12. Seraphina
12
SERAPHINA
I was off the bed in a flash, headed for my hidden gun safe. “Let’s get him.”
Loki pounced, snatching me off my feet like a lion would an unruly cub. “Not so fast, Lamb.” He deposited me back into Blaze’s lap, and he snuggled me tight with a satisfied grunt.
I detested being so tiny compared to Alpha men, but right now, I also kind of liked it. Manhandling me would’ve normally been a one-way ticket to being stabbed in the dick, but these dicks were works of art that I’d never dream of damaging.
It hadn’t escaped Loki’s notice that I’d been striding purposefully toward my vintage poster of the iconic movie, The Last Unicorn , which hung in a glass frame on the wall right next to my closet.
He prowled over and examined it with a critical eye. He lifted the glass away from the wall to reveal a small safe embedded there, the keypad glowing with the soft red light that indicated it was armed. “Our lamb is so full of surprises,” he mused. He tossed a smirk over his shoulder at me. “What’s in here, babydoll? Your secrets?”
“Weapons,” I supplied easily. “Jere had it installed.”
“Can we see?” Blaze asked as he nuzzled under my ear, the irresistible menace.
“No,” I replied. The bounds of the trust I’d decided to extend to these men, whom I’d met all of twice, had to end somewhere. The fact that I’d let three Alpha males crawl into my dorm room like bandits and hadn’t sounded the alarm on my watch that would summon Jere here with guns blazing was bad enough. “Paws off, Loki.”
He raised his hands in surrender. “Fine. I was only curious to see the inside of what I’m certain is the only high-grade weapons safe installed in an OFS dorm room in the entire fucking country.”
I preened. Special dangerous omega, that was me. “Still no.”
“I think the fact that we’ve seen the inside of an OFS dorm room at all is a rarity for any Alpha,” Hawk added dryly. “Little Flame, as much as we share your enthusiasm to just ride at dawn and nab this guy, we have to play it a little cooler than that.”
I huffed a frustrated breath. Of course we did, and I knew better. “I’m sorry. I reacted emotionally because Hart’s such a prick. I’m ready to hear your plan.”
Loki’s icy eyes narrowed. “What’s Professor Hart done to make you dislike him, Lamb?” he asked, his deep voice taking on a violent edge.
Uh, swoon . “He’s just a douche of the highest order and hates me because I don’t fawn all over him,” I told him, waving a dismissive hand. “You’ll understand the second you meet him.”
“And we will meet him,” Loki replied. “The plan is to set up interviews with all four of the staff members we identified, just to make it look as though we’re being thorough and working off connections to the industry only. Those will happen early next week.”
“We’ll also conduct interviews with the IT staff to determine if there’s been any suspicious activity relating to our search on the OFS network,” Hawk added. “Which we doubt.”
“But you’ll really just be casing the place,” I mused. “Getting a sense of Hart’s comings and goings and determining the best time to break into his office or his house.”
Blaze chuckled while Hawk and Loki eyed me with appreciation. Heat rose to my cheeks. Way to play it cool, Sera .
“You are correct, Lamb,” Loki said. “And you are perfectly positioned to assist us in that endeavor.”
“I sure am.”
Loki looked at his watch and frowned. “Shit, it’s late. We were supposed to update our handler on our initial meeting with the dean an hour ago.”
Blaze groaned in frustration. “He’s going to be such a grumpy fuck about it too.” He eased me off his lap and onto my feet, then gave my butt a little pat as he stood up. “We’ll set up a time for another clandestine meeting next week, Princesa. Hopefully in a location where there’s slightly less risk we’ll be caught and hauled away in handcuffs.”
“Yes, let’s do that,” I replied. “Do you have my number?”
Hawk smirked. “Of course we do.” He slid from my bed and ambled over, then he bent to press a lingering kiss to my cheek. “See you soon, sweet Seraphina.”
Blaze punched him in the shoulder. “We said no kissing her.”
“You had your lips all over her, you dick.”
“Loki started it.”
Loki shoved them both toward my window. “Shut up and start climbing down.”
They grumbled but complied, taking turns crawling over my desk to the open window.
I peered up at Loki. “I’ll really see you next week?”
“You really will.” He darted a glance at my window, confirmed Blaze and Hawk were out of sight, then cupped my face in one big hand. He took my lips in the gentlest kiss, his tongue caressing mine before he pulled away too soon. He winked. “Goodnight, Lamb.”
I just stood there, dazed, watching as he climbed out of my window with nimble grace that was surprising for a man of his size.
They found me.
They knew I was an omega—and a privileged one ensconced in an OFS at that. Blaze called me “princess” now without irony.
And yet, they still wanted me to work their investigation with them like… an equal.
And I could only hope I’d be able to keep my issues away from them so that wouldn’t change.
When I woke the next morning and stuck my phone on the charger to bring it back to life, I discovered I had a slew of new voicemails.
Dad: Seraphina, I am so utterly astounded and disappointed in your behavior. I understand you are unhappy with this arrangement. I am unhappy that this arrangement was even necessary, but YOUR actions are what put you here, and now you’re taking your anger out on innocent people. We’re only lucky that Rodrigo and I were able to usher everyone out of the room before anyone was seriously affected by the tear gas. A BLAST BALL, Seraphina! Unbelievable. We let the Montgomery Pack—and Thomas Montgomery, one of their FATHERS, who was in attendance and still has ringing in his ears as of this morning—think that we had no idea who’d attacked us and that it was probably linked to our work. I had to LIE to a friend of mine, Seraphina. At least I can report that your childish attempt to scare your pack away failed. We have another courting event scheduled in two weeks. You will be there, or you will be sorry.
