Chapter 21
Spencer
Ididn’t want to leave, but she was safe with my pack mates. Chase probably wasn’t safe with her, given the way she’d been glaring at him—like she wanted to murder him slowly and painfully. But if she did, he deserved it.
Bear would keep her safe. Of that, I was confident.
After silently closing the door to my car, I looked up at the decrepit building Flora had been living in until today. If I had anything to say about it, she would never set foot back in this apartment—but I had a feeling our girl was stubborn and would insist.
Though she would have several bodyguards with her.
My body stilled when I reached her door, noticing the handle was turned down, and the door stood open a crack.
I hadn’t checked the cameras before coming because I’d only been using them to watch Flora—and she was safely in our apartment.
Using my phone, I gave the cameras a quick, cursory check, grimacing when I realized the apartment was in bad shape. I couldn’t see everything clearly on the small screen, but enough to tell there was no one inside.
Still, I pulled my gun from its holster and pushed the door open.
The only way I could describe the apartment was ransacked. Every surface had been wiped clean, and various knick-knacks were shattered across the floor. The sharp chemical tang of bleach hung heavily in the air.
I moved slowly through the apartment, using the tip of my boot to nudge items aside, checking whether they were truly destroyed.
Whoever had done this hadn’t missed a thing. All of her clothing was shredded. Her nest was destroyed—feathers everywhere—along with what looked like bleach stains and possibly something worse.
Flora was going to be distraught when she found out.
Once I was sure the apartment was empty, I pulled out my phone and called Chase.
“Hey, do you need a hand grabbing things?” he asked.
“No. Check the cameras at Flora’s,” I said. “But only do it if you’re alone.” I didn’t want her to find out that way.
He went quiet for a moment before a low curse slipped out. “Fuck. That’s a lot of damage.”
“I know. I don’t think there’s anything salvageable. Her nest has been completely destroyed, but I’m bagging some items, anyway—there might be DNA left behind.”
“I’m going to kill this fucker,” Chase snarled.
“Get in line. I just wanted to give you a heads-up—we’re going to have to figure something else out for Flora’s nest. Can you go back through the footage to see if we can identify who the fuck did this?”
“Yeah. If he was desperate enough to trash the place, maybe he slipped up and showed his face,” Chase said.
“Hopefully. But given he probably realized I had installed cameras, I wouldn’t be surprised if he hid his identity.”
“You know she’s going to hate you even more if you’re the one who brings her the bad news.”
“Would you rather do it?” I asked.
“Fuck, no. She hates me more than she hates you right now.”
“I’ll get Bear to tell her. She’s least likely to Taser him.”
“See? That’s why you’re the boss.” Chase laughed.
“Now, go salvage whatever you can. I’ll comb through the footage.
Bear’s in the kitchen with Flora, making grilled cheese sandwiches.
I was going to ask her to make me one, but I don’t trust her not to poison it.
She’s a resourceful omega—I’m sure she’d find some cleaning product to take me out. ”
“I don’t doubt it,” I agreed, hanging up.
We rarely lingered on goodbyes, especially in the middle of situations like this.
I spent an hour going through what remained of Flora’s possessions. I did my best, sifting through item after destroyed item. No matter how gently I handled her things, some were so badly damaged they disintegrated in my hands.
It was beyond fucked up, doing this to someone’s space. Especially a sweet omega who had done nothing to deserve it.
Unfortunately, all I managed to find were a few pairs of leggings that had come through relatively unscathed. A couple of textbooks had also survived, though the damaged ones could easily be replaced.
Every time my eyes landed on the tangled mess that used to be her nest, a pang of sadness hit me.
Just knowing how devastated Flora would be over the destruction of her safe space made my chest ache.
I wanted nothing more than to make her happy and bring her comfort—this was going to crush her.
Omegas spent a lot of time in their nest, and there had been many days I had watched Flora in hers, reading or studying.
Once I’d packed the few surviving items into my car, I closed the apartment door as best I could, quickly repairing and securing the lock.
I didn’t remove the cameras, in case whoever trashed the place decided to return.
I locked the door, using the copy of Flora’s key I had made ages ago.
I doubted it would stop this guy, but it at least stopped random people or squatters entering her place.
On my way back to the car, I took a quick detour to inform the building manager that I was the one taking over the responsibility for that apartment, and I would have workmen there soon to fix it.
He had been about to complain, but as soon as I shoved some cash into his hands, he quickly shut up.
Sitting in the car, I scrolled through my phone and tapped a familiar number. A sweet, soft voice filled the speakers.
“Hi, Spencer. What’s up?” Mable asked.
“Hey. Sorry to bother you,” I replied, trying to keep my anger out of my voice. Mable didn’t deserve my rage.
“You’re never a bother,” she insisted.
“Don’t speak too soon—I have a favor to ask.” As I spoke, I put the car in drive and headed back to our apartment.
“After everything you did when I was sick, you can ask anything,” she said warmly. “I’m pretty sure the guys would buy you a pony if you asked.” She laughed.
I’d taken care of Mable during a rough bout of separation sickness—her pack had been halfway across the country and hadn’t realized how badly it could affect a newly bonded, pregnant omega.
She’d been stubborn as hell, fighting me over electrolyte drinks and food, but she’d been heavily pregnant, and I’d refused to let her get worse.
“Has Percy told you about the girl in his advanced statistics class I’ve been following?” I asked.
“Oh yeah—the one being stalked. He mentioned it a few weeks ago, then again today because Bear called him.”
“Yeah. We’ve got her at our apartment now. Someone tried to kidnap her at knifepoint.”
A sharp gasp came through the phone. “That’s horrible.”
“I went to her apartment to gather some nesting supplies. Whoever’s been following her broke in and trashed the place.”
“What a fucker,” Mable hissed. “I hope you shoot the bastard.”
“Honestly, that’s the plan,” I admitted, shocked at Mable’s cursing. “But for now, she has nothing left for nesting, and the nearest twenty-four-hour store is miles away. I wouldn’t usually ask, but I know you’ve got unused nesting supplies from when you were pregnant.”
“Oh gosh, yeah—take whatever you want. Take all of it,” Mable offered immediately. “There’s a whole closet full. My guys went completely over the top last time.”
“Just when you were pregnant?”
She laughed. “Okay, maybe all the time. But I love them. There are tons that haven’t ever been touched—duvets, blankets, pillows. It won’t be the same as choosing it herself, but it’s better than nothing. I can’t even imagine my nest being destroyed. I’d be devastated.”
“That’s exactly why I don’t want to go back empty-handed,” I admitted. “Very little survived.”
“I feel so bad for her,” Mable sighed. “You know what—Percy picked up cookies from that fancy bakery the other day. Or maybe I did? Baby brain is brutal. Either way, they bought way too many, so I’ll send some down. She deserves something sweet.”
I wasn’t about to admit to one of the kindest omegas I knew that I’d been quietly limiting Flora’s junk food intake. If Mable wanted to give her cookies, Flora was getting cookies.
“Thank you,” I said. “She’ll appreciate that.”
“You’re welcome. And if she needs anything else—clothes, anything at all—let me know,” Mable added sweetly.
Unlike with my pack mates, I said a proper goodbye before hanging up.
On the drive back, I mentally ran through everything Flora would need now that her apartment was destroyed.
First priority: her safety—which was already better with her at our place. Next was getting her nest rebuilt as soon as possible. There was a large nesting supply store twenty minutes from campus, but it was only open during the day.
Flora only had one class tomorrow. Either Bear or I would be taking her there and begin rebuilding her nest in our apartment—whether she liked it or not.