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Daxen swallows thickly, but doesn’t back down. He looks lost. Confused. I almost feel sorry for him.

“I’ll find out what it was,” he finally responds.

“I really wish I could say I trust you’ll do exactly that, but as it turns out, I can’t trust you to do shit anymore. Especially if it involves anything remotely related to the safety of my Omega.”

“Caelan,” Vae pleads, stepping up next to Dax.

I reach out and wrap my hand around Caelan’s. I can feel him shaking, buzzing with adrenaline.

Vaelenor’s eyes fall, and he watches as my fingers curl around Caelan’s. His eyes fill with longing before he forcefully shifts his gaze.

“Here’s what’s going to happen.” Caelan squeezes my hand once before letting it drop, taking a step forward to stand in front of me. Soren straightens, pulling me close to his side before I have a chance to feel his absence.

“You’re all going to figure out what the fuck that was, how it got into HQ, and how the hell you’re going to keep it out.” He turns toward Gav and takes another step forward.

“You’re my Commander. I’ve spent the last six centuries respecting you. Believing you were the pinnacle of what it means to be an honorable male.”

Gavran’s jaw clenches. “Caelan, I⁠—”

“I’m not fucking finished,” Caelan snaps, and Gavran visibly flinches.

“Just so we’re clear, while I respect your position, I no longer respect you. In fact,” his eyes sweep across the room, “I no longer respect any of you. Not only that, I have to wonder whether or not any of you are fit to keep yourselves alive, let alone the two Omegas currently residing in this stone fortress where honor goes to die.”

Grunts and sounds of agreement come from Soren, Kane, and Riven, but Caelan’s not done.

“I’m fucking exhausted, and frankly, I’m sick of having to breathe the same air as the males I can’t even trust to not only keep my Fated Mate alive, but not actively kill her for two fucking weeks while I’m in a godsdamned coma.”

Caelan turns to me and gently asks, “Where are your things? I’ll send someone to bring them to my rooms.”

“She doesn’t have things,” Soren spits. “No Nesting material, no clothing, no phone or books. Not even a Fatesdamned pair of panties that belong to her.”

By the time he’s finished his list, my face is burning, and Caelan’s has drained of color.

“Vaelenor bought me shoes,” I whisper.

Vae winces. “I, ah, appreciate the backup, but I don’t think he’s taking that as the reassurance you mean it to be.”

One glance at Caelan’s murderous expression and I know he’s right. That did not make things better.

“Why don’t we worry about this tomorrow?” Soren suggests calmly, placing a reassuring hand on Caelan’s shoulder. When Caelan looks back, Soren’s eyes dart to my hands and Caelan and I both follow his gaze, realizing at the same time I’m—once again—twisting my fingers in the cotton like I always do when the urge to Nest gets overwhelming.

“The shadows—” I start, in an attempt to pull the attention away from me and back on the immediate threat.

Why does it feel like I almost forgot about that?

“Caelan’s right, Omega,” Dax speaks up, shocking me into silence. “That never should have happened. It’s on me. You all should get some sleep. I’ll start digging for answers.”

He turns and walks back to the table, where he starts packing up his electronics. His movements are jerky. Flustered. The part of me that will always reach for him wants to comfort him.

He just killed someone only a few hours ago, for Fate’s sake.

For me.

Gavran pulls out his phone, calling and issuing orders to what sound like dozens of teams. He asks Branwen and Riven to stay, but must have taken Caelan’s at his word because he doesn't extend the same request to him.

“What now?” I ask, once Daxen and Vaelenor have sulked out of the room, both males casting longing looks at their Packmate until the doors shut behind them.

“Now we get some sleep,” Caelan answers, running a gentle palm down the back of my head. “You and Soren will stay in my rooms for now, until we can figure something else out. They’re in the same wing as Dax and Vae, but I’ll get us moved somewhere better tomorrow.”