Chapter 29
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
WINTER
My long maxi dress makes me smile as it tangles in my legs as I sit on a blanket in Forsyth Park.
It’s all linen and perfect to watch a Shakespeare play.
It feels romantic and beautiful, and I’m thoroughly enjoying today.
Leaning against Abbott’s chest as his fingers absently move over my arms, I listen as the fairy queen falls in love due to a love potion.
The performance has been incredible so far, and we’re all enthralled as the scenes pull us in. I can feel Bellamy’s happiness as he sits with Shiloh, smirking as the alpha asks him questions periodically.
This date is perfect so far, outside of the fact that I’ll have to pee at intermission. Struggling not to wriggle, I force myself to relax against my alpha.
Cassidy is on my other side, and Ansel is holding her as they watch. I love that no one is left out in our pack. Everyone gets cuddles and love.
As the last line is spoken on stage and intermission is announced, Abbott’s lips brush against the shell of my ear.
“You have to pee, don’t you?” he asks teasingly.
“Is it that obvious?” I groan.
“Only at the end, and I could feel the restlessness through the bond,” he chuckles.
“I have to go too,” Cassidy admits. “I’ll walk with you.”
“I shouldn’t have had so much water,” Bellamy groans, stretching. “I’ll go too.”
“Well, I’m glad there’s enough time for a bathroom break,” Shiloh chuckles.
Bell, Cass, and I get up and begin to walk over to the restrooms that are available to the public at the park. I continue to people watch as we move through the densely populated area, and see a pretty couple wrapped around each other.
They both have long, pretty hair, and the brunette has the redhead pressed against a tree. There’s almost something desperate in their embrace, and they both look a little sad as they watch each other.
It makes me wonder what their lives are like, and I look away when they glance in my direction as if they can feel my gaze on them. It’s always sad when things don’t work out, and I wonder if they’re breaking up or hiding their relationship away.
There’s a long line at the women’s restroom, and Bellamy looks bemused as he joins the much shorter one on the other side of the building.
“I wish people wouldn’t take so long,” Cassidy mutters under her breath. “We’ll just make it in time to watch the fourth act if we’re lucky.”
I nod in agreement, already beginning to shift my weight uncomfortably. Unfortunately, we’re at the end of the line, and it feels like we’ve been here forever. Cassidy lets me go ahead of her as soon as there’s an open stall, and I race in to pee.
Sighing happily once I’m done, I clean up, listening as people leave. By the time I flush the toilet and fix my clothes, there’s no one in the restroom as I walk out of the stall.
Not worried, I wash my hands at the sink, certain that Bellamy and Cassidy are outside waiting for me. An awful headache hits me out of nowhere, and I hiss as I flinch.
Bell? I ask through the bond. There’s no reply and I hurry as I dry my hands. I’m looking away from the mirror in my worry, so I’m surprised by the person behind me as I turn.
“Excuse me,” I say immediately, glancing at the person’s face as I almost bump into her. Wait, I know this person… “Avery?”
She’s wearing black cargo pants and a cropped top, appearing very different than when I first saw her at the charity event.
“You’re a little slow on the uptake, aren’t you,” she sneers, reaching out to fist my hair.
Without thought, I push and hit her to drive her away, using what I know about self defense. Shiloh and Abbott have taught me a few things, but I left my purse with my pack. That’s where my stun gun is, and it’s all because this fucking dress doesn’t have any pockets!
“Let go!” I scream. “Cassidy!”
As I move my hand to my bracelet, Avery knocks my arm away and pulls it behind my back.
“Everyone went back to their seats,” Avery chuckles. “Apparently, the women’s restroom is out of order. It’s silly how everyone believes a little piece of paper.”
Throwing me to the ground onto my stomach, she sits on my back and pins my arms behind me.
“A little help, please!” Avery complains, lifting up on her knees before plopping back down to push the air out of my lungs.
I didn’t know you could get the breath knocked out of you, but apparently it’s possible. Gasping like a fish as my body screams at my mistreatment, black high heels step into my field of vision, along with a pair of black boots.
“Sorry about this,” a voice that I know says.
“Jake, don’t apologize to the inventory,” Clara sighs as he shoves a gag into my mouth roughly and secures it behind my head.
I can barely make a sound because I can’t get enough breath in my lungs. Avery’s little body is fucking solid.
“The sun has set at least,” Avery grumbles. “It’ll be easier to carry her right out of here.”
