Page 9 of Verses and Blooms
I started in the corner of the room, just in front of the door. My fingers moved first, my eyes tracking behind them as I scanned for any miniscule gaps in the foundation.
The treatment room was big, but it didn’t take long to cover it and head for Malik’s office again. I couldn’t let that room go. She was there somewhere.
The room was gutted now, just bare walls and empty floors. When I stepped into the room, Cooke flashed his flashlight twice, then Vance signaled back his location, letting me know they were here, too.
I had to hand it to the Alliance team. There was no hesitation with them following our lead, trusting that we knew enough to handle this. Ledger might’ve told them he had experience and Cooke shared my dominant designation, but at the end of the day, we weren’t professionals.
But no one knew our omega like we did.
“I’m starting along this wall,” I announced just inside the door. “We can work around each other and cover more ground. She’s gotta be here somewhere.”
My words were almost a plea. Desperation lacing them and echoing through me.
“I believe you,” Cooke said without hesitation. “Keep strong. She needs that right now.”
“Thanks,” I uttered, already focusing on the room around me. I didn’t need his praise. I needed my Omega.
Audrey needed us.
I couldn’t stop thinking about all the horrible things probably happening to her right now. Wherever they’d taken her, it wasn’t good.
Something about this entire situation just didn’t feel right. This wasn’t just about her. Others had gone missing before. Yet, it felt like there was something more to it this time. That she was chosen for a reason.
We moved in silence, carefully combing the room inch by inch. It felt like I was barely moving, my fingers sliding over the stone I should know by heart at this point, I’d checked it so many times.
Malik was smart. He wasn’t transporting patients right in front of his weaselly little assistants. He was covering his ass. The only way to do that was from his office.
It was definitely in here.
I had a feeling the others agreed. Otherwise why would they be hanging in here just as much as I was? It wasn’t to watch over me, they were barely focused on me.
Their presence did help, though. To know it wasn’t just us out here looking for our mate, but the Alliance as well.
It was strange to have allies when I’d spent most of my life alone and feared.
I hadn’t realized how much I needed anyone else until Audrey came to ARC. Then we started forming our pack. Having the others treat me like I was human and wasn’t some terrifying monster, waiting to unleash my insanity, was a big deal to me. I knew I was never the monster society painted me as. I never hadbeen. What happened to the assholes who tormented me was more than deserved.
I had no regrets about how I ended up here. It led me to her. To them.
I’d promised her a future, one free of stress, away from here, and I would do everything I could to make sure she got to experience that life.
She was an omega and she deserved to be treated like one.
From the sound of it, her family never had bothered. She never had true acceptance of her designation. They took care of her but they were more infatuated with themselves than their daughter.
Unfortunately, the bond that holds packs together is so intense it can make them lose what’s important. They’d let Audrey pretty much raise herself, pretending to be strict to keep up appearances. It was always about controlling her, keeping her in line. The appearance of being good parents over genuine connections.
Now should be the time we found a way out of here. To give her a nest she could make her own.
To give Ansel one as well.
Despite the fact he never wanted an alpha, he had three alpha packmates now. He was just as much ours as the rest of the pack was. Ours to protect, to keep safe, just not to love romantically. That worked for us. I only wanted him safe and happy, nothing more. Our connection was a brotherly one and that wasn’t ever going to change.
It was yet another reason why we had to find her fast. He needed her and she needed us all.
I was so lost in my head that I’d stopped moving and hadn’t even realized it.
“Did you find something?” The gentle tone of Cooke’s voice told me he knew damn well I was thinking about her. “Stayfocused on her. I promise, we aren’t going to give up on finding her.”
