Maybe her time at the omega compound is finally catching up with her. She’s adjusted admirably well to the pack – to us – and even though she’s seemed to be growing brighter every day, we all know that trauma can manifest itself in different ways. Actually, it might help for her to talk to Ezra, and I glance at the phone. I’ll call him today. It’s something I should have done sooner.
“When are you back at work?” Gabe asks.
It’s unusual for us all to be home for this long, but I was able to get us some compassionate leave after our last mission when I explained that our pack had been allocated an omega. We had a substantial amount of time off built up anyway, and I fully plan on making the most of this time with Harper as a pack before Ace, Devlin and I are pulled back out on active duty.
“Probably another two weeks or so,” I say, drumming my fingers on the desk. “What will you do when we’re out again?”
“Enjoy Harper all to myself,” he smirks and waggles his eyebrows, and I throw a pen at him, laughing. It feels good to have this easy camaraderie between us again. After Gabe’s attack, we all withdrew in different ways. Harper has brought this pack together again in ways she doesn’t even realize.
Thinking of her, worry trickles through me, and I stand up. “Actually, I think I’m going to check on her now. If she’s ill we might have to call the compound to send a doctor out, so we’ll need to be prepared.”
Gabe’s face tightens at the mention of the compound, but he’s right behind me as I head up to Harper’s room. Her door is slightly ajar, and I look back at Gabe, who shrugs.
Pushing the door gently so it swings open, Gabe peeks over my shoulder as we see the empty room. Harper’s blankets are crumpled, her book abandoned on the cover. The room feels… cold. Her bathroom door is open too, lights off. Frowning, I glance back at Gabe. “She must be downstairs after all.”
Gabe checks the bathroom to be sure, and we both split up to head downstairs and look. The weight in my chest is getting heavier, telling me that something’s wrong. Our agitation flickers in the bond, and Ace pops his head out of the snug doorway.
“Is Harper in there?” his eyes widen slightly at my bark. It’s been a while since I snapped at them like that. “No, I thought she was still in bed. I haven’t seen her since yesterday.”
Gabe pelts up from the gym, Devlin close behind him in his gym kit, sweat dripping from his face.
“Where is she?” Dev asks, mouth twisting in concern. Ace looks between us, worry creasing his brow. “Is she not in her room?”
Gabe and I shake our heads in unison.
“Split up,” I say urgently. The pack scatters and I start ripping open doors down the corridor, breathing deeply for any hint of Harper’s cinnamon scent in the air. I check cupboards, behind doors, even in our airing cupboard, yanking blankets and bedding out in case she’s managed to climb in, and there’s no sign of her. The anxiety coming through the bond tells me that the others are having no luck, and we come together in the kitchen.
Ace is pacing, his hands locked behind his head, and Gabe wrings his hands frantically. Devlin’s face is a mask, but the bond is screaming with his agitation. “We’ve looked everywhere in the house. Where could she be?”
I glance outside. “Maybe she went for a walk.” Ace and Gabe immediately throw themselves out of the door, and I hear them calling out as they start to look around the house. Devlin’s fingers tighten against the chair he’s holding, and I hear a slight crack as the abused wood protests. “She can’t be out there. Her collar won’t allow her to get that far from the house.”
“Unless she’s taken it off.” My mouth tightens at the thought. There’s a shock trigger embedded, so if she’s tried it…
Gabe and Ace reappear. “There’s no scent out there at all. I don’t think she’s left the house,” Ace mutters. Gabe is thinking, his face focused in intense concentration as he retraces Harper’s steps.
“We’ve checked everywhere,” Dev throws out, his voice a growl of concern. “Where else could she be?”
Gabe’s head shoots up and he dives past us, pushing Devlin out of the way as he rips the door to the walk-in freezer open. He disappears inside as Dev shakes his head.
“There’s no way,” he begins, but his eyes widen. His snarl is low and furious, and he disappears after Gabe just as Ace and I catch it.
The smallest hint of cinnamon.
“Fuck,” Ace snarls. I throw myself after them, praying that we’ve got it wrong, that Harper’s not been stuck inside this freezing container for god knows how long.
I’m barely past the entrance when Gabe’s howl of agony rips through the air. His emotions crash through the pack link and I stagger to the side, throwing my hands out to the wall. The ice burns and I rip my hand back as I move towards Gabe in the corner.
He’s moaning wordlessly, pulling Harper into his arms. Her beautiful golden eyes are closed, her skin mottled with grey and her lips blue. Her bare feet dangle as he balances her, the redness of her skin screaming frostbite.
Dev is on his knees next to them, frantically feeling for a pulse. “I can’t feel anything – fuck – princess, can you hear me?”
Ace pushes past me where I stand, frozen with indecision. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to fix this.
Ace bellows something at me, and I ignore him, staring at Harper’s tiny body blankly. He shakes me, and sound filters back into my ears.
“What do we do? Rogue!” his tone is pleading, and I snap out of it.
I reach Gabe in a second, his howls not stopping as he cradles her tenderly, pushing her hair away from her face. I lean down and pull her into my arms. Turning, I race for the exit, the warmth of the kitchen hitting me like a brick as I run through it and up the stairs, careful not to jostle Harper as I shout instructions over my shoulder.
