Chapter 41
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
STONE
Levi and I both watch Sasha leave the room, a bounce in her step as she carries on about what knives she should bring. Flynn stands quickly and follows behind her. My heart breaks for everything he's been through. I feel like a failure as an alpha. I didn't protect him like I should have. We should've known that Tom would retaliate and go after the closest person he could get to that would hurt Flynn.
Allegra.
Instead, we let both of them down. Something I know I can never forget and it will be hard to live with.
"What's our next step?" I ask Levi.
"I thought you were the planner. You handled Flynn's rescue well; thought you'd give us one for rescuing Allegra."
Even though the situation is dire, we both can't help but smirk at Levi's words.
"Jokes aside, we need to be careful. We're only going to have one shot at this,” I huff.
"I agree," Levi says. "Do we have plans for the massage parlor?" Levi places his hands on the table and leans forward, committing the map in front of him to memory.
I can't help but smile before sending him the text that came to me. Seems my little informant made sure we had that information as well.
"Check your email."
He raises his eyebrow, looking at me, before he moves over to his laptop and pulls up what I've just sent him. I move up beside him as we both go over the plans, debating the best entry points and where we think Tom could be holding Allegra.
We're so caught up in our conversation, we don't even notice that Sasha and Flynn have returned. Not until I smell the souring scent of Flynn's perfume. He's nervous, scared—and he has every right to be. He's been nothing but a pawn in Tom's game. When I get my hands on him, I'm going to make him pay. Not only for Brenda's death, but for everything he's caused Flynn to endure.
This mission is going to be more dangerous than any of us have encountered before. And we need to have our minds in the right space. I need to calm my anger before it causes me to make a stupid mistake. I need to be in control, how else will my omega trust me to fix everything for him.
"Are we ready?" Sasha asks, an almost gleeful excitement in her tone. "I'm ready to gut a motherfucker."
My focus turns to Flynn, his face ghostly white. "Are you sure you want to come?" I ask him. "We can ask the Skarlanthan Pack to watch over you until we return. We know they’ll protect you."
I try to keep my tone calm, not wanting to be too aggressive and bark him into obeying, but firm enough that he knows he has a choice. He doesn’t have to subject himself to what lies before us. What has possibly happened to Allegra.
"No," Flynn says without hesitation. "I'm going. I need to know my sister is okay and see that Tom pays for what he's done. I need to know he can't hurt another omega like he did me, like he did Nadia."
He pauses for a moment before stepping up to me and placing his hand on my chest. My heart races at his touch, savoring it while yearning for more.
"Or for what he did to your sister."
The weight of his words settles over me like a storm cloud, heavy and unrelenting. My jaw tightens as I meet Flynn’s gaze. This isn't just about revenge anymore. This is about justice—for Flynn, for Allegra, for everyone Tom has ever hurt. I need to put my instincts aside. He might be an omega, but Flynn needs this, to face Tom too. Levi and I will just need to be on top of our game to keep him protected.
"Then we go," I say, my voice unwavering. "And we make damn sure he never gets the chance to do it again."
"Let me and Levi get our gear, then we'll head out," I say, my voice steady despite the tension coiling in my gut.
Sasha nods, already moving toward the door, but Flynn hesitates, shifting his weight from foot to foot. I can feel the nervous energy rolling off him in waves, the rise in his perfume scenting the room, but there’s something else, too—determination. But I’m not going to push him. If there’s something he wants to say, then I’ll let him do it on his own time.
"I can continue to look over the plans while we’re in the car. Levi can drive," I add, my mind already running through potential entry points, weak spots in Tom’s defenses. Anything to give us the upper hand, an advantage in getting Allegra out safely and ending Tom’s life.
"Can I sit with you? Help you go over the information?" Flynn’s voice is quiet, almost hesitant, and I have to fight to keep my mouth from dropping open.
It’s not the question itself that surprises me—it’s the fact that he asked. That he wants to be close, to be part of this in more ways than just necessity.
I swallow down the warmth that rises in my chest and nod. "Yeah, anything you want, Sweet Boy." Wait, did I just call him that? Flynn's eyes go wide, but he doesn't say anything. Is he okay with it? I don't have time to worry about it since we have a dick to end.
* * *
The drive’s long, but it gave me time to go over the floorplans in detail with the others while we work through a solid plan. No one makes decisions alone—we decide as a unit. A pack.
That word still rattles around in my head, foreign but not unwelcome.
I glance down at Flynn’s sleeping form, his head resting against my shoulder, and I can’t help the low purr that rumbles in my chest. The sound vibrates between us, and though he’s asleep, he shifts slightly, instinctively pressing closer. His trust in me—us—makes something in my chest ache.
Only days ago, he would have flinched at even the possibility of my touch, let alone voluntarily leaning into me like this. And yet, here he is.
I let my head fall back against the seat, exhaling slowly.
I think about Sasha, about how our relationship has been a slow burn, a steady building of trust and understanding. We haven’t taken things further, but I know it’s coming. She wants to make sure Flynn is safe first, that he knows he’s our priority. I love that about her.
Love.
The thought strikes me harder than I expect. Can I really feel that for her already?
I’ve never loved anyone before. Never let myself care, not like this. But I care about Flynn, about Sasha, about the fragile bond we’re building together.
We may not be fully bonded yet, but it doesn’t matter. The commitment is already there, in the way we move together, fight together, protect one another.
I glance down at Flynn again, my arm tightening around him slightly.
We’re going to end this.
For him. For Allegra.
For our pack.
The hum of the tires against the pavement is the only sound in the car aside from Flynn’s slow, even breathing. His head is still resting on my shoulder, and the warmth of his body against mine is grounding in a way I never expected. Levi drives in silence, his eyes scanning the dark road ahead, and Sasha sits beside him, flipping one of her knives between her fingers. The way she keeps glancing back at Flynn and me doesn’t go unnoticed, but for once, she doesn’t make a teasing comment.
Instead, she exhales, glancing at the map she pulled up on the phone mounted to the dash. “We need to be careful.” Her voice is quieter than usual. “Tom isn’t stupid. He’s expecting something. Us.”
I nod. “I know. That’s why we’re doing this as a unit.”
Levi grunts his agreement, eyes never leaving the road. “We’ll have one shot at this. The second we breach that building, all hell is going to break loose.”
Sasha smirks, flipping her knife once more before tucking it away. “Good. I was starting to get bored.”
A soft chuckle escapes me before I glance down at Flynn again. He’s still asleep, his face relaxed in a way I don’t see often. He looks…peaceful. Safe. And I’d do anything to make sure he stays that way.
As if sensing my thoughts, he stirs, shifting against me with a small sigh. His fingers curl slightly against my chest.
Sasha shifts in her seat. “We’re about fifteen minutes out.”
Levi’s grip on the wheel tightens. “We need to go over the entry points one last time.”
As if he heard Sasha's words, Flynn slowly stretches and sits up. He blinks, still drowsy, and I fight the instinct to pull him back against me. Instead, I watch as he straightens, rubbing a hand over his face before nodding. “I’m ready.”
I search his face, but there’s nothing but determination there now. No fear. No hesitation. Just a quiet resolve that makes my chest swell with pride.
“Then let’s do this,” I grit. “Together.”
Levi nods once, and Sasha grins.
The moment of quiet is over. It’s time to end this.
Time to bring Allegra home. Time to kill a dirtbag. Then it’s all about us and our pack. Making our bond complete.