I didn’t move. Vandle was tense by the door, a massive, silent shadow, eyes darting around the photos on the wall like one might jump out. He looked sickly, but I could feel how alert he was in the bond—pure adrenaline keeping him awake.
I know me and Phantom had tried to take it from him a few times, but Vandle was a natural pack lead when shit hit the fan. He hadn’t devolved into ferality when he was being tortured, and I’d felt the resolve, as if he knew he couldn’t leave us. His presence right now, when we were all on the brink of snapping, was something to grip onto.
Phantom leaned against the wall, arms crossed, looking for all the world like he was discussing the weather and not a prison break, but I could smell the sharp tang of adrenaline on him, too.
We were all on edge.
George shrugged, though he looked a little thrown as he glanced between us. “We’re here to figure out what’s gone wrong,” he continued, adjusting his tie. “Your assessors will be briefed, but?—”
“Cut the shit,” Vandle rumbled. His voice was deep enough to rattle the glass in the frames on the wall. “We aren't doing interviews. We aren't doing assessments.”
George narrowed his eyes. “You have broken a number of rules bonding an omega down in Anarchy—two, in fact. You aren’t in a position to make demands.”
I froze.
Broken rules?
“We didn't break any rules,” Vandle growled. “We didn’t send the omegas down there. We just made sure they survived.”
“It’s… impossible,” George said, but his voice wavered.
Phantom stepped forward, picking up the thread. “Do you know how many are down there?—”
“Enough.”I could see the bead of sweat on George’s brow. “This… it shouldn’t have happened. Andtwoomegas?”
I cocked my head, trying to understand his nerves.
What did it mean?
My mind was fuzzy from hormones, and the war to keep my aura in control. I couldn’t fail my pack now…
But I don’t think he was the architect. Whoever was threatened by the knowledge of the omegas down in Anarchy, it wasn’t him. If it was, we’d be sent back down—or killed.
He was… caught in the middle?
Phantom and Vandle… they’d understand.
“We’ll sort your pack out,” George went on. “I’ll ensure there’s an investigation. But I must ask that you don’t mention any of this?—”
“We want immediate release,” Vandle said. “No check-ins.”
George swallowed hard. “I can try to fast track you…” He looked flustered. “And… Well, you can’tskipthe check-ins… But… if we get you out—it would be best if some of the guards heard you saying these were the only two omegas down…there…” He trailed off at the sudden crackle of static in the room as we all shifted, straightening.
My blood chilled.
Most of the guards didn’tknow?
That explained the panic.
Vandle pushed himself straight, hand still on his side, but eyes burning. “No fast tracking. We’re leavingtoday.” He snarled. “No check-ins. No nothing. You wipe us from the records—and you’re going to get me in contact with a pack—they’ll pick us up. Otherwise every guard out there will know the truth—it’s that, or you put a bullet in our skulls, but that might just look worse for you.”
There was a long, long pause as George took us in.
Then he was standing from his desk, fiddling with his phone as his eyes darted between us. All he could do was spare us a nervous nod before hurrying past, muttering about getting the arrangements together.
Phantom dropped his voice, eyes fixed on Vandle. “Who are you contacting?”
“I’ll tell you after—though it’s a long shot.” Vandle murmured, so quiet even I barely heard. “Whoever sends those omegas down there keep tight-lipped—” He winced for a moment, and I noticed he adjusted his hand on his side. “But they must be important. We need to be far out of their reach by the time they figure out what just happened.”
