“Puppy’s room is empty,” Hadeon said. “You can sleep there for the night. Kitten might not be thrilled about it, but she’ll keep her mouth shut until you’re gone, so you don’t have to worry about her. Get some sleep, omega. You’re going to need it.”
There was something endearingly sweet about the way Roman furrowed his brow, his eyes narrowing in Hadeon’s direction while Sidian just scoffed at them both. “Sure thing. Thanks for the files. Hope you guys still find whatever you need to find without Pack Kincaid to stalk.”
“I’m sure we will.” Hadeon offered him a brief smile, though it seemed strained.
Roman slipped an arm around Sidian’s shoulders and led him down the hall of dorm doors to one that stood cracked open, slipping past him to turn on a dim lamp that set on an empty nightstand. Only a digital clock and what looked like the snaking cord of a phone charger sat atop the smooth white surface, though it looked as though it had been chipped in places. There was no scent in the air despite this room belonging to someone, and there were no personal effects. Sidian supposed they might have kept minimalist quarters, but it seemed like the Mambas had already decided their missing alpha was dead.
He sank down on the edge of the mattress, the softness a comfort as he watched Roman shut and lock the door. There was a tension in his broad shoulders that set Sidian’s teeth on edge, his shoulders hunching before he made himself sit up straight. Looking at Pack Kincaid’s familiar faces just had him rattled; there was nothing to be afraid of with Roman. He was the gentlest alpha Sidian had ever known, and that had to count for something.
Roman turned to look at him, and though his face was devoid of emotion, there was a soft relief in his eyes. Hehadbeen worried then. “Can I see what Hadeon gave you? I think the Ultima has a GPS tracker, but I don’t want to use it if I can avoid it. I’d rather follow paper directions.”
Did using a built-in GPS have some danger associated with it? Sidian didn’t know, and he decided he didn’t care as he handed the folder over. Roman knew what he was doing. It was best to follow his lead. “This is them. I’d recognize their faces anywhere. There’s just… A slight development.”
“What kind of development?” Roman asked, flipping open the folder. “None of these names are familiar to me, but fair enough considering they live here in Jersey.”
Sidian swallowed. “They have an omega. So that’s an additional problem.”
“That is an issue to contend with, though if we’re lucky, that omega won’t be treated well and won’t want to stay with them. We might have an ally to consider.” Roman flipped a few pages, studying the text, before snapping the folder shut. “But before we get into this, there’s something else we need to talk about. I have a development of my own we need to discuss.”
That was not what Sidian had wanted to hear. “What happened while you were with the medic? I didn’t even think your wounds were bad enough to need it. I went easy on you.”
The corner of Roman’s mouth twitched as he came to join Sidian on the bed, the folder resting on one knee. “I don't disagree with you, but Captain Nightingale wanted to meet with me in person to discuss something he noticed in the footage. He called my boss to confirm whether or not it was true.”
Sidian tensed. “Stop sounding so fucking ominous. What is it?”
“Lorcan Devereaux brought me into the Vipers because he suspected I was a prime alpha, and he was right.” Romanglanced over at him, but Sidian could only blink at him, his head buzzing with electricity. “And Nightingale believes you might be a prime omega.”
And just like that, everything was fucked.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Dax Kincaid was the second oldest son of Sterling Kincaid and the twin brother of Baxter Kincaid. Raised in a wealthy household and given everything necessary for a young alpha to succeed in life, he graduated college with honors, though he declined the ownership of his father’s business when his father passed away. Roman imagined that likely went to the twin brother and wondered if Dax regretted not forging a more typical life, or if he preferred the power his position granted him.
He was unremarkable beyond his wealth and his status. Intelligent because money would have given him access to private tutors if necessary, powerful because of his family name, with a clean criminal record because nothing ever stuck to the upper echelons of society. He was uninteresting and unimportant, and Roman doubted he would have ever bothered to learn the man’s name if not for what he and his pack had done to Sidian. He was older than both of them, in his mid-twenties, and there were no legal business dealings under his name that could be found.
He was likely making most of his money from the jobs he and his pack took alongside his own family inheritance. Why would he need to work a normal job if he had all of that going for him?
Roman glanced up at his mate as he read from his position on the edge of the mattress; Sidian had retreated to the far corner of the room and sat on the floor, his knees pulled to his slender chest. His eyes were wide and haunted, and he was still reeling from the information Roman had given him. A DNA test would be more conclusive than assumed evidence, but Sidian rejected that outright.
It went unsaid between them it was unnecessary. The shape of their own relationship belied certain things, sure, but there was an entire lifetime of experience Sidian was probably sorting through in his head, realizations coming to light about behavior he might have written off and was now forced to confront. Roman wanted to comfort him, but Sidian would come to him when he wanted that.
Being a prime alpha changed Roman’s life not at all. It made a certain amount of sense to him, and it explained the utter carnage of his presentation. When that alpha tried to take Sidian away from him, it only made sense for Roman to lash out as violently as possible to protect the mate his instincts saw as especially in need of protection and care. It was easy to abandon the mission at the breeding center to protect the omega who needed it most. Even now, though it would be dangerous, he wanted to give Sidian the chance for the kills he needed to live in peace because he wouldn’t be whole without them.
Sidian combed a hand through his hair at long last, his scent wilted as he drew in a slow, deep breath. “That fucks everything up. That’s going to ruin this for both of us. We can’t just… It’s not safe.”
It wouldn’t be safe, but it could be made safe. “I have earplugs you can wear.”
“They got in my head back at the center. I tried to push back, but it was… Fuck, Roe, it was bad.” Sidian cradled his head in his hands, and a soft whine left his lips; Roman had to set the folder aside before he risked scattering the papers to get to his omega quicker. “Don’t you dare fucking come near me. Don’t you even think about it. I swear to Goddess I’ll kill you.”
Roman sank back down. Sidian wouldn’t hurt him, but going against his words was difficult even without the explicit command woven through them. “Talk to me, darling. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“What I’m thinking?” Sidian laughed, but the sound was thin, pained, and his eyes were heavy with something Romandidn’tunderstand. Maybe he couldn’t understand. “It makes too much sense. The way they treated me, the way I justlet themafter a while. I wanted to fight back but couldn’t do it, and that’s fucking terrifying. As soon as Dax got in my head, he had me right where he wanted me.”
“Which won’t happen again,” Roman said. “You won’t be alone. Not this time.”
“No,” Sidian agreed. “Instead, I’m dragging you in there with me so you can see just how bad it’s gonna be when they get me on my knees. For fuck’s sake, what did I do to deserve this?”
Roman slipped off the mattress and crept closer to Sidian, and when his omega didn’t snap at him again, lowered himself on the floor as close as he dared. “They won’t do that to you.”
