Chapter 30
Kaiden
Sylvan tracked her by searching through hours of CCTV footage and feeding it into a face-recognition programme he shouldn’t have access to.
He shows us the compiled footage. From the moment she got off the flight, to picking up her luggage, to getting into a taxi, where she was dropped off at a hotel a short distance away from the airport. It ends there.
When he hacked into the hotel via its website, he found a time that aligned with the footage and the fake name he believes she used for the room. She paid in cash for everything.
If we didn’t have Sylvan, it would have taken days to find her.
The relief we all felt when we realised she was safe shimmered through the bond before being cut short by new possibilities.
What could have happened on that flight to make Revea do this?
“I’ll go.” I rise, and my pack starts to stand. “No.” They stop. “I’ll go alone.”
Their expressions sour immediately, but we haven’t got time for an argument.
“The four of us storming into that hotel is not the right play, you know that. I’ll go, I’ll let her know I’m there.
No pressure.” I look at each of them throughout, but I find myself surprised at who preoccupies my stare the most. “We let her come to us. You all know the protocols for situations like this.”
“She’s not a job,” Syl snaps, his eyes never leaving mine, refusing to back down.
“I know.” I slowly nod, voice softening. “I know that, Syl. Believe me.”
His jaw tightens, but he takes his seat again.
“And you want us to just fucking sit here?” Luc scoffs, but he’s also sat back down.
I give Luc a sharp look. “You need to let her brothers know we’ve found her, but don’t tell them where. She could have already left. And if she hasn’t, I need to get Revea’s say before we share her whereabouts.”
“Get them to trust you…” Val murmurs, “Yeah, we know the protocol. But this isn’t like the other jobs—” He stops, because Sylvan’s growl stops him. He rephrases. “The times before, Kaiden.”
“Do you trust me?” I ask Val, but then look to the others. “You trusted me once to go into a hostage situation with scraps of information. You trust me enough to lead this pack. Now I need you to trust me to find Revea and bring her back.”
The room is silent.
“Do. You. Trust. Me?” I repeat.
Each member of my pack holds my gaze, then they nod in sync as their trust fills the bond.
I nod too, then start packing my things.
“What do you think she’s hiding from?” Sylvan’s voice is quiet as he studies his screen that displays live footage of the hotel entrance.
“I don’t know,” I say, zipping up my bag. “But I’ll find out.”
***
I’m tense for the entire drive.
My shoulders ache, my jaw tight, hands throbbing from how hard I grip the steering wheel. It’s only an hour’s drive to the airport from Nexus, but it feels like a lifetime.
I’ve dealt with high-stakes situations before. Hostages, attempted suicides, people held at gunpoint. But this is the unknown.
This is Revea.
I need to play it carefully, or else she’ll flee, and who knows what I’ll do then.
When I get to the hotel, I waste no time. It’s quiet, and the guy at reception flinches like most do when they see me. Probably doesn’t help that my teeth feel like they’re about to shatter, and my steps pound against the ground.
“Good afternoon, sir. Can I help—”
“I need you to ring this person in this room.” I slide my phone over, displaying a screenshot of their electronic sign-in system showing Revea’s fake name and room number.
He shakes his head. “Sir, I can’t do that—”
“She’s my omega,” I growl, fingers clutching the desk. I close my eyes, take a breath. This isn’t the right approach. “I just want to speak to her.”
He swallows, but then sits up straighter, squaring his shoulders. It’s only now I realise he’s also an alpha.
“And you wouldn’t be the first alpha who comes in here saying shit like that after a black and blue omega comes in—”
“She’s hurt?” My heart pounds. “How badly? Why didn’t you call an ambulance?” Every piece of me aches, my chest stings.
I grab my phone, dialling 999—the man’s hand reaches out, stopping me.
“No. No, she’s not hurt. She looked fine, just a little... scared. Maybe paranoid.”
“Paranoid?” I frown, placing my phone back down.
His eyes dart over me, up and down, before settling on my face with a sigh. “Listen, I can call the room. I can pass on a message. But that’s it. When I said she was hurt… you looked like you were in hell...” He pauses. “What do you want me to say?”
“Just...” My gaze falls to the counter. “Tell her it’s Kaiden, that I’m here if she needs me, and that... she doesn’t have to do everything alone.”
He nods, then looks over the lobby. “If you want, you can wait here. It’s pretty empty tonight.”
