Page 45 of Forget me Knot
There’s a pause on the other end of the line. “An omega by the name of Emily. Dunmore. She’s disappeared from our pack, you see, and we have reason to believe she’s being held by members ofyourpack.”
My frown deepens. I don’t know any Emily, and I certainly haven’t heard about any runaway omega. But something about this doesn’t sit right with me. Jack and Sam might be dicks right now with all this skulking and moping around but holdingan omega against her will? Nah, not buying that for even a microsecond. Whoever this dick is, he has just brought out the protective prime alpha in me, and he’s ended up on my shitlist.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know anything about this. You’ve got the wrong prime,” I state.
“Hmm, well, fair enough,” Nigel says smoothly. “But if you do hear anything, I’d appreciate a call. We’re very concerned about her safety.”
I make a noncommittal noise. “I’ll keep that in mind. Goodbye, Mr West.”
I hang up, staring at my phone. What is this all about? Is it connected to the conversation Sam wants to have later?
With my mind now even more tangled and buzzing with questions, I toss the phone onto my desk and rub my temples, trying to stave off the brewing headache. Jack and Sam are up to something, that’s for sure, but they wouldn’t endanger an omega. It’s not in their character.
But one thing is for sure,somethingis going on, and it’s high time I was informed of whatever the fuck it is before I start kicking arses.
Chapter 21
Sam
As we pull away from my family’s pack farmhouse, I glance in the rearview mirror. Emily is standing on the porch with Mum and George, looking small but less scared than she was this morning. It’s a good start.
“She’ll be alright,” Jack says from the passenger seat, trying to reassure Lily, sitting in the back seat, staring back at Emily.
I nod, focusing back on the road. “Yeah, Mum will take good care of her, Lily.”
She doesn’t reply.
“You okay back there?” I press.
She gives me a small sigh and turns back around to face the front. “Yeah, just processing, I guess. It’s been a whirlwind few days. I haven’t even checked on Fred to make sure he’s doing okay.”
“The baker?” Sam asks.
“Yeah.”
“We can stop by when we get back to the village,” Jack says. “Although, I heard the village hall offered him use of their kitchen for a bit.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Lily says, her voice letting me know she’s happy and not panicking over Emily.
“You must be knackered,” Jack states.
“Tell me about it,” I mutter, thinking about the shift I just pulled and the drama of the past week. I get the distinct impression he’s trying to get rid of me.Fat chance, arsehole.
We drive in companionable silence for a while, the English countryside rolling by outside the windows. It’s a beautiful day, sunny, with just a hint of clouds on the horizon. Typical Lake District summer weather, which could turn on a dime. Pulling up outside the shop. I kill the engine.
“I’ll stick around for a bit,” I offer, trying to sound casual. “Make sure everything’s alright.”
Jack gives me a look I can’t quite decipher, but he doesn’t argue. “Same here. Those roses won’t prune themselves.”
I inwardly roll my eyes. Jack and his bloody roses. But I get it – we’re both looking for excuses to stay close to Lily.
Lily is fidgeting with her hands as we climb out of the car. “You sure you’re okay?”
She takes a deep breath. “Yeah, I’m fine. It feels weird, you know? Going back to normal after everything.”
I nod, understanding completely. Nothing feels normal anymore, not since Lily came into our lives. But I wouldn’t change it for the world.
Jack takes the keys from Lily and unlocks the shop door, his movements efficient and familiar. It strikes me how at home he is here, how seamlessly he fits into Lily’s world. A pang of something – jealousy? longing? – hits me, but I push it aside.
