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He hurls down his folio, pointing at me. “I know that you’re behind this. I am going to fucking kill you, Rhett.”

“Threats to kill in front of a Sheriff. Not smart,” I drawl.

The Sheriff drops his clipboard, snapping his handcuffs off his belt.

Devlin glances around at him, startled. “I was only joking.”

“Well, I ain’t.” Sternly, the Sheriff jumps off the step and grabs Devlin by the scruff of the neck.

Devlin struggles, and his hat is knocked off into the dirt. I smirk when the Sheriff deliberately grinds his heel into it.

Several people in the crowd laugh.

Unlike Devlin, who does nothing but abuse his wealth and influence, I have worked in this town long enough to make true friends.

They include the Sheriff.

“Watch.” I tighten my hold on Paige. “This is our courting gift to you. You deserve to witness this along with the rest of the town.”

“Are you crazy?” Devlin demands, as his arms are dragged behind him and fixed in cuffs. He howls in pain. Yep, cracked ribs. “Have you forgotten who I am? Who my dad is?”

“How could anyone?” The Sheriff mutters.

Devlin twists to glare at the Sheriff. “My dad will have your badge for this. No one humiliates our pack.”

“You’re doing a good job of humiliating yourself, boy.”

Members of the growing crowd chuckle.

Seeing my style of karma find Devlin, the wealthy rancher who swaggers around and bullies not only his staff but workers in shops, businesses, and anyone unlucky enough to be on a committee or board with him, will make their year.

Can I count it as serving my community?

“Release me.” Devlin’s face is flushed. His eyes glitter with tears. “You don’t get what’s happening. I’m the victim. Look at me. I’m the one who is covered in bruises. Are you a fool?”

“Since I’m the one who is about to haul your ass to jail, that’s not the sort of question I’d be asking.” The Sheriff unhurriedly checks the cuffs. “What I know, and there are a hell of a lot of witnesses to the fact, is that you just threatened to kill a man in front of me.”

The nearby Alphas and Betas nod eagerly.

Devlin looks around, as if wishing for the first time that he’d made more friends in the town. “But she shouldn’t have been allowed to bid. She is my Omega. She belongs to me.”

His words hang, poisoning the air. He can’t take them back; too many people have heard them.

“She isn’t yours,” the Sheriff growls. “No Omega belongs to an Alpha, and no Alpha can force himself on one. From now on, I’ll make damn sure that you don’t go near her, follow her, or go within miles of her Acorn Inn.”

“How are you going to do that?” Devlin jerks against the Sheriff’s hold. “It’s a business. And my dad owns⁠—”

“Because your ass will be in jail.”

“I’ll be out by sunset.”

“Maybe.” The Sheriff catches my eye, and I give him a sharp smile. “But you’re also wanted on an arson case. And the state boys are asking after you about a plane crash. Know anything about that?”

Devlin becomes ashen, and his shoulders sag, defeated. “I ain’t s-s-saying another word.”

“Thought so.”

Paige turns in my arms, her eyes gleaming with tears. “Thank you.”