Her fathers fixed us each with a look. Greg ran his tongue over his top teeth before speaking again. “I appreciate that. Now, why are you here?”
“We came to collect our wayward beta. We asked him to stay away from Storm and your home, but he didn’t listen. He got it into his head that he needed to come make things right. We planned to do it all together as a pack,” I explained.
“I, for one, am glad he came.” Storm’s mother spoke up.
“Oh? Why is that?” Victor asked.
“Because before he got here, Storm was inconsolable. We were really worried about her. She wouldn’t let anyone into her room, and she barricaded her door. Ryan got inside and the last time I walked past, it sounded like she had invited him into her nest, where she has been sequestering herself for days.”
My heart plummeted. “Sequestering? What happened? Is she alright?” Victor demanded, leaning forward in his seat.
“She’s . . . alright. Her heart is cracking and there is nothing we can do to help her,” Corey said sadly.
“Tell us, please,” I pleaded.
And they did. They told us a tale so horrific, so gut-wrenching, that my heart broke right alongside our omega’s, hiding up in her room. For something so traumatic to happen to her, it must be devastating. And to find out she had started a bond with Riley and hadn’t completed it? My soul cried out for the injustice the two must be experiencing, the absolute pain of the bond being stretched the way it was. I had to hold myself back from racing up the stairs to comfort her.
“And no one can find Riley?” Victor asked.
“We’ve had no luck. It’s been months and Storm spends all day scouring the internet for anything she can find about her. She’s never found anything. Not a single mention,” Amber said.
“What did you say her last name was?” I asked, pulling my phone from my pocket.
“Druman. Riley Druman.”
I feverishly tapped out her name and sent a quick text to my buddy. “I have a friend that is a private investigator. If anyone can find her, it’s him.”
“We would be eternally grateful if you could. We’ve tried so many PIs and none of them even found a bread crumb to lead us to Riley. I hate seeing our baby girl in so much pain,” Tony said.
Victor and I shared a look. This might not be the most appropriate time, but we felt like we needed to be honest. I opened my mouth and started saying the most important thing in my life. “Greg, Tony, Corey, Amber, we need to tell you something.”
“We know. You are scent matches for our daughter.” Amber surprised us by taking the words from my mouth.
“How did you . . .?”
“Know? I knew the second you entered our home in March. It was all over your expressions. I know that look. It’s the same one my mates have when they look at me.”
“We want you to know that we will not disrespect your daughter in any way. I know she won’t be able to tell we are matches for some time yet, and we won't try to force her hand. We just want you to know our intentions are to court her, if she’ll have us.”
Her mother looked at her mates and then back at us. “And what about her omega?”
“That is completely up to them as well. I understand that they have already formed a small pack. If Storm will have us, we would be more than happy to accept Riley as well, in whatever capacity she desires,” Victor said.
“Alright,” Amber said, leaning back in her chair. “Storm’s room is upstairs. Ryan will be with her.”
“That’s it?” I asked.
“Did you want me to deny you the chance to make things right with my daughter, Alpha Declan?”
“No, I just didn’t expect it to be so easy to win you over.”
Amber chuckled. “Oh, sweet summer child. I am not the one you need to win over. And I guarantee you, Storm will not be easy. Good luck.”
Victor and I shared a look. What had we just gotten ourselves into?
Chapter26
Victor