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“Officer Ballard has a point,” Officer Parker says. “Police custody may be better, we could relocate Ms. Miller to a completely different area.”

“I’d like to stay here,” Liv says. “I have a life here that I don’t want to give up and a little sister who’s still going to school. I don’t want to uproot her life.”

“I also have state-of-the-art security systems installed,” I cut in. “She’s as safe as she can be.”

“But—“ Officer ballsack cuts in.

“I can give her round-the-clock 24/7 protection. I don’t think your department can offer that.”

“Good point,” Officer Parker says. “Well, then I’d say we should listen to what Ms. Miller wants here.”

Olivia sends me a smile that warms my heart.

They ask her a few more questions that she’s able to answer pretty easily and then we’re done. Not soon enough, by my standards, but I can be super impatient. The only thing I want to do is bring Olivia back to my place, wrap my arms around her, and make the rest of the world fall away for her.

“Alright, I think that’s all our questions for now,” Officer Parker says. “Thank you for your time.”

He takes out a card from his belt and slides it over to Olivia. “If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to call.”

She takes the card and nods.

“You guys are free to go,” The captain says, standing from the table.

Liv shoots up to her feet and tugs me along after her. When we make our way down a random hallway free of people, she turns around and practically throws herself into my arms.

“Whoa, you okay?”

“They wanted to take me away from you,” She whispers, her scent sour with stress.

“Well, they won’t,” I say, brushing my fingertips through her hair. “I promised, remember?”

She nods.

“Oh there you are,” Brandon calls from down the hall.

Liv’s body stiffens in my arms.

“It’s just Brandon,” I whisper. “You up for meeting him? I can send him away if you don’t want to.”

“I’m okay.”

The two of us turn to see Brandon and his fated mate Sadie coming down the hall.

“Hey Brandon, hey Sadie,” I say.

“Hey Olivia,” Brandon says. “This is my fated mate, Sadie.”

“We’re glad to see you up and about, how are you feeling?” Sadie asks Liv.

“Oh, I’m doing alright, thanks for asking,” she says with a smile, her defenses seeming to come down at Sadie’s comforting nature.

“Of course. I’m glad to see those clothes fit, you have everything you need right?”

“Sadie was the one who got those clothes for you,” I explain, nodding down to the outfit she’s wearing right now.

“Oh, thank you!” Liv says. “And yeah, Jax’s made sure that I’m good.”

“I’m glad,” Sadie says with a smile. “We should definitely hang out sometime, get away from the alpha pheromones and stuff.”