“Any word?” Mordecai says in a terse voice and follows Legion into an old classroom.
I watch the side of his face from the shadows. This is a side of him I haven’t seen yet. This is a distressed, upset alpha who is on the verge of panic.
“No, nothing.”
“Where was she supposed to be? Show me a map.” Mordecai barks to the room.
Three alphas rush off, trying to escape his wrath. She? Does he have an omega? Hot, sticky rage fills my chest and spreads out. I know it’sirrational; I know I don’t know this alpha, but I’ll kill any omega who tries to take him.
When I look up, Mordecai has his eyes on me. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but that look takes my breath away.
“She was supposed to be here on the first night. We haven’t heard anything from her since she left the checkpoint,” Legion says in a strained voice.
Mordecai swings and throws his fist straight into the wall. It cracks up and down, and when he pulls back, there’s a fist-size dent in the bricks.
I stare at the spot, unease slithering through me. Who is she?
“We need her. In order to survive, it’s imperative!” Mordecai shouts to the room.
An omega and an alpha peer in, spot him, and run past the door.
I fold my arms over my chest and glare at the alpha I thought I was coming to know. I am completely unimpressed with this behaviour. Even if his scent of steel and leather has intensified, making my mouth water.
“Who is she?” Jarek asks from beside me.
A small sound of protest slips out. I wasn’t aware of him getting so close to me. His scent is something so comforting that I didn’t even see a reason to alarm to it. I watch him watch me out of the corner of my eye.
Mordecai turns and sees us. His gaze lands on Jarek, but he turns to me when he explains.
“Taryn is an omega, a very skilled and talented omega who is here with a specific purpose.”
“And you didn’t bother with a backup plan?” I ask dryly.
Mordecaiglares at me.
“What? You promised us a conversation,” I say pointedly. “I—”
“Well, it's going to have to wait. I need to go out into the city and check the safe houses and see if I can find her.”
Safe houses?
Find her?
I clench my hands into fists and grit my teeth, feeling my temper start to ignite again. I look between Mordecai and Legion, who is carefully not looking at me. Marshall slips into the room, clearing his throat. Bear comes in behind him with Banks and Charlotte, but their arrival breaks the growing tension between Mordecai and me.
“If this is a Resistance meeting, I’ll be off,” I say.
Mordecai opens his mouth, frustration written all over him, but Marshall cuts him off.
“Actually, we’d love your input, Keres. You know how the enemy thinks.”
I don’t know whether to be depressed over that or proud. My claim to fame, understanding the assholes who want to kill me. How thrilling it is to be me.
“We’re going to need to go look for her, but we assumed she would be with you,” Bear says to Mordecai, ignoring Marshall.
Mordecai snarls. “Why would you assume that? I had Keres; you left us, remember.”
He had me? Like I’m in inconvenience?
