Someone darts in front of me, and there are furious growls from all around us as the tension ratchets up by a good hundred degrees.
The omega darts between us as one of her alphas shouts, her face tight. “That’s enough.” She turns to Rogue. “You deserved that. You know you did.”
He grunts, pushing at his nose. “Helluva shot.”
Then she turns to me. “Rogue has spent the last five years trying to track Gabrielle down. To apologize, to try to put things right. He didn’tknow.”
Hudson scoffs. “Bullshit. He knew enough.”
“You’re right. I did. But I didn’t realize the extent of it.” Rogue looks around, his eyes landing on the omega. “Not until we met Harper.”
My heart hurts for Gabrielle. “She wasfifteen.”
Hudson snaps his teeth. “She’s scared of the dark because of you, asshole.”
Axel reappears, and I look for Gabrielle. He shakes his head. “She’s not here. She left.”
Everyone stops. “She left?” Hudson repeated. “What do you mean, she left?”
Nate gives him a hard stare. “You tell us. You were here.”
Hudson runs a hand over his face. “Shit. I wasn’t thinking – where is she?”
Nate is already heading to the door. “I don’t know, but I’m going to find her.”
I stop Hudson from following. “Stay here, in case she comes back.”
Rogue steps forward. “We can help.”
His pack nods in agreement, but I shake my head. “Like hell you will.”
The omega turns to me. “Don’t be an idiot. They’re professional trackers. If she’s run off, they’ll be able to find her.”
I consider it for a second, my lips thinning. “Fine. But keep your distance if you see her.”
We all move out, eyes and phones watching us go. Out in the street, we split up into groups, one of our pack and one of theirs. Rogue gets placed with me, and I fight back the instinct to snarl at him as we stalk down the street. My focus is on getting to Gabrielle as soon as fucking possible and bringing her home. I’d work with the devil himself if I had to.
We check every alleyway, every possible route that she might’ve taken if she came this way. There’s no sign of her, no hint of her scent in the air. Frowning, I’m turning to Rogue, about to suggest we retrace our steps when we hear it.
Up ahead, tires squeal, the scent of burning rubber in the air. The air disappears from my lungs as a terrified scream rents through the air.
Gabrielle.
ChapterForty-Four
Gabrielle
Storming along the street, I tuck my hands under my armpits for warmth, cursing myself for walking out of there without a jacket.
Hell, walking out of there at all. I should have stayed.
I really need to stop running away from things.
The fog of anger and upset starts to clear, helped along by the chill of the night air, and I take a deep breath. So I saw the alpha who took me from the traffickers and straight to the OC.
Maybe he didn’t know. So many people didn’t. Maybe he did. Does it matter?
More rational thoughts start to appear, until I’m chewing on my lip in agitation. I just left Hudson there to clean up my mess.
