Page 55 of Forsaken

He turns to head toward his vehicle. Nathan’s distrusting gaze meets mine before we follow. What can we do? We have no choice. Nathan sits in the front while I get in the backseat. The distance between us causes me physical pain, but it’s probably a good idea right now. I don’t know if I’d be able to stop myself from searching out comfort from him.

The rough drive over the ruts in the ground frays my nerves even more than usual. Thankfully, the security wing of Alpha Richard’s mansion isn’t that far away. We’re led into a sitting area and told to wait. A few minutes of watching Nathan’s leg bob up and down, and the guard returns with paper cups filled with water and a half-eaten box of doughnuts.

I gulp the water greedily, looking and wishing I could eat the doughnut, but I’m too worried for Trish. I pinch the bridge of my nose and lean my head against the wall.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Nathan soothes.

“Do you think she’s alive?”

He doesn’t answer. Instead, he says, “When we get the chance to call someone, call Kinsey. Just in case.”

I nod in agreement. The person who jumped into my head at first was my mother, but she’d be of no help.

Nathan makes a bathroom trip, whispering into my ear that he’ll be right back. It isn’t until he’s out of sight that I realize he’s probably disposing of the condom he still had on. He meets my gaze when he comes back out. Confirmation relays between us, and I’m so thankful to have him thinking of things like that while we’re holed up in here. We wait a long time. In fact, we wait so long, I wonder if they forgot we were even here.

Eventually, we’re called into a room so they can ask what went down. Of course, we tell them we were both sleeping—in our own bedrooms—and that the fire alarms woke us. We ran into each other on the way down the stairs and realized that the fire inhibited us from checking after Trish. “Is she okay?”

“They’re still working on her at the hospital,” the guard answers. “That’s the latest update, anyway.”

“Do you know what happened?” Nathan asks.

The security guard purses his lips. “The fire chief said it was intentionally set with an accelerant. We’re not at liberty to discuss anything further as the safety of the alpha is in question. However, he is relieved to hear that you two are doing well.”

Well, that’s...good? I couldn’t give a shit what the alpha thought. He’s left me to rot at the academy, I’ve been almost taken out by a huge speaker, and now, a fire was intentionally set.

Nathan meets my gaze. I know he’s thinking the same thing I’m thinking, but we keep our mouths shut. We’re persona non grata here. No one will listen to us. Of course, they would believe that Alpha Richard was the target. Considering all the other pack members around, it’s highly likely. There hasn’t been in-fighting between packs in a long time, but it’s not in the too distant past to be out of the realm of possibilities.

“We called your mates,” the guard informs us. “They should be here any minute.”

My mouth drops. “You...called our mates? The ones who’ve left us in the fucking academy for over a year?”

The security officer’s brows slam down over his eyes. “Of course I called your mates. They were both terribly upset when they heard the news.”

“I’m not going with him,” I state, my voice trembling now. “Please, I’d like to call someone else. My parents,” I lie.

“We tried your parents’ home. There was no answer.”

I groan inwardly. The one time I would need them to answer, and of course, they don’t. “A friend, then,” I try instead. He looks at me suspiciously, and I know I need to change tactic. “I just feel really off,” I say, real tears starting to gather. “I don’t want to face him like this.”

I’m not winning any awards for acting, but thankfully, the guard is like most men and can’t stand to see women cry. “You can call your friend. This way.” Nathan starts to get up with me, but he’s told to stay where he is.

I peer over my shoulder, lips thinning. Nathan nods, his throat working while he watches me exit.

The guard and I stop by the front entrance, and he grabs the phone from the charger, handing it to me. I’m usually really good with numbers, but I have to think long and hard about the digits that make up Kinsey’s phone number. I’ve seen it a bunch of times when I call her. On my first attempt, someone else answers, and I have to apologize for waking them up so late at night. The security guy frowns at me, but I blame it on my nerves and try again, crossing my fingers that I’ll get it right this time. If I don’t, I’m doubtful he’ll let me try it again.

Thankfully, Kinsey’s groggy voice answers. “Kinsey,” I force out.

“Mia? What—”

“I’m at the alpha’s security. The cabin...there was a fire. It’s—”

“What?” she screeches.

Jonah’s masculine voice can be heard in the background as I say, “Yes, Nathan and I are okay, but Trish got pulled out. They think it was intentionally set. Sean is on his way here.”

If anyone was really paying attention, they’d hear the waver in my voice.

“Fuck,” Kinsey spits. “I’m coming. We’ll be right there.” Before she even hangs up, she’s relaying to Jonah what I just said.

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