Chapter 13

Thirteen

JACK

A s I drove to the Omega Auctions, I had a sick foreboding feeling in my stomach. The Omega Auctions were at an obscure location of the island, which I had never gone to.

My mind raced with thoughts on how Vanessa must be feeling. What were they putting her through? Was she okay?

Ryan sensed my discomfort, placing a hand on my shoulder as I drove.

"We'll find her and get her out of there," he said. Betas were more sensitive to feelings than us alphas, so I wasn't surprised he could see my tension as I drove, my hands tight on the steering wheel.

"I really hope so," I muttered, squinting my eyes from the bright sun.

Ryan pushed his large glasses up, sighing heavily.

"What's wrong, Ryan?" asked Liam from the backseat, his huge frame taking up two seats.

"I wish we never threatened her that we'd take her to Howl's Edge. None of this would have happened," said Ryan. "She would have kept living a simple human life with her baby."

"We can't think like that," said Liam sharply. "It will send you off into a spiral, and trust me, depression isn't fun."

Liam had gone through a dark time in his life, struggling with wanting to do what he loved and going against society's expectations of him. His family even disowned him.

"We'll get her back and her son. And I don't care what it takes to reunite them," I said, forcing optimism into my voice.

At eleven a.m. sharp, we stood amongst the other alphas at the Omega Auctions.

I felt like a creep standing between their sweaty bodies. The alphas were eager to get a glimpse of the omegas. The Omega Auction wasn't outlawed or banned as it was seen as a humane way to ensure any unwanted omegas matched with an alpha pack. My gaze instantly swiveled to the line of omegas standing in a straight row on the stage. The auctioneer was loud and obnoxious, talking excitedly into the microphone and wearing a fancy suit.

"Where's Vanessa?" asked Liam, shading his eyes.

Chills went through my body. I scanned the whole area just in case, but there was no mistaking it. Vanessa wasn't here.

"Fuck," I whispered to myself.

I barged through the crowd of alphas towards the front. I waved my hands like a crazy person, trying to get the auctioneer's attention.

The auctioneer stopped his speech.

"Someone looks a little too eager," joked the auctioneer, and the audience of alphas laughed. Some of the omegas even looked in my direction, preening themselves.

"Where's Vanessa?!" I shouted. He was standing above me on the stage, and I hoped he could hear me. He clearly did when he suddenly smiled.

My hands balled into fists.

"Where is she, you fucker?" Liam demanded, standing by my side. His fierce delta energy radiated off him, and the auctioneer was no longer smiling as he rubbed his bald head with a napkin.

"She was sold already at the nine o'clock auction," he stated.

Blood boiled through my body as I tried to control my temper.

"To who?"

"The Stoneclaw Pack."

Dread overwhelmed me.

"Thank you, that's all I needed to know," I said, stalking away and quickly heading back toward my car. Vanessa was gone and sold to my worst enemy. I couldn't fucking believe it.

"Do you even know the Stoneclaw Pack?" asked Ryan rushing over to me.

"I do," I muttered darkly. My packmates gathered around me as I tried to clear my thoughts to explain. This was a no-win situation.

"What is it? How do you know these guys?" Liam pressed, breathing hard.

I rubbed my face in frustration as I paced back and forth.

"The Stoneclaw Pack is led by an alpha named Alex," I started. "A redheaded brute of an alpha."

I grew tongue-tied, not wanting to explain further.

"Go on," Ryan prodded.

"We went to the same alpha training classes," I said. "I was the smallest of all of them, and Alex used me as a punching bag for all the fighting sessions. It was the worst time in my life when I was just fourteen years old."

"Is that why you don't have many alpha buddies?" asked Ryan. The question hit me right in the gut. I never trusted packs of alphas or even single alphas altogether. I kept my distance.

"Maybe," I said, shutting my eyes tightly. "We'll never get her back. He has three other alphas in his pack, and we don't stand a chance."

Liam grabbed me by the arm. His fingers dug into my skin until it hurt.

"Don't let your past fears stop you, man," he said. "I can feel your fear and hesitation. Trust me. But you need to go after her. Do you want her to get hurt?"

"No," I burst out at the thought. If anyone maliciously touched a hair on her precious head, they were dead to me. Dead.

"Then?" said Ryan. "Isn't Vanessa your omega?"

"She's mine. She's ours," I said firmly. "Let's start hunting down where they live."