Chapter 2
Chapter
Two
My eyes flew open as I stared up at a different ceiling.
My breaths came out in panicked spurts as my brain caught up with where I was.
It took some convincing to tell myself that I was safe, but once I did, my heart settled back down.
Reaching out, I looked at my phone. It was three in the morning.
I didn’t remember the dream that woke me up, but there might have been a chance that it wasn’t mine.
Either way, I didn’t think I was going to go back to sleep.
Willing myself up, I threw on a shirt and made my way to the kitchen.
The house felt so quiet, but it wasn’t dark.
Laila and I kept the windows open, and so the light from the moon was casting a bright glow over the house.
There was a kettle here, and so I filled it with water before setting it on the stove. I searched around, finding a box of ginger tea in the cupboard. It was only identifiable by the picture on the front.
After pulling the water before the whistle started, I poured my tea and let it steep. I stared out of the window, my eyes glazing over.
Marcus?
I reached out again through the link. Even though it was still empty.
My lip trembled as I got no reply, and my teeth sank into my bottom lip.
Pulling the tea bag, I set it aside before stepping out onto the grass.
It was cool, but nowhere near freezing. The grass felt damp, and my feet were cold.
Holding the mug in my hands, the steam from it warmed my face.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I maneuvered my mug into one hand before pulling it out. Mike’s name popped up, and I answered it.
“What are you doing up?”
“Good morning to you.”
He huffed. “It’s three in the morning over there.”
“And it’s what...seven for you?”
“Yes. So again, why are you up?”
I shook my head, taking a sip of my tea. “I don’t know. A nightmare maybe? I don’t remember, but I woke up disoriented. Couldn’t sleep after that.”
“You should have tried.”
“You need to let me get through this how I can, Mike.” I walked over to the small garden wall, sitting on the edge. “I’m surprised I haven’t had an episode at this point.”
Mike let out a curse. “How about we not bring that into the mix right now? Yeah?”
“Can we talk now? You’re up and so am I.”
There was a moment of him typing on his computer. “I’ve managed to get back into the cameras in the house.”
“You got kicked out?”
“I did. Someone changed the password and then encrypted it. It was good, too. It took me a day to get back into it.”
I rolled my eyes. Even some of the best computer hackers would probably take a few days, and that would be fast. Mike was on a completely different level. My feet shifted, feeling the grass beneath them.
“So…?”
“Ebony’s got Marcus sedated, mostly. They are using some kind of poison. I don’t know what it is. It looks homemade. It makes him really weak. There also seems to be some sort of disorientation with it.”
Nodding, my hand tightened on the brick that made up the wall. “Is she…trying anything?”
“Not at the moment. It looks like she is just trying to get him to accept her. He’s fighting whatever the poison is. He’s trying, Colt. That at least is good.”
My lips pursed. “The Alford’s?”
“They tried to speak with her. Figured they would try to be civil first. Asking for Marcus to be released.” Mike snorted. “Mind you, I couldn’t see this. I didn’t get into the cameras yet. I just know from what Beau told me. She said they tried to reason with her.”
“It didn’t go well?”
His silence over the line was telling enough. “She threatened to kill him.”
“Wait…what? That would…defeat the purpose of everything. Of everything she did and everything she went through with Dylan.”
Mike hummed in agreement. “Apparently, she put on a good show of it, too. Stabbed him right there in front of them, and they watched him drop.”
I cursed. “Did they try again?”
“Not through her. They tried to request it through the Council.”
It was my turn to snort. “Let me guess, it got buried.”
“Not even. They said that Marcus needed to request the help himself. Since it was a domestic dispute.”
I read the message between the lines. “Dylan paid them off.”
“Exactly. Beau got ahold of me, and I told her as much. Their request got filed, but it was rejected without even going to the Council itself. They were waiting for it and immediately denied it. Not sending out someone to investigate or anything.”
“Of course not. Damn it all.”
Leaning back, I felt the plants behind me. The sky was dark, but you could see a scattering of stars. It was a bit bright, but nothing like the city. Everything felt clearer, but emptier as well.
