55
Lark
I bolt awake at the sound of a latch clicking on a door nearby, and I blink bleary eyes at Wren and Caito approaching Apollo’s bed.
“How’s he doing?” Wren murmurs the question softly, though there isn’t anything that would wake our pack brother right now.
He’s currently heavily sedated to allow his body to heal from the various surgeries he’s undergone the last two days.
“Doctor said he thinks he got the remaining fragments from the bullet on this last surgery. He says he wants to keep him under for a few more days to give him time to heal before waking him.” I know exactly why he’d suggested it.
If Apollo awoke right now to discover Scarlett still missing, he’ll just injure himself more with his stress.
Caito settles in a seat on the other side of the bed from me and rests his face in the palms of his hands.
I take a moment to look over my pack brothers.
Wren is still wearing the clothes he’s been wearing since the day our omega was taken from us.
Caito has at least showered and changed at least once since then.
Dark circles smudge the undersides of all of our eyes.
None of us have gotten much rest. Wren has pulled every last string he has to bring Scarlett home to us.
Caito’s connections with the Infinity Ring are also working diligently to track down the monster that stole her away and damn near got Apollo killed.
Fraser and his pack have a vested interest in getting the location on both omegas, though no one has bothered to share that information with me.
I sit forward in my chair, my muscles barking in protest as I do so.
I really needed to get up and do something, but I haven’t wanted to leave Apollo’s side.
He deserves to have one of us here with him at all times.
He was the only one that fought for our omega that day.
He’d tried to save her. “Give me some news, please.” I lift my gaze to Wren, hopeful they’ve come because they’ve had a breakthrough, but the muscle clenching in my pack lead’s jaw tells me otherwise.
“We have it narrowed down to Greece. Or a smaller island on the outskirts. We aren’t sure how he’s managed to do it, but he’s scrambled his trail pretty good.
Salem is close to unraveling it, and then we will move out.
” Caito finally lifts his face from his hands, but he looks at Apollo and not me.
There is a different type of darkness that shadows the corners of my pack brother’s eyes as he looks at him. One I am familiar with.
Bone crushing regret.
Somehow, I’m sitting here again in a hospital room, holding my breath as I wait to see if I’ll lose yet another brother in the name of some asshole’s egotistical vengeance.
“And we still trust your… companions in the Infinity Ring to make Scarlett their priority?” My gaze bounces back and forth between Wren and Caito. The latter nods.
“Warrick never breaks his oaths, and he owes me more than one favor. Kate is their scent match, but she’s also our omega’s best friend. They won’t stop until they’re both brought home.” Surprise ripples through me at that, and I blink at him.
“Are you serious? Fuck . That makes sense. Fraser has been an absolute menace. Even more so than you.” I don’t know how I hadn’t realized it before. The way the alpha had handled Wren’s sister had been brutal beyond even Caito’s capabilities.
“He’s the only one that has really scented her, but that doesn’t mean War, Salem, and Cashel aren’t affected. They’ll do anything to bring the both of them home. I trust them in this.” Caito sounds so sure that it’s hard not to believe him.
I sigh and scrub a hand down my face. “I’m fucking worried.” I mutter, and my pack knows exactly what I mean.
“Everything is going to be fine. Our omega is fine, and so is our baby.” Wren’s words are hard and sure. I wish I could share his sentiments, but the dread is too heavy. It’s weighing me down and dampening my spirits. I wish I didn’t feel so goddamned useless right now.
“What if he finds out she’s pregnant?”
“He won’t. Scar will guard that secret.” Caito assures me.
“But what if Kate spills that she is just trying to keep her safe?” I press further, unable to help myself.
“That won’t happen. We are going to get to them both before anything happens to them.”
I open my mouth to argue, but before I can do so, a knock sounds on the door. Wren strides forward to answer it, and Sutton and Fraser slink into the room. “Who’s ready to get our omegas back and rain hell down on Harlan fucking Erossi?” Fraser announces, and I feel my heart skip a beat.
Caito is on his feet then, and I am quick to follow. The announcement seems almost too good to be true. “Salem found them?”
“No.” Fraser slapped a hand down on Sutton’s shoulder. “This old coon did. Warrick has the jet fueled and waiting. It’s about an hour drive to the airport.” Wren and Caito are already moving, but I hesitate by Apollo’s bedside.
Wren stops at the door that Caito and the others have already slipped out of and looks back at me. Understanding lights his eyes, and he dips his chin to me. “Keep our brother company. We will bring her home safe.” Relief swells in me, and I nod at him, resolve hardening my spine.
As much as I want to be there when we get our omega back, I know I’m needed here. I will not abandon my pack brother in his time of need. I sit back down and pull my chair forward to be closer to him.
Reaching out my hand, I clasp his in mine and give it a squeeze. “Hang tight, brother. We are bringing our omega home.” I know exactly where I belong. I won’t allow another brother of mine to slip between my fingers.