Page 30 of Sawyer

I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on, refusing to back down.

I wondered if he was foolish enough to challenge me here, in front of everyone.

For a moment, our eyes locked, a silent battle of wills. Garth’s gaze was cold, calculating, his lips curling into a sneer.

He was testing me, I could see it in the way his eyes narrowed, waiting for me to flinch, to show any sign of weakness.

But I didn’t. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

Then, to my surprise, his expression shifted. That sneer turned into a smug smile, one that made my blood boil.

“What am I doing here, wasting my time with you losers?” he drawled, loud enough for everyone to hear. “I’ve got a date with a certain handsome pet groomer.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. Casey. There was no way that could be true.

Garth had no genuine interest in him; this was just another one of his twisted games, a way to get under my skin.

And damn it, it was working. I realized I was already halfway out of my seat, anger bubbling up, threatening to spill over.

Benny, sensing the shift in my mood, tugged at the edge of my jacket, his small body trying to hold me back from doing something stupid.

I could feel my heart pounding, my hands curling into fists at my sides.

I wanted to lunge at Garth, to wipe that smug look off his face, but I knew that was exactly what he wanted.

Garth’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he watched me struggle to keep my cool.

He gave me a challenging stare, as if daring me to make a move. But then, just as quickly, he laughed—a low, mocking sound that grated on my nerves.

“See you around, Sawyer,” he said, his tone dripping with false sweetness.

Without another word, he turned and sauntered out of the hall, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.

I stood there, trembling with anger, my fists still clenched, trying to calm the storm inside me.

Benny pressed against my leg, his small body a comforting presence amidst the chaos of my thoughts.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Garth was playing a dangerous game, and I needed to be careful.

I couldn’t let him get to me like this.

But no matter how hard I tried to push it down, the thought of Casey with Garth gnawed at me, fueling the fire in my chest.

Benny looked up at me, his eyes wide and concerned.

I knelt down, running a hand through his fur, trying to find some calm in the simple, steady rhythm.

“It’s okay, bud,” I muttered, more to myself than to him. “We’ll handle this. I just need to keep my head on straight.”

But even as I said the words, I couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight was only the beginning.

Garth was a problem I couldn’t ignore any longer, and I needed to find a way to deal with him before things spiraled out of control.

Because if he really did go after Casey…

I shook my head, pushing the thought away. I couldn’t let myself go there, not yet.

First, I needed to make sure the pack was safe, to get through the night without any more incidents.