“Is there any non-suspicious way to rotate yourself into the lineup of constables guarding the omegas at the hospital?” Braun asked.

Tarek looked up from the book he was reading, surprised by the out-of-the-blue question. Braun had come back over after Tarek’s shift ended, and he’d been unusually quiet. They’d had a late dinner, then sat down to watch TV. A program Braun liked had come on, and since it didn’t particularly appeal to Tarek, he’d picked up a novel.

Instead of responding right away, Tarek observed Braun’s body language. Rigid, guarded, uncertain—things he hated seeing in his omega. “The hospital isn’t in my district rotation,” he said. “It would be difficult, but not impossible, and yes, my supervisor would ask me why.”

“Damn. Figured as much.” Braun angled back toward the TV.

“Oh no, you don’t.” Tarek muted the television, then dragged Braun into his lap. “Tell me why.”

“Because when I visited the omegas, I told them about a chance at another future than the one they’ve all been raised to believe is their only option. They were all very keen on the idea, especially Gill.”

“Who’s Gill?”

Braun tucked his head under Tarek’s chin, hiding his face. “My roommate when I was there. Fynn thought Gill knew I was planning to escape, and he was beaten for it. Beaten and raped.”

Tarek tightened his arms around Braun. “That’s not your fault.”

“Maybe. Gill said Fynn did it to everyone eventually.”

Fear and fury clashed like lightning in Tarek’s mind. “Sweetheart, Fynn never…with you?”

“No, I got away before he could. But all those other omegas….I feel for them so badly, and I want to help them. Serge told me there are actual sanctuary towns where omegas and betas live together, omegas free of gender expectations. They have jobs and careers, and they don’t exist solely to procreate. I want that for this group. They’ve been through enough. They shouldn’t have to jump into a relationship they don’t want, simply so they’ll stop being a burden on the province when some of them are of legal age to live on their own.”

“How does Serge know about this?”

“I’m not sure, but he, um, says he could maybe have someone involved call me?”

The tentative phrasing told Tarek everything he needed to know about the legality of what Braun wanted to do. He sifted his fingers through Braun’s thick hair. “What would you do if this magical safe place existed? Kidnap eleven omegas from the hospital and take them there on the bus?”

Braun pinched his nipple hard enough to sting. “Don’t make fun of me.”

“I’m sorry, that wasn’t my intention. But I’m worried about this so-called sanctuary town. Those omegas are going to need counseling, if they’ve all been abused by Fynn. No one gets over something like that without help.”

“I’m sure they have doctors and counselors of their own. Wouldn’t they recover better in a place they feel safe, rather than like an unwanted burden? These towns aren’t actually illegal, you know.”

Tarek tugged until Braun sat up and looked at him. “How do you know?”

“Because the constabulary can only enforce the law within coded province limits. The countryside is outside of their jurisdiction, so omegas can live on their own at eighteen if they want to. They can learn how to drive.” Braun’s bright smile allowed Tarek to dare hope this place existed. “I never knew any towns existed outside of our territory’s provinces, much less they could be so free. Alphas, betas and omegas living side by side, in peace, as equals.”

“This is really important to you, isn’t it?” Tarek asked.

“It really is. I won’t ask for your help in this, because I don’t want you to get into trouble. But don’t try to stop me?”

As if Tarek had the power to resist anything his omega wanted. He cupped Braun’s cheek in the palm of his hand. “I won’t ask for details, but I will ask that you take every precaution and that you stay safe. I can’t lose you when I’ve just found you.”

“I promise I’ll be safe.”

Tarek bit his lip as an idea occurred to him. It could be traced back to him, but maybe not. “If you happen to randomly mention a day that you might want to take a trip out into the countryside, I could possibly arrange for a fifteen minute delay in the changing of the constabulary guards when the shifts switch at eight o’clock, night and morning.”

Braun crashed his mouth against Tarek’s, nearly biting his lip in his enthusiasm. “You’re amazing.”

“I want you happy, Braun. That’s my job as your alpha and also as your mate. Your partner.”

“Thank you. I want you to be happy, too.”

“You make me happier than I’ve ever been.” Tarek kissed him gently on the mouth. “I love you so much.”

“I love you back.” Braun grinned. “Do I still get my aluminum foil badge?”

“Dork. I’ll make you one, just don’t go flashing it at anyone and pretending to be a constable, or you’ll really get into trouble.”

“Never. I was thinking I’d tape it to my chest and wear it the next time you fuck me.”

Tarek pretended to struggle with standing, even though he could easily lift Braun off his lap.

“What are you doing?” Braun asked with a bright laugh.

“If you want to wear it the next time we fuck, I need to make it right the hell now so we can go have sex before you leave.”

Braun fell over laughing. “You sex fiend. Go, go make the badge. I should wear your gun holster, too.”