“What am I supposed to do? What can I do?”
“Right now…”
I growled. “Don’t you dare say ‘nothing’, or something stupid like ‘take care of yourself’. I can’t…Mike, I can’t take this. I can’t just sit here idly, twiddling my thumbs. There has to be something I can do.”
“I’m sorry, Colt. Right now, I can’t give you anything.
The Alford’s are being watched. Alpha Genesis has everything tapped, and I don’t know if he is watching it or if it’s Ebony.
She’s going to a lot of lengths to keep whatever is happening quiet.
I can watch them, but even then, certain cameras don’t have sound. ”
“Is there something I can submit? I mean, I’m his actual mate. I can prove it. Plus, we can have our little girl DNA tested. Would that…?”
Mike let out a sigh. “It would expose you, Colt. You would be at the mercy of the Council. They wouldn’t even agree to you two being together to begin with.
Don’t forget, you’re an Omega-10. Marcus is keeping you safe by being mated to you.
If the Council found out, they might actually jump in and kill Marcus to have you. ”
“He’s an Alpha-10!”
“Yes, but you’re more important, Colt. You literally would be the savior of the Omegas.
The Council would not be your friend, even if you came out and told them.
They might pretend to help you get Marcus back, but eventually, Dylan might perfect the bond-breaking drug, and the Council would use it against you anyway. ”
Tears slipped down as I fought the frustration clawing at my throat. “I need…I need to do something. Please, Mike. I can’t just accept that there is nothing I can do.”
“You are going to hate me for it. It’s going to be sticking to your meal plan. You can’t skip meals. You need to take care of yourself until we find something. It’s only been a few days, Colt. We are working on it, as best we can.”
“And I’m just supposed to deal with it? What if…what if they…?” My voice broke, not voicing the fear of what would happen if Ebony broke him, even before they broke the bond.
Mike said nothing. What could he say when he knew it was a possibility.
Leaning over, my bump blocked me from curling up completely.
Instead, I moved off the wall and sat down on the grass, my back against the brick.
I couldn’t just wait here and hope that something happened.
Except that putting myself in the way was its own danger.
Putting not just my life, but our little girl’s life at risk.
“Did I make the wrong decision?”
“Colt…”
I shook my head, my arm wrapping around my stomach. “I mean, what are the odds that Dylan already knows? That I’m an Omega. He knows so much already…what if…what if she was lying?”
“I don’t think Alpha Genesis would have let you go, Colt. I really don’t. Not from the pack to go to college. Not from the school when he came and attacked. He probably would have skinned Ebony alive if he found out she let you go.”
He wasn’t wrong. I couldn’t imagine how Dylan would react if I were out of his reach. Simply because Ebony wanted Marcus that badly. Though in order to break the bond, he would only need one of us. If Marcus were there, then they could break his side.
“Fuck.” The word left me before I could stop it.
“I know, Colt. I know. Just…bear with us a little longer. We will figure something out. Right now, Ebony might have him, but she also isn’t free to move. They can’t leave without someone noticing. Either I’m in the cameras or the Alford’s waiting for an opportunity to swoop in.”
That was easier said than done. No plan. No timeline. No real thought of being able to get Marcus back. My wolf let out a broken whine. One that I felt deep in my soul. Maybe if I could feel him, it would be better. Even if I couldn’t talk to him, anything was better than this.
“They will slip up, Colt. When they do, we will be there.”
“I need him, Mike. I thought…I thought I could do this without him, but I don’t think I can. I don’t know if I’m strong enough.”
Mike sighed. “You are. You will be for him and for her. I know you feel you couldn’t, but you are. Just take it a day at a time. I will check in with you every other day and ensure our calls remain encrypted.”
He was changing the subject, but it was fine. “Would it be alright if Laila called Peter? Is he being monitored?”
“No. I don’t believe so. As long as she calls from the phone. Once I can establish that the connection from his phone is secure, he can call as well. Before you call, send me a text and I can trace it.”
