Page 4 of Jesse (Pecan Pines #6)

Beck

It was ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. After calling Jackson and the festival security team, I still had no idea what to do next.

My mind spun, tangled between panic and the need to stay in control.

Why had it taken me so long to step away from the truck? To look around? To see if I could pick up any scent or clue?

Every time I tried to focus, I got that prickling sensation at the back of my neck, like someone was watching me.

It came and went quickly, leaving me second-guessing if it was real or just nerves.

Even when the feeling faded, my wolf told me to stay alert. I couldn’t tell if I was being paranoid or if someone or something was actually there.

The whole situation felt off, but what shook me most was how shaken I actually was.

I’d seen bodies before. With my brothers working as enforcers and the pack’s dangers always close, it was something I’d grown used to. Still, this felt different.

Maybe because it was my freezer, my truck, my responsibility. Or maybe because Preston was lying there, unconscious and vulnerable in a way shifters rarely appeared.

I didn’t want to leave him, even though my instincts screamed at me to do something more. Why had I made him come back?

To make marinade, of all things. For brisket. I clenched my fists, heat rising. That damn customer. Why did I let his comments get under my skin?

And to top it all off, the local sheriff’s deputies arrived first. Not Jackson. Not my brother.

Along with EMTs, they poked around the truck and asked me questions. I answered as best as I could, or at least enough to get them to stop pestering me.

I kept one eye on Preston. They checked him over, threw a blanket on him, and loaded him onto a stretcher. Then nothing.

“That’s it?” My voice came out louder than I intended.

One of them shot me a look. “He’s stable. Shifters heal fast.”

I almost growled. “That’s not the point. He’s unconscious! He?—”

The guy just walked away, clipboard in hand, like I hadn’t said anything. My wolf bristled.

People were staring. I could feel their eyes on me, whispers brushing against the edges of my hearing. Right. I wasn’t home. This wasn’t Silvercrest territory.

These weren’t my people. This was another pack. Another town.

Was that why Jackson hadn’t come? Had he needed to go to his alpha first? I hated that thought, but it made sense.

For a split second, I wanted to be back home. Back in Silvercrest, where things made sense and my brother would have been here already.

I almost laughed at the absurdity of it. I’d fought so hard to leave to prove I could do something on my own. And now? Now I just wanted someone else to take over.

The waiting was the worst. It was the only thing anyone seemed capable of telling me to do. Wait. Stay here. Sit tight.

My wolf hated it, restless, angry, and unsettled. It was all I could do not to snap at the next person who came too close.

Eventually, someone from Pecan Pines’ pack showed up. He was a tall, broad guy with a neutral expression and a calm voice. I didn’t catch his name.

Somehow, I ended up in a corridor, sitting on a bench that smelled faintly of cedar and old leather. Waiting. Again.

The building looked familiar, but it took me a minute to place it. The Pecan Pines pack house. Of course. I’d been here a few months ago for the regional pack summit.

Everything had seemed bigger then, more formal and imposing. Now it just felt claustrophobic.

Something pressed gently against my face. I blinked, realizing too late it wasn’t a trick of the light but a cup being offered. It nudged me again when I didn’t immediately take it.

I looked up, squinting against the bright overhead light. Warm brown eyes met mine, framed by dark lashes and faint creases that hinted at a life of practiced patience.

His wavy hair was neatly combed, except for one rebellious strand that fell over his forehead.

Broad shoulders and a muscular frame gave him the look of someone who could handle himself in any fight, and probably had.

It took a moment to place him. It was the guy who’d picked me and Preston up. My gaze flickered to his mouth, where the edges curved faintly, as if he’d caught me staring.

His lips quirked slightly, and for a split second, I thought I saw the shadow of a dimple on his cheek.

That smile looked vaguely familiar.

I took the water, mumbling, “Thanks… um…”

He gave a small smile. “Jesse.”

I nodded. Jesse turned and began pacing the corridor, pausing now and then to glance through the frosted window of a nearby door.

Trying to break the silence, I asked, “My friend. How is he?”

He stopped, turning to face me. “He’s fine,” he said, his voice low and steady. “Still resting, but he’s stable.”

Relief flooded through me. “Good,” I said, almost to myself.

