16. Jeremy

Chapter sixteen

Jeremy

T he silence that follows after Belle's confession is almost deafening.

So, that was who she had been on the run from the day we found her?

This… Francis…

Fuck.

If I ever find the bastard, he's dead.

Belle manages to keep a straight face the whole time she recounts her tale, and all I want to do is wrap her up in my arms and protect her from the world.

But most of all, I want to protect her from Francis.

Even his name pisses me off.

That Beta had been on our property.

He had the gall to track down my Omega to my grandparent's house and then post his dirty note through my door, and I rein in my Alpha next by taking several deep breaths.

Leo is trembling with pure rage and Rian balls his fists.

Troy is quiet. A living statue.

And it's his behavior I find the oddest.

He shuddered when she mentioned Francis, and it was as if a switch went off inside his head.

Finally, I break out of my funk and approach Belle.

She's still enveloped in Leo's arms, and I kneel in front of her, reaching my hand for her arm.

She regards me warily at first, but then when she realizes what I'm asking permission for, she hands me her wrist, a blush taking over her cheeks.

So precious.

Only a true monster would want to hurt her.

I take her wrist in my fingers, turning it around so I can see the numbers glaring at me.

Twenty-three.

That had been her assigned name at the Facility.

The same place where our captured Omega came from.

Twenty-two.

We couldn't save her in the end.

She is now in the hands of the government, and I just hope Gryphon takes pity on her.

But the Omega sitting right in front of me. I am going to do everything in my power to ensure no one at that god-awful place finds her again.

Wherever this Facility is, we're going to burn it to the ground.

And all its followers.

I run my thumb over the numbers on her wrist, making her shiver.

Her pulse pounds beneath, and when I reach across, placing a gentle kiss on the numbers, her breath shakes.

When I peer up, her eyes are trained on me.

They're heated, her pupils swollen, and I give her my declaration.

"I swear, Belle. We will find that place and destroy it. They won't get their hands on you again."

Her eyes shimmer with tears, and Leo purrs, kissing one away from her cheek with his lips.

I go on. "And I'm sorry for doubting you and thinking that you would ever hurt us. This tattoo brands you as a victim, not a killer…"

Her tears drip in earnest now, and I reach across to brush one away with my thumb.

Rian holds her on her other side, and now he and Leo whisper her sweet nothings.

It must be a huge weight from her chest.

She has now handed over the burden to us, her pack, and we will gladly shoulder her worries.

We are her pack now, and we will fight for her.

Troy still hasn't moved an inch, and I peer over my shoulder.

Holy shit. I know that look.

That is the look of an Alpha on the edge.

What the hell has set him off?

Belle steals a quick glance in his direction, and her face blanches when she finds the same murderous glint in his eyes.

Then I spy the guilt and fuck.

Troy really doesn't deserve her.

None of us do.

That's when I meet Rian's eyes.

I nod.

"I think it's time."

With his permission, of course.

Rian was never technically our Omega, but we still made him a part of our pack bond.

So, I want to ensure we have his blessing before we proceed.

The Omega rises, reaching his hand down for Belle.

She watches him strangely.

"Come, Belle. There's something we all want to show you."

Her eyes widen, and then she places her hand in Rian's, letting him lead her outside.

Leo and I follow close at their heels.

Just before we leave, Belle takes one last look at Troy.

He's still frozen, glaring at something none of us can see.

He's blocked off his thoughts to me so I can't even probe into his mind and ask him what the hell is wrong.

Well, when he's ready, he can come and find us.

However, I don't think the others want him anywhere near us.

Or Belle, to be more specific.

Honestly, I know he wouldn't do something as stupid as threatening her now.

It seems he has learned his lesson and hopefully, he has finally realized who the real enemy is.

Spoiler: it's not the small, doe-eyed female who has changed our lives.

I would say we were lucky we found her.

Who knows what would have become of her if Rian hadn't picked up on her scent that day?

It's not even worth thinking about.

My heart couldn't handle it.

Just as I shut the door to the living room, I sense Troy deflating, and it looks like he finally let the air out of his lungs.

He was far too still, far too quiet.

It was unnerving.

But it's best to leave him to it.

However, he roars next, smashing a glass against the wall.

I open the door again, storming back into the room. "Troy?"

His entire body is shaking, and I don't think he can even hear me.

I approach with caution. "Troy? Talk. What's up?"

His muscles bunch up, and I step back a little. "I am going to kill that Francis…"

Yeah, well, join the line.

Yet Troy's threat seems more personal.

It's almost as if he can see the bastard in front of him, and I poke into his head, but he's closed off all interference.

Even before Rian came along, we had a bond.

It was just us three Alphas before the Beta-turned-Omega came into our lives.

So, if he has something to share, he can share it with the pack.

Or he can share it with me at least.

Tensions are still high. Whatever secret he is keeping may just be the tipping point for Troy, and he may lose that handsome face once and for all when Leo finds out.

"Troy?"

Finally, he blows out a breath and looks me in the eye.

Sweat drips from him, and he's a raging, hulking beast.

"I know who Francis is."

I don't speak. I just step back again, taking him in.

Well, well, it seems the plot just thickened.