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Uriel sighed. Fenn would talk when he was ready. “So, where are we going from here?”

“Spell first,” Bruiser said, turning serious. “If we can get that fucker off your trail, that’s the first thing I want.”

“Fine.” Uriel grumbled, but deep down, it made him feel relieved too.

They got permission to stick around in the waiting room for Uriel to finish his spell work. Then they handed the spell sheet to Maddox so he could activate it at the crime scene.

“Thanks, Mads,” Bruiser said, clapping Maddox on the shoulder.

“Best if you head out now, instead of waiting around for more trouble to find you,” Maddox said.

He dropped them off at a large-chain car rental place, where Bruiser rented a car for a one-way trip.

“You’re coming with us, right?” Uriel said to Fenn. “Back to Cartfalls?”

Fenn sighed, shoulders sagging. “Yeah. I didn’t have much here anyway. At least I’ll know you in Cartfalls.”

“I’ll introduce you to the omegas there,” Uriel said. “They’re a friendly bunch. You’ll make plenty of friends in no time.”

Fenn perked up, looking quietly excited.

“We have some safe houses there too, my friends and I, for omegas in need,” Bruiser said. “You can stay there if you’d like.”

“Or you can bunk at my apartment,” Uriel said. “You’d probably prefer that.”

“Yes please,” Fenn said gratefully.

They bought some sandwiches for the road and began driving back toward California. Now that Fenn was out of danger, Uriel could focus on the trafficking situation.

Had there been more truckloads of omegas? If there were, Bruiser hadn’t mentioned it, and neither had Hunner. Uriel hoped he’d left Hunner with enough spell sheets to handle things back there.

Since Bruiser was the only one driving this time, they made more frequent rest stops, checking in at a roadside motel with a diner nearby.

When the babies were fed and comfortable, the three of them made their way to the diner. They were all quiet, each of them waiting for the others to speak.

“I’m heading to the washroom for a bit,” Bruiser said when the waitress had taken their orders. It would give Uriel and Fenn the illusion of privacy, which Uriel appreciated.

For a long moment, they sat at the table, glancing at each other.

Uriel gave in and nudged Fenn gently. “Why didn’t you tell me about Mellie?”

Fenn ducked his head, hugging his baby closer. “Her alpha dad wasn’t great.”

Uriel stiffened. “Wasn’t great, meaning...?”

“He was a cheating asshole,” Fenn said. “Nothing extremely bad.”

He looked away though, like there was more he didn’t want to share.

Uriel bristled. “Fenn, if there’s more—”

“It’s nothing as bad as we’ve seen,” Fenn said hurriedly. “Could be worse.”

Uriel eyed him in concern, but Fenn was tight-lipped about it. “If you need help with anything, please tell me, okay? You know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. And no bad alpha I wouldn’t hurt. In fact, I think Bruiser would come along with me for the beating.”

Fenn smiled wistfully. “I’m glad you found him.”

Uriel bit his lip. He wished fervently that he could promise Fenn he would find a good alpha, but...