“Not since yesterday,” Bridget says quietly. “He went to the gym with Shane, like they do every Tuesday night.”
I don’t know Trinity and Bridget’s honor guards by more than name and face, but I do know the honor guards have banded together somewhat. That Wednesday, during Omega Seminar, is poker night and that a few of them work out together when we’re otherwise safely occupied.
“He’s been like her shadow the past few days,” Alyssa says quietly.
“I mean, all of the guys have been a little more careful lately,” Ellie says. “Since Grace went missing.”
Bitsy shakes her head. “Nah, this was something new.”
Something like Trinity revealing a violent, destructive and unpredictable alpha’s darkest secret. Something like his hand covering her mouth, his scribe at her neck, bidding her to come quietly.
I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. The junior omega could just be fighting off a cold, resting in her nest after a visit to Doc. What I saw from Rad could have been nothing more than a dark fantasy. But I know better, and so does Trinity. She knew she was taking a risk in telling me what she did.
But hecouldn’tknow she told me. We were safe inside the omega residence wards, Marcus watching over us the entire time, and I’ve only told two others, both of whom I’m certain kept my confidence. I was careful not to tie what I’d learned back to her.
Leigh sets her bag down and looks over to Trinity’s empty seat and rolls her eyes. “I do hope you all realize that none of you are above my teachings. Even Miss Wells is only ever here because she has to be.” She looks around the room, determined to share her miserable mood with all of us—as though we weren’t all scared and depressed enough already. “You all think you’ll be the omega that lives her own life, not bound by the responsibilities of a pack or thatyourpack will be different.” She sighs. “I wish you’d learn this lesson from me. From someone who actually cares about you. But some of you are determined to make your own way. And you’ll learn the truth the hard way. No alpha wants an omega who’s different. They want a biddable omega to breed and keep their homes.”
Saints, it’s worse than her usual warnings.
“That’s bullshit,” Bitsy snarls. “We’re all so much better than that. Especially Trinity.”
Leigh stares levelly at Bitsy. “I know it’s bullshit, Miss Jordan. And that is the lesson. Take it to heart.”
* * *
On Thursday morning,I walk out of the omega residences into utter chaos.
“What on earth is going on?” Alyssa asks. “And where’s Darika? She… she always walks me to class.”
Shouts ring out from the distant quad as we make our way down the walking path toward it.
My shoulders pinch, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. I already know what we’ll find out when we reach the quad.
Trinity Wells is missing.
I sprint forward, Marcus right on my heels, and head right into the chaos, nearly careening straight into Darika, who shoves past me and pulls Alyssa into her arms, tucking the petite omega beneath her chin. “Back to the cottage, Lys. Now.”
Alyssa startles and looks up at her alpha, clearly not used to hearing the bark of a command in her voice. “What’s happened?”
“An omega is missing. Campus is going into lockdown again.”
Saints alive.
I scan the chaos, hoping to make sense of any of it, but all I see is Jaime Brentwood, his eyes red from tears, his clothes rumpled.
I draw out my scribe but it’s wholly unnecessary. He falls on his knees before me, hands clasped in supplication. “Please tell me you’ve seen her. Please, Juniper, I’m fucking begging. Tell me you know something?”
Satisfaction whispers through my mind and I jerk my head up. I know the tenor of those thoughts, have heard them in my own head too many times before.
Rad.
I search the quad, but I don’t see him. All I see is the figure that seems to follow me wherever I go. The masked figure’s horned head tilts and wave after wave of sick satisfaction crashes into me.
So it is Rad my unconscious mind seems to torment me with.
“Girlie, what the hell are you looking at? We have to get back.”
She truly doesn’t see him?