Jesse nodded, leaning back against the wall. “Cooper and your brother are still inside. They’re still talking things through. Once they’re done?—”

The mention of Jackson snapped me out of my relief. I shot to my feet, the cup of water forgotten on the bench beside me.

“Jackson?” The word came out sharper than I intended.

Without waiting for a response, I stormed down the corridor and pushed through the door.

“What the hell, Jackson?” I barked, the words tumbling out in a rush. “Where were you? Why didn’t you come? I called?—”

I stopped short, my words catching in my throat as my gaze landed on Preston.

He lay on the bed, wrapped snugly in a blanket. His breathing was steady, and his cheeks had regained some color since earlier.

I exhaled, the anger deflating. “Is he... okay?” I asked, quieter now.

Jackson, standing by the bed, glanced at me and sighed. “Head injury,” he said. “He’s out cold but healing.”

I took a step closer, the tension easing slightly.

Cooper’s deep voice cut through the room. “Let him rest.” He gestured toward the door, his expression unreadable but firm. “We’ll talk outside.”

Reluctantly, I followed Jackson and Cooper back into the corridor. Jesse joined us, his arms folded, posture relaxed.

“It’s town protocol,” Cooper began, his tone even but edged with something I couldn’t quite place.

Cooper continued, “We can’t conduct pack business in town unless it’s unavoidable. The sheriff doesn’t want the pack’s issues spilling into their jurisdiction. That’s why we waited for one of our own to arrive before doing anything.”

I clenched my fists, barely keeping my frustration in check. My wolf growled in agreement, but I understood.

Pecan Pines was walking a fine line, keeping the peace between human and shifter communities. Jackson mentioned this before. Still, it didn’t make the waiting any easier.

Cooper nodded toward the hallway. “Let’s go over what happened.”

As we walked, I recounted the events, my voice steady despite the churning in my gut.

The corridor opened into a room that smelled faintly of antiseptic. Stainless steel counters lined the walls, and in the center was a long table with a sheet-covered body.

“This is Ethan,” Cooper said, motioning to the man standing near the table. “One of our healers.”

Ethan pulled back the sheet to reveal the body. A cold knot of dread tightened in my stomach when I recognized him. It was the same man I’d discovered in my truck.

Ethan glanced at Jesse, then back at me.

“Jesse’s initial assessment was correct.

The attacker was a shifter. The claw marks on the throat confirm it.

” His expression darkened. “The victim’s human though.

His matted hair, worn-out clothes, and dirty nails suggest he’s a drifter or homeless.

We won’t get much more from him since the sheriff will take over from here. ”

I swallowed hard, the reality sinking in. A shifter attack on a human. In Pecan Pines. This wasn’t going to end quietly.

“You need to go home, Beck. It’s not safe for you to stay here.” Jackson’s voice was firm, his arms crossed over his chest as he stared me down.

I bristled. “Go home? Are you serious? Someone just tried to kill Preston and left a body in my truck. My truck, Jackson.” My voice rose, and I didn’t care. “What makes you think I’d just run off now?”

“Because whoever did this is still out there,” Jackson shot back, his jaw tightening. “I’m not letting you be their next target.”

I forced myself to take a deep breath. “I’m not a kid anymore,” I said, quieter but no less firm. “And I’m not running away.”

Jackson rubbed a hand over his face, clearly trying to keep his temper in check.

“Aren’t there cameras around the festival? CCTVs or something? Can’t we use that to get some answers?” Jackson asked.

Jesse, leaning casually against the wall, straightened. “I’ll see what I can do about that.” His tone was calm, steady, like he had it all under control.

He caught my eye and gave a small nod, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. To my surprise, it was reassuring.

Ethan, still standing by the covered body, spoke up. “This pattern seems familiar,” he said thoughtfully. “I’ve seen reports about something similar before, on the Healer’s Circle.”

“The what?” I asked, my frustration momentarily giving way to curiosity.

“It’s an online network where pack healers share information,” Ethan explained. “In cases like this, we trade notes, compare wounds, patterns, and outcomes. There’s a precedent for this kind of attack. Whoever’s responsible usually strikes more than once before they move on. Two victims usually.”

Cooper’s frown deepened. “So there’s a chance they’re still here.”

“Which means,” Jackson cut in sharply, “we don’t need Beck sticking around to be next in line.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” I snapped, the heat rising in my chest again.

