Page 122 of Why Cruise

I moaned. “Alpha.”

He smiled, then kissed me quick and stepped out the door.

I slumped into the wall and just breathed. I may have actually blacked out. I had to hold on to the wall to make it back to the chair and desk. A replica of Ren’s phone was now on the screen. I snagged the little towel elephant that our steward was always leaving for us off the foot of the bed. I snapped it open and rubbed my face. Kissing alphas was very sweaty business.

I zoomed my finger aimlessly around the track pad and sat up straighter when I noticed I could interact with the phones. Should I read her PackSpace page?

No. What was important? Justice said we were probably running out of time. Text messages.

Just as I was about to click open her texts, there was a pop up from a group chat titled “GT”.

G:

Cath, where the fuck are you

A message popped up on Ren’s phone. Reading Catherine’s texts was one thing. Reading Ren’s felt like a violation.

Gaston:

you have 10 minutes

Ten minutes? I navigated to Catherine’s PackFinder app. One dot that was hanging out in the ocean was on the move. Ren.

The screen on Ren’s phone changed. He was bringing up his map and searching for… Police station? Police? Why did that feel terrible?

I pulled the orientation binder onto my lap and flipped through it.Shit.There was a full page travel advisory for Saint Aurelia. I skimmed the document.

Travel in groups, if unbonded. Carry pack registration documents at all times. Respect designated beta-only restrictions.

I paused at the Law Enforcement section.

In case of incidents requiring police intervention, alpha and omega travelers are strongly advised to:

Return immediately to their cruise ship if in port

Contact their consulate in the Port Shopping District

Avoid engaging directly with local law enforcement without consular support

Document all interactions

Why would he go to the police?

Ren didn’t know he hadn’t killed Nolan. He hadn’t seen the video. His dot in PackFinder was off the ship now. He was going to turn himself in.

My fingers shook as I dialed Mackenzie’s phone. Right to voice mail. Shit. I tried again. Reception could be spotty on the ship, but fuck. I didn’t have Justice’s number. This could not be happening. Not now. Not just when I finally found them.

The knot of tension yanked tight in my stomach, making it flip over. I swallowed hard. I tore the page out of the orientation book and left it on the computer, hoping they’d figure it out. I bolted out the door, trying to text as I ran.

I was only a few minutes behind Ren. I could catch him. I fought through the crowd to get off the ship. The sun was super bright. I had to squint. Gaston’s dot had been on the south side of the plaza, right across from the bandstand. I rounded the corner of the pier and spotted the white awning protecting the raised stage. I scanned the crowd. Ren was already talking with Gaston.

I jogged into the plaza and slowed. There were police everywhere in crisp light blue shirts. Some leaning on the seawall. Pairs strolling through the plaza. An officer looked me up and down and sneered.

Ren had his back to me. What was I going to do, walk up and say hi? Gaston grabbed Ren’s arm and pulled him close. No. He wasn’t going to bite him in public, was he? I jogged the last few feet.

Gaston saw me and his face lit up.

“You brought a friend.” Gaston wrapped an arm around Ren’s neck. It could almost look like a hug.

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