Chapter 27 #2
My house is quiet, empty. A shiver crawls up my spine as I take the pictures from my walls and wrap them in old newspaper to pack away. Being here without my Omega and her other mates feels weird now. Lonely.
Not that I spent much time at home before I met Bea.
The FCDA has been my home for the last seven years.
After six years in the military, I needed the camaraderie of the agency to keep me sane.
Transitioning from a life as structured as one in the service to the free-for-all that is civilian life was jarring.
Which is why I hooked Lex up with the DAU when I heard he had discharged from the service.
If I were an unstable, unbearable asshole when I got out, he would have been a reckless danger to himself and everyone around him.
As his friend, I couldn’t let that happen.
And it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. We’re built to tackle tough cases.
My phone rings from where I’d laid it on the kitchen counter, so I set the frame in my hand aside and grab it.
Bea’s name flashes on the screen, alongside a picture I had stolen of her sleeping against my chest. The soft part of her lips and sleep-slackened face has butterflies bursting to life in my stomach.
“Hello, kitten.”
“Creed.” My spine snaps straight, instincts bursting to life at the pained croak in her voice.
“What’s wrong?”
“T-there is a package on my p-porch-”
A sob cuts her off. The phone shifts before Orion’s voice growls through the speaker. “Get back to the apartment. Someone from the breeding ring left her a message.”
Rage unlike anything I’ve felt flows over my skin, making the fine hairs on my body rise in anticipation. Someone must have a death wish, trying to fuck with my Omega.
I tear out the front door, abandoning the boxes I packed as urgency pounds through my blood. Anger and the need to lay eyes on my mate drown everything out as I race across the city.
Whoever did this, threatened her, will be lucky to escape my fists alive.
Tires screech as I jerk to a stop at the curb by her front door. My heart stampedes in my chest, a horde of wild horses’ hooves slamming against my ribs. Sitting on the porch is a nondescript box. The top is open, and a foul stench emanates from within.
Fury tears a roar from my lips when I see the decomposing animal skull inside. It’s surrounded by printed security footage images. Without touching them, I can tell they are from Bea’s time at the breeding ring. When that monster had his hands on her.
The door creaks open, watery midnight blue eyes peeking from around the frame.
I’m moving before my mind can register the thought, wrapping her in my arms and breathing against her neck.
Only the faintest hint of her pineapple coconut scent greets me, but the feel of her skin against mine is enough to temper the fire building inside me.
“Have you called anyone else?”
Orion appears, pushing the door closed behind us. “I called the others. Lex and a team of forensic techs are on their way. He’s also checking the camera footage to see who left it.”
The blue-haired Alpha is vibrating, fists clenched at his sides and a violent look in his golden eyes. Something I am sure reflects on my face.
We crowd Bea between us, purrs roaring to life and making her melt. My poor Omega has been through enough; she doesn’t need shit like this stealing the progress she’s made.
“You need to call the therapist Donovan recommended,” I urge her, tilting her chin up with my knuckles. Reluctant shimmers alongside the tears in her eyes, but I don’t let them deter me. My mate is hurting. I’m going to do whatever I can to make it better.
“Fine,” she sighs, sensing my unwillingness to budge on this topic. “I’ll see when I can get in for an appointment.”
Until then, one of us will always be with her. She won’t live in fear when she has a pack of Alphas at her beck and call.
Lex storms through the door twenty minutes later, eyes wild and body shaking. His attention narrows to where Bea is cradled in my lap. I don’t stop him when he crosses the room and pulls her away from me, his lips slamming to hers with a ferocity that has my Omega gasping in shock.
Bea caves quickly, needing his quiet reassurance as much as he needs her touch. If only the poor bastard would see that outside of his inner Alpha’s moments of control.
I feel the moment her instinctive reaction to him turns punishing. Her fingers pinch his nipple hard enough to hurt, making him jerk away and swear. “Brat,” he mutters, lost in her eyes as his own well with concern and relief.
Sensing the clarity that comes over him, I steal Bea back before he can do something that her Omega would consider a rejection. “What did you see on the cameras?”
“Fucking nothing,” he grunts, tearing his eyes away from our mate. “They knew where the camera was and avoided looking at it. But we both know who did this.”
Nodding, I nuzzle my cheek against the top of Bea’s hair. There is only one person stupid enough to pull a stunt like this. One with access to everything from the breeding ring and a grudge to bear.
“Marcus.”
The soft, rattling purr that revs to life in Bea’s chest startles us both. I grin, pressing my lips to her temple. Knowing she’s trying to comfort me when she’s still upset by the threat sitting outside, it makes my heart soar. Fates, I fucking love this woman.
Someone knocks on the door. Lex answers, and Dromir steps inside. Bea narrows her eyes at him, making my brows rise. What did he do to piss off my mate?!
“Miss Powell. Creed. Lex.” He glances at Orion, who introduces himself, hand running over Bea’s hair as he scoots closer to where we’re sitting. I squeeze her once before passing her to his arms, sensing his Alpha’s struggle with the lack of contact between them.
“The mess out there has been cleaned up. Our team will go over everything and try to find a connection to whoever sent it, but…” He trails off. We already know who is behind this, but he won’t mention my half-brother by name until he has tangible proof.
Sighing, I let my head hit the back of the couch. I don’t want to leave my Omega’s side, but I know someone who could help us track Marcus down. Dealing with his bitch of a mother is the last thing I want to do today, but I’ll sacrifice anything to keep my mate safe.
Even if it means dealing with the gold-digging whore who has spent the last decade spreading lies about my father.
“I have an idea,” I tell Lex as I push to my feet. He nods, eyes flickering to Bea every couple of seconds. Rolling my eyes, I turn to my mate. “Ridley should be here soon, kitten. Are you okay with just Orion until then, or do you need me to stay?”
“I’m okay,” she promises, peering through a curtain of curls.
I study her for a moment, using our bond to make sure she means what she is saying.
She’s still shaken, but there is more anger than fear in her heart.
My fierce little kitten has claws buried underneath all that sass, and I can’t wait to watch them come out.
With a less-than-chaste kiss goodbye, I grab my keys and lead Lex to my car. Time to find this asshole once and for all.