Chapter 11

Eleven

JACK

I kissed Vanessa's cheek as we said our goodbyes at the palace entrance.

"I'll see you at the auction tomorrow," I said and hugged Vanessa. Her demeanor felt like she had lost all hope. Her back was slumped, and her eyes looked hopeless. I could tell she was trying to be strong, but anything I said could trigger her into tears. "Armon said you'd be at the eleven a.m. bid, so I'll be there to ensure you're with a good pack."

"Okay, thank you," she said, her eyes empty and void of excitement. She didn't look at me as she gazed off into the distance, in her thoughts.

"Don't give up, Vee," I said, squeezing her hands in mine. I reached up to push her hair back from her face. It hurt to see her like this. Even after hearing about what she did to the Royal Pack, I felt a connection with her. Maybe because she spent a few days in my house, and we naturally formed a bond. Her scent also called to me like no other.

"I'm trying, Jack," she said, her voice shaky as she glanced at the guards behind us as they glared impatiently at her. "An omega like me doesn't have a chance in Howl's Edge. You know this."

"Vanessa," I said, turning her face. "Look at me."

She swallowed and looked up. "I know what you're going to say, Jack. That everything is going to be alright, blah blah."

"I'm going to be there tomorrow at the auction," I said, looking at her directly in the eyes. "And I will be the one to have you. Do you understand?"

Her eyes flickered, and she slowly licked her lips. "Will you help me get my son back?"

"Everything in my power," I promised. I couldn't let her go weak and broken. She needed hope even though I hadn't a clue how we'd ever get Gabe back. He was royalty, and one of the alphas in there was his father.

She smiled with her full lips, and I let out a heavy breath of relief. I was able to make her smile.

At least for now.

"I'll see you tomorrow then," she said, giving me a quick peck on the lips before disappearing into the car waiting for her. I watched her close the door as she gave me one last wave, and I waved back.

At her departure, a sense of loss entered me. I'd be at the auctions tomorrow and make her my omega forever.

Later that evening, my packmates and I sat around the dinner table in my sister's apartment.

"Are you sure about this omega?" asked my sister, Jade, plopping the entire pot of soup on the table. I had dropped the bomb on them that I was thinking of getting Vanessa back.

Who knows what type of horrors she was going through right now?

"I think it's an amazing idea," said Ryan, scooping a ladle into his bowl. "I like her a lot. I know she committed a crime, but she was trying to improve her life."

"How about you, Liam?" I asked. "What do you think?"

He was quietly sipping on the hot soup like it was nothing.

Shit , I already burned the tip of my tongue with the searing soup. He looked deep in thought as he rubbed his small beard.

"She needs a real pack of alphas, as you said," Liam said. "Who's going to help her through her heat? She needs plenty of knots to go around."

Did he have a change of heart after Vanessa's confession? He didn't seem as crazy about her anymore.

"You have a point," I sighed. "But for now, we need to do it and save her from being sold to some random pack."

"I don't know," Liam said warily, but that spark came back to his eyes. I knew he was still obsessed with her, but he was hiding it.

"I think you'll do an amazing job as a pack mate and leader," said my sister Jade, looking at me with admiration. It was her off day from her nursing job, and we usually came over to her place on Thursdays to talk about life or just hang out. She looked similar to me with dark eyes, olive skin tone, and dark hair. She was more on the chubbier side and felt self-conscious about herself around potential alpha packs. "And honestly, she sounds like a really cool girl."

"You'll be an insta-aunt," I said.

"Really?! She has a child too?"

Liam's face saddened. "He's with the Royal Pack now. There's no chance in hell we can ever get him back."

"Man, I miss the kid already," said Ryan, shaking his head sadly and pushing his mop of blond hair away from his face. "It sucks she has to go through this. As a mother."

"I feel for her, bro," said Liam, already finished with the soup.

"The least we could do is offer Vee a safe space," I said. "So tomorrow, we'll be there at eleven a.m. sharp."

"So you've decided on bringing her in?" asked Liam, licking his lips.

I could just imagine all the dirty thoughts he was thinking but wasn't saying in front of my sister. His eyes had a dark, feral look in them, and it was something I felt before I finally fucked her before coming to Howl's Edge.

"Yeah, but I neglected to mention something," I said.

"What is that?" asked Ryan.

"I slept with her already."

"What?!"