Chapter 4

Chapter Four

CASEY

" F reya!" Her name is ripped from my heart as I launch myself up in bed.

"Motherfucker!" Elliott startles, shooting upright as well with a heaving chest to match mine. "What the hell, babe?"

Rubbing my aching chest, I cough, trying to clear the scratchiness from my desperate plea. "Sorry I woke you," I croak, not wanting to look at him.

He sighs, and I see him drag his hands down his exhausted face from the corner of my eye. "It's okay, Case. Did you have a nightmare?"

I nod, feeling my throat close up at how real it felt. "She was crying out for me..."

"Come here," Elliott murmurs, and gently pulls me into his chest, forcing me to lie back down with him. "We will get her back," he says, but his voice is tight, giving away his uncertainty.

It's been a day and a half since Freya ran from Ronan. From us. From me . Not to be seen again the next morning, the entire day, and all of last night. Freya ran and is gone without a trace, just like every other time she disappears.

Theoretically, we know where she is. The place they take the omegas for their heats and punishments. But we have no idea where that is. Hell, it could be a day's drive away, or within fucking walking distance.

Yet, yesterday we were all demanded by our new pack alpha to attend classes like normal. I could tell it pained Ronan to continue on like nothing was wrong, but that's why he's the perfect leader for our pack. He will do what is best for everyone. Which unfortunately means keeping the four of us off the radar of whoever is behind the shit going on around here.

Something about this feels extremely wrong, though, and not just because this time we know Freya is our mate. But because it feels like there's a darkness hanging around us waiting to descend and drain us of everything we have ever wanted.

Freya, our pack, our family.

I can only guess what hell my mate is going through right now, and still I'm lying here watching the minutes tick by before I have to get to class. Up and down, Elliott's chest rocks me into a depressing calmness when all I want is for Freya to occupy his other large, dark pec.

I can just imagine her blonde lashes tickling her rosy cheeks. Her mouth would be slightly open as she snoozes on our alpha, trusting us both with her vulnerability.

Her cries for help still tumble around in my mind, ratcheting up my guilt beyond comprehension. The more I recall the horrific nightmare of witnessing my mate writhe around in pain on the ground, the harder it is to catch my breath.

Then I remember the second version of her, the one who crumpled to the ground in agony, stealing the pain of the one in my arms. Just before I could get to her, I was ripped awake. I was too late, just like the other night when it mattered most.

Always too late .

I want so badly to tell Elliott that it didn't feel like a dream. It felt like more. Like I was actually there, holding our mate in my arms. I felt like I had the power to do something , only I have no idea what.

"Case! Breathe!"

Startled by Elliott's harsh tone and my body being shaken, I suck in a sharp breath that punches my lungs like an angry fist. "S-sorry," I gasp out.

"Fuck's sake, Casey, stop apologizing," he rushes out, gripping me to his chest like he's afraid I'll disappear. "Don't apologize, please . Fuck, I'm sorry. I'm your alpha, I'm her alpha, and neither of you are okay. I'm not okay, and it's making me absolutely useless to you and our mate. I'm so sorry," he chokes.

"What does that say about me then, Eli?" I whisper, tipping my head back and looking into his watery eyes. "I'm your beta. I should soothe you, keep you grounded, and calm. I can't even manage it for myself, either."

Elliott studies me for a beat before rubbing his thumb over my bottom lip. "This isn't working, is it?"

I try to ignore all the fucked up negative thoughts that tumble through my head when my partner says something that ominous, but shit, that's worse than saying we need to talk.

"What do you mean?" I ask, barely controlling the waver in my voice.

"I mean, I don't think I can act like everything is normal. It's tearing me apart; me and my alpha. I feel like I'm losing my grip on the connection I have with my alpha side and if I'm remembering correctly, that's the last thing Ronan wanted to happen to us."

I blink, shocked at his fear for not only me and Freya, but for himself. Concern for Lucas also weaves itself through my anxiety. "We need to talk to Ronan. You guys can't lose yourselves. We can't lose who we are before we even have a chance to create the pack we are destined to have."

A loud bang on my dorm room door makes me jolt out of Elliott's arms, followed by more incessant beatings on the door.

"CASEY! Open the door!"

Perfect, just the man we need to see.