The body had been left in my truck, no one else’s. I took a step closer, locking eyes with Jackson.

I continued, “And I know the festival better than any of you. I’ve been here since it started. I know the vendors, the regulars, the routines. If something feels off, I’ll notice it before any of you do.”

Jackson opened his mouth to argue, but Jesse spoke first.

“He’s right.”

The room went quiet. Jackson glared at Jesse, but Jesse didn’t flinch. He looked at me with steady eyes.

“If Beck knows the festival that well, he’s an asset. He can spot what we’d miss,” Jesse pointed out.

Jesse’s words caught me off guard. Jackson had always treated me like I needed protecting, like I couldn’t handle myself. And here was this stranger siding with me.

Part of me wanted to feel grateful. Another part bristled at the idea of needing help. But my wolf stirred, restless, cautious, yet oddly encouraged.

This was my life. This was more than just a job or a hobby. It was my chance to stand on my own without leaning on my family or their name.

It was where I proved who I was, away from their shadow. If I lost that, if I was shut out from protecting what I’d built, then what was left?

I spoke quietly but with no less resolve. “I have to see this through.”

Cooper studied me for a long moment, then nodded. “Whoever did this might kill again. The best way to stop them is to work together.”

Jackson’s shoulders slumped, and I knew I’d won. But his next words still carried a warning. “Fine. But only if there’s protection for Beck.”

And just like that, I had a seat at the table.

Jesse straightened, shoulders broad and stance confident as he stepped forward. “I’ll take care of it,” he said simply.

All eyes shifted to him. Doubt crept in as I studied him carefully.

The casual set of his jaw and the almost lazy way he stood with his hands in his pockets made it seem like this was no big deal.

Did he really understand what he was volunteering for?

“You?” I blurted before I could stop myself.

Jesse raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth quirking up. “Me.”

I didn’t even try to hide my skepticism. “What makes you think you’re qualified for this?”

Before Jesse could answer, Cooper cut in. “Because I know he is. Jesse runs his own food truck in Pecan Pines. He knows the festival, knows how to blend in, and he’s one of my best. He’s perfect for this.”

I blinked. Jesse had a food truck? That bit of information made my brain stall for a moment.

“I’ll keep an eye on things,” Jesse said, his voice calm and measured. “Make sure you’re safe and watch for anything suspicious around the festival or your truck. We’ll work together to figure this out.”

He smiled then, an easy, confident smile that lit up his face, and there was that dimple, just like before.

It was annoyingly disarming. And suddenly, I knew exactly why it looked familiar.

“You!” I pointed at him, my voice rising with a mix of disbelief and irritation. “You’re the poacher!”

Jesse’s expression shifted, his smile freezing for a second before morphing into something that might have been sheepish, if not for the glint that lingered in his eyes.

“Poacher?” he repeated, his tone carefully neutral.

“Don’t play dumb,” I snapped. “You’re the one who tried to poach my customers yesterday. Talking trash about my food. Sound familiar?”

At least he had the decency to look a little guilty, his gaze flickering away for a second before meeting mine again.

Jackson’s eyes darted between us. “What the hell is going on here?”

I opened my mouth to explain, but then thought better of it.

Jackson already looked like he was barely tolerating me staying involved, and I wasn’t about to give him an excuse to change his mind.

“Nothing,” I said quickly, forcing a tight smile. “I just overheard him giving my food a bad review, that’s all. No big deal. We can work through it.”

Jackson didn’t look entirely convinced, but Cooper’s steady voice redirected the conversation.

“So the plan is Jesse will keep you safe while you can help keep an eye on other things,” Cooper said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Jackson sighed, clearly reluctant. “Fine. But if this gets too dangerous, Beck, I’m pulling you off. No arguments.”

I nodded, keeping my expression steady even though my wolf growled at the thought of being sidelined. “Understood.”

I didn’t trust Jesse. Not yet. But there was no denying he might be the edge I needed.

He knew this festival. He knew the pack. That made him useful, annoyingly so.

Trusting him, though? That was harder. The way he smiled, too easy and too sure, grated on me. But he’d stepped in for me when Jackson pushed back, and I couldn’t ignore that.

For now, I’d take the help, even if it came from someone I didn’t want to rely on.