Page 118 of Forget-Me-Nots and Apricots

"Her psychological resilience is statistically significant," I agreed, analyzing the patterns I'd observed in her responses since we'd met. "Despite significant trauma, both past and present, she maintains remarkable adaptive capabilities."

We fell into silence then, both watching the woman who had captured our hearts, and the rest of our packs hearts.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Iwokeupslowly,curlingmore into the warm body next to me. I heard a chuckle, the sound of Luca’s voice next to my ear.

"Rise and shine, flower girl," he murmured, his fingers gently brushing hair from my face. "Or sleep more. Either way, I'm enjoying this."

I blinked, momentary confusion washing over me as I took in unfamiliar surroundings. Then memories of the night before came flooding back—the alarm, the gunshots, the frantic escape. My body tensed, heart rate immediately accelerating.

"Easy," came Theo's calm voice from my other side. I turned my head to find him sitting against the headboard, a tablet in his hands, glasses reflecting the soft glow of the screen. "You're safe. We're at my safe house."

I took a deep breath, willing my racing heart to slow. "Gabriel? Dakota?" My voice came out raspy with sleep and lingering fear.

“They are here and safe. They are in the other room going through some data.” Theo told me, making me take a deep breath as a low while left my throat.

I nodded, relief washing through me. "Everyone's okay? I remember Gabriel had blood on his face—"

"Superficial wound," Theo stated, his analytical tone somehow comforting in its certainty. "Four stitches, no sign of concussion or other complications."

Lucas's arm tightened around me, his warmth seeping into my still-tense muscles. "Everyone's fine, flower girl. The bad guys, on the other hand..." His voice trailed off, a hint of satisfied darkness coloring his usually playful tone.

I pushed myself up slightly, looking between them. "Did they... are they..."

"They're alive," Theo clarified, understanding my unspoken question. "Though I imagine they're regretting their career choices at the moment."

Lucas snorted softly. "Gabriel can be very persuasive when properly motivated."

The implication sent a chill down my spine, but I pushed the thought aside. Whatever Gabriel had done to get information, I couldn't bring myself to feel sympathy for the men who had tried to kill us.

"What did they find out?" I asked, shifting to sit up more fully between them. My body ached, muscles stiff from tension and the awkward way I'd slept. Theo and Lucas exchanged a glance that spoke volumes.

"They confirmed our suspicions," Theo said carefully, setting his tablet aside. "The attack was coordinated by someone connected to Meridian Pharmaceuticals—specifically, a board member named Victor Blackwood."

The name meant nothing to me, but the way Lucas's jaw tightened told me everything I needed to know about the man's character.

"Blackwood is the head of Meridian's Omega Research Division," Lucas explained, his usual playfulness absent. "He's been with the company for decades, driving their research into Omega suppressants and control mechanisms."

"In other words, he's built his entire career on keeping Omegas dependent," I concluded, pieces falling into place with sickening clarity. "And Dr. Thompson's research threatened that."

"Precisely," Theo confirmed, his analytical tone taking on a harder edge than usual. "Blackwood has been the driving force behind Meridian's most profitable Omega suppressant lines. If Dr. Thompson's research had succeeded in creating a biological shield against Alpha influence..."

"His life's work becomes obsolete," I finished, understanding the terrible logic behind it all. "And so do the billions Meridian makes from keeping Omegas dependent."

Lucas nodded grimly. "According to the intel Gabriel extracted, Blackwood has been quietly eliminating threats to Meridian's business model for years. He's been using a network of private contractors—former military and intelligence operatives—to 'handle problems' quietly."

"And I was one of those problems," I said, my voice steadier than I expected. "Because I'm an independent Omega business owner."

"Not just that," Theo added, his analytical mind clearly piecing together the larger pattern. "Your business has been growing significantly over the past year. You've been featured in local business publications as an example of Omega entrepreneurship. You represent exactly what Blackwood fears most—proof that Omegas can succeed without Alpha control or chemical suppression."

A chill ran through me as I processed this. I'd been targeted not for anything I'd done, but for what I symbolized—independence, success on my own terms, freedom from traditional hierarchies.

"And now that they've found us once..." I began, the implications hitting me.

"Blackwood won't stop," Theo confirmed, his analytical voice softening slightly as he noticed my distress. "However, the situation has changed significantly since last night."

"How so?" I asked, wrapping my arms around myself as if I could physically hold back the fear threatening to overwhelm me again.

---