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“Come back to bed.” He mumbled as Maddox and Kian yawned simultaneously.
“I’m famished!” She answered and pulled at Jameson’s arm. “Come on, let’s get some breakfast and then we can lie back down for a nap.” He gave her a sleepy smile and sat up.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to say no to you. Let’s go eat.” He kissed her forehead as Maddox rubbed her back. I left the door open and headed downstairs to get breakfast started. Once the coffee was brewed, I poured myself a fresh hot cup to get fully awake while the rest of the pack started to file into the kitchen. I set out the eggs and bacon when the screen to my phone lit up. I’d set out all of our phones to be plugged in downstairs during the heat so we wouldn’t be interrupted, and I checked them periodically when I took breaks from the heat to get snacks. But when I reached to scroll through my notifications, they were in the hundreds.
“Holy shit.” I murmured, setting my cup down so I didn’t drop it.
“What is it?” Kian asked, his body now on high alert. Everyone stilled. After being a pack for so long, we were all so attuned to each other’s energy that we knew immediately when something was wrong. It was why we worked so well together.
“We have a problem.” I walked over to the living room and flipped on the tv. Just as I predicted, the very first thing we saw was a news story - with Bella’s face front and center on the screen. You could hear a pin drop as everyone in the room stopped what they were doing to watch.
“What… that’s me…” Bella stuttered as we listened to the news anchor speak.
“...according to multiple sources, the omega was likely kidnapped from the Darlington Ball and had not wandered off on her own accord, which is contrary to what Darlington Ball representatives claimed earlier. The omega was not listed as missing until her friend, Piper Miller of Pack Archer, pushed for authorities to investigate the omega’s mysterious disappearance from the ball.” The video switched to an interview with an omega surrounded by her pack, two of the members holding her hands for support.
“There’s no way Bella ran off. She’s not like that. She’s smart, cautious, and she wanted very much to find a suitable pack. She’s out there, and I won’t give up until she’s found!” The clip switched back to the reporter, and an image of a fundraising page flashed on the screen.
“Piper started a fundraising site to reward anyone with information leading to the safe return of Bella Carter. The site received minimal traction until it caught the eye of noted socialite and heiress, Celeste Harringday.”
I glanced over at the pack. They were watching the screen with various looks of concern, while Bella just looked stunned. The reporter continued, showing an interview with Celeste herself. Our original intended target lit up the screen, dressed impeccably with her hair and makeup done. She was poised and serious as she spoke.
“I have recently found out that there was a conspiracy to kidnap me at the Darlington Ball. It was a setup, intended to look like I had been irresponsible and left the ball on a whim. This was supposed to cause me to miss one of the most important days of my life. Although I was not harmed, I now know that an innocent omega may have been taken instead. I believe she was in my room at the time of the abduction and has been missing since that night. I am here today to raise awareness of the omega who was overlooked. I have donated one million dollars to her reward fund, and I’m encouraging everyone to share her name and face on any form of social media you can. Together we can, and will, bring Bella home!” The screen flashed to the fundraiser set up by Bella’s friend, Piper. With the added funds from Celeste and the social media exposure, it had reached over three million dollars.
I turned the tv off and faced my pack. My phone continued to ping, but I knew that each notification was from my alerts that I had set up to tell me if Bella’s name had shown up on any news article or site that may have reported on her disappearance. We hadn’t counted on anyone looking for her. According to her, she didn’t believe anyone missed her at all. Bella stood, her mouth open in shock.
“I can’t believe it,” she finally said. I stepped toward her, scrolling through my phone notifications.
“Bella, your face is all over the news in both provinces. Your story has already been shared hundreds of thousands of times.” Celeste was incredibly famous, and with her pushing for Bella to be found, she had put a target on her. Three million dollars and counting was an enormous incentive for anyone in the Eastern Province to try to get her back. This was going to present a monumentally large challenge for us. “Bella, at this moment, you are officially the most sought after omega in the nation.”
