Chapter Seventeen
Conrad
I found myself between Jasper and the door before I’d processed what he’d said. His heartbeat was soaring, and his body trembling slightly. My tiger needed to protect even if I’d yet to figure out from what.
He sank into me, my arms immediately enveloping him, and the dear sweet baby wrapped close to his chest.
I didn’t recognize the voices, not that I necessarily had chatted with everyone in Distance, but while working on the house and the solar panels, I came close.
“Do you hear?” Jasper whispered close to my ear.
I hadn’t really heard, my focus more on Jasper than the words the voices were mumbling.
“He said, ‘We were in holding. We needed to stay alive—he needed to keep us alive.’”
My gut dropped. The omegas were already in Distance, which was the best for them. Hearing even those few words had my tiger wanting to rip from me and hunt down the already-dead wolf.
“Take me inside?”
Jasper’s voice sounded unsure, but he held his chin up and blinked up at me, and I knew, as much as he didn’t want to go in, he knew he had to.
My omega was badass to the core.
I turned the knob with one hand as my other arm stayed wrapped around him. He gave me a slight nod, and I swung the door open loudly enough everyone would know we were here, but quiet enough to be respectful. I didn’t want to scare the omegas inside nor piss off the man I’d hope would soon give his blessing for me to join his pack.
Sitting in the living room was Hayden, Travis, and Samson, as well as the two men I’d seen in those horrible photos, and someone I didn’t recognize.
“Sorry. We just got home…and I overheard…”
Hayden patted the couch next to him at Jasper’s nonsensical introduction. Jasper shook his head. “I need to change Owen first.”
“I’ve got your little man.” Travis stood up, holding out his arms before dropping them to his sides. “I have a lot of practice, and you look like you need to hear this.”
That must’ve been exactly what Jasper needed to hear because he unwrapped Owen, kissed him on the top of the head then handed him to Travis who bared his neck before accepting. Travis respected my omega the way he deserved to be respected.
I sat on an oversized chair, pulling Jasper down with me, my gut telling me he needed to have my touch through this. Had he faltered the slightest of bits, I’d have moved to the couch, but he sank onto my lap as if this were our normal. Hopefully, one day soon it would be.
“I’m Jasper.” He looked at the two omegas huddled close together. “This is my future mate, Conrad. He found the pictures.”
Future wasn’t ideal, but having the word mate coming from his lips as a means of introduction? That meant the world to me.
“I-I’m Blake.” The shorter of the two omegas all but whispered. “This is Alex. Thank you for finding us.”
“I only found the pictures. It was Travis you owe the thanks to. I’m so glad you are okay.”
The one introduced as Alex flinched at my use of the word okay. Of course, they weren’t okay. How could they be?
“Blake was just— May I share?” the healer asked and was given the nod to go ahead by both men. “Blake was just telling us there was more to what was happening than their alpha knows, and they are grateful for you for helping find them as well as the pack for taking them in so they could feel safe.”
Jasper froze in my arms, and I could easily understand why. These omegas didn’t feel the threat was gone even though the man who’d held them was dead. That meant there were more people involved or potentially involved.
“Blake, what was it I overheard about him needing to keep you alive?” Brave badass omega.
“He said we might be worthless, but he still planned to make money on us. Boss wasn’t someone you could ask questions.” His gaze fell, and Samson gave his shoulder a slight squeeze.
My stomach churned at the nickname he’d forced them to use, the one that had become so embedded after his death they still spoke it in but a whisper.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve known you were there. I should’ve found the picture. I should’ve known Dash was into evil shit.” His heartbeat was steady and his voice calm, but I knew him well enough to know it was taking all he had to not succumb to the guilt building inside him.
“Dash?” Alex spoke for the first time since we’d walked in the room. “Dash who brought us food? You know him?”
“He’s dead.” Travis walked in without Owen, met Jasper’s eyes then softened his voice. “Owen fell asleep, so I put him in his crib, but I can go get him if you want.”
Jasper shook his head in response.
“Why was Dash bringing you food?” Travis sat on the coffee table directly in front of the omegas, blocking our view.
“He said he was getting half the take, and he need to make sure they got a good price,” Blake replied.
Jasper was off my lap and shifting before I knew what was happening. I reached down to touch his wolf, let him feel he wasn’t alone.
“Conrad, I’ve got the baby. Go. Run. Keep him safe.” Hayden jogged to the door, opening it for Jasper who licked Hayden’s hand before bolting outside.
I gave myself over to my tiger and followed. My mate needed me by his side. And that was where I planned to stay.