I watch him make the call from my seat on the small, cracked leather sofa.
He says she didn’t answer, but that he left a message on the answering machine. I thank him, then pull out my laptop because I need to do something other than sit here.
I update my pack first. Val threatens to join me and force our way in. Thankfully, the others can hold him back without me.
Hours go by. I’m questioning everything.
Did we get the right room?
The right hotel?
Is she even here?
If not, she’ll be miles away by now.
Maybe Sylvan should check again, maybe he was following the wrong person, maybe—
The hotel phone rings. For the first time since I’ve been here.
I’m already standing, watching the alpha behind the counter, but the call is short. By the time I make it to him, it’s already over.
It must have been someone else—
There’s a buzz to my left, and a door opens.
“She said you can go up—” He barely gets through the words, and I’m already gone.
I race up three flights of stairs, find her door, and... wait.
Take a breath.
Breathe.
My alpha is fucking rabid, urging me to break the door down… Breathe, you fucking idiot.
“Revea,” I murmur, forehead against the thin wood. “You don’t have to let me in. But whatever’s wrong, whatever’s happening, I’m here.” I wait, but there’s no sound. “It’s just me, and I’ll do whatever I can. Whatever you need, or... I can leave.”
Nothing. I lean into the door.
“I just need to know you’re safe.” Silence. “Your brothers have been in touch, but I haven’t told them you’re here. I won’t, not unless you tell me to.” I wait, hoping that’ll make her say something.
It doesn’t.
Slowly, I back away from the door.
“If you need me, I’ll be right here—”
The handle turns.
The door creeps open.
A small sliver of Revea’s face is revealed. Enough to show her cheeks are flushed, tear-streaked, and one bright eye is bloodshot.
And, finally, the door opens fully.
She stares up at me, voice barely a whisper. “I think I need help—”
She’s in my arms.
I tried to hold it back, but the tremor in her voice, the fresh tears spilling from her eyes. It’s too much.
She’s against my chest, her hands clutching my t-shirt. The warmth of her tears seeps through the material as I nuzzle her hair.
Fuck, she smells incredible, rich cherry and vanilla, even if it’s edged bitterly with fear.
“I’m here, I’ve got you,” I soothe into her hair as I step into the room… and freeze.
Everything about Revea has always been meticulous. Her salon, her hair, her clothing, down to her nails. Which is why this room has a tight knot forming in my stomach.
It’s dark, pitch-black, except for one small light. The mirrors are covered by towels, air vents blocked by sheets. The mattress is tipped over on the floor, her laptop is on the ground, and there are pieces of paper everywhere.
“Kaiden,” she whispers.
My chest cracks open at the small sound. She doesn’t look at me, keeping her head tightly bundled to my chest.
“I think...” she starts, then leans up to my ear. “Someone’s watching.”
I can’t stop my growl, but Revea can. She whimpers, and it instantly halts.
“I’ll keep you safe, baby,” I murmur, kissing the top of her head. “Let me get you out of here. Okay?”
I wait, and she nods slowly.
Keeping her held against me with one arm, I grab all the things I see that I think are hers. I stuff them into her suitcase and take it with us.
When I get to the lobby, the alpha behind reception takes one look at us and rushes to open the doors.
“Fuck, I should have let you up sooner. I’m sorry.”
“No, you were right.” Revea shivers against me, and my pace increases. “Don’t let anyone else into that room. I’ll send my packmates soon. Okay?”
He nods, eyes wide, as I leave with Revea and her suitcase.
When I open the car door and try to put her down, she clings to me.
Her scent is stronger out here, away from other smells, and the burnt cherry zest has my alpha pacing.
Her omega is at the forefront, her instincts on high alert, and all I want to do is chase away whatever has scared her so badly.
“Darlin’, I just need to put you down for a second, okay?
” She doesn’t respond, but this time, I’m able to lower her into the seat without her pushing back into my hold.
“I’m going to take us somewhere safe, somewhere no one will find you.
But if you need me to hold you a little longer, I will. I’ll do whatever you need.”
She inhales a shuddering breath, and those big, pretty eyes finally peer up at me.
“You smell really good.” She blinks, pupils blown wide.
I pull in my lips to lock away the smile bursting to get out. “So do you,” I murmur, desperate to touch her again.
“Can we…” She swallows, glancing around the car park before lowering her voice. “Can we get out of here?”
I nod, pulling back only when her fingers allow it.