The panicked scents of the omegas flooded me, even now that we were outside. The night was cold and dark as we ushered them all to the large garage behind the warehouse.
The dark made it hard to keep everyone organized as we tried to get them warmer clothes and blankets before entering the backs of the vans. Many of the omegas balked at the idea of having to go into the vans, and I didn’t blame them. They had probably been shoved in one to get here, and now strangers were trying to take them away to an unknown location. Cam, Theo, and Oliver tried to keep the omegas calm while Ben helped the other teams with their missions from his makeshift command center. I hoped all the other missions were going as smoothly as ours.
The omegas had been hesitant when I entered the large room where they were imprisoned. Small cells lined each wall and the smell of urine and despair seemed to soak every surface. Theo had grabbed the keys off one of the guards and I held them in my trembling hand as I explained to the omegas why I was there. I unlocked the cells and led them out, walking steadily until we hit the cold night air and I could finally breathe.
I handed out another blanket and was distracted when I saw Oliver crouched in front of a crying omega, talking low and sweet to her. My hands clenched and I was unsure if I should step in. But the omega’s sobs were slowing as she blinked up at him.
Oliver, Grant, and River had proven themselves in the warehouse, working together seamlessly to take down the guards. I couldn’t say I trusted them entirely, but I didn’t see any reason to stop Oliver from talking to the omega.
Then a shout broke through the air.
“Jen!” one of the omegas screamed. I whipped my head around, trying to find the source of the noise. An omega stood at the edge of the crowd, pulling her hair as she continued screaming. I ran to her without hesitation, afraid she would alert someone to our presence.
“Shh, what’s going on?” I asked, reaching a hesitant hand towards her but unsure if my touch would be comforting or alarming.
She decided for me, grasping my wrist in a tight hold. “My sister,” she said, eyes wild. “She’s not here. The guards took her somewhere this morning.”
Fuck.
I breathed through my mouth to limit how much of her acidic, terrified scent I took in. There was something familiar about her dark hair and eyes and I tried to place her. Finally, it clicked.
“Are you Margaret?” I asked, placing my hand on top of hers.
“Why?” she asked, her voice harsh and eyes wide as she took a step back from me.
“I know Dave,” I responded quickly before she could bolt. “He told me his sisters had been taken—Margaret and Jennifer. Is that you?”
She still wore a guarded expression, but her body relaxed a fraction as she nodded.
“Can you help me find Jen?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said, looking around to find my alphas. My heart pounded faster when I couldn’t spot them, but they weren’t sending any distress down the bond. They were probably in the vans getting the omegas situated.
I looked down at my watch—we were supposed to be leaving in less than five minutes, and I couldn’t leave knowing that an omega might still be stuck inside.
“Let me check inside the facility and see if she’s there, okay? Just wait here.”
Margaret looked unsure, but it was also obvious she didn’t want to go back inside. I didn’t blame her. I hadn’t been trapped in there for god knows how long, and my instincts were still screaming at me to not go back inside.
Finally, she nodded. I looked around one more time for my alphas, but when I didn’t see them, I took off jogging to the front door. I steeled myself before heading in again, hating the stench of fear that permeated the walls. I tried to stay calm as I crept through the passageways, wondering if this was futile—maybe the guards had taken Jen away somewhere else.
I walked until I hit a long, windowless hallway. I wasn’t sure how I knew, but something told me there was an omega here.
I went to the first door and peered in the small, barred window. Empty.
I looked in each room, each time bracing myself for what I would see outside and then finding them empty until I got to the seventh door.
My breath caught and sweat trickled down my back. There she was, strapped down to a metal bed in the middle of the room. I swallowed back my bile and braced my legs to keep from collapsing to the ground.
No one else is here.
No one is going to hurt you.
I repeated it as a mantra, my hand shaking as I opened the door. I was safe and was going to get Jen to safety.
Jen’s eyes flew to the door as I entered, confusion and panic lining her young face.
“Hey,” I said as gently as I could. “My name’s Josie. I’m part of a team that just broke into the facility. Your sister and all the other omegas are waiting outside. We’re going to drive you to a safe house.” I kept talking, keeping my tone gentle as I inspected the straps, breathing a sigh of relief that the buckles were accessible under the table and I didn’t need a key.
Jen said nothing.
“I know this is a lot to take in, but I’m going to release these straps. I know you don’t have a reason to trust me, but please don’t attack me, okay?”
Here goes nothing.
I released the straps, taking a few steps away from the table as a dazed Jen sat up, running her hands down her bare arms.
“What did you say your name was?” she whispered, her voice painfully hoarse.
“Josie,” I responded, blinking away the tears that threatened to fall. I wanted to pull her into my arms and hug her but was terrified of scaring her. Is this how my alphas had felt when they first met me?
“Let’s get out of here, okay? Can you stand?”
She stiffly moved off the table, holding onto the edge until she was steady.
“Good job,” I said, offering her a soft smile. She returned it hesitantly, as if she had forgotten how to make the expression.
I held out my hand and she stumbled forward to grasp it. Her hands were freezing. I pulled open the door and led her down the hallway.
“We have warm clothes and food waiting for you outside. And your sister is going to be so relieved to see you.”
Again, she said nothing, but the tiniest notes of sweetness in her scent gave me some hope.
We rounded the corner leading to the front entrance when I stopped. Standing down the hallway to the left was Jericho.
