“What exactly is our plan here?”
My words pierce the silence blanketing the car. Gabrielle jumps, her cheeks flushing in the brief flashes of street lights shining into the car as she turns to me.
“Our plan?” she asks.
Cocking my head, I tap the bags that sit between us on the seat.
“For giving out the food,” I clarify. “Is there a set distribution area?”
Hudson’s eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror, his lips turned down.
Gabrielle looks startled.
“I… no, I don’t think so.”
“So we just turn up? And hand it out?”
She starts to fidget, her hands yanking her sleeve down as she fiddles with a loose black thread on the cuff of her black shirt. “I guess…,”
She visibly deflates in front of me, and I sigh.
“We’ll have a look around,” I say more gently. “It’s just… the dungeon isn’t a nice place at night, Gabrielle.”
Her lips purse, but she nods as she looks away from me. Hudson rolls his eyes at me in the mirror, widening them enough to make me frown.
I’m right, though.
I’ve been to the dungeon before, part of volunteering days I run at the office. It’s a hive of bustling activity, a sea of makeshift tents stretching out for over a mile. The people are a mixed bunch of betas, alphas, and even some omegas around the edges.
My shoulders stiffen. The closer we get, the more I think that this isn’t a good idea.
Hudson pulls the car to a stop a few minutes’ walk away, twisting in his seat to smile at Gabrielle.
“You ready?” he asks. She slides a nervous look towards me before she nods.
She takes off with more assurance than I expected, weaving her way down towards the flickering lights. Hudson and I hustle after her, our hands filled with bags.
“I’m not happy about this,” I mutter to him as we follow her.
“You think?” his voice drips with sarcasm. “But she’s right about wasting food. And I think she’s more familiar with this place than you realize, Cade.”
Blinking, I nearly stop. “You think she’s stayed here before?”
Hudson shrugs. “Maybe.”
I chew on the thought as we start to duck between tents, Hudson and I spreading out on either side of Gabrielle and making sure she’s between us.
Our omega moves with purpose, making her way in a set direction.
She’s definitely familiar with this place.
My hackles rise. I don’t want her anywhere near it, the instinct to bundle her up and take her back to the car biting at me.
“Gabrielle,” I call in a low voice. “Where exactly are we going?”
She stops short, turning to face us with a look of apology on her face.
“Sorry. I… know someone here. Someone who can help.”
