I didn’t relate to her trauma, but I understood she carried something heavy. Much as I might want to hold that weight for her, I knew it was something she had to shed in her own time.
Jazz’s gaze was sympathetic. “We’re taking her to the OHI building so she can stay busy. I’m telling you that in case she hides too long. She does needsomespace, but I think too much would cause damage. Don’t let the others race over when you tell them what’s up. I don’t know her well yet, but I think all of you showing up immediately might break something in her. She wants you there as much as she doesn’t, if that makes sense.”
I nodded stiffly.
Madison’s pain was scorching coals in my chest. Tyler had triggered something in her I didn’t know how to fix. That man had been kicking her over like a child with a block tower for a decade, and now he was spewing lies about her, giving himself what he had systematically denied her for their entire relationship.
Farrah ushered Madison away—the only one looking back apologetically wasn’t the one I wanted. Omega distress hung in the air. Burnt sugar made me nauseated and desperate to coax out her raspberry sweetness.
“Do you want to tell the pack, or do you want me to reach out to Jude?” Jazz asked.
“I guess both.” She knew more details than I did at this point.
“Go home.” Jax set a firm hand on my shoulder. “If you can’t go after your girl, you should at least be home with your pack. I can handle things here and I’ll call in one of the newbies to cover tonight. We’ll hire extras, too. Focus on your family for now.”
“Give us a few minutes to get out of here,” said Jazz. “I’ll call Jude when we get her set up.”
I watched her go, curling my hands into fists and sitting right down on the floor to stop myself from sprinting after them.
“Are you going to be all right to drive?” Jax asked, kneeling next to me.
I shrugged.
“I’ll drive you.”
I didn’t have it in me to protest. Once Jax decided it was okay for us to leave, I followed him out. Sinking into the passenger seat, I pulled out my phone and opened my last message with Madison.
Leo:
I love you
Whatever happens I don’t want you to doubt that
The message went unread in the time it took me to get back to the apartment.
Everyone was in the lobby waiting for me. Alve’s eyes were red-rimmed, feeling everything I did without the benefit of knowing what was going on. I fell straight into Nathan’s arms, his embrace an anchor. He shushed softly in my ear and held me tightly. I listened with half an ear as Jax explained to the others what had gone down.
When I lifted my head, Jax was gone. I pulled Alve into our hug, too, and then Jude. Madison should be right here with us, but instead, she was running.
Jude’s phone rang and he got on a call with his sister. We waited until he hung up before getting on the elevator, our beta explaining the situation to the others while we rode up.
“That explains the security alert I just got,” Alve said, staring at his phone. “I can see her on the camera.”
We all crowded around, watching our omega enter the building with Jazz and Farrah, standing with her eyes closed while she absolutely doused herself with the de-scenting spray she kept by the door to keep her scent off the products. They disappeared briefly, and a few minutes later, Jazz and Farrah departed, Madison locking the door behind them.
Alve’s phone pinged, a notification sliding in then out of view. The sound he let out bordered on hysterical as tears slid down his cheeks.
“What is it?”
“My real estate agent.”
“You found us a pack house?” Jude asked.
“Potentially. She wants us to see it tomorrow.”
We spilled into the apartment and I went straight for a glass of water.
“Tell her we will,” Nathan announced. “We’re thinking positive. If bonds and a baby haven’t convinced Madison we’re serious about sticking around, then maybe a house will. Buy one, put it in her name, let her know she has a home no matter what.”
