21. Quinn

21

QUINN

The soft glow of my computer screen casts shadows across my cluttered desk, the blue light burning my tired eyes. The hum of multiple hard drives and the faint whir of cooling fans create a tech symphony in my dimly lit room. The bitter scent of my fifth energy drink mingles with the spicy aroma of half eaten hot Cheetos—a testament to my desperate all-nighter. It's nearing two in the morning, my body heavy with exhaustion, but Zane's urgent call echoes in my mind, keeping me wired and focused.

I'm not sure I'd be able to sleep even if I wanted to. Sleep? Overrated. Besides, my brain is doing its best impression of a hamster on a wheel.

My fingers fly over the keyboard, lines of code scrolling rapidly across multiple screens. I'm running parallel searches through public records, social media databases, and some less than legal channels I've cultivated over the years. Noah . The name is common enough to be a challenge, but I've written an algorithm to cross-reference it with Aria's known locations and any incidents matching the profile of her case. It's not impossible, especially not for me.

All I need is motivation, some energy drinks, and those hot Cheetos. I know they are terrible for me, but they are so damn addicting.

A picture of Aria flashes in my mind—the way she stormed into our lives with her fiery spirit and mysterious past. I knew there was more to her story than she let on. There have been moments when I've seen a flicker of fear in her eyes, something haunting her just beneath the surface, and now, Zane's protectiveness tells me she's in deeper trouble than any of us anticipated. It reminds me of how he was with Jane, the beta who broke his heart. He's been on edge ever since she left, always ready to protect those he cares about. I can see that same protectiveness in him now aimed at Aria.

I know Aria isn't from the east coast, as her mannerisms are example enough. It's been a few long days since I found out she is an omega, and I somehow kept it to myself, even though any longer and it is going to wear me down. Now, with this urgent situation, I start my search with just the two names—Aria and Noah.

A notification pops up on my screen, breaking my train of thought. I click on it, scanning the document that appears. It's not much, but it's a start. It's a police report from not even a year ago, filed by an Aria against a Noah R. in California. As I read through it, my blood runs cold. The report details multiple incidents of severe physical abuse, including broken bones and hospitalizations. There are mentions of psychological torture, isolation tactics, and even suspected drugging. The restraining order was granted due to death threats and stalking behavior post-separation. The underlying implications are clear and horrifying—this Noah R. is not just an abuser, but a potentially lethal threat.

No picture… That's odd. Why doesn't he have a picture? Someone had to of hacked this and edited it.

I look toward the clock, my heart racing as I see the red digits glaring back at me. It's two-fifteen AM. Exhaustion weighs heavily on my eyelids, but I refuse to let them close. Adrenaline pumps through my veins, keeping me alert and focused. Aria's safety is on the line, and I can't afford to miss a single detail. Every second counts in this dangerous game.

I reach for my phone and dial Zane's number. He answers on the first ring.

"Quinn, what did you find?" Zane's hushed whisper sounds more like a growl. Maybe he's been watching too many detective shows.

"Not much yet, but enough to be concerned," I reply, trying to sound steady, because sounding panicked wouldn't help. "There's a police report from less than a year ago. Domestic abuse. Restraining order. The guy's name is Noah R. I'm digging for more details, but it doesn't look good. If she is involved with this guy, then we have a problem."

There's a pause on the other end, and I can almost hear Zane's teeth grinding. "Damn it."

"Listen, Zane, we need to be careful. If this guy's dangerous, we need a plan." I tap my fingers repeatedly on my leg.

"I know," he says, his voice a low growl. "Just keep digging. We need everything we can find on this bastard. One more thing."

"What's up?" I pause, my fingers over the keyboard.

"Someone was in her apartment," he says, his voice tight with barely controlled anger, as though he's been holding it in.

My first instinct is to growl, the second is to look at the video feeds as close to her apartment as I can get. "You should have brought her here," I chastise, but I also know Aria never would have gone for that.

"I tried," he says in that lazy way of his.

"Explain." My fingertips clack over the keyboard. I'm angry at the situation, and I can smell my scent turning sour at his tone.

"I mentioned it, and she completely shut down."

I should tell him she's an omega.

"So you took her…" I prompt.

"Small hotel in Southend," he replies.

"I want to be there when she wakes up," I state because Zane and his face can scare anyone into peeing themselves. I don't know how comfortable Aria is with Zane, but maybe seeing me will make her feel better.

