Page 28 of Caged

“Evander thinks we ought to dig into it more,” Ford adds. “I’ve got to say—I’m with him on this one.”

“Agreed,” Gav gives him a single decisive nod. “I want you and Evander on the first flight to Chicago in the morning. I’ll let them know to expect you. Find out who the hell the Omega is, and why she showed up at a Bastard’s compound of all places.”

Something in my chest flares hot and uncomfortable. My hand clenches into a tight fist on my thigh. I straighten it out, flexing my fingers.

I need to relax. This—whoever this Omega is—has nothing to do with Idril. She isn’t in Chicago. I left her at her home, not thirty miles away. She’s fine. Safe.

She’s safe.

…Right?

The cruel glint in her father’s eyes flashes through my mind, and I tense, trying not to shudder with anxiety.

Fates, did I make the right choice leaving her there? Should I have just taken her and said fuck the consequences?

Gav’s voice drops an octave, stealing my attention.

“Make sure she gets back to her family, or her pack if she has one.” He hesitates before adding, “Be gentle. She could have been stolen, trafficked… or worse. We don’t want to scare her, just find out what happened.”

Gentle.

Was Varenthrall gentle with Idril after they left her room?

He certainly hadn’t bothered to be gentle with her when I was watching.

Is he always like that? Is she covered in bruises under that oversized sweatshirt?

Did Alexander⁠—

No.

Fuck. I can’t think about it. I fucking can’t. If I do, I’ll lose my shit.

I catch myself eyeing the door, wondering if I can slip out without notice and haul ass back to her.

I force my eyes away from the door and back on my teammates.

“Wait—I’m not going?” Silas’s head snaps up. He turns wounded eyes on Gav, his long, unstyled Mohawk flopping over his forehead.

“No.” Gav’s tone is final. “I’d send Ford alone, but he needs backup. You’re staying here. I can’t have your entire pack gone while things are still hot here with Deadwalkers. I wouldn’t send Evander either, but he’s their first point of contact.”

Gav leans in, braces his forearms on the table, and levels Silas with a look. “I need someone there who will stay calm around a fragile Omega. If I send you, she’ll wind up on a cocktail of anxiety meds.”

“I can be calm!” Silas insists indignantly.

“Yeah. Calm as a godsdamned nuke,” Vae grunts.

“Enough,” Gavran’s bark cuts through the disorder, and everyone shuts up.

There are too many shifting pieces. Too much is happening at once. I’m starting to understand why Dax seemed so uneasy last night. Varenthrall, the Severed, an uptick in missing Omegas, including one randomly showing up thousands of miles away in Chicago.

And… a girl I physically ache to have in my arms.

“Who wants to tell me how tonight’s recon went?” Gav asks, folding his arms over his muscled chest and leaning back in his chair, legs spread wide.

My gaze slowly wanders the room before catching Dax’s. He holds it, eyes narrowed in something close to suspicion.

He’s assessing. Calculating. His eyes sharpen and my stomach sinks.