In the quiet aftermath, the shrill ring of my phone slices through the haze of satisfaction. My eyes snap open, the sound jarring against the languid atmosphere. I untangle myself from the web of limbs with a reluctant groan, reaching for the device that seems so out of place in this cocoon we’ve created.
“Who’s calling?” Dax’s brow furrows, protective even now.
I flash him a reassuring smile as I swipe to answer the unknown number, my curiosity piqued. “Hello?”
“Oli Hart?” The voice on the other end is unfamiliar but tinged with an urgency that instantly grabs my attention.
“Speaking,” I reply, sitting up straighter.
“Oli, it’s Britney. I met you in San Francisco, and Riley gave me your number. I’m sorry to call. You probably don’t even remember me, but I-I need your help.” The words are rushed, and the underlying panic is evident. I remember her immediately—the omega I promised to help if she needed it.
“Britney? What’s wrong?” Concern laces my words.
“Please, I didn’t know who else to call. I’m in trouble.”
“Tell me where you are,” I respond without hesitation, already rising to the challenge. My alphas gather around me, their presence a solid reassurance that whatever this is, we’ll face it together.
The concern that tightens my chest isn’t just for show; Britney’s distress is palpable, even through the phone.
“My family, I need to get away from them.” Her words tumble out between gasps, each one like a punch to my gut.
“Okay, listen to me,” I start, my alphas hovering close, their faces etched with worry. “You’re not alone. We’re going to help you.” My words are firm, decisive—there’s no room for doubt or hesitation when someone reaches out like this.
“Really?” she sniffles, and I can hear the hope threading through her fear.
“Absolutely.” I stand up, pacing the length of the hotel room as I cradle the phone to my ear. “Where are you right now?”
She gives me an address, and I rattle it off to Jack, who immediately pulls out his phone to look it up. “We’ve got you, Britney. Stay put, stay safe, and a car will be there to take you to the airport soon.”
“Thank you, Oli. Thank you so much.”
“Hey, no thanks needed. It’s what we do, right? Look after our own.” I try to infuse a bit of my usual kindness into the conversation, but the gravity of the situation weighs heavily on me.
“Stay on the phone until the car gets there.” I slip into the role of protector as naturally as I do a melody, ready to fight tooth and nail for an omega in need.
I put the call on mute and turn to Aiden. “Call Riley and tell her what’s going on.”
He nods and does as I ask.
“Have her book a first-class ticket—no layovers—and make sure she’s met with security the second she lands,” I say before returning to the call with Britney.
With a plan firmly in place, the tension begins to ebb away.
“The car should be arriving any second,” I tell her. “Ask them who they’re there for and their name, and then confirm it with me.”
Britney does as I ask, and then she’s in the car on the way to safety.
“Thank you,” Britney whispers before hanging up.
“Are you okay?” Jack’s deep voice cuts through the brief silence, his piercing blue eyes scanning my face for signs of stress. He steps closer, the familiar scent of coffee and pastries wrapping around me like a comforting shroud.
“I don’t know if you remember her from San Francisco, but I said I would help her if she needed it,” I say, my voice firm despite the flutter of nerves in my belly. “She’s scared and alone. I just thought it was best to bring her here.”
Aiden rests his hand lightly on my lower back—a silent, grounding presence. “If she’s important to you, she’s important to us,” he says, the cadence of his voice soothing.
Dax, quiet but intense, nods, his dark eyes locked onto mine, conveying a depth of understanding that words could never fullyexpress. “Your safety is our priority. But we trust your judgment, Oli. If this omega needs sanctuary, then that’s what she’ll get.”
I can’t help but smile at them, warmth flooding my chest.