Chapter 5

Chapter Five

LUCAS

T hunder rouses me from my fitful night of sleep.

No, not thunder, my brother. "LUKE!"

I groan then feel like shit about it because there is no way what I'm experiencing is worse than my mate. I have nothing to complain about except for the fact that we have done nothing for a day and a half. If I had it my way, I would be busting down the headmaster's door and demanding to know where my girl is.

"Lucas," Ronan hisses, twisting the doorknob impatiently. I check my annoyance at the door and swing it open to reveal my brother looking absolutely batshit.

"Wha—" Before I can question his obvious distress, he's shoving me back into my room and slamming the door closed behind us. The flick of the lock has me raising an eyebrow.

"Get dressed. Pack a bag. A light one, and anything you can't live without," he stresses, eyes searching over my room before he lunges for my backpack and dumps the contents of my school supplies.

"What's going on?" I ask, tugging on a pair of jeans, my nerves rising to meet Ronan's. He doesn't respond fast enough. "RO!"

He whirls on me. "Keep your voice down," he growls while checking my outfit of jeans, a T-shirt, and a sweatshirt.

"You're scaring me," I say through clenched teeth. My heart beats rapidly in my chest, and I bet anyone could see it from the outside. The force of each thump makes my breastbone ache like it's urging me to move faster.

"I'm sorry." Ronan's eyes soften a smidge, but the panic is still there beneath his love for me. "We need to leave. Now. I overheard an enforcer meeting on my morning walk."

By morning walk he means sneaking around the omega quarters in the hope of finding Freya or picking up on some clue as to where she might be.

"They were on their way to my room, Luke. I watched needles being passed around and a van being prepped to transfer something. After me, they're coming for you and the others." The softness in his eyes slowly fades as his alpha nature rises to the surface in rage and protectiveness for his pack. "So I'm sorry for scaring you, but put some socks and boots on and let's go."

I stand there gaping at him for all of two seconds before I'm shoving my feet into a thick pair of socks and my sturdy black combat boots. I barely register what I throw in my backpack, but Ronan watches and tosses me a few things, so I must be doing fine if he's not snapping at me.

All I can think about is how everything just changed in the span of moments. My life here at the academy was never going to be the same after we scented our mate, but now? Now it's shot to shit. We're done. We're leaving, and I can't help the little thrill that zips down my spine as I close my dorm door behind me for the last time.

Before I know it, I'm watching my brother bang on Casey's door. "Why would you tell me to keep my voice down when you are literally making it sound like a fucking thunderstorm in the hallway?"

He narrows his eyes at me and continues banging away and fucking shouts. I can't help it; I shove him away from the door and shush him. I'm not laughing at him or anything. I'm genuinely concerned about his damn thought process right now if we are supposed to be inconspicuous.

Just as my pack alpha lifts his lip to snarl at me in challenge, the door swings open to reveal a pissed off Elliott. Behind him, Casey is pulling on a pair of dark wash jeans, looking far fucking worse than he did yesterday. My heart lurches at seeing the heartbreak on the beta, but we don't have time.

I raise my hands and point at my fuming big brother. "Wasn't me. But we need to talk so..." I wave Elliott back and step into Casey's room.

It smells like Elliott lives in here too; their scents hang heavy in the air. It's not unpleasant, but the undertones of sex and cum make my nose curl a bit. We're a fated pack. Our scents are meant to complement each other according to one of Ronan's rushed mini lesson yesterday, but that doesn't mean I want to smell my friend's bodily fluids.

I don't realize I missed Ronan's explanation of the shit going down until Elliott growls and shoves Casey behind him like that will protect him from the enforcers heading our way.

"Get dressed. Pack warm but light. We need to go," Ronan snaps with a hint of his alpha bark that forces Elliott to comply. If he wanted to, I'm sure the dark-skinned alpha could have resisted since the bark wasn't very strong, but he must have registered the urgency.

Casey's already throwing a backpack over his shoulder and stepping up to Ronan. "Are we sure this is a good idea?" the beta asks.

"What do you mean?" Ronan questions, shifting on his feet anxiously as his eyes flick to the door every few seconds.

"I mean, wouldn't it be a good idea to let them take us if it means they bring us to Freya? We can't just sit here and play schoolboys anymore. Nor should we jump the fences out there only to be left at square one again, with no clue how far away she actually is." Casey's eyes bore into our pack alpha, begging him to think about his words.

We watch Ronan process what our pack member said, but he's quick to dismiss it. "No, that's dangerous. I can't protect you guys if we get separated. How do we even know if they would take us anywhere near Freya? They could be dragging us out into the woods to kill us."

"And what happens if we run? Would we be shot on sight with bullets rather than a needle? Alpha, this might be our chance," Casey states firmly.

I'm so proud of him at this moment for stepping up. I nod. "I agree with Casey. If this is what it takes to find our mate, then I'll go down without a fight."

Ronan looks incredulous but keeps his opinions to himself. He turns to Elliott, asking for his vote without words. "I go where Casey goes. It might be the best chance we have, Alpha."

Each of us vote against our head alpha and all Ronan has to say is, "Okay. I respect you. Your voices will never be outmatched by my own. We do this your way," he says with a slight strain to his voice. I bet his alpha is roaring inside of him, demanding he keep his pack safe.

Just then, the door bursts open, and a sharp pain jabs my thigh. Seems we didn't need to vote.