Chapter Ten
Lev
“I have news,” Miles said, walking into our home and putting his backpack near the door, along with his shoes.
“About Harper?” Rowan asked. “Is she okay?”
“For now, yes. I’ll tell you what I overheard.”
After listening to Miles, my soul was heavy. Harper’s apartment complex was set for being demolished. The owner was supposed to have stopped renting those apartments six months ago because of foundation and building code violations. The place was unlivable.
My wolf scratched me from inside, demanding I act. Find our omega. Make her safe. “Miles, I won’t be able to live with myself or even sleep at night knowing she might be on the streets or living somewhere worse. I can’t imagine what place is worse, but a seedy motel comes to mind.”
“Fuck!” Our alpha looked at the floor. We were desperate, but our reach was limited. Someone had to do something bold.
It would have to be me. Rowan had made good contact with her and earned some trust. Miles had done what he could. Now, it was my turn. Time to lean in even more.
I told the others I was going on a walk but, really, I was stalking. I was a concerned alpha and my omega in trouble. Sue me.
I went into the bakery and bought croissants for the next morning and sat sipping lukewarm coffee until it closed. Such a creeper.
Only a few minutes later, Harper emerged and turned the sign on the door to closed. “You leaving, or are you going to spend the night?” Her sass came with a side of a smile. My chest warmed.
I walked out and waited for her to lock up. “I was wondering if I might walk you home.”
Happy officially gone. “I don’t know. I can take care of myself.”
“I believe that but it’s late and there are weird people out there. And it’s cold.”
She snorted. “You mean like the kind that hang out at omegas’ workplaces then offer to bring them home.”
I shrugged. “I’m harmless. Mostly.”
“It is nearly dark, and the other day, a group of alphas whistled at me from an alley. Just a whistle, but it freaked me out.”
“Want me to cut their lips off?”
She let out a loud laugh. “All right. You may walk me home.”
Her building lay nearby but in a very unsafe pocket of the neighborhood. She let me walk her to the door and then, surprisingly, asked me to come in. Although neat and tidy, the temperature hovered in the high fifties and the furnishings battered and old. Her table looked like it could barely hold a piece of toast.
“What’s that look for?” she demanded, hands on hips.
“This is not the best part of town, Harper. I’m worried about your safety.”
She nodded. “I know. It was all I could afford. Doesn’t really matter anymore anyway, since I have to move.”
“Miles and Rowan are my packmates,” I blurted, trying to move the conversation forward as fast as possible. My bear wanted to shift right there, put her on our back, and hightail it home.
Anything to get her out of here.
“Rowan from the clinic and Miles from school?”
The very ones. Miles told us about your housing situation. I hope that’s okay.”
She exhaled and bit down on her bottom lip. “Are there only three of you in the pack?”
“Yes.” Only an omega missing. “We met about six years ago. At a matchmaking event. We never found our omega, but we found each other. People didn’t think it would work, but we all work hard and support each other.”
