I'm wondering what the hell is wrong with him lately. We were doing good for a while after Luca settled in, everyone finding their rhythm in our expanded pack dynamic. But in watchingBlake and Luca be practically attached at the hip over the past two weeks, I've realized that Blake has been expending all his energy to provide for Luca. As if he were Luca's mate, his Alpha, his primary caretaker, instead of just another Omega in the pack.
I sigh and reach toward his desk. "Open that top drawer for me."
Blake does as I ask and immediately smiles when he sees the contents. "Grayson, did you stock these up for me?"
Grayson throws him a smile. "Only the best for you, baby. Eat up. You have an appointment with Quentin bright and early tomorrow morning."
Blake grumbles something under his breath about being able to take care of himself while he reaches for one of the little cucumber sandwiches.
I laugh softly. "Obviously not, genius." Blake settles in, still grumbling around bites of his sandwich, but it eases the tension in my chest.
My gaze moves across the hallway to the office directly across from us, where Luther's face is scrunched up in anger as he argues with Ward. The detective seems exasperated, his hands gesturing wildly as Luther growls at him, the sound carrying even through the thick glass walls of the office. I can see the tension in Luther's shoulders, the way his jaw is clenched tight as Ward says something that makes our pack Alpha's expression darken further.
Luther lets out a full snarl before he reaches for his desk phone, muttering a few sharp words into the receiver, and then slams it back down with enough force that I'm surprised it doesn't shatter. The sound echoes through both offices, Blake tensing against my chest at the noise.
Two security guards appear in the hallway within minutes, knocking once before entering, as Ward throws his hands up infrustration, Luther pointing toward the door. Seconds later, the guards escort Ward down the hall, no doubt out of the building and back to his car.
Something is very,verywrong.
Blake shifts restlessly in my lap, his fevered skin making him uncomfortable as he tries to find a cooler position against my chest. His scent is still off, that sickly sweet smell that comes with illness rather than the normal pear scent that usually makes me want to bury my face in his neck. Even his pulse is hammering against his throat where it rests against my shoulder.
"What's happening over there?" Blake's voice is rough with exhaustion as he follows my gaze to Luther's office.
"Nothing good," I murmur against his forehead.
I stand carefully and then carry Blake over to where Luca is nestled in his corner nest. Both Omegas immediately move toward each other like magnets, some instinctual need for comfort and protection drawing them together. Blake wraps himself around Luca's smaller frame, his longer limbs curling protectively around the pregnant Omega as they settle into the soft blankets and pillows.
Grayson laughs softly at the sight as he bends down to gently remove Blake's glasses before they get crushed in the tangle of limbs. He sets them carefully on the side table next to the nest, then straightens up and moves toward the office door just as Luther stalks inside.
The pack Alpha's scent fills the room immediately, leather and musk mixed with barely controlled rage that makes my own instincts go on high alert. His hazel-green eyes are practically glowing with fury, the muscle in his jaw ticking as he forces himself to maintain some semblance of control.
I shoot him a questioning look, keeping my voice casual despite the tension crackling in the air. "What's up, boss?"
Heat flares in Luther's eyes at my words before his gaze moves to the nest where both of our Omegas are curled together. Blake has apparently decided that sharing is caring because he's started feeding pieces of his cucumber sandwich to Luca, who sleepily chomps on them with the contentment of someone who's being hand-fed by their pack mate.
That would explain why Blake isn't eating enough to sustain himself properly. He's been giving half his food to Luca without any of us noticing, treating the pregnant Omega like his own personal responsibility rather than trusting the rest of us to take care of him.
I sigh heavily as Luther moves closer to us, his voice dropping to a whisper that barely carries across the office. "We're going home.Now."
Grayson frowns, his gaze darting between Luther and the nest where our Omegas are still blissfully unaware of whatever crisis has just unfolded across the hall. "What happened over there? Ward was here for like an hour, and now security's escorting him out?"
Luther's expression darkens further, if that's even possible. His hands clench into fists at his sides as he struggles to keep his voice low. "Hudson's out on fucking bail, but they can't find him anywhere. His last known location was about two miles from our house."
"And so we're goinghome?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady despite the panic clawing at my throat. "Is that smart? I mean, fuck, I don't mean to challenge you, Luther, but if he knows where we live..."
Luther's eyes flash with appreciation for my concern rather than anger at being questioned. "No, you're right to ask." He runs a hand through his dark hair, messing up the usually perfect style. "Grayson's family property is still vacant. We neversold it after his parents passed, and it would be perfect for right now."
I stare at him in confusion, my legal mind immediately cataloging property records and assets that I should know about as the pack's attorney. "How did I not know that existed? I'm the family lawyer. I should have records of every property owned by pack members."
Grayson snorts softly, his expression sheepish as he meets my questioning gaze. "No one knew it existed except me and Luther. It's still registered in my previous name from before I joined the pack officially. Luther suggested keeping it that way just in case something happened." He glances toward Luther for permission before continuing. "It's in a small, gated community at the edge of the city. It's not too far from the company, which is why we kept it instead of selling after Mom and Dad died."
The practical part of my brain is already working through the logistics of a sudden relocation, but another part of me is dreading the conversation we're about to have with our Omegas. Blake barely tolerates being told what to do on a good day, and Luca is still recovering from months of being controlled and manipulated by Hudson. The idea of forcing them to uproot their carefully constructed sense of safety is going to go over about as well as a lead balloon.
"Our Omegas aren't going to like this," I say quietly, stating the obvious but needing to voice my concerns anyway.
Luther's jaw tightens as he looks over at the nest where Blake is now dozing against Luca's shoulder, both of them looking peaceful and content in their little bubble of domestic bliss. "This is one instance where I'm going to say too bad. Their safety means more to me at this point, and I'm done letting another Alpha ruin what we've built here."
3
