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“Eleven more in the southern ward.”

Eighteen already?

The scent reached me as the lift doors opened on Level Four. Antiseptic and medication could not cover the fear coming from the wards.

Veska waited halfway down the corridor. Behind her, soldiers lowered their weapons and moved away from the open doorways.

“Show me.”

Four female Omegas occupied the nearest room. Two sat together on a narrow bed while a medic examined a third. The fourth had pressed herself into the far corner.

Her eyes went to my uniform, then the weapon against my body. When I moved, she pulled her knees closer to her chest.

Elowen had been terrified of our own guards. These women had even less reason to trust us. I stepped back and cleared the doorway.

“Too many Alphas,” I told Veska, then looked towards the Beta medic. “Can you manage without us?”

“Yes, Commander.”

“Then we will remain outside.”

Several doors farther along were still locked. An engineer worked at the controls while Veska checked the rooms against the plans on her pad.

“Cells,” I said.

“They are listed as treatment rooms.”

“I can read the doors, Veska.”

Her gaze lifted to mine. “Yes, Commander.”

The lock released, and the scrape of metal reached us before the door had fully opened. Six Omegas were inside, four of them chained.

I stopped on the threshold. Metal circled their ankles, each restraint fixed to an anchor in the floor. Deep scratches surrounded one of the fittings where someone had tried to work it free.

Veska swore under her breath. A woman flinched at the sound, and I turned to Veska.

“Keep your voice down.”

A soldier approached the nearest restraint. The woman scrambled backwards until the chain pulled tight and stopped her.

“Back away.”

He obeyed immediately. I looked at the Beta medic.

“Explain what we are doing before anyone approaches them.”

She lowered herself several metres from the nearest woman.

“My name is Talia. I am a Beta medic. We have come to free you and take you somewhere safe. Your captors are being killed or taken into custody. They will not be allowed near you again.”

I appreciated her candour. The woman looked past her towards us, and I moved into the corridor, ordering everyone except the medics and three engineers to leave.

From outside, I heard Talia explain that they wanted to remove the chains. The woman whispered a question, and Talia assured her the others would be freed too.

My hands had closed at my sides. I opened them before contacting Lucien.

“We are finding restrained Omegas throughout the lower wards. Medical needs access before your teams.”