I grunted, not really interested in whatever small talk she was trying to make. There were other customers she could annoy “You know, I’d be happy to show you a good time while you’re here,” she said, her finger trailing along the back of my hand.

“Especially if you’re here for pleasure.”

A growl rumbled in my chest. I snapped my hand away, appalled that she would dare touch me.

“Oh, don’t be like that,” Maddi cooed.

“I’m spoken for.” I ground out, pointing to the mark I knew was plenty visible for her to see.

“Is she here?” Her hand rubbed along my forearm.

I stood up abruptly. My fists clenched as my aura began to fill the room.

“Maddi,” a familiar voice called sternly behind me. I turned to see Sheriff McCabe approaching. “Get back to work. Go check the Alpha’s order.”

Maddi’s eyes went wide, looking back at me. She shrank back, scurrying into the kitchen without another word. McCabe dropped into the stool beside me.

“My apologies, Alpha,” he said. “I hope you can forgive our town floozy. She has more libido than she does brains.”

“Sheriff,” I acknowledged. “I’ll let it go this time. If only because this town has been through enough. But she’s lucky my mate isn’t here.”

The sheriff chuckled. “Maybe Maddi would finally learn her lesson if she was. Crossing our Luna may not be the stupidest thing she’s done. but I would guess it would have the worst consequence.”

Maddi had come out carrying my order and a to–go cup of coffee. She shot McCabe a dirty look and aggressively set the paper cup in front of him. She gave me a tight smile as she set the bag on the counter.

“On the house, Alpha,” McCabe said. Maddi started to protest but was cut off. “It’s the least she can do for the disrespect.”

“Of course,” she replied shortly, escaping quickly back to the kitchen.

McCabe picked up his coffee and turned to me. “You heading to the station. Alpha?”

I nodded. “I have to swing by the hotel to pick up Will.”

“I’ll see you there,” he said as he walked out with me. “And again, sorry about Maddi. She likes attention. It’s gotten her in trouble more than once.”

“I don’t care what she does with a willing participant.” I said, “but she needs to learn to respect the mate bond. She may not understand it, but she should know better than to interfere with something that sacred.” I shook my head, reminding myself that hadn’t stopped me. “Hopefully she’ll get it when she finds her mate.”

McCabe’s eyes filled with sadness, and he looked back toward the diner.

“No, unfortunately, that wasn’t even enough for her,” he replied quietly I sighed heavily. “Maddi’s your mate?”

“Was,” he said strongly, straightening his shoulders. “We severed that bond a long time ago.”

“I’m sorry, man,” I said.

He nodded. “I’ll see you at the station.”

I watched McCabe get into his squad car and pull out. I glanced back into the diner. Maddi was watching McCabe drive off. The same dirty look on her face.