They scream and demand answers and information. I just watch, amused at the chaos that is unfolding. The room is grey, with huge windows that look out over the city. A hundred people had been summoned for this meeting, and they are all facing us, expressions angry and fearful.
I glance across the room to where Rolly is twirling a pen in his fingers, around and around. He looks amused and bored. Blaze has his eyes closed and appears to be asleep, while Sage and King are taking notes on who is who.
I rub my hand over my face and look at Vale. His temper is getting shorter and shorter.
We answer more than an hour’s worth of questions before Vale stands up, does up his suit jacket, and walks out without a backward glance.
I roll up the sleeves of my black shirt, grumbling under my breath as I follow him out. “How much longer is this going to take? It’s been three weeks; I want to get back there.”
“Hello?”
I turn and find an impressive alpha with sandy brown hair and a square jaw. His eyes are shrewd, and he’s taller than all of us by two inches. I don’t like the way he looks down on me.
“My name is Detective Roseland, and I just want to ask a few questions.”
He could have come in with something charming and friendly, but I think he knew we would see through it. It’s all business and caution with him.
I relax my limbs and lean on the wall, watching him with a sardonic smile on my lips. He tenses slightly at the change in our posture. One predator to another. I silently tell him that whatever he wants he’s not getting it.
“What can I help you with?” Vale asks politely.
“I would just like an account of what happened on your hiking trip.”
“I thought the coroner said it was an accident?” Dakota snaps. “Do you people think someone can control a hive of bees now?”
The detective’s expression barely flickers. Oh, this alpha is good, and he’s already convinced it's murder, he just doesn’t know how.
“I want to know what you know about Bonnie Sanderson?”
My temper flares. “Nothing.”
“Nothing?” The alpha looks down at his notes. “Aren’t you supposed to be her scent matches, the ones who rejected her?”
I snarl. “Bonnie was with us when it happened.”
“Convenient,” he says coldly.
“No, she literally was caged to her car, telling us she wouldn’t see us again after today and thanking us for being so professional when it happened.”
“She was?” This is clearly news to him.
“Yes,” Dakota says. “It was an extremely painful and private moment for all of us.”
The alpha bows his head. “I see.” He pulls out his phone and looks at it. “Just one more question. Were there many accidents on the hike?”
“We were all extremely unlucky, but the only person who nearly died on the hike was Bonnie when Rojer pulled her over the cliff.”
The alpha’s head snaps up. “Did she hold a grudge after that?”
“No, she was too busy trying not to get raped by seven alphas.”
His eyes widen.
“Did your source not tell you about the stunt Kevin pulled when he cut her bag loose and filled it with rocks? All our suppressant patches were in there. She was a wounded omega, and she tried so hard to appear like she wasn’t injured so she wouldn’t trigger anyone’s instincts. Bonnie is the most professional omega I have ever met,” I snap. I’m speculating about Kevin being the one to mess with her bag. I don’t know which of the three did it, just that it’s the only thing that makes sense. Serial killer Marrow sabotaged us on that raft, and I’m not sure why.
“She was in pain and struggling with her fear, which we could all smell like burnt biscuits. It was intoxicating. But she stayed with us, guiding us home, nothing but a professional. I have nothing but the utmost respect for that omega, whether she is mine or not,” Vale says clearly.
The detective nods his head, looking thoughtful. “Okay, thank you so much. By the way, what’s next?”
