The porch tilts beneath my feet, and I brace myself on the door frame, my mouth drying. “My assault?”
“Yes, sir.” Papers rustle on the other end of the line. “The incident that occurred on Harbor Road around midnight, according to the report.”
“Report?” The word comes out strangled. “I didn’t file a report.”
“No, sir. A Mr. Leif Sorensen did,” the detective continues matter-of-factly. “He provided partial license plate numbers and descriptions. When combined with traffic camera footage from the area, we were able to identify the perpetrators. He even gave us a hint as to where to look for them. Seems you’re not the only one they’ve harassed.”
My free hand grips the doorframe, splinters pricking my palm. Leif reported it. The quiet, reserved Omega who keeps to himself went to the police on my behalf.
“Mr. Masterson? Are you still there?”
“Yes.” I swallow hard, my throat clicking. “Sorry, I’m... surprised.”
“Mr. Sorensen indicated you might not have planned to report the incident yourself. He was correct in coming forward. These men had priors for similar assaults.”
The screen door opens behind me, and Emily steps out, coffee mug in hand. As she takes in my expression, her brows draw together, concern etching lines around her eyes.
“We’ll need you to come in and make a formal statement when you’re able,” Detective Merrin continues. “The sooner the better. These men werebragging about the attack on social media. They had video.”
My stomach twists at the thought of my humiliation circulating online and being used as another piece of evidence in the court of public opinion.
“The video actually works in your favor,” she adds, reading my silence. “It shows an unprovoked attack, which contradicts their initial claims of self-defense.”
“I can come in today,” I hear myself say, the words automatic as my thoughts whirl.
After arranging a time to meet, I end the call and lower the phone, staring at the blank screen.
Emily steps closer, the steam rising from her mug carrying the rich scent of coffee. “Who was that?”
I blink, pulling my focus back to her. “Pinecrest Police. They arrested the guys who jumped me last week.”
Her eyebrows lift in surprise. “What? How did they know?”
“Leif.” I shake my head in disbelief. “He filed a report. Gave them partial plate numbers, descriptions.”
Her mug pauses halfway to her lips. “Leif went to the police?”
“He told them he figured I wouldn’t report it myself.” The enormity of it hits me all at once. A virtual stranger stood up for me when I was ready to let it slide, to absorb the hit as I’ve done so many times before.
Emily sets her coffee on the porch railing and moves closer, her hand brushing my arm. “He was right, wasn’t he?”
“He was.” The thought of filing a report hadn’t even crossed my mind. After what happened at the docks, I didn’t think anyone would believe me.
“Then thank the stars he did.” She stays close, her hand lingering on my arm. “Sometimes strength isn’t about standing alone, Jared. It’s about letting someone stand beside you.”
Her words land with unexpected weight, cracking open a long-sealed ache inside me. All my life, I’ve equated needing help with weakness, with being “less than” the Alpha I’m supposed to be. But Emily never judges me. She just accepts me as I am.
Her phone rings from inside the house, breaking the moment.
“That’s Clint with an update on the project. I need to take it.”
Emily had taken the week off to nurse me backto health, leaving her second in command to handle things on the island.
I’m grateful for her care and trying hard not to let guilt creep in over her missing work because of me.
She squeezes my arm once before she releases me. “We’ll talk more later?”
“Yeah,” I say, grateful for the moment to collect myself.