Chapter 24
SKYLAR
I thinkabout asking Landon to turn around at least four different times on our way to the police station.
My hands won’t stop shaking in my lap, and he frowns when he notices.
“If I can do anything for you at all, let me know,” he says gently. I nod, biting my lip to keep from screaming.
I don’t want to do this.
I don’t even want to think about what happened in Slatten.
I’m still shaking by the time Landon opens the passenger door for me and helps me out of the car.
River is waiting outside the building, his hands in his pockets. He’s dressed in a black leather jacket and dark jeans, with a black hoodie on underneath the jacket. His hair is wild, and his dark scruff is thicker than the last time I saw him.
He’s the exact opposite of Landon, who stands next to me in his usual white button up with the sleeves rolled up.
It’s barely been a couple of days since I last saw River, but he looks at me like it’s been years. He gives me a sly grin and pulls me into a hug, wrapping his arms around me and holding me tight.
“Hi, baby,” he murmurs into my hair.
His scent swirls around me, spicy and delicious, as I press my head against his chest to listen to the thud of his heartbeat.
I can do this.
And when I pull away from him and notice the dark circles under his green eyes, I’m overwhelmed by guilt.
Guilt for sitting around while River and the others work their cases.
Guilt that I haven’t been back to work yet, putting extra pressure on Devyn when she’s an Omega herself.
Guilt that I’ve let myself be given countless orgasms while my best friend is still missing.
Shame and embarrassment eat at me.
I should have insisted I talk to the police while I was in the hospital. Were Landon, River, and Vincent protecting me? Should I have done it earlier? Is that why I wasn’t questioned?
“Skylar,” Vincent’s low voice says, interrupting my spiraling. I step out of River’s grasp and turn to him, my cheeks flushing at the reminder of what we did yesterday.
I give Vincent a half smile, doing my best to not break down.
I have to do this.
“Ben’s already inside.” Vincent’s light blue eyes pierce through me, as if he can sense my nervousness. “Whenever you’re ready.”
I choke out a laugh. “I don’t think I’ll ever be ready,” I mutter. Vincent nods in understanding, and I turn to see River glaring at him.
More guilt swirls inside me. I don’t know how any of this will work. Landon and Vincent can tolerate each other, but I don’t know if River and Vincent will ever be able to put aside their differences.
I’m making things worse between them.
I take in a deep, shaky breath and wrap my arms around myself.
We’re just outside the front of the building, but I feel frozen.
“Sweetheart,” Landon murmurs from behind me. His arm wraps around my waist. “You can do this.”
His earthy scent swirls around me, blending with Vincent’s rich essence and River’s spicy aroma.
“Use us,” he continues softly, quiet enough that only I can hear him. “Use us to ground you.”
I inhale their scents. I calm myself enough that I’m able to move my feet toward the building.
“One step, baby,” River says. “One at a time.”
I hate feeling this weak. I hate that they have to coddle me like this.
What happens if they decide I’m too needy, or that I’m demanding too much of them?
But Vincent is holding open the door, his icy eyes still on me, and it gives me enough strength to take those extra steps.
Ben is compassionate,patient, and kind.
I’m grateful he’s the one that takes my statement.
Yet telling my story still hurts. Answering Ben’s questions is an excruciating process.
I tell him everything, with Vincent, Landon, and River as witnesses. They sit quietly in their chairs as I recall that month with John, sitting at a desk in front of Ben.
When I mention his desperation to be an Alpha and his obsession with having an Omega, Ben flinches.
He’s a Beta and with Devyn, an Omega.
But apparently, John didn’t think that was possible.
When I describe his attempts to make me a nest, I catch River’s fingers tapping anxiously on his knee.
Landon keeps his face neutral, listening intently as I recall every detail.
I occasionally catch Vincent watching me as I speak, his stare burning into my soul.
I talk and talk. I force myself to replay as much of my nightmare as I can remember, including what was said about April.
“Near the end, I thought I was going to die,” I say. “I thought he would eventually lose control and take too much blood. Time seemed to stop moving. I stopped eating. He had to force water down my throat.”
I squeeze my eyes shut and a tear rolls down my cheek. “He wanted to be an Alpha so badly,” I murmur. “He wanted me to tell him he was doing a great job taking care of me. I think the O had something to do with it.”
Ben nods. “I wouldn’t be surprised,” he says gently. “The higher doses can cause delusions.”
I let out a huff of air. “I think that’s all I can remember,” I say. It probably hasn’t been more than an hour, but it feels like it’s been a week.
