Page 84 of Heat Hesitation

He wants to argue but nods and sits back down. Never have I been happier with my brother's dalliances in light hacking.

It takes us ten minutes to confirm she's not in the pool house. It looks abandoned, with dust along every inch of the shelving. There's no bed, no bedroom, just a few couches and chairs that look like they're used by the occasional rebel omega who sneaks out of the main mansion to smoke or fool around. I allow a moment of disgust that the Olcenes thought taking their omega here for the first time was good enough.

When I get back to the security room, Enzo is in the zone. All his energy and focus are directed inward. He doesn't notice or acknowledge anyone around him, so I check in with Theo and Asher, who are just arriving at the Olcene estate.

Ten minutes turn to twenty, turn to thirty. They've now had her for over an hour. Fear grips me. The very thing that held Ophelia away from us for so long, the worry that we were just another hyper-aggressive alpha pack, feral and unhinged, has come to fruition in an even bigger nightmare, by the same pack that instilled that fear in the first place.

Another hour passes. The police come and go. The betas work diligently beside us, making calls and interviewing guests. The gala—I'd forgotten all about it—ends in a whirlwind, with guests clamoring to find out what's happened. Fletcher and another guard make announcements.

I can't think of what might be happening or what they could be doing to her. I don't want to interrupt Enzo to ask how his bond feels. As soon as we get her back, I'm bonding her to me.

It'll be okay, I keep telling myself. It'll be fine.

"I've got something." The words take a second to register.

"What? What is it? You found her?"

"I found a second property in their name. They hid it from their financials under a pseudonym."

Enzo looks vulnerable as he looks up at me. Scared. The visual sends chills down my spine, it's so out of place. Gone is my disinterested brother, in his place this flesh-and-blood man who's lost his mate.

Temporarily. "Let's go."

On my way out the door, Fletcher says she'll share the location with the police, who are still out amongst the crowd gathering information. I don't bother responding. Asher and Theo returned over an hour ago, so we all pile into the SUV.

The property is north of High Hills, even deeper into the mountains. The thought that they have such a hidden place is disturbing and promising. Half an hour later, the SUV bounces down a narrow dirt road, the only light from our car in the otherwise darkened forest.

When we're a few yards out from the final location ping, Enzo hits the headlights, immersing us in darkness and silence. I send out a couple of backup texts.

He turns off the car, leaving it on the quiet road, and we sneak out into the night. Until we come upon a cabin in the woods lit up with chaos.

Chapter 34

Ophelia

Why can't I move my mouth? Wait, that's not right. I stretch it open with effort, but it's slow and gummy, like my jaw muscles are filled with sand and glue.

My brain feels foggy. It takes a second, like climbing out of quicksand. Taking stock of my body, everything feels slow and sticky, even my eyelids, but eventually, they open.

Jackson comes into view first. Dave and… now I can't think of his name… and the other one… everything is still too slow.

"What happened?" I croak. "Water, I need water."

To my surprise, Jackson snaps his fingers, and one of the alphas scurries off.

"Where am I? What happened?" It's coming back in pieces. Bridgette… She was wearing a green dress. She said… something. I can't remember. Then the Olcenes were there.

I check my bond. It's like coming back online after a reboot, a little slow and sluggish. Disjointed. It's not like that when I wake up from sleep. Then I remember, "You drugged me."

Jackson's face is grim. He looks terrible—haunted, gaunt, tired, heavy gray bags beneath his eyes.

"Alma—"

"I'm not Alma. Alma's dead. Remember?" I shouldn't poke the unhinged psychopath, but I can't help it.

Jackson sighs, dragging a chair next to the couch I'm sitting on. Half-sitting, half-lying, as it takes a lot of effort to rearrange my body. At least I'm not restrained. My bond within lights up slowly, but I can feel Asher and Enzo. They're frantic and searching. They respond, but it's fuzzy. They know I'm alive; that's about it.

"How could I forget? It's all I think about. All day. Everyday."

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