That mental image hit Tarek right in the balls. He leaned down, flashing Braun his most intent smile. “And give me something to hold onto while I’m fucking you? Count me in.”

Braun’s nostrils flared. “Go make that badge.”

“Yes, sir.”

* * *

Two days later, Braun was waiting outside of a coffee shop with the small hot tea and croissant he was told to order, and it was five minutes past the time he was expecting to meet with his sanctuary contact. True to his word, Serge had made a call, and last night, Braun had gotten a direct call setting up this meeting. Braun didn’t particularly like sitting on a busy street with the occasional alpha passing by and sniffing him—ugh, he hated that so much!—but this was more important than his discomfort.

According to Tarek, the omegas were going to be placed by the end of next week, giving them a brief window to make this happen. Braun had visited the rescued omegas again yesterday with books donated by Dex and a batch of homemade cookies from Serge. All the omegas were on board with leaving the province. None of them had any family left who’d miss them.

Braun tapped his teacup, not a fan of the stuff, or of croissants, so he left that alone too. His instructions had been to wait, not eat, and his stomach was already cramped with nerves. The nerves weren’t helped along by his inability to directly reach Kell. He’d left messages every other day, and Kell never called him back.

Fucking Krause.

Tarek had promised to help him with Kell, but so far he didn’t have any bright ideas on how. Maybe if this sanctuary town was real and as safe as Serge said, they could kidnap Kell and hide him there?

A shadow fell across his table. Braun looked up into a friendly face full of freckles and the darkest red hair he’d ever seen. The beta sat without asking permission, so Braun assumed this was his contact. The man was older than him, probably close to thirty and he had scars on the backs of his hands, which were resting on the top of the table, and he wore a light autumn coat.

“Um, I’m Braun Etting,” Braun said, uncertain of the protocol here.

“Clio,” the man said.

First or last name, Braun had no idea. “Did you speak to Serge?”

“No, a friend of mine did. I have a knack for reading people and judging if their intentions are good or bad. Keeps us all safe.”

“Like a sixth sense? Is that real?”

Clio’s lips twitched. “It’s real. You’re omega. Bonded but not mated?”

“Not yet. My partner was respectful enough to wait.”

“Impressive. I haven’t known many alphas with the self-control to wear a rubber during their omega’s heat.”

“He isn’t like other alphas.” Braun couldn’t help puffing with pride. “And he supports me in contacting you.”

“Why did you? Serge said you had an omega problem he thought I could help you with, but you seem happy in your relationship.”

“I am. This isn’t about me.” Braun quietly detailed his past seven weeks, from the car crash, to escaping the halfway house, all the way up to reaching out through Serge. Clio listened quietly without asking questions, simply watching him with a flat expression.

“How do you plan on getting these omegas out of the hospital if they’re being guarded?” Clio asked after a moment of silence.

“My mate is a constable. He’s agreed to delay the changing of the guard by fifteen minutes. They’re in an isolation ward so there aren’t any other patients, and there’s stairwell access close by. And Serge is a nurse at the same hospital. He’s agreed to help as needed.”

“That’s dangerous for your mate, if he gets caught.”

“We know. He’s helping because he loves me, and he knows how important it is to me to see these omegas live long, happy lives.” Braun swallowed hard, and then told Clio about Kell’s life since mating with Krause, up to and including the missing baby.

Clio’s face hardened. “I’m sorry. That’s a tough situation.”

“Kell is why this situation is so important to me. I can’t help him, but I can help these omegas. They’re all so young, and they’ve already been through hell because of the way they were born.”

“I can see your passion for this, so I’m going to have to ask you to put your trust in me for a few hours.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll take you to see our sanctuary, but I will only do it if you agree to wear a blindfold.”

Braun frowned. “Why?”

“Two reasons. First, it protects me in case you don’t like what you see. You can’t tell anyone else how to find us when I bring you back. Second, all of our new residents are required to be blindfolded on the journey, in case they change their mind, or they’re an anti-equality asshole looking to disrupt our lives.”

“So the people living there don’t even know where they are?”

“After a year, they’re told and are free to come and go as they please. We make trips here to Sansbury Province once a month for certain supplies, but we’re very self-sustaining now.”

“Can I text Tarek and tell him where I’m going?”

“No.” Clio leaned in, his gray eyes fierce. “Trust goes both ways, but I’m the one with the most at stake. Hundreds of lives count on my intuition being right.”

Braun leaned back in his chair, considering. Clio seemed legit, but what the hell did Braun know about reading people? He didn’t give his trust easily, that was for damned sure, and this stranger was asking for a lot. But he also promised paradise for eleven traumatized teenagers.

“Do you have doctors or medical personnel who could help sexually abused teens?” Braun asked.

