Page 53 of Faith and Fury

I CAN DO THIS, I insist.

Caleb glowers. “Not right now you can’t. It’s my fault—I shouldn’t have pushed you.”

My lip curls. I’M NOT A PUP.

Maverick whistles. “She’s got a point, boss.”

“Quiet,” Caleb snaps. “This has nothing to do with you.”

“Uh, RDF scout? Scouting expedition? Pretty sure that’s got something to do with me.”

“This isn’t a game!” Caleb snarls. Then he turns to me. “I know you want to find your mate—I want to find him, too—but not if it means sacrificing everything we’ve already worked for.”

I glare at him, trying to pick apart the desperation in his ocean-green eyes.

Finally, I type, I DON’T UNDERSTAND.

He slams his forearm against the car, towering over me.

“You, omega. You come first.” His glare deepens. “That’s a non-negotiable.”

Neither one of us moves. I’m painfully aware of how hot Caleb’s body is, pheromones rolling over me like sauna mist. For a second I think he’s about to scent-mark me, his pulse throbbing urgently—

Maverick clears his throat. “There’s a simple solution, you know.”

Caleb pulls away, making my inner omega cringe.

Maverick shrugs. “We don’t all go underground. You and Faith stake out the streets, and I’ll grab scent samples from below. I can even snap some photos if you want.”

The way he says it, it does sound simple, but I can already tell he’s making a lot of extra work for himself. Work he wouldn’t have to do if I wasn’t such a coward.

I start to type, THAT’S NOT NECESSARY, when Caleb grunts approvingly.

“You’ll need backup,” he says.

“Who, Jax?”

“No. I want him at headquarters while I’m gone.” Caleb considers. “Maybe a tech.”

Maverick snorts. “Someone who won’t fuck up the samples, you mean.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Uh-huh.”

Slowly, letter by letter, I delete my message. I might not like the way things are turning out, but if one thing’s become clear … it is necessary. I can’t even get halfway into the tunnels before I lose my head.

Maverick has been big enough to compromise. It’d be pretty embarrassing if I couldn’t do the same.

Instead I type, I’LL GET BETTER.

Both alphas seem confused. “Better?” Caleb asks.

I grit my teeth. STRONGER.

Maverick laughs. “Now there’s a scary thought.”

I shoot him a glare, clarifying, I’LL GET OVER THIS. GET UNDERGROUND.

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