Page 85 of Shades of Scars

I sit forward in my chair, my muscles barking in protest as I do so. I really needed to get up and do something, but I haven’t wanted to leave Apollo’s side. He deserves to have one of us here with him at all times. He was the only one that fought for our omega that day. He’d tried to save her. “Give me some news, please.” I lift my gaze to Wren, hopeful they’ve come because they’ve had a breakthrough, but the muscle clenching in my pack lead’s jaw tells me otherwise.

“We have it narrowed down to Greece. Or a smaller island on the outskirts. We aren’t sure how he’s managed to do it, but he’s scrambled his trail pretty good. Salem is close to unraveling it, and then we will move out.” Caito finally lifts his face from his hands, but he looks at Apollo and not me. There is a different type of darkness that shadows the corners of my pack brother’s eyes as he looks at him. One I am familiar with.

Bone crushing regret.

Somehow, I’m sitting here again in a hospital room, holding my breath as I wait to see if I’ll lose yet another brother in the name of some asshole’s egotistical vengeance.

“And we still trust your…companionsin the Infinity Ring to make Scarlett their priority?” My gaze bounces back and forth between Wren and Caito. The latter nods.

“Warrick never breaks his oaths, and he owes me more than one favor. Kate is their scent match, but she’s also our omega’s best friend. They won’t stop until they’re both brought home.” Surprise ripples through me at that, and I blink at him.

“Are you serious?Fuck. That makes sense. Fraser has been an absolute menace. Even more so than you.” I don’t know how I hadn’t realized it before. The way the alpha had handled Wren’s sister had been brutal beyond even Caito’s capabilities.

“He’s the only one that has really scented her, but that doesn’t mean War, Salem, and Cashel aren’t affected. They’ll do anything to bring the both of them home. I trust them in this.” Caito sounds so sure that it’s hard not to believe him.

I sigh and scrub a hand down my face. “I’m fucking worried.” I mutter, and my pack knows exactly what I mean.

“Everything is going to be fine. Our omega is fine, and so is our baby.” Wren’s words are hard and sure. I wish I could share his sentiments, but the dread is too heavy. It’s weighing me down and dampening my spirits. I wish I didn’t feel so goddamned useless right now.

“What if he finds out she’s pregnant?”

“He won’t. Scar will guard that secret.” Caito assures me.

“But what if Kate spills that she is just trying to keep her safe?” I press further, unable to help myself.

“That won’t happen. We are going to get to them both before anything happens to them.”

I open my mouth to argue, but before I can do so, a knock sounds on the door. Wren strides forward to answer it, and Sutton and Fraser slink into the room. “Who’s ready to get our omegas back and rain hell down on Harlan fucking Erossi?” Fraser announces, and I feel my heart skip a beat.

Caito is on his feet then, and I am quick to follow. The announcement seems almost too good to be true. “Salem found them?”

“No.” Fraser slapped a hand down on Sutton’s shoulder. “This old coon did. Warrick has the jet fueled and waiting. It’s about an hour drive to the airport.” Wren and Caito are already moving, but I hesitate by Apollo’s bedside.

Wren stops at the door that Caito and the others have already slipped out of and looks back at me. Understanding lights his eyes, and he dips his chin to me. “Keep our brother company. Wewill bring her home safe.” Relief swells in me, and I nod at him, resolve hardening my spine.

As much as I want to be there when we get our omega back, I know I’m needed here. I will not abandon my pack brother in his time of need. I sit back down and pull my chair forward to be closer to him.

Reaching out my hand, I clasp his in mine and give it a squeeze. “Hang tight, brother. We are bringing our omega home.” I know exactly where I belong. I won’t allow another brother of mine to slip between my fingers.

56

Scarlett

“Scar, please open your eyes?” I think fingers brush against my cheek, but I can’t really feel them. My body has gone numb, which is probably a good thing since I’m pretty sure my leg is broken. Happened sometime yesterday when I’d tried to scramble away from Harlan during one of his lessons, and he’d stomped down on my calf to stop me.

I distinctly remember the crack of bone echoing around the room, but I don’t recall anything else. I blacked out after that. I think I’m just now waking up after that incident. He hasn’t been back since then.

I should probably be thankful for that, but the period between his lessons is the worst. It’s the point when he has time to think of even more sadistic ways to make me come to heel.

“Please, Scar. I need to make sure you’re OK.” My eyelids finally flutter, but only because I want to erase the tremor in Kate’s voice. I try to open my mouth to tell her I’m okay, but my face is so swollen that I can’t. My vision swims for a moment before her face comes into focus.

Kate is perfectly whole, thank fuck. All of Harlan’s rage and attention has been focused on me, and I’ve made sure to do everything I can to keep it that way. She doesn’t need to be punished by my own demons. He makes her watch, but that’s about it, and for that, I am thankful.

“Water,” I croak, wincing when my voice cracks. The amount of screaming I’ve been doing since I’ve been dragged back here has made my throat and vocal cords raw. Kate shifts over to grab the tin cup of water that had been left for her by Levi earlier.

She helps me lift my head, and her hand only trembles slightly when she tips the cup to my cracked and bleeding lips. I whimper when the cool liquid washes over my tongue and down my ruined throat. I let my head fall back before I can drain the entire cup, and Kate frowns.

“You need some, too.” My voice is much steadier when I speak.

---