17. Blake

17

Blake

"I'm okay. I even ate lunch and drank water, Alpha." I hold up the empty wrappers from the cafeteria downstairs, trying to show Luther that I'm okay. He said I had one more day before we had to discuss our future and how much effort I put into my job. Luther steps into my office and closes the door, his shoulders falling. "What's wrong with Luca?" I pop out of my chair and reach for my coat, Luther stopping me from running out into the hallway.

"Blake, Luca and Gray are on the way to the police station. It seems Luca's Alpha thought it was okay to threaten the receptionist at the apartment complex so someone called the police on him. However, he has a right to his Omega and we have to return Luca."

"No! Luca is mine. "

"I know, love. I know. He is ours but the alternative is someone forcefully removing Luca from our home and arresting Grayson. It's a little backwards but he'll be okay. We all will." Luther wraps an arm around my shoulder, holding me until I stop trying to move around him. "Let's go get our Omega, back, okay?"

"Yes, please."

Luther definitely breaks a few laws to get to the station and I jump out the moment the car stops moving to rush inside. Luca is sitting a few inches from Hudson, Grayson standing on the other side by a Beta I vaguely recognize. He reminds me of Grayson but with shorter hair and a reddish tone to his dark skin. His eyes are nearly silver as they meet mine, a mesmerizing look that I can't seem to tear myself away from.

Luther moves in behind me, gesturing me to stand beside Grayson as he reaches out to shake the Beta's hand. "I wish it were on better circumstances, Maceo."

"Same." Maceo nods to the officer behind the desk. "Detective Ward here has been investigating the complaint from the hospital and he has evidence that says Luca's injuries weren't inflicted at home." A laugh bubbles from my lips before I catch it, Grayson grabbing my shoulder and pulling me back into his chest when Hudson growls at me.

My blood runs cold as I stare at a man I haven't seen in a few years, fear racing through me at the look he's pinned me with. I can't imagine living with a man like that let alone being bonded to him. Luca's head is bowed, his hands settled in his lap as he leans away from Hudson, telling me everything I need to know.

"The problem is," Detective Ward begins. "That if the injuries weren't inflicted at home, we need to know where. Hurting an Omega to this extent is punishable by law, carrying a possible sentence of up to five years. I'm all for some rough play but this is excessive. One of the doctors provided the medical records and this is years worth of bruises and cuts."

Maceo leans into Luther, whispering so that only the three of us can hear. "I'd advise you to keep from explaining anything that happened in the last 24 hours aside from what is absolutely necessary."

Oh. He's the family lawyer. Right.

Luther nods and squeezes the Beta's shoulder before addressing Detective Ward. "I agree that Luca's medical file shows that many of these bruises and cuts were inflicted yesterday when he passed out at the diner. I could almost say that they were a result of his clumsy nature if I didn't know Luca personally. I also happen to know that his bite is infected and that doesn't happen outside the home."

I glance between Hudson and the detective, both of them shocked at Luther's declaration but where the detective is actually surprised, Hudson is furious. Hudson grabs the edge of Luca's chair and drags it toward him, the movement stopped when Luther places a foot just past one of the legs. Luca jerks from side to side before leaning toward Luther, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

The sweet ocean scent I'm used to is a tsunami of emotions, his body trembling until Luther has to step closer to give Luca something to lean against. Detective Ward raises an eyebrow at the movement before chuckling. "If it was that easy, Hudson, I'd tell you to get fucked. Unfortunately, I need the Omega's word that he doesn't want to go back home."

"His name is Luca!" I push out, gripping Grayson's arm around my waist. " Luca. "

"I apologize. Yes. Luca, I need you to tell me what happened. It's the difference between releasing you back to Hudson or finding a different avenue for your care."

Detective Ward makes it sound like Luca is a possession. Grayson buries his face in my neck, lightly running his lips over his bite so that I stay calm. Unfortunately, that just makes me more frustrated that I can't do anything other than wait for Luca to speak up. When Luca does nothing other than look at me for reassurance, I try to break Grayson's hold with no luck.

Maceo slowly moves forward and crouches in front of Luca, offering the warmest smile anyone has given Luca aside from the three of us. "Luca, let me tell you something. Luther and I are very good friends. My job is to help him and his family which extends to you. That's what Luther told me. However, I can't do anything unless you tell me what happened."

"I don't-" Luca hiccups and leans a little farther into Luther. Luther can't touch him, though, not in front of Hudson. It's fucking obvious where Luca wants to be but the stupid laws require our verbal or written consent.

"If Hudson hurt you, I guarantee that you will not return with him."

Hudson laughs, "You can't promise him that shit."

Maceo glares at the Alpha before standing up, towering over him. "I can, actually. Law states that an Omega is allowed to move out of an abusive home if the Omega requests. Which is why I'm asking Luca whether or not-"

"I didn't hurt him! Sure, I was a little rough but he liked it. He always likes it. Has his pretty little ass propped up and waiting for me every time I come home. Although, he stinks like Alpha right now and it's not from me. You should be arresting this entire fucking pack—especially Alpha Blake for taking my Omega."

I freeze, wondering if the detective will come after me for that lie but the attention isn't on me. It's on Luca as Maceo continues to try and coax a response from him. Luca reaches out to Maceo, the Beta staring at the hand before swallowing it with his. "You… I don't want to go home."

"Did your Alpha hurt you?"

"Yes." The answer is so small I nearly miss it. Luca scrambles from his chair when Hudson reaches for him, Luther glaring at the Alpha before protecting my Omega. It's an impossible situation as Luther takes a step back, Hudson hovering a few inches away. Maceo steps between them, Detective Ward scrambling around the desk to keep anything from happening.

Detective Ward places a hand on Hudson's chest, growling at the Alpha to make him stand down. "A report of abuse has been filed which keeps you from your Omega. Until the investigation is closed, any rights you have to Luca are null and void."

"I can smell his fucking heat coming. Those Alphas have no right to Luca when he-"

Maceo cuts in. "No, they don't. But that's a completely different matter." He turns to face Luther. "Do you want to press charges for Hudson showing up at your building? No? Great. Hudson, I would suggest you find somewhere else to be. Your Omega will be well taken care of until the investigation is over."

Hudson throws up his hands. "If Luther Keller so much as touches my goddamn Omega…"

"He will stay within his rights as an Alpha."

The detective grimaces as Hudson pushes away and stalks out of the station before turning to Maceo. "You make me look like I can't do my job, Mac. Seriously? I know you went to school to be some big bad lawyer after the police academy but shit, man. Also, what the fuck is this situation. Two Omegas in a pack?"

Maceo shrugs. "Not your place to judge. What is your place is to hand Luca's care over to Luther and I'll make sure I go over all of the legal ramifications associated with caring for a mated Omega until the investigation is completed."

I watch as the detective huffs out a sigh and returns to his desk before dragging a folder from the edge of his desk. "Then I have everything I need for now. Maceo graciously filled out all the paperwork you needed and while I would advise getting a restraining order, it's legally impossible because you do have his Omega. Mac will explain all the ins and outs and Mac? Don't cut corners. Your friend may end up in jail for it."

The detective waves at us to leave his desk and we file out of the station, my first instinct to wrap myself around Luca. He eagerly shuffles into my arms, burying his head in my neck. Maceo raises an eyebrow at the two of us. "I thought you were fucking with me when you told me about them. Let's get them both home and then we can talk. It smells like stressed Omega and with two of them? It's not going to be good."

I refuse to let Luca go, though, Grayson awkwardly herding us into the back of his car. Luther piles into his own, Maceo jumping into the front seat. When the door closes, I finally let myself relax. "You're with me, cupcake."