55. Chapter Fifty-Four

Chapter Fifty-Four

Pete

L ana steps out of the room and closes the door behind her. She seems kind of flustered, which I expected after I heard some of their conversation. The connection they have feels pretty solid.

I’d be surprised if they didn’t end up with a true mate bond.

It’s a little unusual, sure, but the thought doesn’t bother me.

I’m already open to sharing.

Her bond with this woman existed before we even met.

Neither of them will be able to join the other’s pack.

That’s the hard part, but it doesn’t make it impossible.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, when Lana hesitates, chewing on her bottom lip.

She’s looking over at the reception desk, where the Alpha Brooke arrived with is talking with the redhead. When she looks back at me, she seems anxious.

“I’m kind of torn,” she confesses. “Erika’s one of the names on Brooke’s list. She was brainwashed by Warren Corvina. I need to tell her.”

“You have a list of people he brainwashed?” I ask, keeping my voice low.

She nods. “Eight Omegas staying at the academy are on the list. We need to tell them. It’s not right to keep it from them.”

“Unless it’s a security risk?”

She frowns. “How do I determine that? They’ve each been brainwashed for a reason that we don’t know about.”

“At the least, we should have security guards stationed to each of their suites, to make sure they’re not wandering around areas they shouldn’t be. If we don’t know what they’ve been brainwashed to do, or what might trigger them, they should have their phone lines and internet access deactivated, too.”

“When will you guys have extra guards out here?” she asks. “Because now I need eight more.”

“As soon as Owen’s done with the risk assessment, I’ll find out how fast we can get them started.”

She nods. “I should speak to Erika. Do you want to meet Kellan?”

“Sure,” I answer, walking with her to the reception desk.

Erika looks up as we get there. Her eyes brighten as she looks at Lana.

“Hey, boss, I was just hearing about how you helped Kellan get into the academy. That was pretty cool.”

“It was nothing,” Lana brushes off.

“It wasn’t,” Kellan says. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for that.”

“You bought her a Lexus,” Erika gushes. “That’s like beyond sweet.”

“Well, she brought me to my true mate,” Kellan reveals. “That’s worth a lot more than a Lexus.”

He looks at me, and he gives Lana a curious glance.

“New security?” he asks.

“Kellan, this is my true mate, Pete. Pete, this is my old friend Kellan. I usually call him K.”

“Hi,” I greet him. “Nice to meet you.”

“Oh, you’re British,” Kellan says. “I’ve always wanted to visit the U.K.”

“It rains a lot,” I tell him. “And they drive on the wrong side of the road.”

That’s pretty much all I know, considering my family moved to the U.S. when I was still a kid.

I don’t remember a lot, but it was always raining, all year round.

Lovely weather for ducks, supposedly.

“Well, I guess I’ll have to bring a brolly,” Kellan says. “That’s what you call them, right? Umbrellas?”

“Yeah,” I answer, glancing at Lana pointedly.

She nods, still looking a little hesitant.

“Erika,” she says, capturing the redhead’s attention. “Can you come to my office? Brooke and I have something we need to talk to you about.”

“Oh. Sure,” she says, getting up. “Um, I forgot to tell you, but security brought me the mail when they let Brooke and Kellan in. There’s a parcel for you.”

“A parcel?” I ask, instantly thinking the worst.

She nods and sets a shipping bag on the desk.

I let out a sigh of relief when I see the clothing store label stamped on the corner.

Not a bomb. Just an online shopping habit.

“Oh, those are clothes for you,” Lana says. “I meant to tell you they were ordered.”

Erika gasps. “Really? That’s awesome. Thanks so much.”

“No problem. We can change anything you don’t like. Do you have ten minutes?”

“Yes. Of course,” Erika says, tapping something into the phone’s keypad before moving around the desk. “Whatever you need, boss.”

It takes me a second to realize I’m being left out here with the guy who wants to visit London.

He sits down in Erika’s seat as the women walk into Lana’s office.

“So, do they really call the police bobbies over there?”

“I grew up here, so I don’t really know,” I admit, before he can start rhyming off every British word he’s ever heard. That would get old pretty fucking fast.

“Oh.” He sounds vaguely disappointed.

Maybe I’m being a dick.

This guy is Lana’s friend.

Even if he did kind of steal the girl she loves.

I clear my throat. “I remember fish and chips were the best. That’s about it.”

“Fish n’ chips, a British classic! Chips are basically fries, right?”

“Kind of,” I answer as I lean against the desk, watching Lana’s office door.

I get the feeling I’m in for a long day.