Page 66 of The Case of the Missing Love Stone

Honey steps forward. “Not today, Beatrice.”

Mrs. Delaney rises anyway. “My niece came here because this town protects bonds. Now the stone is gone and she keeps showing up wherever trouble starts.”

She means me. A familiar grief stirs in my bones.

Wes steps beside me. “She’s assisting an active investigation.”

Mrs. Delaney laughs. “Or leading it away from herself.”

Before anyone can answer, a sharp whine cuts across the bakery.

Every omega in the room reacts, including me. I turn and find a young woman standing near the window tables. It’s Lena, at least I think that’s her name. She’s the same omega I noticed earlier this week. One hand is pressing against her chest while her alpha reaches toward her carefully.

“Lena, baby.”

She recoils like he’s threatened her. “Don’t.”

Confusion moves across his face. The beta rises slowly from his chair. “We aren’t leaving you.”

Her eyes fill instantly. “Yes, you are.”

“No, baby. No,” the beta pleads.

“You already did.” She sobs, the sound so gut-wrenching that nausea rolls through me.

The alpha goes pale. “Lena, what are you talking about?”

“I heard you.” Her voice breaks. The bond between them twists sharply against my awareness, wrong in the way a note played off-key is wrong.

The alpha takes a careful step forward, his voice steady and reassuring. “You didn’t hear anything. We were planning lunch.”

Lena’s breathing becomes ragged. “You told her.”

“Told who?”

“Her.” Lena points toward a confused woman standing near the pastry case. “You wanted her. You’ve wanted her for months.”

The omega at the pastry case gasps. “I’ve never spoken to your alpha.”

“You don’t have to lie anymore,” Lena says, voice trembling.

The beta moves slowly toward Lena, low and careful. “Lena, sweetheart, look at me.”

“No.” Tears spill down her cheeks. “You both decided already.”

“We didn’t.”

“You left me.”

“We’re right here.”

The pain behind my eyes spikes hard enough to make me grip the counter. Her pack’s loving intentions are being twisted into betrayal. Every reassurance they offer her is being read as proof of guilt. This doesn’t feel like a relationship problem but more like the bond isn’t showing her what’s real.

It’s going to crack under the pressure of her fear.

Roman sees it too, not the bond itself like I do but the rising panic. “Everyone, give them space.”

People hesitate.