Page 88 of Talk About… Secrets
“It was incredible. So attentive and caring for me. Even feeding me breakfast. I… I thought they’d call. Save me from my fate.”
This went far past a simple rejection and right into ‘mental health crisis’ territory.
She continued to babble, not moving an inch. There was no change in her when the cop car parked out front. I saw the cops moving in behind her.
They sent betas, it looked like. I hoped for her sake she didn’t fight it.
“There you are, Audrey,” the first cop said in a bright tone. “We’ve been looking for you.”
“You have?” she asked, looking at the guys, then frowning as she realized it wasn’t them who spoke.
“Who are you?” she demanded, glaring at the cop who was doing everything to soothe her.
“Just a friendly beta here to help you out. We know what happened to you, Audrey. We’re going to make sure no one tries to control you again,” he promised gently.
She perked up at that, her face shifting from confusion to adoration. “You’ve been looking for me?”
He nodded, holding out a hand. When she reached out, he gently took a knife I didn’t see before.
Oh god. If she was searching for them, that was for me…
My panic started to rise but my alpha was there, pressing into my back. The moment she was out the door the others rushed to my side.
“Did you recognize her?” I choked out, a second away from full-on tears.
“No,” they all said at once.
“We’re just as lost as you,” Beckett admitted, looking pale. His dark eyes were stark against it as he gazed out the window. “I’m going to see what’s happening. They seemed to know her or were simply damn good actors.”
“She’s in the car, come on,” Cade said.
“I’m going to buy all of this first,” Spencer said, collecting our baskets and taking them up front to pay.
When we stepped out, one of the cops was heading our way with a sad smile. “I guess you want some answers, huh?”
“Yes,” I said. “She’s been sending boxes of omega’s panties to us. Multiple omegas and multiple boxes.”
“There’s a huge state-wide alert out for her. She lost her pack, a not good one… it broke her. Her family tried to help but she kept slipping away. They found her the first few times but she’s been on the run for weeks.”
“Oh god,” I gasped. That kind of pain was unbearable. No wonder her mind was broken. And if it was forced like he implied, that would be even worse.
This poor girl. She was staring at us with wide, sad eyes. Her hair was matted, her clothes dirty, she needed help.
“What will happen to her?” I asked, needing to know she’d be taken care of.
“The family found a facility upstate. It’s an expensive program but made for both omegas and packs who have been through it.”
“I know you can’t give me sensitive information, but what’s her name and the facility. We’d like to help pay for it,” I said, knowing my pack would back me up.
“Audrey Walker,” he said, giving us the name of the facility. A branch of The Omega Network. That meant at least some government funding, but I knew it wouldn’t be enough.
The other cop walked up, a frown on his face and phone in his hand. It was cracked and abused, covered in grime. “This was strange.”
He held up the phone in his hand, the battered screen showing a video of Beckett, Spencer, and Cade. It was a fan-site of sorts, full of pictures and their achievements. It also had a whole thread up of how they imagined the guys would treat an omega.
“That’s how she found you,” I whispered in shock. “Just a big delusion that soothed her broken mind.”
“It’s possible. We may not know for a long time. For now, you shouldn’t have to worry about her. These programs can last from months to years,” the cop reassured us.
