“You taste delicious, love,” I grin at her, delighted when her scent jumps and her eyes dilate.
That’s right. I’m not holding back anymore, baby.
If she wants me, I’m all in. She stares at me wordlessly before biting her plump lip, taking a large sip of her coffee. Noting her happy look, I make a mental note to get her some decaf. I don’t think she’d thank me for cutting off her apparent caffeine addiction.
Clearing my throat, I draw Ava’s attention as she finishes her breakfast. “I wanted to talk to you about something,” I hedge.
Her eyes flit to Luc, a hint of nervousness entering them as she puts her cup down. “Go for it, Doc.”
Pushing out a breath, I explain the message Devlin left behind for her.
She frowns at me, her brow wrinkled as she looks between me and Luc. “I don’t know any other omegas.”
Luc and I exchange concerned frowns. “They said her name was Harper,” I offer.
Ava pales, the warm tones of her skin leeching to gray. “Harper?” she whispers.
She sways in her seat dangerously, and I get to her first, catching her as she falls. Sweeping her up, I pull her into my lap, Luc cursing behind me.
“What the fuck, Max?” he hisses, and for once I agree with him.
Ava’s eyes flutter, and I check her pulse as Luc fusses around her. Her hazel eyes fly open and she tries to sit up. I steady her with a hand on her shoulder.
“Steady, love,” I say grimly. “You fainted on us.”
She grabs hold of my wrist, her small hand curling into me. “Max,” she pleads. “I need to speak to her. I need to talk to Harper. Now,please.” Her breathing speeds up.
“Okay,” I say gently. “Okay, love. We’ll call them now. But I need you to relax for me. Take deep breaths.”
Ava nods, taking a glass of water from Luc as I pull my phone from my pocket and dial the number for the Winter pack.
A male voice answers. “Max?”
Pushing out a breath, I watch Ava’s face as she grips Luc’s hand like a lifeline.
“Ava would like to talk to Harper,” I say. “Is she there?”
“Shit—,”
There’s a flurry of motion on the other line, and I hit the speaker button as Ava stares at the screen, her lips trembling. She looks… devastated.
“Ava?Ava?”
A warm, husky voice calls frantically down the phone, and Ava claps her hands to her mouth with a wail as she starts to sob brokenly. Luc gathers her into his lap, soothing her quietly as the Winter omega calls her name frantically down the phone.
“H-Harper,” Ava croaks. The line goes silent, and a muffled sob comes through.
“Oh, Ava, honey” Harper whispers. “I thought—”
“I thought you were dead,” Ava interrupts. “I thought you were dead, Harper!”
“I’m not dead, honey,” Harper whispers down the phone. “I’m good. I’m well, and I’m so damned happy—,” her voice breaks off, and I hear soothing male murmurs on the other line. Ava stares at the screen, tears trailing down her face as Luc rocks her gently.
“I thought she was dead,” she whispers vacantly, and I exchange a glance with Luc.
There’s a sniffle on the line, and Harper comes through again. “Where are you?” she says urgently. “God, Ava, I have so much –so much– to tell you. Are you… are you safe? Are they taking care of you?”
Ava whimpers, and the sounds tugs at my heart as she drops her face into her hands. “Yes,” she says. “They are. Theyreallyare. But Harper, I…I have a lot to tell you too.”