“Alright.”
We were quiet for a few minutes after that, except for Mike typing on the other side. It was strangely calming. The sound was something I’d listened to so often; it felt familiar. I didn’t expect it to ground me, but it did. Mike didn’t hang up either, just stayed on the line, typing.
“How is Rin?”
Snorting, Mike continued typing. “She’s angry and frustrated. She wants to just storm the house or just burn it to the ground.”
I laughed. “I mean, everyone would burn except for Marcus. He told me he would be fine. The only one that really hurts is Beau with her ice.”
“I’ll keep that in the back pocket then.”
Laughing even harder, I leaned my head back against the wall. “I blame you. I let him in and look at me now. I’m falling apart without him.”
“Oh, shut up.” Mike chuckled.
“If something happens, you’re taking responsibility.”
I could hear the smile in his voice. “You know I always planned on that. She says she refuses, but I think if push came to shove, she would enjoy the harem.”
The snort that came out of me actually hurt. “Maybe both of you should come out here. We can just build our lives together in this house. There are enough rooms for everyone.”
“Too much natural light for me.”
“Isn’t there a bunker under this thing?”
Mike snorted. “I said what I said, Colt.”
“How Rin puts up with you, I don’t know. She brings so much sun all on her own.”
“Exactly. I don’t need anymore. Plus, you smile and it’s like a spotlight lights up the room.”
I rolled my eyes. “I hate you.”
“I love you too.”
“I guess I can just focus on trying to mend Laila’s relationship with Peter.”
The typing picked back up in the background. “Yeah, good luck with that. Those two are like oil and water from what I’ve seen. I can’t believe they are mates. They would never get along otherwise, I guess.”
“I think they both just have some growing up to do.”
“Both? Pretty sure that the one digging herself into financial ruin and being hunted by loan sharks is about as immature as you can get. Peter seems pretty put together.”
I shook my head. “He’s unwilling to bend.
He wants everything his way, which is very Alpha of him.
He’s used to people bowing, especially someone like Laila, who is a Beta.
I can see where they butt heads, but I think Laila needs to pull her head out of her ass and then Peter needs to pull the pole out of his. ”
“Maybe. Good luck with that, though.”
“I mean, it’s that or I’m attacking you for marking Rin, but making her stay in that fucking frat house with you still.”
Mike cleared his throat. “Yeah. Focus on Laila and Peter.”
Laughing, I shook my head. We said nothing for another minute. Mike surprised me when he cut in.
“Go inside and rest, Colt. You need it. Even if you don’t sleep, just lie down. It will help your body relax.”
“Not sure if I can get up off the grass at this point.” I looked up at the sky. “I was kind of joking with Laila, but I definitely am struggling with regular tasks now. I feel like a whale.”
Mike scoffed. “I hate to tell you this, Colt, but you are nowhere near how big you are going to get. You think it’s going to be rough now; give it a few weeks. If you make it to your due date, it’s only eight weeks. You are going to be so much bigger.”
“I am hanging up on you now.”
“It’s the truth! You…”
I hung up on him. That was not something I needed to be thinking about right now. I was going to die. Eva had mentioned the possibility of bed rest, but I couldn’t really wrap my head around how big I had to be for that.
Grimacing, I turned onto my side and put my hands on the wall.
Pushing up, I grunted, but got myself up.
Everything felt off balance and I stretched my back.
The curve in my back to compensate for the weight was getting more severe.
Sighing, I did as Mike said and padded my way past Laila’s room, where her snoring could have been mistaken for a chainsaw.
Lying down, I tried to get as comfortable as I could. My body relaxed and sank into the bed. I didn’t know how long I lay there without waking up, but the pain spiked, ever so slightly. My nerves also made every touch feel like tiny needles. Swallowing, I closed my eyes.
Not now. I couldn’t have an episode now. I wasn’t strong enough. Plus, I hadn’t really talked about them with Laila yet. Maybe I could just sleep it off. Maybe it was a false alarm.
The pain eventually settled down, and I was able to actually fall asleep.