“Thanks…” Bug sounded stunned.
“Good luck.” That was Phantom, and then Sin was stepping forward.
I squinted, but I didn’t recognize the room around us. It was small and dim, and not like I was used to in the rest of Anarchy.
I jumped at the loud, metal clang of huge doors just like the ones that had closed behind me when I’d first been pushed into this place.
I peered up at Sin.
“What’s happening?” I whispered. His eyes were still glowing a dull red, and every muscle pressed against me was tense. His aura was still out, though I only noticed now when I focused on it.
My heat pains were lesser, too. My skin was pressed to his, and though it wasn't enough on its own, it was an absolute promise of protection—a promise that they would take care of me. It was like the pangs in my stomach were listening to the promise too and behaving themselves.
“Sin.” Vandle’s voice was distant, though there was something urgent in it. “The contacts?”
Someone touched my skin, and I welcomed the contact. My breath caught as I caught Karma's eyes fixed on me. But Sin let out a growl of distress.
We all froze, however, as the floor shuddered and the creak of old metal sounded around us.
We were in an elevator, and it was going up.
“Got them,” Sin said. “In my waistband.”
“Put them on,” Vandle said, his voice was weak, but I could feel him waking up through the bond. “And the aura has to go.”
Karma was drawing me into his arms, freeing Sin up to get ready.
I was pressed against Karma’s chest, inhaling his amazing ocean scent as another pang of heat pain shot through my body. “I’m here, Moonlight. Never leaving you.” He held me closer, chin resting on my head, a purr vibrating from him as if to settle me.
I felt something brush my hair and looked up to see Phantom at my side.
My alpha.
“Take a breath, Sin.” Phantom was saying. “We’re safe now.”
That, at last, seemed to get through to him, and finally his impossible aura was gone. I felt empty without it, as if reality was a lot more frightening, though there was relief from Vandle and the others in the bond.
It vanished just in time, as the floor stopped moving, and I heard the rumble of the doors opening.
Somehow, we had survived to our appeal.
52
CRESCENT
Two beta men sat behind a desk, staring wide-eyed at the five of us as we filed into the large conference room. Their desk was on the opposite side of the wall that was clear plexiglass on the top half and solid cement on the bottom. It had two speakers, and both betas wore headsets with microphones attached, one with a computer before them.
I glanced around, spotting a shiny sphere attached to the ceiling. A camera, I thought. They were watching our every move.
My fingers dug into Vandle’s arm, and he drew me closer.
He was a pillar in the bond, despite the nerves we all had, the strange, echoing fury and emptiness of Sin, he felt strong.
My pack lead.
Vandle dragged me forward, practically holding me up as he led me to the chair. Every muscle was screaming from the heat, and the metal was cold against the blood drying on my skin. But I paused, realizing how strong the scent of iron was…
I looked at him properly, he had no top on, and his torso was wrapped with fabric dark with blood. I froze. He’d been in pain… I remembered that. It’s what had triggered my heat. His hand caught mine though, mismatched eyes holding mine as he pulled his hand away. His skin was devoid of colour.