Ben grants me a small, sad smile. “You did great, Skylar. All of this is very helpful. And for what it’s worth…I’m sorry.”
I see the empathy in his eyes, and I’m grateful that Devyn has chosen a great partner.
Even if he’s not an Alpha, I know that my friend is in good hands.
I glance over at the detectives, who are watching me solemnly. “He said he knew where April was,” I say to them, before turning back to Ben. “Did he say anything to you?” My voice cracks on the last word.
Ben shakes his head. “Nothing. I’m sorry,” he says again.
I bite my lip. “But he had her apron, right?” I turn to Landon. “That’s what you told me. So, shouldn’t he know where she is?”
I have to hold on to hope.
But Landon’s dark brown eyes soften. “It’s possible,” he says. “But he’s still not talking.”
I glance between the three Alphas, pleading with my eyes. “He has to know something. There has to be something that’s missing.”
Vincent shakes his head. “He has a lawyer, and he’s not talking.”
Anger replaces my sorrow.
The audacity of that deranged Beta.
Ben clears his throat. “We’re doing all we can, Skylar. I promise you,” he says. “And what you’ve said today will help us find more Omegas. I have no doubt of that.” He gives me a strained smile. I can tell these cases are killing him, too.
He can’t always be watching Devyn. She doesn’t get Alpha bodyguards like I do.
The guilt keeps piling on.
While I’m kept comfortable and safe, other Omegas are suffering.
I should have given my statement sooner. I should have done more.
I should have?—
“Skylar.” Vincent’s low voice snaps me out of my stupor, and I exhale a shaky breath. “Look at me.”
I don’t know when the others left, but it’s just Vincent and me. Ben is gone, along with Landon and River, the door to the room left open.
Vincent kneels down to my height as I turn to him in my chair. “It’s done,” he promises me, his eyes full of concern. “It’s over.”
I can’t breathe. My hands shake in my lap, and he covers them with his own. “You never have to go back there,” he murmurs. “You never have to speak of this again, if you don’t want to.”
I look down at where our hands are touching, breathing in his warm, rich scent.
The room is cold. Goosebumps form on my arms, and my teeth chatter as I shiver.
I never have to go back there. But April is still there, waiting to be rescued.
“I should have done this sooner,” I whisper. “I shouldn’t have been spending my days in bed, or having you--”
Vincent’s eyes harden. “Do not blame yourself,” he growls. “You’re still healing. You’re still recovering from a month of pure hell. Do not take responsibility for what that piece of shit did.”
I try to pull my hands out of his grasp. “I could have done this sooner. I should have raised more money.” I choke out a sob as emotions flood through me. “I didn’t do enough while she was still here. Maybe if I had, she?—”
Vincent grips my hands tightly. “You are not responsible for this,” he says lowly.
But the regrets swarm my mind.
I could have sold more cookies. I could have been knocking on doors, going house to house, and telling every person I could about April.
I didn’t need to spend my days getting my brains fucked out while my best friend was missing.
The tears don’t stop. It’s like a dam has burst, and every single devastating thought only makes me sob harder.
Strong arms and a rich, warm scent wrap around me.
I weep into Vincent’s chest until my throat is sore, and my head pounds from sorrow.
I cry until there are no more tears.
When we finally emerge fromthe building, River and Landon are chatting near Landon’s car. River scowls at Vincent before turning to me and noticing my red face and puffy eyes.
“What did you say to her, prick?” he snaps.
I feel Vincent stiffen next to me as a growl rises in his throat. “Watch what you say, Cain,” he warns.
Landon looks between the three of us, sighing and running a hand through his hair. “Would you like a ride home, Skylar?” he asks. “So we can avoid this inevitable argument?”
I see a potential future with all three of them.
I don’t want arguments. I don’t want them constantly fighting with each other.
River turns his attention to Landon, opening his mouth to protest, but I interrupt before he can.
“No,” I say firmly, and Landon frowns, confused. Then, I turn back to Vincent. “I’m not ready to go home,” I say quietly. “There’s one place I want to stop.”
His expression softens. “Anywhere,” he promises.
I hold his gaze. “Take me to the café. Just you.”
He looks taken aback, but nods.
River looks affronted at my request, while Landon watches me curiously.
The original plan was for all four of us to go back to my house.
But their dynamic needs to change, and I know who will be able to orchestrate that change.
For us to have a successful pack, I need Vincent to understand exactly what I need from him.
And maybe it’s selfish, after everything they’ve done, for me to ask for more right now.
But I have a feeling he’ll be receptive.