Page 33 of Claimed By the Band

I roll my eyes so hard it's a wonder they don't fall out of my head. This guy probably gets high off his own musk.

My phone buzzes, startling me out of my disgusted fascination. Maria's name flashes across the screen.

Finally.

She's an omega who works for the state lab, and she's been willing to help me with a few cases in the past, considering she's sympathetic to the cause.

"Hey," I answer, keeping my voice low and gruff. I'm already grabbing my things, moving to the deck seating outside since it's empty and affords more privacy. "Any luck?"

"Hello to you too, Echo," Maria says, amusement coloring her tone. "I've got an update on that gas sample you asked about."

My heart rate kicks up a notch. "Really? That was fast."

"Well, I am the best," she teases. "I was able to pull the report. I'll send it over to your secure email in a few minutes."

Relief washes over me. "Maria, you're a lifesaver. Seriously. Thank you."

"Don't mention it," she says. "Though I have to admit, I'm curious. This isn't your usual kind of case. Pretty high profile."

I hesitate, choosing my words carefully. "Yeah, well. First time for everything, right?"

"Mm-hmm," Maria hums, clearly not buying it. "And it has nothing to do with a certain high-profile omega who was attacked recently?"

Shit. I should've known she'd put it together. "I can't really talk about it," I hedge.

"Of course not," she says. "Just... be careful, Echo. Whatever you're mixed up in, it sounds dangerous."

A lump forms in my throat. It's been so long since anyone's expressed genuine concern for my wellbeing. "I will," I promise. "And hey, one more thing. If I manage to get my hands on another sample, would you be able to tell if it came from the same lab?"

There's a pause on the other end of the line. "Potentially," Maria says slowly. "Depending on the integrity of the sample. Why?"

"Just covering all my bases," I say, trying to keep my tone light. "Nothing concrete yet, but I might have something for you soon."

"Alright," she says, and I can practically hear her frown. "Whatever's going on, I hope you stick it to the bastards. I happen to like Wild Honey, and I'm gonna be pissed if my concert tickets get refunded."

"I'll do my best," I say with a chuckle.

We say our goodbyes, and I hang up, feeling oddly off-balance. Even if Maria only knows me as a disembodied voice and a fake name, she's still the closest thing I have to a friend.

And that's fucking pathetic, considering we'll probably never even meet.

Meeting Wild Honey at that bar the other day was a rare reminder of exactly how far my life is from that of a typical omega. Seeing Asher surrounded by pack, by alphas who would do anything to protect him…

Jealousy isn't the right word. Not by a long shot.

More like… curiosity.

I'm not the kind of person who lets myself get caught up in melancholy and what might have been, but I'm also not the kind of person who gets close enough to anyone to trigger those impulses.

Looking at his pack, I can't help but wonder… what would my life have been like if I'd been born into a normal family instead of a fucking cult?

If I'd had the chance to actually develop into a regular person rather than living my whole life on a hair trigger looking for a chance to escape?

The moment that chance came, I hit the ground running and I haven't stopped since. Even now, a thousand miles away from the prison I once called home, it feels too dangerous to stop. To look back.

Or forward.

Sometimes it feels like I'm on an island all to myself while the whole world continues on around me.

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