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It took every ounce of self-restraint for me not to bare my fangs at him and growl. “Let me through, Forest.”

Forest was nearly as tall as I was and a year younger, with a serious demeanor and unshakable focus. He wasn’t unlike the German shepherds he kept as working dogs at the station. “Thisisn’t any of your business. Now, you head back to your clubhouse and mind your business.”

That patronizing tone made me bare my teeth. “My mate’s involved, so it involves me,” I snarled.

“Yourmate?The woman from Georgia?”

“Is she hurt? Where is she?”

Forest glared at me. If he had his way, I’d still be in prison. I knew Forest had worked with the feds to try to pin down the deals going on through the garage. Ever since I’d been released, he’d kept a close eye on me and my clan, looking for any reason to put me behind bars again. He’d failed every time, but that didn’t stop him from trying. But Forest had been a Lakeview cop for a long time, and he knew not to get between a dragon and his mate.

He lifted the police tape and waved me beneath it. “Make it quick.”

I rushed past the cops and the firefighters, following my dragon’s senses directly to the ambulance parked halfway on the shoulder. The doors were open, and Harley was seated there, her legs dangling off the edge, a thin blanket wrapped around her shoulders. A medic stood next to her, scratching notes on a clipboard as she spoke to him.

The moment she saw me, her shoulders slumped in relief, and the corners of her lips pulled up into a tiny smile.

My dragon whined in relief. As I approached the ambulance, I sniffed the air for any trace of blood, but there was nothing. Just gas, burned rubber, and mud.

She reached for me. The medic glanced over and stepped away with a nod.

“Harley,” I whispered. I sat next to her in the back of the ambulance. The noise of the scene around us faded as my focus centered on her.

I brushed my fingers over her face, pushing the loose auburn locks behind her ears. She was pale, with a thin sheen of sweat on her face, but there were no bruises or wounds on her. I traced my fingers over her neck, her shoulders, then over the thin blanket to her hands. I felt her thrumming pulse, and it slowed when I touched her.

“I’m okay. Really.”

“I’m sorry. I should’ve been here. There should’ve been a clan member?—”

“Don’t apologize.” She squeezed my hand. “It’s no one’s fault. Well, no one’s except the person who did that.” She nodded toward the side of the road, where the white SUV was stuck to a tree. The front of the car was a little crumpled, and the airbags had deployed, but it could’ve been worse.

It could’ve been a hell of a lot worse.

“What happened?” I asked. “I heard you scream, and then the call cut off.”

“Got run off the road,” she said.

“Jesus.” Smoke burned on the back of my tongue as my dragon’s anger grew. “It must’ve been Sean. I should’ve known he wouldn’t give up—he’s probably been waiting for a chance to do something like this.” And when I saw him, I’d rip his head off. No questions asked.

“Steph…”

Forest approached with a scowl on his face. “Miss Founty, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need you to confirm the description of the other vehicle involved.”

“Right,” Harley said. “Sure, it was red, an older model, a two-seater. Beat up.”

A beat-up old red truck? The same truck I’d seen parked outside the clubhouse for years?

My blood began to boil under my skin.

Harley’s hand found my thigh and squeezed. She glanced at me, her gaze serious, as if to saylater.

“All right,” Forest said. “I’ve got my guys on it. In the meantime, the medical team said you’re in good shape. They’re happy to take you to the hospital if?—”

“No, no, I’m fine,” she said. “Just some whiplash. I need to get home. My son’s waiting for me.”

Forest raised his eyebrows at Harley, then at me. I managed to keep my fangs in my mouth. “You can have the tow truck take the rental to my shop.”

“Miss Founty,” Forest said, “Ace here runs a good body shop, but if you’re spending time together socially… Well, you have my card if you need anything.”