He’s curious, rather than scornful, and hope flickers to life in my chest as I look to Bastien. He’s listening in and gives me the thumbs up.
“I think you’re someone who can see the cruelty in the omega creed,” I say quietly. “Someone who may know what it feels like to care for an omega.”
His sharp inhale tells us everything I need to know.
Fucking ace, Bastien. My brother’s a genius.
He grins at me knowingly. An unsufferable genius.
“There is an omega who needs help,” I break the silence with a certainty I didn’t feel before. “I never knew you to be the type of alpha to follow the creed, and the video that popped up recently told me that you might be the right person to help us with a… difficult situation.”
Devlin clears his throat. “I’m handing you over to our pack leader.”
* * *
I gotta admit, he came through for us. When we set out Ava’s situation and he told us he’d be in touch, we only had to wait a few hours before he called back with an update.
Two doctors with fake identification set up by Bastien? Check.
An ambulance for transport? Check.
One slightly sociopathic getaway driver? Check.
I’ve been on edge for twenty-four hours, worrying about my pack, worrying about Nash, worrying about our home. Even worrying about this damned omega.
There’s movement on the monitor mounted to the wall of the ambulance, and I turn towards it, pulling Max with me.
“They’re on the move,” I call to Devlin, and he nods.
I push Max towards the corner and hand him a plastic sheet. “Stay hidden. If they see you, we’re fucked.”
Nodding, he folds himself into the corner. As I turn away, he reaches out for my arm, grasping it.
“Luc...”
I can see the pain in his face. Whoever this omega is, she’s got a hold over my packmate.
I squeeze his shoulder softly. “We’re here now, Max. We won’t let her go.”
Relief stands out on his face as I turn away, shrugging on the white coat. We’re all doctors here. Or that’s what we need them to think.
Devlin’s packmate, Ace, pulls the door open and stands back to let his companion climb in first. Ezra nods to me and I reach forward to help him lift the trolley behind him.
The scent hits me first, and I choke, my eyes watering.
It burns up my nostrils, pushing me back a step. I can scent the vanilla underneath, but it’s twisted, soured. It smells fuckingwrong.
I need to be professional, to play my part, but I can’t stop my eyes sliding to the omega on the trolley. Whimpers crawl out of her throat, hoarse and rasping as though her throat’s filled with blades.
A hand prods my back sharply as a snarl curls from the back of my throat.
I bite it back, my breathing harsh as I grip the edges of the trolley and lift her in. Ace Winter meets my eyes, his eyes acknowledging my horror with his own.
Fuck, I hope Max can’t see this.
Ezra calls out to the men outside.
“Thank you, gentlemen. We’ll meet you at the specified location. You have the tracker?”
