Page 72 of Marigold Run

“After we mate Mari, Stanley has invited her over to meet his omega,” I say as the stack of freshly printed pages grows. “I think it’s important for her to have omega friends.”

“What’s Stan’s mate’s name again?” Hutch asks.

“Stefan.”

Hutch nods as if remembering it, then leans against the bookshelf. “That’s assuming Mari even wants to leave the house. She isn’t exactly social.”

“Maybe,” I shrug. “But we can suggest it.” The printer whirls to a stop and I grab the contract off of the tray. I flip it over, but I don’t recognize the first page. For some reason, it’s a map of Cresthill. “Where the fuck did this come from?”

I stare at the map, remembering that I printed the last file, but I don’t recall ever printing this.

Curiosity gets the better of him, and Hutch pushes away from the shelf to look as well. The second his eyes focus on the map, his big body goes tight and I can visibly see his abs flex under his tight shirt.

“What is it?” I ask, very aware of his sudden shift in emotion.

Hutch doesn't say anything, instead he pushes his hand into his back pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. He unfolds it, thenshows it to me. It’s the exact same map. “I found this in Mari’s room.”

It takes a moment for my brain to process what he’s said. “You found directions to Cresthill inMari’sroom?”

“It was hidden. Not on the floor like someone dropped it, but hidden.” Hutch’s jaw clenches as he slowly refolds the paper. “I’ve said it before, Izan.” He shoves the map back into his pocket. “Call it instinct or paranoia, but I think she wants to run.”

“Whendid you find that map?” I ask, trying like hell to keep my temper under control.

“A few days ago.” He hangs his head, ready for me to yell at him. “I know I should have told you.”

“Yes, you fucking should have,” I grit out, dropping the contract onto the nearby couch. “This is the kind of shit I really need to know.” I take a step back, then suck in a deep breath. I need to focus.Mari wants to run away.We have to fix this, but why? “This is unbelievable, Hutch.” I look up at the alpha, surprised to see so much guilt in his blue eyes. Hutch isn’t a liar. He’s honest and loyal. So the fact that he didn’t come straight to me with this map is more than a little concerning, but we all do weird things for love. Maybe he didn’t want me to think poorly of Mari. Who knows.

“I’ve been watching her very closely,” Hutch finally says. “If I thought she was serious about leaving, I would have told you.”

“Why?” I bark, struggling to keep my anger in check. “What the hell is in Cresthill?”

“Well, I’ve been thinking about something Dassy said back at Havenfield.” Hutch lifts his head, giving me a cautious look. One that’s asking permission if he’s allowed to speak.

“Go on,” I say, more concerned with Mari right now than yelling at him for keeping secrets.

“Dassy brought up the possibility that Mari was living in the woods so she could be with a lover.”

Every muscle in my body pulls tight at the thought of our girl lying with another alpha. I know she technically has—her body is littered with scars that prove it—but a body taken by force is very different from affection willingly given, and it’s Mari’s affection that I want to belong to only us.

“Maybe she’s trying to find her lover?” Hutch says with a half-hearted shrug.

I think that over, quickly dismissing it. “If she ran off with an alpha, he’d have marked her the second he had a chance. And he definitely wouldn't have left her in the woods to fend for herself.”

Hutch pushes out a heavy sigh, nodding. “I thought of that too, but it’s the only reason I could come up with. I mean, why would an omega that’s lived in an academy for two years suddenly want to go to Cresthill?”

I clench my jaw, suddenly feeling very restless. The thought of Mari frolicking with someone else, yearning for them, and then searching them out has me on edge. We can’t lose her.I won’t allow it.

“I’m not waiting for her heat,” I say, coming to a firm decision. “I know it could start soon, but I’m not going to risk her running away and us not being able to find her.”

Hutch lets out the longest breath of his life. “I think that’s a great idea,” he says. “Do you need any help?”

“No.” I scrub my face, hating that this is how it has to be. “I’m sure Mari will see this as a forced mating. Especially since it will be outside of her heat. I don’t want to damage your relationship with her. I’ll do it alone.”

Hutch’s shoulders tense once again, but I can see the relief in his eyes. Any other alpha would be enraged not to get to participate in a mating, but Hutch knows how rough this is goingto be. Mating an omega outside of her heat is painful. It can even be violent or dangerous.

“I’ll have Everly prepare your room.” Hutch takes out his phone, texting our beta. “Do you want something that will keep Mari still or restrained?”

“Yes,” I say bitterly. I hate the idea of tying my fiery omega down, but the last thing I want is for her to freak out and for me to accidentally rip her throat out.

---