Page 110 of Pack Fever

My blood turns to ice. “Was it a silver SUV?”

He nods. “Do you know something about who could be responsible?” he demands.

I give him a fast rendition of us being chased the other night by a silver SUV in another state. The cop nods as if he’s storing the information away for the case.

I blink at him while Jasper’s peppering him with questions about what else witnesses saw. A cold dread washes over me, my gut churning with fear and terror.

“Who the fuck would do this?” I blurt out.

“Do you know anyone who might want to hurt them?” the officer asks, his gaze searching my face.

Nexus comes to mind.

“Maybe super obsessed fans?” the officer continues.

Jasper gives him a noncommittal response, then takes the time to provide our contact details, saying he’s ready to answer any questions he has about Danica and Reed, anything to find them. The officer admits the SUV had no number plate.

Meanwhile, I’m staring at the beaten-up sports car, ignoring the passersby honking, calling out my name, the flash of cameras going off. I don’t give a fuck about any of that, not when someone’s kidnapped my Omega and one of my best friends.

That silver SUV from back at her mom’s place ripples over my thoughts. And now I can’t ignore the obvious clues that we did have Nexus on our tails this whole time.

Danica

As consciousness slowly creeps back, the world around me seems to sway and spin, a disorienting tilt that makes my head throb with a dull ache. My eyes flutter open, only to be greeted by the dim, murky confines of a dingy room. The scant light filters through the cracks in the crudely boarded-up windows, casting shadows that dance across the peeling paint of the walls.

I’m on a cold, hard floor, the chill seeping into my bones. Panic surges as I realize my hands are bound behind my back, the sharp grip of plastic ties cutting into my wrists. My ankles are similarly restrained. Fear claws at my throat, urging me to scream, but I clamp down on the instinct, refusing to give in to despair or to let my captors know I’m awake. The last thing I remember is being dragged from the car and having something shot into my neck. It explains why it’s sore there.

Gathering my wits, I scan the room, my gaze skittering over the barren space until it lands on Reed. He’s a shadowy figure slumped in the corner, bound and motionless. A deep pang of fear thumps through me.

“Reed,” I call out in a hushed whisper, desperate for some sign of life from him. My heart pounds against my ribcage, each beat loud in my ears. I cast a wary glance toward the shut door, contemplating who exactly we’re dealing with.

Would Nexus go to such extremes? And why kidnap Reed as well?

If I can somehow manage to stand, to find something sharp to sever these ties, there might be a chance of escape. But I need Reed—awake, alert, and by my side.

When he doesn’t stir, his chin resting heavily on his chest, the sight of him so defeated, so vulnerable, twists something deep inside me.

“Hey, Reed,” I try again, more insistent this time, as I begin to inch my way across the grimy floor toward him on my ass. The rough surface scrapes against my skin, but I push through the discomfort, driven by the need to reach him, to wake him.

The last thing I remember before the darkness claimed me was the chaos of the crash and the menacing figures from the silver SUV descending upon us like doom. Now, here we are, captured and confined. What do they want with us?

As I draw closer, my resolve hardens. We’re in this together, but I’m not about to let it end here, not without a damn fight. My whole life, I’ve been told where to go, how to behave, and lived with fear. Well, I’d gone and broken so many rules by escaping Nexus’ capture, so I sure as hell am not going to stop now. Not after discovering how incredible life can be again, how I’ve found my extended family, how I crave these Alphas like I do oxygen.

“Reed, please,” I whisper a bit louder. “We need to get out of here.”

Reed’s groan of awakening cuts through the silence of the dimly lit room, his voice groggy and disoriented. “Danica, baby, don’t be shy. You know you want it,” he mumbles, his eyes still closed. He’s clearly still caught in the remnants of his dream. I can’t help but raise an eyebrow at his confused state, nudging him harder with my side to snap him back to reality.

He jolts awake, his eyes snapping open as he takes in our grim surroundings, the realization dawning on him that this is no dream. “W-Wait... this isn’t…” he stammers, a flush of embarrassment crossing his face.

“Sorry, this isn’t your fantasy,” I quip, slightly impressed that he’s dreaming of me now.

It takes him only a moment to shake off his hazy state, his expression turning serious as he assesses our predicament.

“Where the hell are we? And who were those asses who attacked us in the car?” he asks, his expression twisting with confusion and anger. He faces me. “Are you hurt?”

I shake my head, the discomfort of our situation pressing in on me. “I’m okay, but have no idea what’s going on,” I admit. “We need to get out before they come back for us.”

Reed wastes no time, shuffling against the wall to leverage himself up to his feet. He steadies himself before turning his attention to me. “I have a blade in my pants. I need you to grab it,” he instructs, his tone urgent.

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