The door closed behind him, and Leo was alone with the wolf alpha.
Theo didn’t waste time on preamble.
“The Reed witch.” He crossed to the bar and poured two fingers of whiskey into a glass. Didn’t offer Leo one. “She’s pack-adjacent. You know what that means.”
“I understand.” Leo stayed where he was, hands loose at his sides, posture deliberately non-threatening. Two alphas in close quarters, one of them issuing a warning. The wrong move could turn this very ugly very fast. “She’s under your protection.”
“She’s under my protection.” Theo turned, whiskey in hand, attention cold enough to freeze. “Avine loves her. Beck loves her—though he’s too much of an idiot to do anything about it. The whole damn pack loves her, because she’s Junie and that’s just what happens when she’s around.”
Leo said nothing. The beast was prowling now, agitated.
“You’ve been in town four days.” Theo took a slow sip of whiskey, watching Leo over the rim of the glass. “In that time, you’ve managed to ruin a suit, interrogate half our business owners, and spend an hour alone with Junie beneath her shop.”
“It was professional?—”
“Don’t.” Theo’s voice cut like a blade. “I can smell it on you, Castellan. Whatever’s happening between you two, it’s not professional. It’s not casual. And if you think I can’t recognize mate recognition when I see it, you’re an idiot.”
The words hit like a physical blow. Leo’s carefully constructed defenses cracked, just for a moment.
“I’m not—” He stopped. Started again.
Theo set his glass down with a sharp click. “I care about Junie. And I care about what happens when a powerful alpha rolls into town, recognizes a mate he claims to not want, and proceeds to fight his own instincts so hard, he does something stupid.”
“I wouldn’t?—”
“You’re already doing it.” Theo advanced, using his height to full advantage. They were nearly matched in size, but the wolf had the home advantage, the pack backing, the righteous fury of a man defending his people. “You went to her shop to investigate. You ended up in her private brewing space, seeing secrets she doesn’t share. You told her to forget about the suit because you couldn’t stand the thought of her worrying about money.”
Leo’s jaw clenched. “How do you?—”
“She told Avine. Avine told me. That’s how it works in a pack.” Theo’s smile was all teeth. “You might want to remember that. Nothing stays secret in Haven Shores.”
Silence stretched between them, heavy and charged. Two predators facing each other, measuring strength and will.
“What do you want from me, Vance?” Leo kept his voice steady by willpower alone. “A promise to stay away from her? Because I can tell you right now, that’s not going to work. Not while she’s a target for whoever’s behind Sable Acquisitions.”
“I want you to figure out what you’re doing before you do it.” Theo’s anger had banked slightly, replaced by understanding. “Junie doesn’t trust easily. She hides behind jokes and chaos because it’s safer than being vulnerable. If you’re going to pursue this—if you’re going to pursue her—you’d better be sure. Because if you hurt her…”
He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to.
“I’m not here to hurt anyone.” Leo met the wolf’s eyes squarely. “I’m here to do a job. Whatever else is happening—” He stopped, frustrated by his own inability to articulate something he barely understood. “I’m not my father.”
Recognition crossed Theo’s expression. Awareness of a man at war with himself.
“Your father was Marius Castellan.” It wasn’t a question. “I heard stories. Charismatic. Reckless. Trusted all the wrong people.”
“That’s a generous summary.”
“I’m not interested in the details. I’m interested in whether you’re the kind of man who learns from his father’s mistakes or the kind who repeats them.” Theo picked up his whiskey again, some of the tension draining from his shoulders. “Junie is chaos incarnate.” Theo’s smile was almost sympathetic. “She’s going to challenge everything you think you know about yourself. The question is whether you’re strong enough to let her.”
Leo didn’t have an answer for that. He wasn’t sure one existed.
Theo drained his whiskey and set the glass down with finality. “The investigation takes priority. Find out who’s behind Sable Acquisitions. Protect the businesses being targeted. We’ll work with you on that—you’ve earned it tonight.” He fixed Leo with one last hard stare. “But if you hurt her, Castellan, I’ll kill you myself. And I won’t be quick about it.”
“Understood.”
Theo nodded once, then headed for the door. He paused with his hand on the knob.
“For what it’s worth—and don’t ever tell her I said this—she’s been different since you showed up. Sharper. More alive.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what that means, and I’m not sure I want to find out. But it says volumes.”