“Of course we do. Many who live there have been assaulted in the past, in one way or another.”

Braun glanced at Clio’s scarred hands. “Okay, I’ll go with you.”

This would either end up being a colossal mistake, a waste of time, or the best leap of faith he’d ever taken. Braun had to hope for the best.

* * *

Tarek was ready to climb the walls. Or punch something. It didn’t matter, because his mate was missing.

He’d tried calling Braun during his lunch break, simply to chat, but the call had gone to voice mail. He sent a follow-up text, asking Braun to call him and check in, because he knew for a fact Braun didn’t have a work shift today. Then he called Dex, who said he’d seen Braun at breakfast, but Braun hadn’t mentioned any plans.

Serge was his next call, and he had nothing useful to tell him, other than Braun had left the apartment around eleven-thirty, but he hadn’t said where he was going. Serge’s best guess was to visit the omegas at the hospital. Tarek called the hospital, but the constable on watch said no one but hospital personnel had been by. They said they’d call if Braun showed up.

Five hours had passed since. Tarek skinned out of his uniform and into his street clothes faster than he’d ever done in his life. Braun’s phone was still off. Serge and Dex still hadn’t heard from him. Tarek drove by the apartment and used his key, but no one was home. Braun’s scent was faint and stale, so he probably hadn’t been there since morning.

Until they were mated, they wouldn’t have the emotional bond that many alpha/omega pairs developed, especially when they were truly in love, so Tarek had no idea if Braun was in distress or simply lost in the city.

He drove home to pace, too upset to bother eating. He checked his phone every few minutes, even though it remained silent.

At six o’clock, just as he was contemplating using his wall as a punching bag, his phone lit up with Braun’s name on the front. He snapped it open, heart in his throat. “Braun? Are you all right!?”

“I’m fine, I swear, I’m okay, and I am so sorry, but I really am fine, I promise you, Tarek,” Braun replied. That stream of babble meant Tarek sounded more upset than he realized.

“Where have you been all day? No one’s been able to reach you.”

“I’ll explain when I get there. I’m grabbing a bus now, so it should be ten minutes.”

Tarek grumped. “Fine. You swear you’re in the exact same physical condition as when you left here last night?”

“Exactly the same. Well, my hair might have grown a teeny-tiny bit, and I have a few chin whiskers, but—”

“Brat.” Tarek laughed, his panic and anxiety bleeding away under the gentle caress of his omega’s voice. “I was so worried, Braun, you have no idea.”

“I know you were, and I’m so sorry. But I promise I’ll explain it and why I went silent all day.”

“Okay, but you have to stay on the phone with me. I don’t care if we talk, I just need to hear you breathing.”

“I will.” Noises on Braun’s end indicated a bus pulling up. “Have you eaten dinner? I’m starving.”

“Not yet. Too busy worrying about you.” Tarek went into the kitchen. “I think there’s enough leftover pot roast to share.”

“Sounds amazing. I’d ask how your day was….”

Tarek growled but there was no anger behind it. “Funny.”

“Sorry. I know you were worried, and I shouldn’t make fun.”

Someone on Braun’s end of the line wolf-whistled.

“Was that directed at you?” Tarek asked, his hackles raising. “Do I need to punch someone?”

“Down boy,” Braun replied, his voice quieter in the noisier bus interior. “Yes, it was, but it happens. I ignore it. Engaging or acknowledging usually makes it worse.”

Tarek took the covered dinner dish out of the fridge and put it into the warming oven. Then he grabbed a beer and down it in one long pull. He grabbed a second. The direct connection to his omega helped Tarek settle on the couch with his beer and listen to the noises of the bus, and the faint sound of Braun breathing.

“My stop,” Braun said. “Be there in a minute.”

Thank goddess I live one block from a bus stop.

He waited for Braun at the door, and the instant Braun was across the threshold, Tarek tugged him into his arms. He held his omega, felt his heartbeat and slightly heavy breathing, probably from sprinting down the block. He inhaled the uniquely sweet scent of Braun, along with a bit of sweat and…something…like wood smoke?

“Where you at a cookout or something?” Tarek asked.

“No, not exactly.” Braun pulled Tarek over to the sofa so they could both sit, legs and hips touching. “Today I met with a man who lives in a sanctuary city. He took me there.”

Tarek bristled. “You went off with a stranger?”

“Trust me, I gave it a lot of thought, but I had to see this place for myself. I needed to know it was a real town, with real people, and not some sort of slave group or something.”

“And?” He wasn’t doing well keeping a lid on his anger over Braun leaving the province with a strange man, but Braun was home and in one piece.

