“Yeah, you’re right,” Corbin concedes. “I’m ready to go home. I hate these things as much as the next person.”
“Feeling a little naked without all my weapons,” I mutter. I kept a few that weren’t found, but not for lack of groping me.
“This will all be over soon, I hope,” my boss says. “I can already feel the tide turning.”
Nodding at us, he steps out with Ambrose, while I turn toward the gardens to find Flynn and Wren. My eyes track Crowson on the phone in the corner, hands flailing wildly as he hisses at the person he’s speaking to. Everest and I stare at him until he glances over at us, and moves farther away.
“I feel like he’s up to something,” I mutter. Everest nods, growling under his breath, though having his agreement doesn’t help the disquiet I’m feeling. “Let’s find our omegas.”
Striding through the crowd, we ignore everyone else as we walk. Seeing Jasper, I start to relax as we get closer and spot Wren and Flynn laughing.
“Hey you two,” I murmur, smiling as they turn and grin at me. Moving toward me, they snuggle against me before remembering where we are. “Nah, fuck it. I want another hug. I’ll go back to guard duty in a second.”
Everest smirks as he makes certain his back is to the wall as he watches the room as I give my back to the crowd.
“Can we leave yet?” Flynn asks. “I think I’m done socializing for the next thirty years.”
Snorting a laugh, I shake my head ruefully. “Sorry, baby boy. We’re getting closer, though.”
Stepping away from me, I trade places with Everest so they can hug him.
“Anything happen while we were in there I need to know about?” I ask Jasper as Everest chats with Flynn and Wren.
“The usual omega bullshit. I swear, I almost cut an omega or two for speaking the way they did to Wren and Flynn,” Jas grunts. “A girl named Aisling actually threatened to gut an omega for us which was sweet.”
“So you all met Sullivan’s only child,” I murmur. “She was dealt a shit hand in life. She was in that apartment with her mother for three days before she called emergency services. Shortly after that, the landlord kicked her out for being unable to pay the following month’s rent.”
“Asshole,” Jas grumbles. “Aisling and Wren are apparently friends now, so I hope you like her, because they have business plans.”
“Yeah? What kind of plans?” I ask, brow raised. While the girl seems to have a solid head on her shoulders, I still want to know what she may be dragging my omega into.
“Services for displaced omegas essentially,” he explains. “They’ve both experienced what it’s like to have society fail them. I think it’s a good idea if they can get it off the ground.”
“I’m willing to see how Wren will let us help,” I tell him. At Jasper’s surprised look, I shrug. “Your sister is a stubborn omega. She’s been trying to figure out what kind of work she can do remotely, but this is perfect. Wren’s been mentioning all the services she wishes existed for omegas. Job placement, vocational services, things like that.”
“She knows she doesn’t have to work, though, right?” Jasper asks, keeping his voice low.
“Yep. Wren refuses to use our money,” I explain, chuckling at the disgruntled look he gives me. “Feel free to ask her, but she wants to make her own way.”
Taking a deep breath, he nods, forcing a small smile as Flynn and Everest pull Wren closer toward us.
“Time’s just about up on our break,” Everest says, making a face.
“Yeah, I bet it is,” I murmur as I watch some alphas walk back into the ballroom. “Let’s hope this gets wrapped up soon. I’m about ready to go home. Maybe pick up some late night pizza.”
“Fuck yeah,” Flynn groans. “Please, Daddy, can we?”
Jasper barks out a laugh as I smirk, pulling Flynn into a filthy kiss.
“What do you think, Wren?” I ask her as I come up for air. “Think we should get some pizza after this?”
“Please don’t kiss her like that in front of me, for fuck’s sake,” Jasper growls, making me chuckle.
“Pizza sounds good,” Wren says with a shy smile.
“Great,” Everest smirks. “Stay together, be good, we'll be back soon.”
It feels wrong to leave them in the gardens as we walk back inside the ballroom.