Page 82 of Heat Hesitation

I grit my teeth, "I thought we agreed she wasn't to be left alone tonight?"

Theo and Asher both groan. "Man, you try telling her that. She gets all upset and uses that omega whimper and pout on me. Paired with Ophelia's logic, she has a point."

Asher adds, "I watched her walk to the hallway. The bathroom's right there. She should be back any sec—"

He pauses mid-sentence. Alpha pack bonds aren't as strong as those with their omega, but they are strong enough to feel his distress.

"What is it—"

I don't even finish the sentence before he turns and bolts toward the bathrooms. Asher's urgency is making my stomach twist, but I don't hesitate plowing through groups of people to follow just as quickly. When Asher reaches the bathroom, he slams his palms on the door, barging in.

"Ophelia! Ophelia!" He roars.

"What the fuck is happening?" I demand. Theo's banging on door stalls. Omegas start shrieking and screaming.

"Asher! She's not in here. I need you to calm the fuck down and tell me what is happening." A flashback to the first few weeks of Ophelia falling off the bridge, Asher's descent into chaos comes to the front of my mind.

His hands run through his hair like a madman. "Her bond. Something's wrong. She was annoyed, but she's always annoyed."

He darts out of the bathroom, hurrying down the long, dark corridor. "Then she got scared really fast, then the bond just…" he searches frantically, but there's nothing back here but empty push carts and a few tables stocked with supplies.

A tumultuous growl reverberates around us as Enzo barrels past. We follow him out a back door. There's nothing back here.

"Where is she!" Enzo shouts. He's near-feral; his dark eyes are nearly black beneath his glasses.

"Everyone just calm the fuck down," I growl. "She was inside, going to the bathroom. She got scared, and now her bond, what? Enzo? Someone tell me what the fuck is going on!"

I glance between my two bonded brothers. This is the point of the bond. To sense each other, to feel and prepare and care for our mates.

They both look on helplessly. "It's sluggish. Like she's sleeping, but that doesn't make sense."

"Like she was drugged." Enzo spits, storming inside. Theo darts around the building to search on foot. I tell Asher to go with him so we have at least one bonded to scent her while I follow Enzo.

I wanted our mating to be perfect. I tried to control every aspect, wanting her on her knees and begging for it, but I should have bonded her sooner. Hell, I should have done it before we left the house, with her blood seeping out of my bite mark on her neck and my come dripping down her legs. Maybe then this wouldn't have happened. I've always put her safety first. What the fuck is wrong with me? I've never felt such shame as I do at this moment.

She can't have been drugged, that just doesn't make any sense.

I catch up to Enzo, "Maybe we're overreacting. Maybe she's just…" It would be logical we were overreacting. She's a mercurial woman; she could just be hanging out back with her friends. So, we'll look around and find her and I'll spank her ass raw for scaring us when we do.

Enzo stops abruptly, changing course, and heads for the Bradfords. They're surrounded by two different packs, and Imogen, looking wholly uncomfortable between them.

"You." Enzo points to her, teeth snarling.

"M—me?" She shakes.

"Enzo, I don't think Imogen had anything to do with this."

"She's your friend. Did she tell you something? Where she was going?"

Imogen's shoulders stiffen, and she stands a little taller. "I don't know what you're talking about," she asserts.

"Ophelia. We think she's missing. Something might have happened. Did she tell you anything?"

"Oh my goodness!" Her hand comes to her mouth as she gasps. "Missing?"

The Bradfords rapid-fire questions, but Enzo throws his hands. "You're all fucking useless."

With that, he turns on his heel. I tell them, "Please call us immediately if you happen to see her."

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