"Quinn," he rumbles.

I repress my laugh, because clearly she's under his skin, and he thinks she's a beta. I need to convince her to tell them.

How?

"I'll be there by dawn." I hang up, my mind already racing with possibilities. I open another database, determined to uncover every scrap of information on Noah. If this guy thinks he can get away with terrorizing Aria, he has another thing coming.

Maybe if I can get everything I can on him, then she will come stay with us. Hell, we can keep her safe. I just need to convince her of it.

As the night drags on, my search becomes more frantic. Every new piece of data paints a clearer picture of the monster we're dealing with. My perception shifts as I try to uncover more, only I keep hitting wall after wall, almost like someone purposely hid everything.

I stare at the screen, the words blurring together. My chest tightens with frustration. I need more. I need something concrete to nail this bastard, and I need to be there when Aria wakes up. It's a drive inside me that can't be ignored.

A thought strikes me, and I pull up my contacts. Cayenne is Aria's best friend and someone who might know more about Noah. She's been a friend to me too, a fiery redhead with a personality to match. If anyone can help, it's her.

I dial her number, my heart pounding in my chest. The phone rings once, twice, three times before a groggy voice answers.

"Quinn? Do you have any idea what time it is?" Cayenne's voice is thick with sleep. I can almost hear her glaring at me through the phone.

"I know, I'm sorry, but it's about Aria. She's in trouble."

That wakes her up fully. "What happened? Is she okay?"

"She's safe for now, but I need your help. Do you know anything about a guy named Noah? Aria filed a restraining order against him." My fingers tap out a rhythm on my knee as it bounces in place.

There's a long pause on the other end, and I can almost hear the gears turning in her head. "Noah…yeah, he's bad news, Quinn. Really bad."

My body goes on instant alert. "Do you have any details? Anything that could help us find him?"

Cayenne sighs, and I hear the rustle of sheets as she sits up. "Quinn, this is complicated. There are things about Aria that you don't know, things she's been through that she's not ready to share."

I swallow hard, knowing I have to push her. "Cayenne, I know Aria is an omega."

The line goes silent, and for a moment, I think she hung up, but then I hear her take a deep breath. "How… How do you know?"

"She didn't tell me directly. I figured it out, and I know she's been through hell. There was an incident earlier. Aria said she saw someone in her apartment, but I can't find a single camera near her apartment."

"You won't find any." There's another pause, and I can almost see Cayenne's face. She's torn between loyalty to her friend and the desperate need to protect her. Finally, she speaks, her voice barely above a whisper. "Okay, Quinn. I'll tell you everything I know."

She takes a deep breath, and I hear the hesitation in her voice. "Noah R. is Noah Roberts. He's dangerous, Quinn. He's not just some asshole ex. He's part of a group that preys on omegas, exploiting and trafficking them. Aria got out, but not without trauma. He's been hunting her ever since, and I lost his trail."

My blood runs cold. "Damn, Cayenne. Why didn't she come to us sooner? We could protect her. It's literally what we do."

"She's scared, Quinn. She's been through so much, and she's afraid of dragging you all into it, but if you're going to help her, you need to know everything. I'll send you his last known addresses, associates, and anything I have on him, but be careful. These people are dangerous." I hear her fingers flying over her keyboard. "Don't push her either, Quinn." There is an edge to her voice.

"I haven't," I assure her. Then, taking a deep breath, I voice the thought that's been haunting me. "She's a scent match, Cayenne." The words hang in the air, heavy with implication. My heart races, a mix of excitement and fear coursing through me. A scent match is rare, precious—something every alpha dreams of finding. But with Aria, it's complicated. The protective instinct it triggers wars with the knowledge of her trauma, leaving me feeling both drawn to her and terrified of pushing too far.

"Fuck," she hisses. "So was Noah."

My entire world bottoms out. It isn't like I didn't know an omega could have multiple scent matches. She or he would have to in order to build their pack, though many of us build packs on our own due to the fact that finding an omega isn't a guarantee.

"No," is all I can say, and I swear my whole world tilts on its axis.

"Yeah." She snorts. "Quinn, you didn't hear this from me, but he…" She curses like a sailor. "Her humor is a product of her trauma. The more she dissociates, the closer her memories are."

I lick my lips, my leg bouncing restlessly. "I've seen it happen."

