Page 55 of Omega Inked

Hawk doesn't want to go, his eyes trained on the girl who spoke up as we were leaving. She looks at him, terrified, as he takes a menacing step toward her.

Then Rafe explodes.

He snarls and grabs Hawk, practically throwing him down the stairs into the hull. The omegas cluster together and I move toward them, but they cower.

"It's okay!" I say, raising my hands to show I'm not threatening. "I'm mated. You're safe."

"Hawk!" Phoenix says. "You got any suppressants onboard? I think a couple of them are about to cross the threshold into a heat."

Hawk nods, his eyes still fixed on Rafe as he descends into the hull. "Yeah, I've got some in my bag. I'll grab them now."

I move towards the omegas, trying to reassure them as best I can. They're all huddled together, their eyes wide with fear. I can see bruises and cuts on their skin, evidence of what they've been through.

"It's okay," I say softly, reaching out to touch one of them. "We're here to help you. You're safe now."

The girl flinches back, her eyes filled with terror. "Who are you?" she asks, her voice trembling. "Are you with the ACB?"

I shake my head. "No, we're not with the ACB. We're here to rescue you."

She stares at me for a moment, and then nods slowly. "Okay," she says softly. "Thank you."

"What's your name?" I ask. "We're looking for two of you--Jade and Kendra?"

She gasps. "I'm Jade...but Kendra...she's back there. Still on the train."

It's like a punch to the gut. I promised Olivia I would help her friends, but I was only able to get one out...and Kendra's on her way to the auction house.

"How did you know my name?" she asks.

Phoenix cuts in. "Olivia sent us," he says. "She's waiting somewhere safe."

Jade's eyes light up at the mention of Olivia's name. "Wait, you know Liv?" she says, her voice rising with excitement. "Is she okay? Is she safe?"

I nod, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "Yes. She's safe. She sent us to rescue you."

The omegas all look at each other, and then back at me. "Thank you," Jade says. "Thank you so much. But what about Kendra? We can't just leave her there."

I shake my head. "We won't leave her there. We'll go back for her. But first, we need to get all of you to safety."

Hawk returns with the suppressants, and we distribute them among the omegas who need them. Some are definitely on the brink of their heats, but the suppressants should keep them stable until we can get them to a safe place.

As we make our way towards the shore, I can feel the weight of our mission starting to sink in. We weren't able to save everyone, and one of the girls we were supposed to rescue is still in danger. But I know that we can't give up now. We have to keep pushing forward, keep fighting until every last omega is safe.

23

Olivia

Everysecondwithoutmypack is torture.

I wanted so badly to stay independent, to be my own woman, to remain unmated...but now, I can't imagine life without Phoenix, Liam, and Mercer. I count the seconds until they come back, to when we can all leave the Raft and start a new life together.

It makes everything worse when I go down to the cantina for a drink, needing to get my mind off the danger they're in. There are a few guys sitting down the bar from me, talking loudly, and my mouth goes dry when I hear the topic of conversation.

"It's a fucking suicide mission," one of them says. "Rafe is insane if he thinks they'll be able to get those girls out."

I take a sip of my drink, trying to appear nonchalant, but my heart is racing. They're talking about Phoenix, Liam, and Mercer. They're in danger, and I'm stuck here, unable to do anything to help them. I want to scream, to tell these men to shut up and mind their own damn business, but I know that won't help anything.

"Rafe's tough, though," another says. "And I know Mercer from way back. He's a hardass, he'll get the job done."

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