“Really? You can get him out that quickly?” I asked in surprise.
I knew that he would be coming to stay with us eventually, but now it felt like a real possibility. And I wasn't sure how I felt about that.
It was already difficult learning to live with his other two pack mates and Merrick. Would I even get along with Preston like that?
I knew we got alongsexually, but just because a guy could make you see stars didn’t mean you could live together without wanting to commit homicide.
Walker nodded. “I’ll make it happen. No job is worth leaving behind their pregnant omega, and I’m sure Preston agrees. I'm pretty sure he would have told me himself if he had an easy way to contact me.”
“Why doesn't he?”
“It was part of the job. There's no way for me to be in regular contact with that camp and also allow Preston to get deep enough undercover to figure out what the hell is going on.”
“Nolan, one of his pack mates, went to go see him.”
Walker's face turned white. “Shit, is his cover blown?”
I shook my head. “I don't think so. Nolan simply pretended he was a lawyer seeing his client. Not that much of a stretch, considering he actuallyisa lawyer, and he’s dealt with Preston's bullshit several times from the sounds of it. He even gave the fake name that Preston has been using.”
“That’s good! That’ll keep him safe.”
I sat back in my chair. The nausea in my stomach eased somewhat after Walker reassured me.
So the good news was I wasn't accidentally bonded to a convict; I was just bonded to a complete stranger.
Not ideal, but better than the alternative.
Chapter 28
Merrick
“Hey, can we talk?” I said, walking into the basement gym where Nolan was on the treadmill. He was running like an alpha trying to escape his situation, and fuck if I didn’t fully understand why. That’s what had brought me down here.
He was wearing a pair of gym shorts and a T-shirt that was dripping with sweat. How long had the guy been running for?
Ever since he’d admitted everything he knew about Preston, I had to admit I respected him a bit more. Nolan was the kind of alpha who would do anything to protect his pack. A protection that now extended to myself and Hailey.
Stepping up to be there for Hailey’s happiness and emotional well-being was big.
“Of course,” he said, slowing down.
Nolan waited for a moment until the machine stopped completely, then stepped off to face me, breathing hard.
“Hailey is close friends with a fire captain, and she made some subtle inquiries.”
Nolan’s eyes widened, as if I’d kicked him in the nuts.
Now that I was really looking at the alpha for the first time, I could see just how exhausted he was from the deep lines under his eyes, the bags, and the general map of fatigue on his face.
He looked like he’d been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. “She?—”
“Preston’s safe. Funnily enough, she’s good friends with the omega of the fire captain he’s been working with. Small world, huh?”
“She is?” Nolan was shocked and breathless.
“Walker. Captain of Station Sixteen. My boss, actually. He's good people, so Hailey decided to go to him and see if he knew anything about the situation.”
Nolan grimaced, pinching the bridge of his nose. “This is why Ididn'twant to tell anyone, because I didn't want it to get leaked.”