Stacey Espino by Evan's Victory Page A

fingers.
    “She had no car. We all went to work like we always do,” said Travis. “You never told one of us to stay behind.”
    Garret tore off his shirt. Evan had never seen his alpha so angry, not even when Matthew went missing. A male without his mate was a dangerous thing. “I don’t know where the fuck she is. Every single time she’s ventured off on her own, she’s gotten herself into trouble. Am I the only one who cares?”
    Evan’s natural inclination was to keep quiet, but he fought his beta nature and spoke up. “If she didn’t feel so disposable, she wouldn’t have left.”
    “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Garret barreled toward him so they were chest to chest. Evan had all his pack mates beat in the size department. He might follow orders, but Evan didn’t know fear. He stood his ground, staring his alpha straight in the eyes.
    “Don’t you remember telling her to keep your relationship a secret from the inspector? And what was that today? Letting that bitch lock arms with you? I swore I heard Cassidy’s heart tear down the middle.”
    “What are you talking about?” Garret lost some of his steam, his voice low.
    “She feels like shit and I don’t blame her. Even Patrick’s been eying the new girl.”
    “That’s bullshit! I never even spoke to the inspector. Maybe you’re the problem. You’re the one who wants Cassidy all to yourself,” said Patrick.
    The pack went silent as if some great taboo had been spoken.
    “I’m loyal to my pack,” Evan confirmed.
    “We all know what you’re feeling when we shift,” said Patrick. “Cassidy’s for all of us, not just you.”
    “Apparently I’m the only one committed to her.”
    Garret returned to his usual diplomatic self, taking control of the escalating situation. “I know you want me to mark her. I haven’t been stalling to see if I could find us a better catch, Evan. I’m terrified to scare her off when she finds out what we are. I don’t want to lose her.”
    “Is she even coming back?” asked Matthew. “Should we go find her?”
    “Give her another hour,” said Garret. “Then it’ll be nearing sunset, and we’ll have to start searching.”
    “You said no fur this week.” Evan remembered Garret’s warning to the pack well.
    “Cassidy comes first.”
     
    * * * *
     
    After hours of roaming through different stores, she couldn’t stall the inevitable any longer. She had to go home and face the music. Garret would be furious with her, but she didn’t care. He had explaining to do of his own. Choices needed to be made because she wouldn’t live her life wondering if her men would stray under the right circumstances.
    Corbin was confident that the flirty inspector would turn Garret and his miners against her. Fine. She just had to know where she stood.
    The drive back to Climax was much more foreboding as the sun set. The walls of trees lining the deserted stretch of endless road seemed to close in around her. As night settled in, so did her insecurities. She hoped to God she wasn’t abandoned. Being an orphan, she’d toughened herself during adulthood as a self-defense mechanism. But deep down Cassidy was still desperate for love, approval, acceptance. She’d thought she found her place in Climax, however unorthodox. To find out it might all have been lust rather than love soured her stomach. Surely her private time with Garret, Matthew, and Travis proved they had real feelings for her—at least she could hope. Since she hadn’t known love as a child, it was difficult for her to recognize the real thing.
    Part of her debated whether she should head to her house or the cabin she shared with the Gregor miners. They’d only come for her, so she followed the long road out to their isolated home. The final path through the trees was darker than she expected. No fire lit up the cabin. Were they even home? Had they all spent the night at the mine with the alluring Ms. Tanner? She clenched her jaw as she