“It is,” I said. “And I respect it.”
For a while, we stood there, the silence stretching comfortably between us. Around us, the market resumed its rhythm—vendors chatting, children laughing, the smell of baked bread wafting from the nearby bakery. But my focus stayed on that one thought, looping over and over:She didn’t ask for any of this.
Trinity’s outburst had been unnecessary, cruel even. She’d lashed out because she couldn’t control what she wanted, and I hated that Daphne had gotten caught in the crossfire. The look on her face when Trinity called her a “bitch” would stick with me for a long time—the shock, the flicker of hurt she tried to hide, the instinctive retreat. She didn’t deserve that.
“Trinity’s not going to let this go,” Oliver said after a moment, his voice cutting through my thoughts. “You know how she gets when she feels slighted.”
I let out a long breath. “Yeah. I’ll handle it.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Handle it how?”
“However I have to,” I replied, my jaw tightening. “But I don’t want Daphne dragged into it again. She didn’t sign up for this mess.”
Oliver’s gaze softened slightly. “She handled herself well, though. You saw the way she spoke up. Not many Omegas would’ve stood their ground like that in front of a crowd.”
I nodded. “Yeah, she’s tougher than she looks.”
The corner of Oliver’s mouth lifted. “Toughness we can work with. Fear, not so much.”
I huffed a laugh. “You’re already thinking about her as a potential pack member, aren’t you?”
He tilted his head, half-smiling. “You’re not?”
I didn’t answer. The truth was, the idea had crossed my mind more than once—though it was ridiculous. I barely knew her. Still, there was something instinctive about it. Something primal that stirred beneath my skin every time I looked at her. The thought of her joining us didn’t feel forced. It felt… right.
“I just think she deserves to be left alone until she decides otherwise,” I said at last. “She’s built something peaceful out there. If we push too hard, we’ll scare her off.”
Oliver nodded slowly. “Then we won’t push. We’ll tread carefully. Let her come to us.”
“Good,” I said, grateful that he understood. “Because if we mess this up, she’ll bolt—and I doubt she’s the kind of woman who gives second chances.”
For a while, neither of us spoke. The crowd thinned, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the cobblestones. I could still smell the lingering sweetness of Daphne’s herbs on my hands from where I’d bought that jar of blackberry jam. The scent was faint but grounding. I hadn’t realized until that moment how much her presence had imprinted itself on me—in her voice, her stubborn posture, the way she seemed to belong so completely to the earth she tended.
Oliver clapped a hand on my shoulder, snapping me from my thoughts. “Go home,” he said. “Cool off. I’ll talk to the others tonight. We’ll figure out what to do about Trinity.”
I nodded absently. “Yeah. Sounds good.”
As I walked toward my truck, I wasn’t thinking about Trinity. My thoughts were filled with Daphne—the way her eyes had caught the light, that guarded tone in her voice, the quietdefiance that lived in every movement she made. I wanted to understand her. To know what she was running from—or who.
The drive back toward the Henderson property was slow, the road winding between pines and wildflowers. The land was old here—peaceful, untouched in a way that made me feel like I was trespassing on something sacred. My new home was still half-wild, the cabin weathered and in need of repairs, but I saw potential. Not just for the land—for me too. Maybe this was the kind of place where I could breathe again.
When I passed the turnoff to Daphne’s cabin, I slowed instinctively. Her truck wasn’t visible from the road, but I could see the faint smoke from her chimney curling into the sky. She was home. The sight eased something tight in my chest.
I parked at my own property and sat there for a long moment, staring at the overgrown field stretching out before me. My hands rested on the steering wheel, fingers drumming lightly as I tried to steady my thoughts. I hadn’t planned on being drawn to anyone when I came here. I just wanted quiet. A reset. But somehow, the quiet had led me straight to her—and I wasn’t sure if that was fate or trouble.
Maybe both.
As the sun dipped below the treeline, I got out of the truck and stretched, the scent of fresh-cut pine still hanging faintly in the air from yesterday’s work. My muscles ached from the long day, but my mind was restless. I kept thinking about Wednesday morning, when I was supposed to stop by Daphne’s property for “agricultural advice.” I hadn’t expected her to agree when I asked, but the memory of her soft “Wednesday” replayed like a song I couldn’t forget.
I smiled to myself, kicking at a loose stone on the dirt path. “Wednesday, huh?” I murmured. “Guess I better bring good coffee.”
Because for some reason, the thought of disappointing her—of seeing that guarded expression turn cold again—bothered me more than I wanted to admit.
Chapter Seven
Daphne
Itook a deep breath as I sat at home, fiddling with the cup of coffee in my hands. Today had been a long and interesting day. My mind buzzed with the remnants of the market, of the chaos Trinity had stirred up, and most importantly, of Garrett…and the other Alpha…Oliver.
