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“Actually, you know what?? I feel like we need a button that plays that exact question every time you do something stupid around that girl. And maybe a punch card. Every fifth Omega-related traumatic incident involving you and Idril, and we get a free personal pan pizza.”

His boots crunch over the broken glass, and he looks at the floor in confusion before following the trail of destruction to the wall where whiskey’s still dripping down the stone in slow, steady streams.

He raises a sardonic brow. “Redecorating?”

“Very fucking funny,” I grunt, snatching one of my ledgers off the table just for something to do with my hands. Pointing the book threateningly, I turn back to my packmate.

“Keep her out of my sight, Vae. I mean it. I can’t be around someone who thinks ‘I don’t know’ is a viable defense. The next time someone sends her in here,” I aim a pointed look at the floor lined with broken glass, “I won’t miss.”

“Yeah, sure.” Vae agrees with a nod. “Except… nobody sent her here.”

I still. “What?”

“Yup,” he pops the “p” obnoxiously and falls onto the couch, casual as fuck.

“I was actually searching for her. Cooks said she was supposed to head back to the kitchens after taking food to the trainee compound, but she never returned. It was getting late, so I came looking to make sure she didn’t miss her suppressant.”

He yawns, carelessly tossing the blanket I used as leverage onto the dirty floor. “I swear to the Fates, it’s only day one, and it’s starting to feel like fucking babysitting.”

“She said she was told to clean the furniture in the rooms on this floor, and this was the last one left,” I mutter, wracking my brain for why she would lie.

Vae shrugs. “Don’t know.”

My temper starts to rise. “Where the fuck was Cage?”

That idiot has one damn job, and somehow he’s already screwed it up.

“That was going to be my next stop.”

Vae’s eyes close. I stand over him, waiting for him to get up, but when his breaths even out less than thirty seconds later, it’s clear he’s not going anywhere.

I grab my laptop, determined to get back to my research. I can’t help but marvel for what must be the thousandth time at how Vae can fall asleep so fast, no matter where he is or what’s happening.

An hour later, nothing’s changed outside of Vae’s snoring and an increase in my anxiety. I can’t stop looking at the blanket I taunted the Omega with.

Eventually, I snatch it off the floor and throw it back on the couch. Not because I want to keep it clean for the female, but because if it’s dirty, she won’t want it. Then I can’t use it as leverage again.

My Alpha snarls in his cage, sensing the lie.

Great. Even my fucking instincts are regularly calling me out on my bullshit.

I sigh, eye the broken glass I still haven’t informed the staff of, before my attention falls back on the white fur-lined blanket.

Everywhere I look, that damn Omega is there.

I need to get out of this house.

Gavran’s right about one thing. When it comes to this research, I do need help. Another set of eyes. Preferably someone with a slightly different way of looking at things. Someone who might see what I’m missing.

Once I’ve packed up, I try one final time to rouse Vae and let him know I’m leaving.

All I get is a half-conscious thumbs up along with a kick to my thigh, which is essentially Vae-speak for, “I’m sleeping, please fuck off.”

I leave the library feeling like the weight of the evening is suffocating me.

Yeah, getting out of here is a good idea. Talking to someone else about all this shit will also help. And I know exactly where I need to go and who I need to talk to.

It’s time to return to Redmark.