Chapter 33
Idon’t know what I was expecting a hidden city to look like, but I didn’t expect to be met with a maze of pathways just beyond the short hallway.
We’re clearly still underground, or perhaps under the sea, but the ceiling overhead is too far above us to see it clearly.
There’s light coming from somewhere, but it’s got a blue-green tint that makes it clear it’s not sunlight.
It’s also dim, leaving most of what’s around us masked in shadows.
We must be on the outskirts of the city, in a residential area, because there’re mudbrick buildings on either side of the narrow, web-like paths that fan out in front of us. They’re basic, practical, and unadorned. I can’t tell what's beyond them, and all of us pause to take it in.
“It’s beautiful,” Madi breathes. A scoff pulls my attention to the three assholes who’ve tagged along on our discovery. I expected Branson and his pack to be long gone, but they’re hovering at the crossroads, like they can’t decide which way to go.
“It’s just some run down buildings and dirty stone,” Carter sneers.
“So much for how advanced these cities were supposed to be,” Branson adds, eyeing the closest building like it’s a disappointment.
His packmate Chadrick—or is it Thadwick? Brad-dick? Dickrod? Whatever his name is—picks up a stone and throws it at one of the buildings, causing some of the plaster to chip off in a cloud of dust.
“Hey! This is ancient history, show some respect!” Madi scolds.
Of course Branson and his band of bullies pay her no mind, picking a passage straight ahead and stalking down it.
“See you dorks at the library!” one of them yells, though I can’t tell who because they've already disappeared around a bend.
Madison lets out an adorable little growl, and it takes all my willpower not to laugh at her. Instead, I put my arm around her shoulder. “Fuck them. Where should we start, sunshine?”
“I don’t care as long as it isn’t the same way they went,” she clips back before taking a calming breath. She shakes her head and turns to Hunter, waving a hand to defer the choice to him. Those guys must have really gotten to her if the fiery omega isn’t champing at the bit to lead.
“Right it is.” Hunter picks a path to the right, as far away from Branson’s choice as possible.
Caspian walks next to him, the two pointing things out to each other as they go and discussing our strategy for finding the library.
Which is exactly why I’m confident we’ll find it first. Even after only a few minutes with Branson and his pack, I knew they’d never find the library before we would.
Hunter is the smartest man I’ve ever met—well, apart from Seb.
And Madi and Caspian are both thoughtful, well researched, and have a special interest in Ocearus. I’d bet on them any day.
The only way Branson’s finding the library first is if he happens to stumble upon it by sheer luck. It baffles me that Madi could have been with someone like that, but it was clear they all had a history together.
“So… what’s the story with Mr. Hot Shot?” I ask, keeping Madi next to me as we pick our way along the narrow cobblestone path covered in dust and dirt.
“Who?” Madi’s brow wrinkles in confusion as her gaze bounces between Caspian and Hunter.
I chuckle, stepping over some debris in the road. “Not them. The buffoon and his goons.”
“Branson?”
“Yeah.”
Madi’s quiet for a beat, leaving me to wonder if she’s going to open up or not.
I’m a little surprised how much I want her to.
Although, maybe it’s not shocking at all.
There’s clearly a draw between us—all four of us.
The only thing holding me back from fully exploring it is Seb.
Well, Seb and Hunter. I’m not sure Hunter would want me joining his soon-to-be pack.
After our one night together years ago, he’s shown no interest in me whatsoever. At least, not like that.
Seb doesn’t mind if I’m with other people.
We don’t have what I’d call an open relationship, but we have an agreement.
He has no interest in being with anyone else, but he’s given me the green light if I need a little more when one or the other of us is traveling.
Quick flings. And we always talk about them if they happen.
I’ve only taken advantage of that agreement three times.
All of those times were early in our relationship.
Two out of three of them, I video called Seb to watch during the deed, so he’d feel involved.
But it never really felt right. Once I met Seb, I didn’t want to continue the one-night stand thing, even if he was okay with it.
But whatever I’m feeling for Caspian and Madi is different.
It’s closer to what I feel for Seb and Hunter.
Being with them wouldn’t be a fling, and something about that makes me feel like I should talk to Seb before pursuing anything.
I almost talked to him about it when I called him this morning.
But he was feeling so anxious about being around people all day at the conference he’s speaking at that I didn’t want to add to his stress.
He already gets a little nervous any time I bring up Hunter.
Ahead of us, Hunter and Caspian stop to peek in the doorway of a building that’s a little larger than the others. Madi stops too, turning to face me.
“We dated for three and a half years,” she says, voice soft and a little shaky.
“At first, it seemed like a great fit. Branson’s parents run in the same circles as mine.
They introduced us. We liked each other’s scents, and I thought we’d have a lot in common since we were all archeology students.
I always wanted a career and a pack. The ultimate dream was to have a pack I could truly partner with, work with, go on adventures with, you know? ”
I nod, not wanting to say anything that might interrupt her flow. I have a sick feeling I’m not going to like what’s coming. But it feels like she’s giving me a gift by opening up like this, and I treasure it, coveting more.
Madi’s fists clench before she takes a deep breath and continues.
“Things took a turn after we got our master’s and I said I wanted to go for my doctorate.