Clara’s blonde hair brushes my face as she leans over me, and I feel her fingers brush my hair away.
“Trust me, Winter. This is for your own good,” she mutters. Avery shoves my cheek roughly against the tile floor, and I realize that my wrists are now tied behind my back as well.
There’s only so much I can do to try to buck Avery off me as a needle slides into my neck. I can’t help the whine that escapes me, and Avery shushes me softly.
“Are the other two already gone?” she asks.
“Already in the van,” Jake reports. “It’ll be less noticeable for me to just carry her out.”
I can’t scream at him that my alphas trusted him, or remind him of the death waiting for him if they find him. My eyes begin to close as Avery moves and Jake flips me onto my back before scooping me into his arms.
“Don’t worry, I hate this too,” he mutters under his breath as he begins walking. “It’s not what I want to do, but I have to.”
Whimpering as the ache in my chest begins to ease, I accept the darkness as it takes over.
Why can’t I just be happy? Why does the universe hate me so fucking much?
SHILOH
“Is the line really that long?” I mutter, looking around as I check my watch. “Something doesn’t feel right.”
“Let’s go check,” Abbott says, standing up. “Jake and Greig are patrolling the park. The line is probably just ridiculous. Cass always complains about it.”
“Bellamy has to be waiting outside for them,” Ansel murmurs, already up and stalking toward the restrooms.
Following his lead, we eat up the distance between us and our omegas, our intentions to get the fuck out of the way clear. We all dressed up in some way tonight, wanting our date to be special. Abbott even added suspenders to his suit, while I’m in a gray suit, and Ansel is wearing all black.
My eyes move through the crowd, remembering the color dresses Cassidy and Winter were wearing, but unable to find either. Bellamy and his pressed tan suit are nowhere to be found, and I shove my way into the men’s restroom to find him.
As I come back empty handed, Abbott is leaving the women’s restroom, despite the sign that says it’s out of order.
“Something is wrong,” he growls, pulling out his phone to call someone. “Call Jake, I’m already calling Greig.”
Nodding, I do as I’m told, listening as the phone goes to voicemail not once but four times.
“We don’t pay him to not pick up the phone,” Ansel growls.
“Split up, look around, be careful,” I grunt. “Abbott, can you feel anything through your bonds?”
Closing his eyes, Abbott shakes his head, rubbing his chest as he concentrates. He’s the only one outside of Cassidy that’s bonded to both our omegas.
I don’t even think he realizes he’s in pain right now.
We’re all working on adrenaline and worry that it takes me a second to remember the trackers.
“Tracker,” I breathe under my breath, opening the app on my phone. It’s always been second nature for us to check it, but it’s the goddamned bathroom.
Nothing bad is supposed to happen tonight. We’re just living our lives, making memories. We even took pictures together before the sun set.
This isn’t supposed to happen!
“They’re leaving the area at high speed,” I rasp, watching the dots. “We’ll have to figure out where our men are later. Call someone else to come get us.”
“I don’t care if they leave us their car,” Ansel adds, already turning to abandon everything else for the sidewalk.
“We’ll follow as far as we can on the streets on foot until they catch up to us,” Abbott mutters. “Fuck, that’s Greig. Where the fuck are you?”
People are glancing at us in surprise as we race for the street, and we have to slow down slightly so we don’t step on someone on a blanket in the darkness. Fuck!
“Jake hit you? Goddamnit,” Abbott sighs. “I never would have pegged him as a fucking traitor. Can you get to us with your car? We’re running on foot toward—”
I stop listening as Abbott rattles off our direction, and I begin to run as soon as my feet hit the sidewalk. At least here, the lighting is better, and I can move faster. While I know that I won’t be able to catch up to them on foot, it does make me feel like I’m doing something.
My eyes move between the phone screen and where I’m running to make sure I don’t run into anyone and then Greig is beside us in his vehicle.
“Go!” Greig says, bailing out in the middle of the street as we get in with wild eyes. “Keep in touch, boss. I want Jake’s head for this. I’ll gather our men, unless you think no one is safe?”
“I have a feeling Jake’s working on his own, Greig,” Abbott says, ignoring the honking as he hangs out the window to continue to talk to him. “Use your best judgment. We gotta go.”
“Of course, sir. I’ll call Henri first,” he agrees. There’s blood trailing from his temple, highlighted by the glare of the streetlight, but Greig ignores it as he moves out of the street.