"She doesn't trust alphas, and she doesn't trust packs," she continues. "She needs to tell you her story, but don't push her, and don't corner her."

"I'm guessing that's what happened with Zane." Now I'm cursing.

"What did he do?" Cayenne growls.

"Offered to bring her here," I explain.

"She needs to do it on her own terms." She sighs. "I'm going to pull the feed from all the hidden cameras I placed in her apartment. I'll send them when they come through. If it was Noah in her apartment, then, Quinn, you all may be in danger."

"Thank you, Cayenne." I release a relieved breath, despite the fear coursing through my veins for Aria. "We'll keep her safe. I promise."

"I know you will. Just… Just protect her, Quinn. She means the world to me." Her voice breaks.

"We will. And, Cayenne? Thank you."

"Stay safe, Quinn."

I hang up, my mind racing with the new information. I forward everything Cayenne sends me to Zane, adding a note.

Quinn: Got this from Cayenne. It's worse than we thought. Be careful.

My phone buzzes almost immediately with a response from Zane.

Zane: Good work, Quinn. Keep digging.

I take a deep breath and return to my search, the new information giving me a renewed sense of purpose. Noah may think he's untouchable, but he hasn't met us yet. We protect our own, and Aria is one of us now.

I wait for the video feed to come through. In the meantime, I pack an overnight bag. As soon as the email pings, I fling myself into my chair and bring it up.

I'm just about to press play when Malachi walks in…without knocking, I might add.

"Why did Zane cut off the bond?" His dark eyes are full of irritation. It isn't like Zane hasn't done this before when he throws a tantrum and storms out.

"Aria," is all I say.

"How is our onion-smelling beta?" He chuckles and leans over my seat.

I fill him in on what Cayenne told me, giving him details regarding Noah while also keeping Aria's designation secret. He listens intently, absorbing my words, and then I press play. On screen, I see Aria's apartment, and then a shadow moves from one corner to the next. The intruder is completely covered in black. I can't make out a damn thing.

"What the hell is this?" Malachi leans over my shoulder, his aura flaring through the room, making me choke.

"Aria's apartment," I explain, shaking my head. "I can't pick up a damn thing."

Malachi's eyes narrow as he studies the screen, his jaw clenching. The air around him seems to crackle with tension. "Zoom in," he commands, pointing at a specific area. "There, in the corner." As the image becomes clearer, I see a flash of something dangerous in Malachi's eyes—a mixture of rage and determination that I've rarely witnessed. His voice drops to a low growl. "If this man is involved in omega trafficking, we're not just dealing with a stalker. We're facing a monster."

I follow his direction, enhancing the image. It's grainy and dark, but I can make out a faint outline, a reflection in the window—a face partially obscured by a hood. My heart races as I try to sharpen the image further.

"That's him," Malachi snarls, his voice low and dangerous. "That's Noah."

I feel a chill run down my spine. The face in the reflection is barely visible, but there's something about it, a coldness in the eyes that makes my skin crawl. This is the man who's been hunting Aria, the one who's haunted her nightmares.

"We need to get this to Zane," I say, already typing out a message. "He needs to know what we're dealing with."

Not like we even know, but I swear I will know all there is to know about Noah Roberts by the end of the day.

Malachi nods, his expression grim. "And we need to get Aria somewhere safe. If Noah found her apartment, then he could find her anywhere."

I pause, remembering Cayenne's warning. "We can't push her."

Malachi's eyes flash with frustration. "What do you mean, we can't push her? Her life is in danger, Quinn. We need to act now."

I shake my head, my mind racing. "I know, I know, but Cayenne warned me. Aria's been through a lot. If we push too hard, we could lose her trust completely."

Malachi runs a hand through his hair, his aura pulsing with agitation. "So what do we do then? Just sit back and wait for this psycho to make his move?"

"No," I say firmly, meeting his gaze. "We protect her, but we do it on her terms. We gain her trust and make her feel safe. When she's ready, she'll come to us."

Malachi doesn't look convinced, but he nods. "Fine, but we need eyes on her at all times. I don't want her out of our sight for a second."

"Agreed," I reply, already pulling up a map of the city. "I'll coordinate with Zane and set up a perimeter around the hotel. We'll take shifts and make sure she's never alone."

We just need to figure out how to get an omega to trust us in ten days or less, because I have a weird feeling in my gut, and it's never led me astray before.