” She stares at the wall behind me, but I don’t think she’s really seeing it.
“They told me I couldn’t. They ‘wouldn’t allow’ it.
” She huffs out a breath. “They had this idea that omegas should be seen but not heard. Of course, any woman they were with would have to be well educated, god forbid the elite packs of the world think their omega was dumb. But they figured a master’s was more than enough.
Once I had that, they assumed I’d happily retire and slip into the role of trophy omega.
Pretty, smart, and pregnant. Someone docile enough to keep house and intelligent enough to hold a conversation with at events.
But nothing more.” Madison pauses and a small smirk tips up her lips.
“I applied anyway, but when they found out I got in, they were furious. Well, for all of one day. Branson was so mad he threw—”
A low snarl rumbles from deep in my gut, but my throat grows tight.
“He didn’t hurt me,” Madi hurries to say.
“Not physically. He knew how important my Aunt April was to me, and how much I treasured the items she left me. He stormed into our study and grabbed the journal she gave me—some of her field notes. He made a show of throwing it in the trash can outside. It was raining, and I just barely rescued it before it was ruined. They apologized the next day, and I thought it was over, that they’d gotten over themselves.
” She shakes her head and sighs, looking at me with regret and disappointment shining in her eyes before she drops her gaze.
I take her hand and give it a squeeze. Her shoulders relax, but she frowns, looking away.
“They messed with my birth control,” she whispers.
“What the fuck?” Hunter growls.
I don’t think either of us realized that Hunter and Caspian had moved closer and were listening because Madi jumps half a foot, flinching away from Hunter and curling into me.
“Sorry,” Hunter says, taking a small step back. His eyes burn with the same fury I feel on Madi’s behalf. His jaw flexes. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
I force myself to relax enough to wrap my arms around the shaking omega from behind.
As much as I’d love to join Hunter in his anger, track that asshole down, and teach him a lesson, Madi needs us more right now.
A rusty purr rattles my chest as I rest my chin on her shoulder.
A little of the tension melts out of her.
“What is… birth control?” Caspian asks, tilting his head to study his mate.
She blushes. “It keeps you from getting pregnant. There are different types, but I take a pill, and they switched it out. I guess they figured if they knocked me up, then I’d drop the idea of having a career and become the docile little housewife they wanted.”
“Madi,” I tilt her face to look at me, “you know you could have them arrested for that, right?”
She shrugs. “The most they’d get is a fine, and with how powerful Branson’s dads are, they probably wouldn’t even get that.
” Her feigned nonchalance makes anger roil in my gut.
“Maybe if my parents had been on my side, I could have done something about it. But when I told them, my dad just shrugged, and my mom said I shouldn’t be on that stuff, anyway. ”
Tension strangles the room as all of our alphas rise to the forefront. It’d have pissed me off no matter who they did that to, but for it to have been Madi? Fuck.
“I’m going to ruin them,” Hunter says lowly, looking more predatory than I’ve ever seen him.
Caspian nods his agreement, silent, but no less deadly. I can see it in his eyes. He’d kill for his omega if she asked him to.
I squeeze Madi into my chest, using the weight and warmth of her to calm my own racing heart. My purr stutters before it continues again. “I’m glad you left them, sunshine.”
“I almost didn’t,” she confesses in a whisper.
“After my parents supported them, I… Well, I started doubting myself. I wanted kids. I didn’t have any other packs interested in me.
And even if I had to give up studying, I figured they’d still let me go on digs with them and help in the field.
I’d get what I wanted, a pack of archeologists. ”
Three alpha growls follow her words.
She shrinks into me a little more. I relish the feel of her in my arms, but hate that she had to go through all this.
“But you left them eventually. That’s all that matters,” I say.
“What changed your mind?” Hunter asks.
“Ah, well, that’s a little embarrassing.” Madi’s cheeks flush. “Do you know what a forum is?”
Hunter scoffs. “Of course I know what a forum is, I’m not that ancient.”
“But you are old.” I can’t help myself, the words slip out on autopilot. It breaks some of the seriousness of the moment, and we all laugh before Madi continues.
“Okay, so I always lurked on a few forums, but mainly on one for those interested in the more mystic archaeological theories. You know, like Lunara’s temple or Ocearus.
I got kinda close with this beta there, and we used to video call each other when we both had time.
One night I confessed all about Pack Prescott, and he—” A crash sounds from somewhere to our left, and we all startle then fall silent.
“What was that?” Caspian whispers.
“Do you think they already found something?” Madi can’t hide the panic in her voice. Her flashlight flickers, and she hits it against her thigh to get it shining again.
“No,” Hunter and I say at the same time.
“Everything I’ve ever read about Ocearus says the library is hidden. I doubt they could have stumbled upon it,” Hunter adds, but there’s a wrinkle between his eyebrows that I know he only gets when he’s worried.
“Then what was that?” Madi asks. “Do you think they’re hurt?”
“Can’t say I care if they are.” Hunter scowls. “But come on, let’s keep going.”
I don’t give voice to my real fears. That noise might not have been from Branson’s pack at all. When humans abandon cities, animals tend to move in. A place like this could be crawling with predators.