“Hurry.”
They hung up and Daryl raced down the hallway to the stairs. The feeling in his gut grew stronger with each step.
Jason was in trouble.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jason hummed to the song on the radio as he chopped up a red pepper. Waking up from his nap after the meeting with his unit had left him ravenous.
He glanced around wondering where he’d put his phone, cursing when he couldn’t remember where he’d left it. Betas were supposed to be available at all times.
Walking into the living room, he spotted it on the table, screen lit with messages.
“Shit.”
The front door buzzer sounded, stopping him in his tracks, and Jason frowned as he glanced at the monitor. What was Tom Sharp doing at his door at, he checked the time, ten to nine at night?
He had a rucksack slung over his shoulder, and the hairs on the back of Jason’s neck stood on end.
Something wasn’t right.
Phone forgotten, Jason watched as Tom kept glancing back down the hallway as if expecting someone to have followed him. He looked anxious, moving from foot to foot.
Jason knew he shared a flat with Rob Davies. Had they fallen out? Had Davies threatened him?
Jason had assumed they’d resolved the issues in Jenn’s unit, but maybe some internal ones remained?
Setting his knife down, Jason wiped his hands on a tea towel and went to let him in.
“Hey,” he said, opening the door. “Everything okay?” He caught the scent of blood at the same time as he noticed the stain on the sleeve of Tom’s jacket.
Tom followed his gaze and laughed. “Got into a bit of a fight with Rob, but it’s all sorted now.”
He bit at his bottom lip, looking nervous. “Can I come in? There’s something I’d like to talk to you about. Please?” he added when Jason hesitated.
Something felt a little off, but Jason couldn’t put his finger on it. Still, he couldn’t refuse a pack member asking for help. “Yeah, sure.” He stepped aside so Tom could get past. “Go on through.”
Instead of taking a seat, Tom stood near the window, rucksack now sitting at his feet. He cracked his neck from side to side, all traces of his earlier nervousness gone.
Jason perched on the arm of the nearest chair, wary. “What’s the problem then?” His gaze caught on his phone again, and he reached for it. “Sorry, I just need to check these messages.”
“Can’t it wait a sec? This is really important.”
Jason faltered. Cam’s name appeared numerous times, and he really should see what his alpha wanted. “It won’t take me two secs—”
“You’re as bad as the rest of them,” Tom sneered, making Jason’s head snap up to look at him.
“Always running to do his bidding like good little betas, forgettingwewere your pack not so long ago.”
The hairs on the back of Jason’s neck stood to attention, his wolf close to the surface. Ready.
“You’re still pack, Tom.”
“Hmm . . .” Tom smiled, teeth looking a little too sharp to be fully human. “Well, that’s the thing . . .” He took a step closer. “I’m not sure—”
Jason’s phone rang, vibrating loudly on the coffee table. Daryl’s name flashed up on screen.
Something was definitely wrong, and it didn’t take a genius to realise Tom was involved. As calmly as he could, he said, “Sorry, just give me a second to take this call.” He stood and walked quickly over to the coffee table. Catching movement out of the corner of his eye, he lunged for the phone, but before his fingers closed over it, Tom leapt across the room and smacked if off the table.
