Page 83 of Knot Your Romeo

“Security measures?”

“Armed guards, surveillance systems, probably attack dogs. He’s paranoid about law enforcement, but also about rival Alphas trying to steal his ‘investment.’” The disgust in her voice is palpable. “He thinks of Omegas as livestock, Beck. Valuable breeding stock to be protected and controlled.”

The words make my alpha snarl with protective fury. “How long would it take him to reach Montana?”

“He won’t be going by helicopter? It’s too far.”

“He’ll be flying to a private airstrip.”

Which means he’s getting close to having Emmie locked away in whatever hell he’s created. Every minute we waste is another minute she’s suffering, another minute she’s losing hope that we’ll find her.

My phone rings again—Dmitri, with an update. “We have the location confirmed. But it’s not the Montana compound, as you suspected. But Beck...” His voice grows serious. “Is more complicated than anticipated.”

“How complicated?”

“He’s hired mercenaries, private security. He has a professional operation. I need to hire more resources to penetrate.”

“Whatever it takes,” I say without hesitation.

“Good. We move in one hour. You want to be there?” The question hangs in the air, loaded with implications. If I go with Dmitri’s team, there’s no pretending that this is just a rescue operation. I’ll be directly involved in whatever violence follows, complicit in ways that can’t be undone. But the alternative is sitting here helplessly while someone else fights for Emmie’s freedom.

“We’ll meet you at the airport,” I say.

“We?” Dmitri sounds amused. “Bringing your friends to the party?”

“My pack,” I correct. “We do this together.”

“Interesting. Very well. Airfield outside town, at hangar seven. One hour.” The line goes dead, and I look up to find Eli watching me with a mixture of respect and concern.

“Last chance to back out,” I tell him. “Once we get on that helicopter, there’s no going back. Whatever happens, we’ll all be complicit.”

“She chose us,” Eli says simply. “All of us. Now we choose her back.”

We do and tonight, I’m going to find out exactly what I’m capable of when everything I love is on the line. And God help anyone who gets in my way.

31

Jude

Something tears loose insidemy chest. A physical ripping sensation that drops me to my knees in my apartment, gasping for air as waves of terror that aren’t mine crash through my consciousness.

Emmie.Her fear hits me like a sledgehammer, so intense and overwhelming that for a moment I can’t tell where my emotions end and hers begin. Panic, confusion, the sick dread of being trapped with a predator—it all floods through me with crystal clarity.

Soul bond. My Emmie, my AuroraOmega,is soul bonded to me.

When did it happen?

My finger touches my lip and I remember she bit it. That has to be the moment she bonded us together forever.

We’ve talked telepathically, and that in itself is unique for two Omegas but this is something else.I feel her. Truly feel her.I knew we had a connection, but not a Soul bond. The rarest, deepest connection possible between two people, transcending biology and choice.

I’ve been teaching about this for years, describing it in academic terms to students who see it as romantic fantasy. The mythical connection between two souls that allows them to share emotions, thoughts, even physical sensations across any distance. Most scholars consider it theoretical at best.

But there’s nothing theoretical about the terror flooding my system right now, as her feelings are nothing but fear.

My hands shake as I grab my phone, speed-dialing Beck’s number. He answers on the first ring.

“Jude—“

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