Perrin.
His voice comes from somewhere to the left, casual and bright. Too bright. It’s the kind of cheerful tone he uses when he’s trying to smooth shit over.
"None of your business." The guard's voice is flat. Unfriendly. "Step back. This area is off-limits to visitors."
"Oh, totally, yeah, I hear you." Perrin gives a polite laugh. Clearly trying to sound disarming. "It's just, my pack alpha is in that tent. Big guy, dark hair? He wasn't feeling great. I think the heat got to him. You know how it is out here. Ninety degrees, no shade. Alphas don't hydrate enough."
He's rambling, clearly trying to buy time.
God, I could kiss him.
"I don't care if he's the fucking pope." The unknown beta isn't buying it. "Nobody's supposed to be in these storage units. Especially not a goddamnalpha. Now, move aside."
"Is there a problem here?" Raff’s voice hits my ears and some of the tension in my abs falls away.
I can't hear the beta’s response, but I can hear the shift in his tone. His bark softens into something more cautious.
Raff has that effect on people. He doesn't even need to raise his voice. He’s naturally intimidating. Maybe it's all the tattoos. Or the fact that he's six foot four of long, wiry muscle.
"Angelica knows we're here," Raff says, calm as still water. "We delivered a van full of meds. Sedatives and suppressants. So unless you want to explain to her why you're hassling the people keeping her supply chain moving, I suggest you let our pack alpha have one fucking minute to collect himself." There's a pause, and I can almost see Raff staring the fucker down. "Or you can give my mate two fucking minutes to collect himself. Your call."
"Your alpha is fucking someone in that tent." The guard's tone is tight. Clipped. Trying to sound in control, but failing miserably.
“Is that right?” Raff shoots back. “Do you have fucking X-ray vision?”
“Half the damn camp heard him.” The guard’s voice rises, clearly pissed. “Acting like that in a camp full of riled-up alphas who are already climbing the walls trying to get at the omegas on the other side of those barriers is beyond inappropriate. It’s dangerous.”
"He's simply relieving some pressure," Raff says coolly, as if discussing the weather. "We had a long, stressful drive, and he’s blowing off some steam. Now, are we done here,or do you want to keep discussing my pack alpha's dick while we both have better things to do?"
"No, we're not done." The guard's voice gets louder. Bolder. The kind of bold that comes from a man who knows he's right and is tired of being talked over. "Something's going on here, and I don't like it. I'm getting Angelica.”
“Something's going on?” Raff lets out a laugh. Short, bitter, mocking. “What the hell does that mean? You think Cliff got his hands on one of the omegas and he’s fucking her stupid in the goddamn supply tent.” He laughs again. “I thought you guys had better security than that.”
The silence that follows is sharp enough to cut glass.
"Whoever is in that tent with him is getting fired." The guard's voice has gone cold. Certain. "And I'm getting Angelica rightnow."
"Good." Raff's tone hardens a fraction. "Go get her. I'm done explaining myself to you."
The guard says something I can't make out. Raff responds, and whatever he says is low enough that I lose the words through the canvas. But the tension outside shifts. Recedes.
Then the tent flap flutters.
Every muscle in my body coils. I pull Elowen tighter against my chest, then look right at the entrance, teeth bared, a snarl already building in my throat. Underneath me, Elowen whimpers. The noise is small and choked and filled with pure terror.
Her mouth finds my ear. Her lips are trembling so badly I can barely make out the words. "Don't let them take me." Her voice is barely a whisper. Barely even air. "Please. Please don't let them take me."
And that's when I smell her fear.
It’s faint and thin, cutting through the layers ofchemical nothingness like a blade through gauze. It’s so sharp, almost metallic, so different from the sweetness I tasted on her tongue that it takes me a second to register it's coming from the same person.
The scent-blockers are cracking. Not much, but enough for an alpha to scent her.
I need to get her out of here before her natural omega aroma seeps through too.
The tent flap flutters again, then it opens, and I bare my teeth. Ready to tear apart whoever steps through it.
But it's Adam.
