Page 97 of Verses and Blooms
“They blamed him.”
“Mom did that a lot,” Elizabeth said flatly. “They fought about his job. He said his work was too important to give up. Then they took me. I didn’t let them break me for so long. Convinced myself he’d come. He just never did.”
“I’m sure he never expected this job to cost him so much,” Audrey said.
“Well, it did.” The pain in those words made my chest ache for her.
“Elizabeth!” the chief’s voice thundered through the building, echoing down the halls.
She flinched, then let Audrey help her to her feet and stepped toward the sound. The chief appeared at a dead run, boots pounding, desperation etched on his face.
“Elizabeth,” he choked out before he crushed her to him. “I’m so sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”
I caught Audrey’s hand and led her out, giving them privacy to reconnect. Our job here was done.
“We did it,” Audrey whispered as we walked back toward the front.
“You did,” I said. “You did the right thing. Don’t let that girl’s words stick to you.”
She smiled sadly. “As much as I hated hearing them, she wasn’t wrong. I promised her that her sister would be fine. I didn’t want her to worry back then.”
“I don’t think there was any avoiding the worry. But youtriedto do the right thing. That matters.”
“I’m tired,” was all Audrey said. “I’m ready to get back to ARC. I just wish we were heading home instead.”
“You just saved hundreds of lives and brought the chief’s daughter home. I have a feeling that’s going to be much easier now than we thought.”
When we reached the lobby, Ares was waiting… and he was livid.
“Where did you go? Why would you go without me?” he thundered. “You were supposed to wait.”
Audrey didn’t even spare him a glance as she kept walking.
“Why are you walking away from me?” he pushed, stepping closer.
I turned and stepped between them. “Back up, Ares.” My voice was flat and firm.
He scoffed like I was the one overreacting.
“You need to take a walk and chill the fuck out. She’s been through enough. Audrey was strong enough to be here, and you’re hung up because you couldn’t see her the whole time. You had a job to do. I kept her safe and I don’t need your permission to take her anywhere here. You may have more access to the world than the rest of us, but you’re not the only voice that matters in this pack.”
I left him there and followed Audrey outside to the vehicle Cooke was waving us toward.
The drive back to ARC was silent. When we arrived, I didn’t dread walking back into the building. I just wanted a shower to wash that place off me and to make sure Audrey was okay.
The pack was waiting in the lobby. Caspian and Ansel rushed to Audrey’s side, supporting her as she slumped into them, exhaustion finally taking over.
“She needs a shower and probably food. I don’t want her going into shock,” I said, already stepping back to let them take point. It was exactly what I’d told Ares he needed to do and I wasn't about to be a hypocrite. We had to trust each other.
“We’re sleeping in the nest tonight,” she murmured, words slurring.
“I’ll be there,” I promised.
Under the hot spray, I let the water run over me until my head cleared. I’d seen things in there I never wanted to see. Somany women and male omegas locked away, sold like they were fucking possessions.
Anger burned through me. I knew I wouldn’t settle unless I burned it off, so I pivoted to the gym instead of the nest.
Ledger and Caspian were waiting. They didn’t say a word as they hopped onto treadmills beside me. We ran in silence until Ledger finally asked. “Where’s Ares?”