Pop: That was so outrageous and uncalled for, Seraphina, and you know it. You think this is funny, I’m sure. You’re lucky Andrew worked hard to convince this pack that you had nothing to do with this AND that they still want to meet you. And yes, you are LUCKY. We HAVE to find you a pack before you graduate, and you know that. Stop acting like a child. Call me back.
Jere: I’m calling to let you know that you’re on thin ice, but despite that fact, I’ve approved the request from Sentinel to bring you on as a consultant in their current investigation. Do not make me regret it.
Mom: SERAPHINA ELAINE brYCE! WHAT IN THE SEVEN HELLS IS THE MATTER WITH YOU? I am SO embarrassed. I’m supposed to have brunch with your pack’s mothers in two weeks! What am I supposed to say to them? Oh, I’m so sorry my daughter gassed your sons like they were criminals? Oh, don’t mind her, it was just her idea of a joke—she’s not actually a violent psychopath? Your fathers are inCENSED, Seraphina. Call them back.
Daddy J : Sweetheart, I’m sure anything I have to say has already been said by your mother and Andrew. I’m very sad you felt like you had to do what you did. You know we all love you and just want the best for you. Call me if you want to talk.
Isabella: *audible exasperated sigh* I cannot even , Seraphina. At least I knew you were this crazy. I don’t know why everyone is acting so shocked. Unfortunately for you, Dad says this pack is still considering the bonding, so that’s the only reason your credit cards haven’t been canceled. Remember that the next time you decide to detonate a weapon on the OFS campus. Because I know you will!!
Austin : *seven straight seconds of ambient noise creating dramatic pause* I knew something was up. I did. Dylan was acting shifty last night, but did I ask questions? No. I’m trying to be a good brother here, but holy shit. I’m not even surprised. I just hope you know what you’re doing.
Seth: Well, well, well. *snicker* *audible thump* Ow, fuck—Austin, that hurt. Okay, no, it’s not funny. Anyway, that was reckless, Sere. Mostly because I’m worried Dad is going to lock you in your room at the house and then drag you in front of this pack in handcuffs. Don’t make him do that, okay? It’ll break us all. We meant what we said—if this pack is really that bad, we’ll pull you out. Call us back.
Cam: Hey, Sere-bear. What was that manga you were telling me about? Sounded really horny, and I want to buddy-read it with Blossom. For reasons. Let me know. Love you.
Dylan: Girl. So epic. Fuck those entitled Alpha assholes! You show them they can’t just put an omega in their shopping cart and check out! What— *muffled muttering* —Yes, you are also entitled Alpha assholes, big guy. Yes, you, too, by association, Cameron. Don't act like you weren't right there alongside them at the omega meat market masquerading as a choosing gala. Anyway, Sera, everyone is predictably losing their shit, but if you need a place to lie low, my room’s open at the store. Dad said he’d fight anyone who tries to mess with you unless it was Jericho, so, for what that’s worth….
Henri: I have no words. NONE, Seraphina. Call me, you lunatic.
And a text from Derrick:
nice work
Well, after all of that, there was one obvious answer as to who I would actually call back.
“Hey, Sere-bear,” Cam purred into the phone. “Is this your proof of life?”
“Yep, I am in fact alive, in my room, and not chained to an interrogation table at headquarters, if you were worried.”
“I was, actually—no, Seth, she called me, not you. You cannot have the phone.”
“Tell him I’m not talking to anyone whose last name is Bryce,” I said.
Seth’s deep voice sounded in the background, indignant. “Cameron’s last name is Bryce!”
“Uh, no, it is Lowell -Bryce,” Cam replied. “Hyphenated, totally not the same thing. Go have another cup of coffee and let me talk to her.”
Seth grumbled something unintelligible before fading away.
“I hear my efforts did not quite do the trick,” I said conversationally even as the frustration burned in my gut the longer I sat with that information.
“No, babe, they did not,” he replied, more serious than he’d been earlier. “Your fathers are excellent problem solvers, cool under pressure, and very determined. They will be formidable foes, but I think you knew this.”
“I did, but this pretentious pack from up north is proving to be more resilient than I’d anticipated. Or just dumb and susceptible to my dads’ lies.”
“I… doubt they are that,” Cam said carefully. “And for what it’s worth, I do think your parents put some serious thought into this match. You could consider meeting them before deciding if you want to unleash crowd-control weapons on them a second time.”
I scoffed. “Obviously I will get more creative for the next one, Cam. And no. I’m not going anywhere near this farce. I won’t treat this pack—or my parents—with any sort of courtesy. They’re taking away my free will, and they don’t deserve it.”
He sighed. “I suppose that’s fair. Just remember that it’s the system that’s the real villain here, Sere-bear. I don’t want you to hate your parents forever.”
“It’s all shitty,” I agreed. “You can tell Austin and Seth I still love them. And to please pass the following message to our parents: challenge accepted.”
“I’ll… workshop that last part,” he replied. “Stay out of trouble for now, okay?”
“Don’t I always?”
“I’m not answering that.”
I snickered. “Love you, bye.”
After I ended the call, I flopped dramatically back onto my pillows. I’d slept like a baby despite such a wild night, and it may have had something to do with the lingering spicy-vanilla-and-clove smells on my covers. Biology was a bitch like that.
My phone pinged with a text. I groaned and took a solid sixty seconds to decide whether I wanted to even bother looking, if only just to see who was blowing me up to scold me now.
I needn’t have worried.
Unknown Number:
Good morning, Little Flame. We made it back to our Airbnb without getting arrested. Just thought you should know. See you in a few days
The unicorn emoji made me smile. My weird shit hadn’t sent them running for the hills yet. These boys were made of the tough stuff.
A strange, light feeling settled over me. For the first time ever, I was actually looking forward to a new week at the OFS.