Page 56 of Forsaken

I close my eyes as I replace the phone on the base, hoping she gets here in time. I don’t know what security’s plans are but allowing us to go home with our mates is perfectly acceptable. We’re supposed to be with them, anyway.

My face gets clammy, and I start to break a sweat. “Can I use the bathroom?” I ask, pulling the blanket tighter around my shoulders.

He nods, pointing down the hallway. I spot the restrooms sign and head toward it. I don’t know if I should run or stay. Running seems like a bad idea though, considering what happened to Robbie. Maybe if I hide out in the bathroom long enough, I’ll give Kinsey and Jonah time to get here. I don’t know what they’ll be able to do, but it’s better than looking Sean in the eye.

The idea of just telling the security guys my suspicions hangs heavily over me, but I’m not sure they would take anything we say seriously. If it wasn’t for the fact that we’re treated so poorly, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

There’s a knock on the door as I play my hands over the sink. “You almost done?”

“Yeah,” I call out.

“Your mate is here.”

“Fuck,” I whisper. My mate is here—in an interrogation room—but I’m sure that’s not who they mean. Panic sets in.

“Are you okay?” he asks, boredom threading through his tone.

“Yeah,” I choke out.

I open the door, giving him a small smile. “Sorry. I’m just freaked, you know?”

“Understandable.”

He leads me from the bathroom. Walking just behind me, I feel his constant pressure on my back to keep moving forward. I peek around the open door of the interrogation room as we pass. Nathan’s sitting at the table, his fists clenched so hard it looks as if they would burst into pieces. He meets my gaze, and I plant a placid look on my face. No use in getting him riled up. He can’t do anything. Not here. Not now.

I turn my head as we approach the front desk, and there Sean is. He stands as soon as he sees me, his gaze tracking from my head to my toes and up again. I lock onto him, searching for the monster underneath. I’m just waiting for him to show it.

“Thank Fate, you’re alright,” he says.

My feet root themselves in the middle of the walkway, and the guard nearly walks into me from behind. I’m sure I look a sight—soot streaks all over me, a blanket wrapped around my shoulders. Sean does another inspection, and I wonder if it’s because he really can’t believe that I’m okay.

Every muscle in my body tightens, recoiling away from his unwanted attention. The question I want to ask him is on the tip of my tongue. If there were no other ears here, I would voice it. I would get in his face and force it out of him.

Why does he want to sever our supposed bond so badly? Enough that he would want to kill me?

The door swings open, and Jonah bursts into the room like he’s on a mission. Sean takes a step back, and Kinsey pushes forward, wrapping her arms around me. “Thank fuck,” I whisper in her ear, squeezing my eyes closed, relief flooding through me.

Jonah starts whispering to the guard, and I open my eyes to see the scowl on Sean’s face.

Haha. Sucker.

23

Kinsey, myself, and Sean are ushered into the room with Nathan while Jonah speaks to Alpha Richard’s security team.

“What’s going on?” Sean asks.

Nathan, on full alert, body vibrating from anger, glares at Sean. “Oh, you didn’t hear? Earlier, a speaker almost fell on Mia and Kinsey. Now, the cabin burns down.”

Sean gasps, tracking his gaze to me. “I had no idea.” I’d once been all about those eyes, but I don’t trust them now. His pupils seem to move like slithering snakes.

“Yeah, odd that you weren’t around,” Nathan growls, letting everyone in the room know exactly what he thinks.

“Dude,” Sean scoffs. “I get that the academy isn’t the best, but you don’t have to get pissed at me.”

Nathan flies out of the chair, pinning Sean to the wall with his arm. “You piece of shit.”

I spring into action, yanking at the borrowed shirt Nathan’s wearing, the back proudly displaying alpha security insignia.