“I get it,” he said. His voice was a quiet whisper, and full of far too much compassion. I didn’t deserve it. I couldn't even save my omega.
At least he wasn’t dismissive. I would have hated that more.
“Tell me about our omega,” he tried again, to the point this time. My alpha started to growl but the fucker just laughed. He might be even crazier than I was.
On a sigh, I looked out the window, watching the buildings thin out and give way to the random lone business or run-downgas station. Then we were back in society again. The buildings upkept, streets clean, people filling the sidewalks.
“I can’t.” My voice broke before I took a breath and steadied it. “Not yet. But, her mom was about as useless as mine was.”
I wanted to give him the full picture. He deserved to know what we were getting into. What kind of mess he was about to clean up for me.
“She was an omega that never made it anywhere in life. Probably was offered some kind of deal from some shitty pack, but, of course, those assholes never follow through once they get what they want. Rinse and repeat.”
“So, she took it out on her daughter?” he bit out, hands clenching the steering wheel hard enough his knuckles turned white.
If he thought hearing it was rough, it was nothing on witnessing it over the years when I was too young to be able to do anything about it.
That day was one I’d never be able to forget. The way Aries tore out of that trailer, her body already covered in blood and bruises, eyes wild and terrified. She looked at me like I could fix it all for her, and god… I fucking tried.
“The day she disappeared was the day she designated,” I managed to speak again. “I think it was the worst I’ve ever seen her. That bitch beat her black and blue for being an omega. My omega tried to hide what she was, but her mother was feral and out for blood.”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t interrupt. I knew that feeling of helplessness, and oddly, knowing he was suffering through this story eased some of the tightness in my chest.
Maybe there was merit to his pack claim after all.
“I sent her to work that day knowing that her boss would look out for her. She made it, worked some, then when she took out trash someone snatched her in the alley. The only way theywould know where she was, was her ‘waste of fucking space’ mother.”
“She would go that far?” he asked, though he didn’t seem all that surprised, either.
“She wanted to be rid of her for years. She likely saw an opportunity and took it. The old bitch could have just waited. I was getting Aries out of there that night. It was already taken care of.”
“I’d ask how you could hate your own child that much, but I have no delusions about paternalormaternal love,” Ronan said. The urge to ask him for more information was there but I didn’t want distractions. Not tonight. Though, Ronan threw me some information anyway. “In my world, birth order and usefulness are the only things that matter.”
Two different worlds, yet the same old bullshit.
“I confronted her that day. She had a fresh supply of booze and pills all laid out on the table in front of her like a fucking banquet. Anything to get her fix.”
“So, she sold her for money?” Ronan clarified.
“That or they supplied her addiction outright,” I shrugged, trying for nonchalant and failing. “Either way, she sent her daughter to people that she knew exactly what they’d do with her. She’s been guilty since day one.”
“Well, she’ll pay her penance soon, brother,” Ronan promised, a real glimmer of vengeance in his eyes now. He’d heard enough to be invested.
“She wouldn’t outright confess. The bitch played dumb. I went straight to the police, turned in everything I saw and she said. Of course, they didn’t do a fucking thing. They never did. Do you know how many times she was reported over the years? They didn’t fucking care.”
“Well, I fucking care now. Tell me something that’s not depressing about her. What’s her name?”
“Aries,” I whispered, almost reverently. “She was gorgeous. This pretty, little omega with long, blonde hair and more attitude than you could ever imagine. She was tough, too. Snarky and blunt, never taking anyone’s shit. Her mom was her one weakness.”
“I meant what I said about us having reach. We will help find her.”
“I’ve looked for four years,” I replied, leveling him with a serious look. For some reason, I didn’t want him to get his hopes up, to think that he’d find her easily. “I’ve looked for her relentlessly. I’ve hired investigators. She’s gone.”
“You’ve tried all of thelegalroutes,” he clarified, a vicious smile lighting up his face. “You know who we are, so you are well aware that we have contact with people that would do this kind of shit. Not all of them are our allies, but we might have more answers nonetheless.”
“Alright,” I relented, not pushing. I had to keep my head right now.
His smile turned almost wicked, taking away the playful demeanor he had previously, showing his darker side underneath.
