Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The loud rumble of a motorcycle reverberated through the sales floor, rattling the glass and the jingle bell over the doorway. Lila entered my shop shortly after the noise had retreated, with a leather jacket draped over one arm and a motorcycle helmet in the other.

I closed my eyes for a three count, as it was much easier to prevent visible emotion that way, then I opened them to face her.

"Boyfriend?" I asked with a smile that was unlikely to reflect in the rest of my face.

"It's complicated." She flushed but didn't explain further. Not that she needed to. I knew that exhaust note as well as I knew that scent of sage.

It was always complicated with Marcus Emery.

"Understood." I said with a nod, before she headed to the backroom to store her things. I sighed aloud, when every fear I'd had was indisputably confirmed.

I had a sinking feeling that she was going to get me mixed up with Alphas if I involved myself more deeply in her life, but somehow I'd been in denial that all the research she was doing could have been about… him .

But then… since when did Marcus Emery take permanent mates?

And who did the other scent signature belong to?

Mother had been okay with me hiring an assistant on the assumption that I was vetting a potential mate, particularly when she'd picked up on Lila's Alpha coded scents, but I had conveniently left out the fact that those scents weren't hers. If Mother realized that one of those signatures belonged to an Emery, I might not get to enjoy the easy relationship I had with Lila much longer.

I moistened my lips and closed my eyes.

Her complete ignorance to her species meant she likely hadn't reciprocated the mate pact. Nothing was ruined. Relax .

"Has it been busy today?" Her voice made me jump, and I was quick to disguise my startle.

"It always is on a weekend. I'm glad you're here now." Forced composure got me through that interaction.

Lila went straight into folding some disheveled clothing on the displays. I leaned back against the wall behind the cash register, and watched her cheerful movements.

How far do I want to stick my hand in this fire?