Page 45 of Shades of Scars

27

Caito

I’d rather be anywhere else than where I am now, escorting my omega up to our lawyer’s private offices so those prick head detectives can interrogate her. Carson had assured me yesterday when I’d spoken with him that this was just something they needed to make a report on, and then the case can be moved forward to be dismissed. A simple act of self defense. An alpha defending their omega from an attack. I went into a blood lust rage when she’d been hurt.

It’s enough to stand.

I absolutely fucking hate that my omega has to stress about this to begin with.

She starts to fidget the moment we step foot in the elevator. I smooth a hand down her back, stepping into her so she can lean her body against me and soak in all the comfort she needs from me. I don’t bother to remind her again that she has no reason to fret. I will show her my undying devotion through my actions, not my words.

If those assholes so much as look at her wrong…

Scarlett makes a small sound in the back of her throat once we reach the top floor, and the doors slide open. Carson is already waiting for us, and he wisely keeps his eyes off my omega, instead looking directly at me. “Peterson is here.” Hedoesn’t need to warn me, but the heads up is appreciated. I don’t fucking care if Peterson is here, as long as he sticks to our deal.

Masters will be performing the interview.

Bending forward, my lips brush my omega’s cheek, the contact making a shiver race down her spine where I still have a hand firmly pressed. Fuck, I love the way she reacts to me. “Remember,mo chroí. You are fearless. Let’s go show them who’s boss.”

I catch the barest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her luscious lips, but she doesn’t let it slip to Carson. It makes me feel some sort of way that she never shows those sorts of emotions around anyone else. Almost like she saves them just for us.

She doesn’t respond to me, but I dip my chin to Carson anyway. He stuffs his hands into his pockets before he turns to lead us through the maze of hallways, until we stop outside of an unassuming conference room. Good. He chose one without windows.

He pushes into the room first, and I stay plastered to Scarlett’s side so we step in together. I’m suddenly thankful that she took a scent suppressant before we left when Peterson’s beady eyes narrowed in on her. I really don’t fucking like the way he’s currently looking at her, but I keep my thoughts to myself while I pull out a chair for my omega across the table from the two detectives.

Masters, at least, has enough common sense to keep his gaze trained on me. For now.

Once I am settled in the seat to her right, and Carson on my other side, the more timid detective finally offers Scarlett a polite smile. One innocuous enough that I don’t feel it necessary to rip his lips off for. “We appreciate you taking the time to meet with us, Miss Reighn. I understand it’s been a trying week for you, so I will try to keep this brief.”

Masters darts a quick glance towards his partner, but Peterson keeps his lips shut. Scarlett just dips her chin in acknowledgment. He clears his throat before he starts in with his first question. “Can you please state your first impression of the two alphas in question before the attack occurred?”

A muscle in her jaw flexes. “You want the honest truth? I knew they were trouble the moment I spotted them.” She shrugs, and that makes Peterson shift in his chair. I level a stare on him powerful enough that he blessedly keeps his opinions to himself. It doesn’t fucking matter that the two pricks that attacked my omega were apart of his pack. He’ll do well to keep his fucking mouth shut during this interview if he knows what’s good for him.

Masters scribbles something on the legal pad he has placed on the table in front of him. “Do you think you can help me understand what could have triggered them to attack? It is from my understanding that these individuals were not usually prone to violent outbursts like the crime in question.”

I grit my teeth, the hand I have splayed across my thigh beneath the table curling into a fist. Scarlett snorts. “Does it look like I am privy to the inner workings of every alpha I’ve ever come across? I just assume it’s because I’m an omega. Perhaps my scent might’ve played a part. Am I supposed to be some sort of alpha mind reader?” My fingers brush up her spine in a soothing gesture. Just a subtle hint to let her know I’m still here.

Masters nods, scribbling away at his pad of paper. “Pardon the possibly intrusive question, Miss Reighn, but I can’t help but notice your lack of scent now. Are you on a suppressant? Is that something you use often when out in public?”

“Explain relevance to the case in question, detective.” Carson cuts in before I can quite possibly launch myself across the table to choke the little fucker out for being so damn bold as to tryto scent my omega. I have to bite down on my tongue to keep myself from snarling.

The fucker Peterson notices and curls his lip at me in a smirk.

“I want to know why a bonded omega is bothering with a scent suppressant now, but she hadn’t the day of her attack. If her story is to be believed, the victims attacked her based on some sort of scent frenzy.” Of course the asshole just can’t help himself.

Masters glowers over at his partner, but I sit back and allow Carson to handle this first infraction. “One more word out of you, detective, and I will have you removed from this interview. You are to be seen, not heard. That was what was agreed upon.”

Peterson’s jaw clenches so hard, I’m sure his teeth are going to ache later from the pressure. Now, it’s my turn to smirk at him when our gazes meet again.

“I don’t mind answering your questions, detective. However, let me just set one thing straight before we continue with this interview.” Scarlett begins, leaning forward so she can peg Peterson—not Masters—with a stare hard enough to make the weakest of men shudder in response. “I may have a mark on my skin, but I amnotbonded. I’ve taken a suppressant now because I am in the presence of alphas I do not call my own. That day, I’d been on my way to meet with myscent matchedalphas, therefore I hadn’t thought it wise to take one when it would’ve just worn off around them, anyway.” The way she emphasizes the wordsscent matchedmake my cock stir to life in my jeans.

It also doesn’t help that she’d referred to us asheralphas…

“Apologies, Miss Reighn. My partner will not speak out of turn again. This interview isn’t about that.” His attention dips to the mottled mark on her shoulder where it’s visible with the simple purple sundress she wears, her arm secured with the sling she’ll still need for another week or two. “This little chat is just a formality so that we may move forward with the case.”

Scarlett finally peels her eyes away from Peterson to focus her attention back on Masters. “I stand by my alphas telling of events. When I happened upon them, they attacked me. If Caito hadn’t shown up, I firmly believe they would’ve taken me somewhere to finish what they’d started there on the street. I might not know the inner workings of every alpha I come across, but I knew their type. Make sure you add that into your little report.” She taps a long fingernail against the table before she leans back in the chair again.

I can’t help myself. A purr kicks up in my chest when I lean in to brush my lips against her temple. That makes Peterson snarl, pushing up to his feet and making the legs of the chair scrape against the wood floors beneath. I don’t bother to look at him as he storms out of the conference room, leaving us alone with Masters and Carson.

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