Page 6 of When She Needs Them Most

“I was notcreepy stalking,” I snap indignantly. “I wasrespectfully watchingto make sure she’s okay.”

“Stalker,” Linc taunts with a laugh.

I have been known to hyperfixate on things, but those things are normally suspects. I’ve never stalked a woman before, and I’m not going to start now.

I’m simply being a good neighbor.

“We count on his obsessive tendencies. You don’t get to pick and choose when they’re convenient,” Arden says in his normal flat and disinterested tone.

I smirk.

Each of us has a unique skill set.

Linc wouldn’t like it if I started joking about his knife skills or his ability to dismember a body in Guinness World Record fashion.

Just like Arden wouldn’t like being called out for his cold, calculating mind or his ability to accurately profile nearly any suspect, based solely on their method of kill and a quick look at the scene.

We all ignore each other’s crazy.

That’s the deal.

They don’t get to pick on me now.

This is who I’ve always been.

“We’ve got plenty of takeout.” Linc glances between me and Arden. “Do you think we should take her something? If she’s new to town, she’ll have no way of knowing no one delivers out here past dark at this time of year.”

“If you do, be sure to remove your harness before you go.” Arden nods to Lincoln’s chest. “The last thing you want to do is scare the poor woman to death by showing up on her doorstep, armed to the teeth.”

Linc snorts. “I’ve only got my Glock. Oh, and I guess the Shield Plus in my boot. I just really need to see the chick that finally flipped his stalker switch.”

“Jesus Christ,” I growl. “I’m coming with you.”

Lincoln has even less tact than I do. Also, I don’t see myself sleeping a wink tonight unless I double-check that she’s safe.

Chapter Three

Chelsea

Being a mom is something I’ve always wanted. I’m lucky enough to have a stable career that I can do anywhere with an internet connection. Graphic design might not be my passion, but it keeps me afloat, and that’s what really matters.

I’ve gone through a lot of misery the last few months. Not that I regret my choices. Luna is the best gift I could ask for. It just hurts when I think about her dad, but I’m an adult. I shove those feelings down deep and keep trucking along.

There’s not much else I can do.

It’s unreal that I managed to get pregnant outside of a heat, while taking birth control. Okay, it may have been ineffective because of the antibiotics for my teeth, but even then, it shouldn’t have mattered because of the whole heat thing.

Unfortunately, my doctor pointed out that, in the last ten years or so, things have changed and even the medical professionals don’t know for certain why that is.

Their best guess is it’s an evolutionary counterbalance to suppressants. With them being widely available and so many omegas using them, it started to impact birth rates. I was also under the impression that evolution was a slow process that tookhundreds of years to catch up, but my doctor politely mentioned that the reality of the situation is they just don’t know at this point. It’s all educated guesses and assumptions, but the fact is, female omegas are conceiving outside of heats at much higher rates than they used to.

It would have been nice if society as a whole could have updated the masses about that. It also would’ve been nice if Luna’s dad didn’t go and die on me, but here we are.

I sigh, shaking my head to refocus my attention.

The house is incredible. Without the money Clark left, I never would’ve been able to get out of the city. Hell, I probably would have been saving up for another year or two just to be able to afford the first, last, and security deposit that was required to lock this place in.

I wasn’t able to make the drive up to see this house before I signed the rental agreement, but it’s in good shape. I knew coming into this that the interior was dated, but structurally, it’s sound.

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