Page 23 of Shades of Scars

“No. Caito, one of my… uh, one of the alphas stepped in before they could do much damage.” I quickly correct myself before I go claiming those alphas as mine, and Kate quirks a brow. She never misses anything.

“And how exactly did he step in, Scarlett?” She presses, and it almost sounds like she knows something I don’t.

I turn my full attention on her as my brows furrow. “He stopped them.” I’m not about to go telling my roommate that one of my scent matched alphas murdered two men for attempting to assault me in the middle of the sidewalk about two blocks from our apartment.

“You should know,” Kate begins, tapping her nails against the knee of the leg she has tucked underneath her. “Jojo, one of my coworkers down at the diner, called me last night about some double murder that happened outside of her apartment building. It’s all over the news.”

My blood turns to ice in my veins. I toss the now empty Kabob stick I’d been holding with my good hand onto our coffee table, before I reach for my phone in the front pocket of the hoodie I’m still wearing from last night.

My fingers find it, but then they brush something else, and I pull both things out to examine them. “Son a bitch.” I mutter under my breath at the shiny key clutched in my palm.

“What?” She demands, and I growl, tossing the Mercedes key fob that Caito must’ve slipped to me last night during my moment of weakness, onto the coffee table with the Kabob stick.

Ignoring her, I scroll through social media until I find the news report Kate had been talking about. As I read it, I can practically feel all of the color drain out of my face. “Dammit.” I breathe out on a ragged sigh of air, my body trembling with a sudden spike of adrenaline-laced dread.

“What is it, Scar? You’re freaking me out? What happened to you last night?” Kate fires off questions to me, but I shake my head.

A loud knock sounds at the door then, jerking our attention towards it. After a second, a voice booms from the other side, making my heart stall in my chest. “BTV police. We’d like a word with the residents of this apartment.”

Kate sucks in a sharp breath and we trade looks with each other. Before she can get up to answer the door, I’m there, peering through the peep hole to make sure it isn’t some psychopath on the other side of the door.

Swallowing hard, I open the door to come face to face with two beefy looking officers in full uniform. “Hello. Can I help you gentlemen?” Somehow, I manage not to sound like I’m completely losing my fucking shit, even though I’m mentally having a complete meltdown. This is it. I’m about to be locked up in prison.

“My name’s Detective Peterson, and this is my partner, Detective Masters. We need to have a word with Miss Reighn.”

“I am Miss Reighn. May I ask what this is about?” Better to play stupid than straight up out myself as a witness to a violent crime. Well, a witnessanda victim.

Detective Peterson, the one that had spoken, peers at me up and down in a slow perusal that immediately makes my skin crawl. I can feel Kate hovering behind me, but I make sure Ikeep the door cracked just enough where they won’t realize she’s standing there.

Just in case they try anything fishy.

I have first hand knowledge of what a crooked officer of the law is capable of when their authority is challenged.

“May we come in for a quick chat, Miss Reighn? There are witnesses that put you at the scene of a crime that took place late yesterday afternoon. We just have a few questions, and then we’ll be out of your hair.”

I’m already shaking my head as soon as he finishes. “I’m sorry, Detective. I don’t feel comfortable with that for various reasons.” I tilt my chin up and watch his nostrils flare. He must realize that no omega would willingly invite strange alphas into her home.

His eyes narrow on the sling holding my arm close to my chest, and irritation turns his scent sour. So much like spoiled milk, that it makes me want to gag. “Listen, Miss Reighn. It would be in your best interest to cooperate with us. If you’re hiding information regarding a crime you were involved in, things could turn ugly for you. We are just trying to help-”

“You will not be doing anything without my omega’s lawyer present. Especially not in her house without her alphas, Detective.” A familiar voice booms out down the hall, and my entire body goes rigid when both officers turn to face the raging man marching towards them. Clearly on the warpath.

I peek out when they’re distracted to confirm it is, indeed, Wren Madden stalking down the hall like a predator that’s set his sights on his prey. “M-mr. Madden? We were unaware that Miss Reighn was your-”

Wren snarls, the sound echoing down the hall like a clap of thunder. He’s fuckingpissed. “It shouldn’t matter, Peterson. You will not be allowed to speak to my omega in her own home. Besides, it isn’t her hands covered in the blood of your assholepack mates, now is it? Now, tell me why you are really here, against proper protocol, I might add?”

A small gasp slips free from Kate and she finally shoves herself into the doorway with me, unwilling to miss out on the action. Masters chances a glance over at us now that Kate’s joined the party, but Wren’s warning growl snaps his wary eyes right back to the seriously pissed off viking god alpha taking up nearly all the space in the hallway, effectively blocking the only exit.

“Mr. Madden, she’s still a witness to a violent crime that needs to be investigated-” Peterson begins, but Wren’s eyes flash with anger, and he shuts right the hell up.

“Caito will meet the both of you down at the station with our lawyer. Once you’re finished with his interview, if you require further information, then I will consider allowing you to speak to my omega. Otherwise, get the fuck out of my sight before I’m forced to resort to violence all over again to protect my omega from outside threats.”

I can practically feel the indignant rage pouring off both alpha detectives as they face off with my vengeful mate, but I’m not foolish enough to step in. He has it all handled, and I’m happy to step back and let him work whatever magic he seems to have over the people in this godforsaken city.

“He is so fucking hot.” Kate leans in close enough to whisper that in my ear, and it takes all of my willpower not to turn around and gouge her eyeballs out for daring to look at the alpha that belongs to me. Stupid fucking omega hormones. It doesn’t matter that I can never allow myself to claim him. I don’t want her getting any ideas.

Instead, I bump her away from me with my good shoulder, and she giggles softly before stepping off.

Wisely, the two detectives don’t even glance over at us. “We will be in touch, Mr. Madden. Make sure she doesn’t leave townuntil this is all sorted.” Peterson hands over a business card to Wren, who just peels his lip back in a sneer, refusing to take it.

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