I get what he’s saying. I’m worried too.
“She messaged me too while I was sleeping,” I tell him. “It’s killing me that I wasn't there. The text just sounded off. Like she needed me, and I let her down.”
“I feel the same way, Holden. It’s fucking weird. Are you mad? I know I should’ve told you.”
Am I mad? It’s hard to say. If we both weren’t feeling like this, would he have told me, or would I still be in the dark?
“No, I’m not mad. Just no more secrets.” I smile at him, and he nods.
“I wonder what she needed.”
“No clue. Maybe she’ll find a way to message one of us and let us know. I just wish I knew why both of us are attracted to her.”
“I ordered pizza,” Roman announces as he steps into the room, beer in hand, and sits down in his recliner. “Scream. Hell yeah. Billy Loomis is by far the best Ghostface.” This has been an ongoing debate in our house. We all love Billy, but we love to rile Roman up by debating that the others are better.
“He’s okay,” Nash says, already trying to piss him off.
“Okay, you’re fucking insane. You obviously have shitty taste in what’s good and what isn’t,” Roman barks.
I already see Nash jumping at the bit to give him a snarky comeback when the doorbell rings. Not just a ring, but someone is laying on it, like an arrogant ass.
“What the fuck,” Roman growls.
We all jump up and head to the door. Roman beats us, taking hold of the handle and yanking it open. But it’s not the pizza guy, or an unknown stranger being chased by Ghostface. It’s Henry. His lip is swollen, face is bloody, and he has a black eye.
I push past Roman, taking hold of Henry, giving him support because it looks like he’s about to pass out. “What the hell happened to you?” I ask as I guide him inside the house, helping him sit on the couch.
“You were so right about that pack.” His voice cracks as he tries to talk through the pain and hold back a tear.
“They did this to you?” Roman asks him, but it’s as if Henry doesn’t hear him. “Henry,” Roman says his name again, using his alpha bark this time.
“They did, because I didn’t want to join them. I’m so sorry, Holden, if I knew, I would’ve never asked you about her. I’m so sorry.” Henry’s a heaving mess as he rocks back and forth.
“River? They did this because of her?” He nods his head, not even looking me in the eyes.
“Isn’t that the name of your project partner?” Roman asks, slightly confused.
“Yes,” I blurt out, concern marring my face.
“Henry, you better tell us everything and NOW.” Nash’s voice rises with the last word, his own alpha bark projected at Henry.
“Marcus kept going on about how she was meant to be his. That she belonged to his pack.”
Nash, Roman and I all gaze at each other, confused about what the hell Henry’s saying.
“Why would they want a female beta?” I ask.
“She’s not a beta. She’s an omega.” My fucking world starts spinning. I couldn’t have heard him right. River is an omega. Why would she lie about being a beta? Pretend to be one?
“How do you know that?” Nash growls.
“Marcus was supposed to join another pack, but before he turned eighteen, they were killed and their omega was taken. They’ve been watching her brother and found where she was. He wasn’t sure what she looked like at first. They found who they thought she was, but it wasn’t her. They killed her. Then they started checking every place she could go to for help, monitoring them.”
“Can we speed this shit up?” I’m fuming. All this doesn’t make sense. The only thing I do know is that it sounds like River is in trouble and I need to help her.
“He found her, River. But he couldn’t get to her. The pack she’s staying with keeps a tight watch on her. Until now. She just went into heat. She’s using this place called Heatwave and Marcus managed to hack into their records. They found out what pack she was using and waited. They got the call today. When I wouldn’t join them to reclaim her, they did this.”
“They’re going after her?” My heart drops, and I feel like my world is spinning.
