The drive back to our apartment is short, even with a pit stop to grab food to take with us. Excited shouts greet us as we swing the door open, and our little princess slams into our legs, hugging us tight. “You’s home! I missed you so much! Come see what Mommy builded with me!”
I drop the tote and kick the door shut before swooping her into my arms. She shrieks, laughter echoing through the room. Fuck, I missed this.
Hannah takes Foster’s hand as soon as we get close enough to the couch for her to reach him. The oomph that escapes him when she pulls him down to lie with her makes me grin. She presses a kiss to his lips that quickly turns heated, but he ends it before he gets too worked up. “Angel, I missed you like crazy.”
“I missed you, too. Both of you.” Her pretty brown eyes flicker to mine seconds before she tilts her head back and puckers her lips. My brows shoot to my hairline, witnessing her bold and silent demand for a kiss, but I don’t deny her. I’ll take all the kisses she’ll allow me.
“Me next!” Kaitlin shouts from where she’s swung around to cling to my back. Her face jolts forward, cheek turned expectantly toward me. I press my lips to her soft skin and blow a raspberry, reveling in her giggles.
A knock at the door pinches my brows. Who the hell is here to visit uninvited?
Leaving Kait with them, I check the peephole and am greeted by Donovan’s weathered face. He gives me a grim smile when I open the door and welcome him inside. “Pack Wilson, I apologize for the unannounced visit. Foster, I know your heat has just ended, so I promise not to stay long.” He directs the latter to Foster, who is now sitting beside Hannah, their hands tightly entwined.
“What’s going on?” I ask, stepping around him to join my mates.
“Primordial Covenant performed at a show in Buffalo two nights ago. Anti-designation activists targeted their show as a distraction so that Jacqueline Montgomery could attempt to kidnap Omen.”
Hannah sucks in a sharp gasp, face paling. “Is she?”
“Omen is fine. She’s safe, and local agents apprehended Jacqueline,” Donovan reassures her, dropping into a nearby armchair. His elbows rest on his knees as he leans forward, looking exhausted. “Unfortunately, the men working for your sister-in-law knew enough to share with us their plans for Omen, which is why I am here. Current events have made us believe that you and your children may be in danger.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, a growl rattling up my throat as my inner Alpha surges to the front of my mind. Protective instincts kick into overdrive, calling for me to take out these threats before they can harm my pack.
Hannah and Foster press into my side, a purr vibrating through my Omega’s chest as they attempt to soothe me. Even Kaitlin senses my frantic emotions and climbs into my lap to curl under my arm. It takes a minute, but I pull myself together.
“Benjamin and Jacqueline have targeted Omen with the intent to force her to mate with Senator Adam Pierson’s son, allowing them to carry on the Montgomery name.”
“Fucking hell,” Foster curses, his purr stuttering to a stop. Hannah looks furious beside him.
“We believe their inability to reach Omen means they will target you instead,” Donovan tells Hannah.
She nods, already knowing this would be the outcome. I hate it. Hate that she escaped that fucking cult only to have them haunt her every move. It’s utterhorseshit!
“As conniving as my sister-in-law is, I doubt this was her plan. She’s more likely to break my father out of prison than to find an heir to his empire. And Ben—well, he isn’t smart enough. This is my mother’s doing. She holds the reins in this operation.” Disgust lines Hannah’s voice, as does strength. Her resolve would bring me to my knees if I weren’t already sitting. She’s so fucking strong. Still standing against her family when she deserves to relax and let others figure this shit out.
Donovan bobs his head, agreeing with her statement. “That is what we were thinking as well. Unfortunately, we still have no leads as to her whereabouts.”
“She won’t touch them,” I grit out, trying to hold in the anger threatening to burst from my chest.
“I wanted you to be aware of the situation and to know that there are additional agents ready to step in for your protection should you decide you need them. I’ll keep you apprised of further developments.” Donovan stands and brushes his hands down his slacks. “Please be careful.”
He leaves us to ruminate on this development. We’re all quiet as we absorb everything he said. It’s a fucking mess, but so is anything related to the Montgomery cult. Whatever they throw at us, we’ll handle it. Be it my mate’s asshole of a brother or her abusive mother.
“I think I’d like to call Omen,” Hannah whispers, groaning as she pushes to her feet. I jump up and help her stand, palm spreading across her belly to feel our son.
“We brought food, so we can eat when you’re finished.”
“I doubt I’ll be able to stomach anything for a while,” she admits. “Go ahead and eat. I want to hear all about your heat later, Omega.” She winks at Foster, who gives her a half-smile. We watch her walk away, lost for ways to help lighten this burden.
Our lazy day turns into a lazy evening, spent curled in bed with a muted show playing in the background. Foster lies on my left, Hannah on my right. Both their heads rest on my chest, fingers entwined over my stomach. I keep my eyes closed, listening to them share hushed moments from the days we spent apart.
“You were right,” Foster admits, sadness coating his voice. My hand instinctively buries in his hair, a tactic I know centers him.
“About what?” she asks, free hand rising to brush along his jaw. The intimacy wrecks me. I love her. So damn much it feels impossible to express.
Foster sighs and leans into her touch, eyes fluttering closed. “The heat helper. Manny. He was a good one.”
A knowing look enters Hannah’s brown eyes, understanding through only his body language how affected our Omega was by the male Beta. “You connected?” When he nods, she dances herfingertips over his lips, pulling the bottom one free from where it is trapped between his teeth. “Are you going to see him again?”
