“No one is perfect,” Patrick said.
“She is.”
I looked out the window, trying to slow my breathing.
The interview continued with increasingly invasive questions. I stuck to our agreed-upon plan, even though it made me sick. I told them we followed the DC-specified meal plan and discipline, and that Josie was a good, obedient omega.
My jaw hurt from how hard I was clenching it.
“Alright,” Patrick said, looking at his watch. “That should do it. You’ll be brought back to the lobby, where you’ll wait for the rest of your pack.”
“Is Josie out there?” I asked, already making my way to the door.
“I’m not sure if they’re done with her interview,” Patrick said, rolling his eyes. “What a simp,” he muttered under his breath. Tom chuckled but cut off his laugh with a cough when he caught my glare.
I didn’t care what they thought of me. All I cared about was her.
I threw open the door and faced the two large security guards who had escorted me to the room. They led me back to the lobby.
The empty lobby.
Fuck fuck fuck.
I pushed my glasses up the bridge of my nose and paced.
I didn’t have to wait long before I heard footsteps echoing off the marble floors.
Four guards led Cam into the lobby. I couldn’t see any signs of a fight, but they obviously thought they needed more alphas around Cam in case he got violent. I wasn’t sure if four guards would be enough to subdue him with the white-hot fury I felt through the bond.
The moment the guards backed away, I threw my arms around him. I didn’t care if it made us look weak; I needed my pack brother’s reassurance.
Cam returned my embrace. “You okay?” he asked softly.
I forced myself to pull away and gave him a curt nod.
“Where is she?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“They wouldn’t tell me anything,” he responded, his eyes glinting with steel as he glanced back at the guards lining the room. “Fuck. I need her,” he muttered, clenching and unclenching his fists. “If they don’t bring her out in the next two minutes, I’m going to tear this place apart,” he continued. I placed my hand on his and gave it a squeeze.
I heard footsteps again, and we both turned. Theo emerged from the hallway, flanked by just one guard.That’s a mistake. Most people underestimated Theo, but I’d seen him best Cam in a fight.
Theo’s hair fell messily around his face, and my heart stuttered as I imagined Josie running her fingers through it. He met my gaze, and I saw my own despair and helplessness reflected back at me.
I pulled Theo into a hug and felt a spark of surprise as he returned it. He had gotten so much more comfortable with touch since Josie joined us. He leaned into me, his body trembling.
“Any news?” he asked. Cam and I shook our heads.
Just then, I scented an omega. My heart leapt in my chest even though I knew it wasn’t Josie—it was too much like caramel instead of our omega’s sweet vanilla. I searched the lobby, trying to find the source.
Amirah strode towards us, and relief washed through me. She would tell us what was going on. She was smiling, but as I watched her, I noticed the tightness of her eyes, the slight forced edge of the curve of her lips. Alarm bells rang in my chest.
“Good afternoon, Pack Ashwood,” Amirah said, stopping in front of us. The air conditioning wafted the acrid, burnt notes of her scent over me, and my panic intensified. “I wanted to be the first to congratulate you. You’ve been officially approved as a pack.”
“That’s good news,” I stuttered when it became apparent that Theo and Cam were too far gone to respond.
“Indeed,” she said, her eyes flitting side to side. “Josie should be out in just a few moments.”
The statement should have filled me with relief, but the feeling of wrongness grew in my chest.
