AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this, Marcus,” I breathe out slowly, leaning over the table.
“And that’s why I want that animal, Rill, and his compatriots out of here,” he continues, ignoring me. “If they think that we have anything to do with alphas like that, then they have no reason to provide for us. I honestly wouldn’t expect them to … the way he behaves … it’s disgusting.”
“Marcus,” I say flatly. “You know this is more complicated than that. Beebalm was one of them. There’s no way whoever you spoke to was being truthful with you.”
“I know nothing,” he hisses, his hands fisting on the table. “If you won’t help me, then I’ll have to take matters into my own hands.”
I sigh. This is useless. “Fine. I’ll go visit Cypress House this afternoon. How about that? I’ll talk with Rill and Elizabeth, see what’s going on over there, and report back to you. Then we can … talk about this a bit more.”
At the thought of seeing them again, my chest swells with expectation. Stella, Wyatt, and … Hetty.
Emotion thrums through my veins, tingling my fingers. Now that I’ve decided I’m going to do it, it feels like it needs to happen immediately—I should be with my family, not drinking weak coffee in an abandoned coffee shop with Marcus Catmint.
I back my chair away from the table to signal I’m done, but he doesn’t move, eying me skeptically. “Can I trust you to be judicious about this, Noah? I know how you Sages and Cypresses look out for each other.”
“Of course, you can,” I reply brusquely, standing over him. “Come to Sage House this evening, and I’ll tell you what I find out.”
“No, you come to me,” he says with equal brusqueness, rising to stand next to me. “I don’t want to go out in the evening and leave Joanna alone when it’s dark out.”
“Okay, sure.” I pick up my empty cup and walk toward the counter, setting it down without looking at the beta, who’s still standing in the same spot. When I turn around, I’m surprised to see Marcus standing a foot away, watching me warily.
“Don’t disappoint me, Noah,” he says gruffly.
I raise a brow at his menacing tone.
“Things aren’t what they once were,” he continues. “We’re all expected to make sacrifices for the good of the Order now.”
“Of course,” I say dismissively.
“Even the Sages,” he stresses, eyes bugging and his red face starting to resemble a tomato.
“Of course,” I repeat, not biting at whatever bait he’s throwing at me. “I’ll see you this evening, Marcus.”
He sputters a goodbye before pivoting and leaving the shop. Through the window, I watch him march down Dogwood Street toward Spruce Street, his fists curled at his side.
I don’t leave right away, wanting to give him a head start, but as I finally make up my mind to move toward the door, a soft, hurried voice stops me.
“Administrator Sage!”
My head whips to see the beta rush around the counter, staring up at me with wide brown eyes. I look back and forth between her and the door impatiently.
“Yes?”
“I’m just wondering— Can you tell me— Is Hetty okay?” The words rush from her mouth, and she presses her lips in a firm line as she waits for me to answer.
“I don’t know. She’s been working at Cypress House.” I tilt my head curiously, something in this beta’s eyes alarming me. “Why do you ask?”
“I haven’t seen her in so long … or Cleo and Beth. Even after the blackout, I’d see them in town every now and then, but it’s been weeks, and after what that alpha said, I wondered—it’s just that I know your mother is—” She closes her lips tight again.
“My mother is what?”
She shakes her head, looking me straight in the eyes. When did coffee shop betas start staring the Administrator of the Order in the eyes?
“Things are hard for betas right now,” she whispers, her gaze heated.
“Things are hard for everyone,” I counter, a brow raised.
Finally, she looks down, blushing. “I only want to make sure Hetty’s not in any trouble.”
