Chapter 35

Chapter Thirty-Five

RONAN

" W hat's your middle name?" Lucas asks Casey.

I groan knowing where this is headed, but I have to hand it to my little brother; he's really making the most out of being locked up with us. From exercising his bonds, to getting to know our pack mates, he's doing the most he can with the situation presented.

Now is one of the times Elliott isn't participating in the getting to know each other stuff, so we leave him be. I hope he truly is sleeping, but I worry he's just brooding while lying on the ground.

I'm sure Lucas knows what's going on with our packmate better than I do. I'm flooded with the need to fix all the problems yanking on me so that I can't concentrate enough to truly get a grasp on what's up with Elliott right now.

"Flynn," Casey answers. "Casey Flynn Gray. How 'bout you?"

My brother shifts a little, finally realizing the misstep he made with that line of questioning. "Ronan," he grumbles. "Lucas Ronan Hart."

Casey looks at me immediately with a frown. I nod and say, "Ronan Lucas Hart."

A loud snort follows from the other side of the basement, just like I expected. Rolling my eyes, I wait for the jackass to add his unwanted opinions.

"Did your parents get lazy or something and just swap the names around when Lukey boy was born?" Beckett teases, still laughing.

Lucas just flips the alpha off and rolls his eyes. We're all used to Beckett's shitty humor and constant prickly sarcasm.

"I think it's cute," Casey says, glaring daggers at the blonde man through the mid-day light.

Elliott proves himself to be awake when his huff of laughter and bouncing shoulders draw our attention. At least the big guy can laugh still, I guess.

Lucas and I have always gotten crap for our middle names, but it feels nice to loosen the tension between all of us. Ever since the random check-in from the enforcer this morning, we've all been a bit anxious waiting for something to happen.

Lucas sighs. "Listen, assholes?—"

POP!

"DROP YOUR WEAPONS!"

POP, POP, POP!

"ON THE GROUND, NOW!"

Opposite of what the warning outside the door says, we're all on our feet and at the bars of our cells in a fucking flash.

Breathing hard, I try to refrain from flinching at each pop of gunfire going off on the other side of the wall. A wall that has seemed really fucking impenetrable but now seems flimsy as hell with each dust cloud and rock falling from the cracks as something bangs harshly against the door.

It's silent for a few breathtaking moments. I'm pretty sure all of our hearts have fallen out of our asses at this point, then I hear a voice that makes me truly believe for the first time in forever that everything will be okay.

"All clear," Remy's voice sounds through the door.

I couldn't tell you why my pack and the other two guys haven't shouted for help yet. Maybe it's shock, but when the locks on the other side of the door rattle, we all stiffen. Time and time again, that sound has only been followed by pain and deep anguish for everyone locked in here.

There's murmuring on the other side about keys and being ready for anything. Like it was scripted, the six of us take a step back when the door slams open for the second time today.

And in walks my best friend, aiming a gun at my chest.

"Remy," I choke, my voice thick and threatening to suffocate me.

For a small moment, I don't feel the incessant tug of the bonds driving me to make everything better because he came just like I knew he would. When my best friend lowers his weapon, I think he's about to rush to my cell, but he surprises me by pulling the damn trigger.

BANG!

Creeaak. My cell door inches outward a few inches.

"Jesus christ, Remy! You know better," his dad scolds, having walked into the room at the same time.

More curses fly around the room, and I admit the bastard scared the shit of me without giving us a warning, but I'm pushing the door wider and rushing toward him. With a grunt, Remy and I slam together and bang our fists on each other's backs in the ultimate bro hug.

"Fuck, it's good to see you," I grumble, releasing him reluctantly, but the need to see my pack mates free is too strong.

Remy clears his throat, his hand squeezing my shoulder tight to get my attention. "Do you even realize how fucked this place is, dude?"

That sobers me and shoves me into action like nothing else. I'm whirling on my friend without thought and gripping the camouflage vest protecting his chest from harm.

"We have to find her. Now. Right fucking now, Remy!" I'm yelling, spit flying every which way until three hands land on my back.

"Ro, breathe," Lucas soothes, while Elliott grips my bicep and pulls me back a step.

"Guys," Casey says warily, picking up on the tension in Remy's shoulders as Beckett and Nick come closer.

Frowning, I watch the three alphas size each other up. Then, like an explosion going off only he can hear, Remy's eyes widen before he collapses to his knees.

"Wh-Who is that on you?" Remy gasps out, his chest heaving in lungfuls of their scents like he's trying to pick something out that's not fully there.

I didn't think it was possible, but Beckett pales even further than his usual complexion. Thankfully, he doesn't have a smartass comment, and Nick takes the lead.

"What do you scent?" Nick demands the answer like it's life and fucking death.

Remy heaves and whispers, "Raspberries and bubble gum. Mate. My mate. Where is she?!"

He's on his feet faster than I can fucking blink, but before I can wrangle him in, his dad is there forcing the younger version of himself to calm with a warning growl.

" My mate," Beckett hisses, taking a menacing step forward until Nick collects his pack mate in a chokehold meant to establish dominance.

"Mine too, Beck. Just breathe. We need to find Kate before we deal with this, okay?" Nickolas says, using logic in an emotional moment to calm Beckett, much like Remy's dad is doing on the other side of the door now.

"Boss!" a voice echoes down the hall. "We need to keep moving. There's a whole fucking maze down here."

Making eye contact with my brother first, then Casey and Elliott, we make our first steps toward freedom. The hallway is filled with agents, and walkie talkies crackling out updates in other locations it seems.

"Our mates," Casey says, his voice catching a bit, getting the agent's attention. "They're here somewhere. Their names are Freya and Kate. Please let us help search?"

Remy's dad grunts. "You will follow and do as instructed. You're all weak and need medical attention once we clear the basement."

"Sir, first floor is clear. We need to move so nobody reaches the teams up top."

I appreciate the buff agent's urgency, because the sooner we get moving, the sooner Freya will be in my arms never to be harmed again.

"Move, move, move," Remy bellows, twirling a finger in the air and pointing down the hall.

Doors are kicked down, more shots are fired, and enforcers are tackled to the ground. It's a goddamn mess down here, but in one beat of quiet between commands and gunfire, I hear her.

Freya.

"FREYA!" I scream from the depths of my soul, rushing to the thick metal door keeping her from me. "FREYA, WE'RE HERE!"

"Move, Ronan. We'll get it open," somebody says, but I'm too focused on the feminine tones behind the well-secured door.

"What's your favorite food?"

The other voice must be Kate, but I don't care because the background noise of Remy and his team busting the door down finally diminishes as it crashes open.

"Granola bar."

Every atom in my body ceases to matter when I catch a glimpse of my beautiful mate. Elliott's on his knees beside me, Casey gasps, and Lucas... he's probably somewhere behind me.

I don't know. I just can't tear my eyes off my Omega, who makes my soul crack and shatter at my feet. Her big, shocked eyes are looking right at me.

I reach my hand out to touch her cheek.

"Star..."