Chapter 50
Bella
My universe was rocked. I had just experienced the best heat of my life, found my dream pack and was planning my future with the men who finally felt like a perfect fit. My old life could be left behind - I knew my parents were safe as long as I didn’t go back to Goldpine, and no one, authorities included, was actually looking for me. I figured even Piper believed that I had run off and would never be seen again. But seeing the news footage of her fighting for me, trying to find out what happened… I nearly burst into tears at the sight of it. None of my friends had ever cared about me that much. And to get the attention of Celeste herself was unbelievable. It was surreal. All my life I’d wanted to be somebody, be special, be wanted. Have someone actually see me, notice me. Now, apparently, the entire nation was captivated by the story of my kidnapping.
On every channel we flipped through, I was the breaking news. Interviews of staff from the Omega House showed up with people singing my praises. Some of the omegas there who had bullied me were now giving tearful soundbites, using my disappearance to get some minimal fame. Screenshots from social media were flashed on the tv screen with captions where people were commenting on how pretty I was, how tragic it had been that I was kidnapped. I went from being a virtual nobody to a semi-celebrity with the help of Celeste’s involvement and her massive reach, along with the intrigue of a potential coverup by the Darlington Ball staff. If I’d actually been in danger, this would have been the best possible scenario for me. The only problem was now that I had met this pack, I didn’t want to bring attention to myself. I wanted to stay with them, and now everything was getting messy and complicated.
Cy shared his phone, showing me that I was trending on every social media platform. They had used a picture of me from the Omega House that had been in my courting profile. I was everywhere. The more I scrolled, the more I found. Various celebrities and omega rights groups had joined the cause, outraged that I hadn’t been reported missing sooner. The story of a kidnapping plus the added intrigue that Celeste had been the intended target was gripping the nation. How had she known about the intended kidnapping? I guess it didn’t matter now. What mattered was how I could stay with this pack and let everyone back home know I was safe. I looked up from the screen.
“This is overwhelming. Can’t I just call them and say I’m safe?”
“No!” Their voices were simultaneous. Cy reached for my hand, taking it gently.
“Bella, with all the attention on your story right now, they would be able to trace your call to us. Even if we made it anonymous, no one will believe you are here of your own accord. You were kidnapped. And Celeste was the intended target. We don’t know how she found out, but either way, it would be obvious that we took you. If she knows she was supposed to be taken, then someone told her. Whoever did so might have enough information to know that it was our pack who was hired. They would never allow you to stay with us.” I frowned.
“But this is the Eastern Province. Omegas get taken all the time! And forced bites are ignored. Why would anyone care?” Kian stepped toward me, placing his hand on my shoulder. I wanted to lean into him for comfort.
“Yes, it’s true that omegas are often overlooked here. It’s much less common for an omega to slip out of the system where you are from. But any omega with money and power is safer here in the Eastern Province. It’s the powerless ones who no one comes for.” I thought back to my time growing up in Goldpine. I could understand why omegas with no money or status were disregarded. People always cared about power and status, even in my old town where I was thrown away. Kian looked at me with concern. “The bigger problem is that with over three million dollars attached to your safe return, everyone on this side of the border will be looking for you. You won’t be able to go anywhere in public.” I shook my head.
“If I just explain-”
“No, Bella. Any official who interrogates you will bark an alpha command to pry the truth from you. And the truth is we did take you, and we can’t legally keep you with us, not with officials from both provinces involved.” I stepped back from them.
“What - what do you mean?” I could feel my voice raising. “You said you’d bite me! You said I’d be part of your pack!” I was yelling now, becoming hysterical. “We can find a way! There’s always a way!” Jameson looked heartbroken.
“Kitten, it will be hard to keep you safe here. If anyone knew we had you - if anyone saw you, they’d try to take you from us.” I looked up at him, my eyes blurring with tears.
“You’d protect me. I know you would.” He reached down and scooped me up in his arms.
