Vee hums thoughtfully. “Sounds good to me. Maybe Sage would like to see what happens to brats in this household.”
Sage looks like she’s stopped breathing. I don’t think she knows quite how to handle our brand of flirting yet.
“Nah,” Brooks says, scooping her into his side. “You don’t need to worry about that, do you, Petal? You’re our perfect omega.”
She flushes, shuffling her feet as her scent spikes. I grin and slip my hand into Vee’s again, swinging it between us with a new bounce in my step as we head into the coffee shop.
Apparently, Brooks doesn’t like coffee, and for some reason Sage is mortified by it.
“Why did you drink it?” she whispers, distressed eyes wide as she stares at him. “You could have told me, I could have?—”
To my surprise, he silences her with a kiss. That’s a new development that I am thrilled to see.
When he pulls away, he scent marks her cheek, then takes her fidgeting hand in his.
“I was happy to drink it, because it came from you. And I’d do it again. I have no regrets, and I don’t want you to either.”
Aaaand now I think we all have heart eyes for the burly alpha.
“Sooo,” I say, interrupting the conversation before Sage can get down on herself again. “Bakery? Or candy shop?”
“It’s got to be too early for candy, right?” Brooks says, looking at me like I’ll agree with him.
I scoff and pat him on the chest as I walk by. “It’s never too early for sweets, alpha daddy.”
As we’re walking to the candy shop, Sage stops dead in her tracks. I had stolen her hand from Brooks, and it jerks out of mine.
“What—” I spin around to see her staring into a window filled with notices. Most of them are offering services or advertising of some sort, but one of them has a picture on it.
A picture ofher,with the words:
Have you seen this omega? Deemed a risk to herself, possibly lost or kidnapped. Call with any information or leads.
“Oh shit,” I say, drawing Brooks and Vee’s attention.
She stumbles backwards, shoulders hunching up to her ears with her eyes fixed on the flier. I’m frozen, no idea what todo besides stare. Her breathing turns shallow and her fingers twist together as she brings them to her mouth, biting the skin around her nails.
Hurting herself.
“Sage,” I say, but she turns around as though she might run.
I don’t know where she intended to go, but it just so happens Brooks is there to catch her. He scoops her into his arms and immediately turns around, stalking back to the car with her tucked into his chest.
I hurry after them, running to keep up with Brooks’ long legs, while Vee takes a photo of the “missing person” flier.
We get Sage home and tuck her between Vee and Brooks on the couch, with me sitting sideways on the floor between her feet. I loop my arms around her legs and run my hands up and down them, hoping to offer whatever comfort I can to us both. It’s hard to know what to do when I’m also feeling out of sorts. I’m not used to being anxious or worried, but the fears swirl through my mind, tightening my lungs.
Is she a danger to herself? I don’t think so. She hasn’t told us much about her past, but I think it’s safe to assume the assholes are lying in an effort to punish her and get her back. It makes me wonder what else they’d do, how low they’d stoop to achieve their goals.
Brooks and Vee are both purring, their arms around Sage as she trembles between them. Their purrs aren’t meant for me, but it’s comforting to hear all the same.
“What are you thinking, Petal? Please talk to us,” Brooks says.
Sage shakes her head, eyes fixed on her lap. “I don’t know.Too much. My brain feels like it’s going to explode. I can’t go back to them, Brooks. I can’t.”
Her voice hitches on the last word, and my heart cracks in my chest.
“We won’t let that happen, Sage,” Vee says. “We’ll get to the bottom of it, and for now, one of us will be with you at all times. Even if they do find you here, we won’t let them take you. You’re an adult, you have the right to make your own decisions.”
