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"Can you go over one more time about how you were shot?"

Emilie looked at the detective, her face void of absolutely anything and decided right then that she was done. For the last three days she had humored him but enough was enough.

"No."

Surprise registered across his face. "Excuse me?" he said.

She shook her head and looked to her lawyer. "I'm done." Both Detective Davis and her lawyer looked relieved. It had been their suggestion that she go along with Rose's questions but none of them had expected it to continue this long.

"Well, we certainly appreciate all your time and your patience Ms. Williams," Davis said.

Rose looked like he wanted to say something but there was nothing that he could do. She wasn't being held there and had only come back each day to ease suspicion for the local wolf pack. The last thing she wanted was for someone to begin snooping around shifters. Plus, they loaned her their detective and their lawyer. The least she could do was play nice.

Emilie was free to go and her case was now closed.

Dean had gotten tired of it all days ago and headed back. All he ever did was get pissy with Detective Rose anyway. They were there to not make waves and he was a cannonball in a silent lake. Emilie had told him to go. It wasn't like she couldn't handle it. Although not her idea of a good time, the trip did bring with it the closure that she needed.

And on the bright side, she got her car back.

She drove back home with a clear conscious knowing she had done the right thing.

She hoped that Carter would be at home when she arrived but knew it was probably unlikely. She wanted to get this "break" sorted out right away. Both her bear and Emilie had been feeling the separation from Carter. Neither of them liked it either. It was at night when she felt it the most. When she laid down and tried to shut down, he would pop into her head. How could someone mean so much in such a little amount of time?

Emilie lugged her suitcase inside and sighed. This here was home. She felt it in her bones.

There was a note on her fridge from Dean, he had stopped by to check on everything and said he would update Carter.

Em,

There is stew inside. Cynthia made it for you. She says to call when you are back in town. Roy says take your time. Between us, I think he's been enjoying having Cynthia subbing for you this past week. I haven't been able to contact Carter. As far as I can tell he hasn't been home in days.

Dean

Days?

Emilie frowned. If he wasn't home, where was he?

She got the stew out and onto the stove. Then she got a load of wash started. All was done on autopilot. Her mind was still hung up on Carter being gone. It changed things, made her confidence at this separation falter. Something about his vacancy didn't sit well with her. Her bear even less. The animal wanted to go hunting for him.

She decided to take a less aggressive approach. A text laying it all out for him. She spent all night composing it. It would inform him of her arrival back home, just as he requested. That she and Bobby parted mutually. Finally, it would explain how she had felt these last few days. How suggesting that they "take a break" made her feel a lack of trust. Emilie didn't say things just to hear herself talk. When she said she was coming home, she meant it. The fact that he doubted her sincerity had hurt.

The whole time she was writing the message, she hoped his truck would pull up. As it rounded ten o'clock, she knew it was time to send. He wouldn't be home that night.

So, I'm back. I couldn't help but notice that you are not at home. Dean tells me that you haven't been home for a while now. Is it horrible of me to hope it is because of Lee or another pack problem and not because you are doubting our relationship? You know, the one you put on hold?

Bobby and I are done. I'm sure if I had shown any kind of desire to begin something with him again, he would have tried. But like mine, his heart wasn't in it. Bobby had already begun moving on, just as I have.

I still don't understand completely why you thought we needed to put our relationship on hold while I handled everything. Although you said it was for my benefit, we both know that wasn't the case. For future reference, I can always handle my shit. So if you want to lay something on me, you will have to do a better job with the excuse.

These last few days have sucked. They could have been bearable had you been there. Every night I wanted to call you and talk things out. I could have used a laugh in amongst all the lies, but you weren't there. I know it was hard seeing that picture but some benefit of the doubt would have been nice. Separating yourself from the situation, from me, hurt. I came back here determined to prove you wrong but you aren't here either. I can’t fix this if you aren’t here.

My mind worries that this is the beginning of the end. Is it a sign that you aren't here? Are you trying to tell me something? Please let this just be unfortunate timing. Because I may be angry but I've already forgiven you for your idiocy. Just please get back to me so we can move forward.

That is, if that is what you still want.

When Emilie woke the next morning she had her response.

Or rather, no response.

His silence, in her mind, was stronger than any words he could have given her.

She checked her phone only once, because more was just torment. With no new messages staring her in the face, she put her phone down, rolled over and pulled the covers up and over her head.

Carter had started his new job in Andora a few days back. Last night he found the missing charger to his flashlight from Westlin. He had to get it back to them or get charged for it. Carter was driving through town and stopped at a red light when he saw her. Emilie was getting out of a car across the street outside of the library.

He watched her, his eyes taking her in. Everything in him stilled. She came back. Carter let out a laugh, his lips quirking up in a smile. For a week he had been all out of sorts from seeing that damn picture. Not talking to her had been a mistake, he knew that now. If he had kept contact she probably would have eased his mind. But he was impulsive by nature, something she wouldn't understand.

He raked a hand through his hair and glanced back at the light, still red.

Emilie was walking up the steps of the library when she turned and looked right at him. Carter's eyes crinkled at the sides and he lifted a hand to wave. There was a spot up a head he could pull off into. His hand didn't make it past the window. She wasn't smiling, wasn't anything. Emilie looked at him, her brows knitted, her jaw set. When she turned her head, he swore that there were tears in her eyes.

His hands tightened on the steering wheel. The car behind him honked. Carter jerked his head forward and saw the light had turned green. As he drove through the light, he looked again but Emilie had gone inside the library.

What the hell was with that look? He couldn't tell if she was angry or hurt. But she shouldn’t be either of those things. Emilie should have been running down the fucking street and jumping in his arms. They should be kissing right now, not whatever the hell this was.

Carter sped past the empty parking space fighting the urge to stop and go after her. He had to get to work. New job, he couldn't be late.

It wasn't until he was on his way out of town that he figured it out. He was such an idiot. So excited to see that she was back, he had overlooked the part where she hadn't told him. How long had it been? Emilie could have gotten back days ago and not told him. He asked her to call him when she got back in town and she hadn't.

That said it all, did it not?

Hell, maybe she wasn't going to work just then. Maybe she was resigning. Maybe she was only in town to get her stuff and head back to Bobby.

"Fuck," Carter snapped and pounded on the steering wheel.

He'd given her the perfect out. Pausing what they had only gave Bobby a chance to get in there and steal her. Carter knew he should have gone with her. He had tried but Miss Independent wanted to do it alone.

His phone was on the seat beside him. Carter grabbed it and made sure the volume was as high as it would go. Maybe now that he had spotted her she would call. Emilie had been outed, she might as well come clean.