“I’ll do the food,” Jake says quietly. He’s followed me in, Theo at his side. Theo drops down on Oscar’s other side, our eyes meeting over his bowed head. “Stay there, Oz. I’ve got it.”
We sit there in silence. But my hand grips Oscar’s knee, Theo’s hand there on the other side.
Pack.
None of us bother with the table. Jake hands out plates, settling opposite us on the floor. “I’ll go shopping this week. Get some meals in.”
“I’ll work through laundry,” Theo mutters. “We can set up a rota for the house. Share the load.”
My eyes drop to the chicken sandwich. “We’ll do better, Oz.”
He doesn’t respond. When I glance at him, his eyes are closed. Guilt settles in my stomach, a heavy rock.
Jake leans forward, lifting Oscar’s plate from his lap. “Let him sleep for a bit.”
“He was right,” Theo murmurs. He takes a bite of his sandwich.
“He usually is.” Following Theo’s lead, I force the food down. “About what part?”
“We’re going to burn ourselves out. Hell, we already are.” Jake sets his plate aside. “We need to make this work. For all of us.”
“How do we do that?” I lean back and cross my arms, careful not to disturb Oscar. “I don’t like leaving her there alone.”
“No. But Abrams is right. He keeps talking about omega and alpha physiology. How fascinating it is, because it’s so closely linked to our emotional state.” Theo’s eyes glitter as he sits up. “An omega responds better to a strong pack. If we’re not taking care of ourselves, she might be picking up on that through the bond, even though it’s not final.”
“Yet.” I force the word out by habit alone.
“We need to build a pack for her to come back to,” Jake says roughly. “That’s what you mean.”
“Exactly—,”
Oscar’s phone blares on his lap. He flies forward within half a second, fingers pressing the screen without thought. His voice is still half-asleep. “Yes?”
Every sense goes on high alert when he stills, all of us stiffening.
My throat closes in panic. “Is it Kenny?”
We shouldn’t have left her.
He waves a hand at me, frowning as he listens. “Say that – say that again?”
Any trace of tiredness vanishes from his face. “We’re on our way.”
He’s up and halfway out of the kitchen before the rest of us are on our feet. “In the truck,now.”
“What the fuck happened?” I race after him as he strides for the door, yanking his shoulder to turn him around to face me. “Is shehurt?”
“No,” Oscar breathes. He stares at me. “She’s… we need to see. I don’t know what this is.”
***
The four of us tumble into the Center in a scramble of panic. Oscar shoves us toward the security room. Joel, an older beta with snark to match Kenny’s and a smirk on his face, waits by the door. “Took you long enough.”
I’d normally have space for a small smile at least, but not today. “What the hell’s going on?”
“See for yourself.” He steps back, pointing. “That’s the camera for your hallway, and the one side of her room. Take a look.”
We all step closer, surrounding the small screen.
