“That’s another one for the count.”
“Count all you want,” she calls out. “We are not happening.”
“We’ll see,” I say with a dark chuckle. “We’re needed in the Alpha’s office in ten minutes.”
Sofia lets out several expletives, and I grin to myself, knowing that she won’t get a chance for her morning orgasm while rushing through her shower.
Ryan looks tired when Sofia and I join him in his office. Jackson’s nose twitches—he smells Sofia all over me. His raised brow says it all, but he keeps his mouth shut.
“What do you need, Alpha?” I ask as a knock on the door rings out.
“Come on in, Caleb,” calls Ryan, and my head snaps to the newly appointed alpha. My stomach turns. Why the fuck is Sofia here for a strategy meeting? My jaw tightens, a bitter taste forming in my mouth at the thought of her evenhearingabout the omega operation.
Sofia is emotional, and she cares too damn much about broken souls. The more she hears about those missing omegas, the moreshe’ll want to be involved. Want to take part in the rescue mission. And I can’t have that. My wolf is near feral at the mere notion of her being anywhere near this.
“Should Sofia be here for this?” I ask before I can stop myself and have the common sense to realize that it will go down like a lead balloon. I should have asked via mindlink, but fuck it, it’s out now.
“You’re the one who said I was needed, Beta. What, now that it’s a grown-up conversation, you’re trying to get rid of me because, despite your professions of how much you want us to be a thing, you’re still failing to show me an ounce of respect?”
Fuck, that’s not what I meant at all. It’s not a respect issue. It’s a safety one.
“Enough, we all know Sofia’s the smartest of all of us. She’s also the acting Luna, and she is well able to provide insight that none of the rest of us possess. There’s no safety risk in my damn office, Luca,” Ryan snaps. His alpha aura releases into the room until the room feels heavy, and I’m firmly shut up. “Caleb is here to share news and strategize.”
I need to find excuses to keep Sofia away in the future if Ryan doesn’t realize that she’s going to want to be part of the rescue mission after planning it.
Caleb walks towards the desk, rolling out a satellite map and pinning it in place with objects from Ryan’s desk. Two red Xs mark out locations on the map.
“This is the location where the omegas are kept,” Caleb explains, pointing to the first X. “This is where the events happen. They are transported between locations monthly.”
“So we hit when they are on the move?” Jackson asks, leaning over the table, with a look of fierce determination on his face.
“No, too dangerous for the omegas, as those are the most heavily guarded nights. My contact said they are kept underground in a locked room with silver running through the doors to prevent escape. There are cameras throughout, and security at all times. The omegas wear collars that prevent them from shifting, even partially, and block their bonds to family and mates.”
“Fuck,” Jackson mutters.
“Do we know… do we know what is happening to them?” Sofia asks, her voice sounding small and so unlike her usual fiery tone. I knew it was wrong for her to be here.
Caleb heaves a sigh and runs his hands down his face. His gaze flicks towards Jackson before he answers. “All I’m certain about is we need to get them out as soon as possible. My contact said the full moon is the best time to move in; security will be a skeleton crew with most going out running.”
Images of Sofia locked up in one of those rooms, chained up, collared, and broken flash in my mind. My wolf snarls and pushes forward. My claws extend of their own volition.
“Caleb, you’ve seen the area, so I’m guessing you have a plan?” Ryan asks, uncharacteristically, deferring to the other alpha male in the room.
“Yeah. We can use a Wi-Fi jammer to disrupt the camera feed, then we need to get in quickly before security calls for backup. I don’t think they’ll be within mindlink range, but we need to move quickly before they get a chance to call for reinforcements.”
“Stealth team?” Ryan asks, and Caleb nods before continuing.
“I’m thinking of us splitting into groups and moving in at the same time. Warriors take the perimeter to pick up anyone who attempts to flee. Those of us in this room, you’re with me on breach team A. My brothers will form team B, come from back here, and breach through the back door.” He points out everything on the map as he explains.
My vision darkens with fear, and my fists clench at the idea of Sofia being part of the mission. No fucking way is that happening.
“I presume you mean those of us in this room besides Sofia?” I grit out. My voice is as cold as ice, and my wolf thrashes inside me, begging to be let out to eliminate the threat that is Caleb Cooper. “Because there is no fucking chance in hell that my mate is going within ten miles of this hellhole.”
“Oh, I wasn’t suggesting Sofia come; I don’t want any more females there either,” Caleb replies.
“And why the fuck not?” Sofia fires back. I might be ice cold, but she is all fire and heat in the way she glares at me. “Did it ever occur to you that maybe those omegas will feel safer if there’s a female on the team? I swear to the Moon Goddess that this is Emily all over again. And in case your memory is short, I was the one who got her talking.”
“I… I didn’t think of that,” Caleb mutters, his resolve faltering already.
