AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It must have been the last night we were in the nest. When this happened, I mean. I vaguely remember begging her to make me hers, to mark me. She must have bitten me then. I would have returned this if they hadn’t ripped us apart the next morning.”
“Wait, wait, wait. When you say ripped apart . . .?”
“I mean physically ripped apart. The academy broke into our room, tore Storm and me apart, and marched us downstairs. The headmistress and the staff tore into us about how two omegas didn’t belong together. How we were a disgrace to our designations. They told us we had to agree to not be together. Storm was so pissed. She yelled right back at them. Told them they had no right to break us apart. She claimed me in front of them and said we were pack. They didn’t care. They dragged me away, locked me in a closet, and then an alpha guard got assigned to bring me home.”
“Oh my gods,” Drew breathed out, stunned. “Where is she now?”
“I’m not sure. She’s either still at school or they sent her home, too. I wasn’t given any information, and they didn’t give me my phone she bought me. I have no way of contacting her.”
“I’m so sorry, Riley. I cannot imagine what that must feel like. Though, I can guess. I see the way you are right now. But sweet girl, did you say that you weren’t able to give a return bite to Storm?”
“I wasn’t able to, no.”
“Riley, that's why you’re hurting so badly. You have an incomplete bond. It’s strained to the limit right now. Your soul is crying out for hers and she isn’t here. We need to find her and get you back together or you’ll never be able to get out of this funk.”
“Are you okay with this?” I asked, nervous and hopeful for his answer.
“I can’t say I understand it or that I have ever heard of anything like it, but I support you, and if this is what you want, if this feels right to you, then it’s fine with me. I love you, Riley. I just want you to be happy. Do you know her last name?”
“Yeah, it’s Vareth.”
He blinked at me. “Really?”
“Yeah, why?”
He scoffed. “I know her.”
“What?”
“Well, not exactly. But I knowofher. My p—myfriendsknow her family. I’ll call them and see what we can find out, alright? It’s going to be okay, Riles. You’re going to get her back. I promise.”
I launched myself out of my bed and into his surprised arms. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
He chuckled and stroked my back gently before setting me back from him. “You’re welcome, sis. Now, please try to eat something. Let me go make my call.”
I nodded eagerly and rose to my feet unsteadily. For the first time in months, I had hope again. My world was still dull, but there was a glimmer of light creeping in on the edges. I was getting my girl back.
Chapter28
Declan
Iwas pacing back and forth in my office. The windows were open, letting in the cool September breeze. Seated on the couches and chairs throughout the room were the rest of my pack: Victor, Ryan, and Storm. We hadn’t made it official or anything, but as far as I was concerned, Storm was ours, too. And it was such a hugely freeing feeling, having her here, in my space.
Getting to know her over the month of August had been amazing. She was so sweet, kind, and had the most generous of hearts. Her drive and urgency to find Riley was inspiring. I would move the earth to help her if need be.
As it was, my investigator friend was coming over soon to go over what he had found. He told me it wasn’t much and he was sorry, but apparently Riley’s family had no digital footprint. No credit cards, no social media, no cell phones. Nothing to trace back to them. He had tried everything, even attempting to hack into the ORA’s system.
It had taken him weeks to get through the firewalls, but once he did, it was another dead end. The school had erased all traces of Riley from their system. It was like she had never attended the school. He had even attempted to find information on her parents, but without knowing their names, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
I heard a knock at the office door and strode over to open it. Standing on the other side, looking grim, was the investigator we had hired, my friend Xavier. He lifted his hand in a wave, but before he could say anything, his phone jangled with a ringtone I had never heard before. His eyes widened, and he scrambled to grab it, quickly answering with a mouthed apology to me.
“Bug? Is that you?”
I couldn’t hear the other end of the conversation, but whatever was being said had Xavier turning to me in shock.
“Are you serious? Really? Bug, are you sure?”
The next part I had no trouble hearing as the caller roared down the line. “Yes, I’m fuckingsure,Xavier! She’s my goddamned sister!”
