"I need air," I said, standing abruptly, "to go home. To my apartment. I need to see something that's mine."
"We'll go with you," Rowan said.
"No. I need to do this alone." I looked at them. "Please give me a few hours. Let me process this."
They didn't look happy about it, but they nodded.
"Take your phone," Kellan said. "Call us if anything feels wrong."
"I will."
I grabbed my jacket and was halfway to the door when my phone rang.
Kira's name flashed on the screen.
"Hey," I answered. "What's going on?"
"Naomi." Her voice was shaking. "You need to get home. Now."
My blood ran cold. "What happened?"
"Mrs. Chen from upstairs called me. Our apartment—someone broke in. Destroyed everything. She said it looks like someone was searching for something."
"I'm on my way."
I hung up and turned to find both Alphas already grabbing their keys.
"We're coming with you," Rowan said. It wasn't a question.
I didn't have the energy to argue.
The apartment looked like a war zone. Furniture overturned. Drawers emptied onto the floor. My carefully organized closettorn apart, clothes scattered everywhere. And on the wall above my bed, spray-painted in red was a sign.
WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE. WE'RE COMING.
I stood in the doorway, unable to move or breathe.
"Don't touch anything," Rowan said, his phone already out. "I'm calling the police."
"No police. If this is about me being—" I couldn't finish. "Police can't help with this. They'll just make it worse."
My phone rang again. Danny's name this time.
"Naomi. Thank god." He sounded wrecked. "I'm at the building."
"What happened?"
"Someone broke in last night. Flooded the first floor and basement. They destroyed everything. Months of work. And there's a message for you on the wall. What’s going on?"
"What kind of message?"
"A warning. I can send you a picture."
He did and I sighed.
"I'm on my way."
I hung up and looked at Kellan and Rowan. "My learning center. Someone hit that too."