“It’s amazing!” Braun’s entire face lit up with wonder. “It’s in this giant valley, surrounded by mountains and trees, and they have this huge community garden with real vegetables, and their own livestock for milk and meat, and there’s a tailor who makes all the clothes from fabric that’s brought it, and they have artists to make all kinds of things to bring in money from the cities, and everyone is so nice.”

It did sound incredible. Almost too good to be true.

“And I know you’re over there doing your cynical constable thing,” Braun continued, “but I spoke to so many people. It’s about forty percent omegas and sixty-ish percent betas, and there are ten alphas out of roughly five hundred residents, and none of the alphas hold any positions of power in the community. The alphas are there voluntarily, and through careful vetting, to help the omegas through their heats.”

“They must stay busy.” Tarek did the math in his head. “That’s fifteen omegas per alpha.”

“Yeah, but Clio says they have a system, and everyone is to use a condom at all times during heat, so there are no accidental pregnancies or unintended mating.”

“Clio is the person who drove you?”

“Yes, he’s also one of the community advisors. They’re like the collective mayors of the town, and they each have a responsibility. Clio’s is for recruitment, which is why we spoke here at a coffee shop today. I told him about my omegas.”

My omegas. He’s attached to them already. It will break his heart if this doesn’t work.

“Do they have room for all eleven?” Tarek asked. “And medical facilities?”

“Yes and yes. I asked about counselors before I even agreed to go see the site.”

“Smart man.”

Braun beamed.

“What about homes? What are the sleeping arrangements like?” Tarek asked.

“They’re a bit like small hotels. Several three-story buildings with, I think he said, twenty rooms per floor, each with beds and a private bathroom. Every floor has a common area and cooking facilities, and a lot of the cooking is communal. There really is this family vibe to the place, and while a lot of the folks seemed young, like in their twenties, there are some older, retired folks, too. Several omegins who’ve lost their alphas and had no family to take them in.”

“Work? Jobs?”

“There are some folks who have specific jobs, because of their skills, like cooks or tailors, and stuff, but the physical labor like gardening and tending to the animals is done on a rotating basis, so everyone pitches in. The entire community is like something out of a history book, back when things were done by hand, rather than everything, even our meat, coming out of factories and artificial sources.”

“Methane was destroying the atmosphere and you know we weren’t going to give up our steaks. Only the oldest among the population remember what actual cow-steak or stew tastes like.”

Braun shrugged. “I was there between mealtimes, so I couldn’t taste their fresh meat, but I was given an apple, and holy shit, Tarek. It tastes nothing like the apples in the store. It was so sweet and firm and juicy.” His eyes rolled back a bit like they did during orgasm.

Another issue struck Tarek. “Where did they find actual live cows? I thought that species died out when it became illegal to farm them.”

“I don’t know, and I didn’t ask, but I saw them, out in the valley. They’re pretty ugly, but I watched one get milked. Real milk. Not bio-engineered milk, but the real thing. I can’t even describe how it tastes.”

“But raising cattle is illegal.”

“Within province boundaries, yes. Did you know that once upon a time, governments used to be run by a coalition of provinces called states? And before that, states were all governed by an even larger body called federal government, and their laws affected hundreds of thousands of cities collectively? It all started coming apart generations ago when states screamed for more autonomy, the federal government fell into chaos, and everything collapsed from there to what we have now.”

“What’s wrong with small government? Our province officials do their best to protect their citizens. Why should we care what’s happening in another province?”

Braun gave him a sharp look. “Because maybe in another province, far from here, they don’t treat omegas like property. Maybe they’re treated equally, like they are in the sanctuary town. We aren’t simply as ass to claim.”

Tarek understood Braun’s point, but his absolute love for the sanctuary town worried him, as well. “Sweetheart, you aren’t thinking of…living there, are you?”

“No.” Not a single hesitation. “I couldn’t leave you and Kell behind, and you love your job, so I’d never ask you to quit, and even if you did quit, there’s Kell. More than once today, I’ve thought of kidnapping Kell and taking him there to live freely.”

At the moment, that might be the only viable way to get Kell out of Krause’s hands, but Tarek wasn’t saying that out loud and planting more ideas in Braun’s head. His firecracker would probably want to try it, and then Tarek’s career would take a huge hit. He couldn’t provide a good home for his mate if he was unemployed.

“Let’s concentrate on the group of omegas first,” Tarek said. “Any particular day I should fiddle with the guard change timesheet?”

“Is tomorrow too soon? Evening change?”

“I can arrange that. But I don’t want to know anything else. I can’t lie under oath if I genuinely don’t know what’s going on.”

“Hopefully we won’t get caught, and you won’t have to swear an oath to give testimony.”

Tarek knew there would be questions, but he didn’t want to dim Braun’s enthusiasm. Eleven missing omegas was going to be a big deal for the hospital, which was charged with their care. “Whatever you do, be careful,” Tarek said.

“I will be. I promise.”