Chapter 41

It was hard for Allie to concentrate on the task at hand, i.e. console the grieving Alpha. His cheeks were glistening from fresh tears that shone against the light in the room. Nates head hung between his shoulders, tightening his hands against the edge of the wooden bed. The knuckles of his fingers turned white from his harsh grip.

"J-Jake, he never hurt anyone. Why would anyone do this to him?"

She tried to school her features, feigning innocence at the comment. "What do you mean?"

"I refuse to believe that he did that to himself."

The omega rubbed his arm, drawing circles on his skin. She didn't want Nate to be involved in any of it. Nor should he be investigating. If what Sam said was true, then those Crescent pack members shouldn't be messed with.

"You are in shock, Nate."

"You don't believe me?"

"I'm so sorry," She whispered under her breath as the omega moved away from his hold.

Nate made a face, shaking his head. It was clear that he wanted her to believe in him, to convince him that he's right. But she can't. Not after knowing the risks. Whatever happened in the past between the two of them didn't matter anymore. She cared about him more than just the father of her unborn child. If something happened to him, Allie would never be able to face her reflection in the mirror.

"I know I am right, Allie."

"That night—I shouldn't have left him. He was attacked by some guy, and it should have been our first clue." Nate laughed humourlessly, but it quickly faded within few seconds. "I let him stay all alone."

"N-Nate, it's not your fault."

"You are just saying that!" The Alpha yelled at her. "I let him die. I could have saved him..."

He choked on his words, stopping mid-sentence. Nates cheeks were stained, and his face was all red, scrunched up from trying to stop the tears. The rim of his eyes was dark pinkish, head hung low in shame, or maybe it's the guilt. With a sharp exhale, he got on his feet, not even bothering to glance at Allie.

"I'm going to find them...Every single one of them and rip them to shreds. That I swear."

Before she could stop him, the Alpha rushed out of the room.

"Damn it," Allie whispered to herself, trying her best to manoeuvre out of the room. With that round belly of hers, it was proving to be a boy difficult.

Once downstairs, she attempted at sniffing the air for any traces of Nate—his pheromones but —but there were so many smells invading the frat house that it was of no use.

That's the moment the football team pushed their way through the doors, all the sweaty bodies of people around her, their voices loud and beating against her eardrums. Allie had half a mind to yell at them to quiet down, but she knew that would also be of no use. Ignoring the weird look from Ashton, she increased her pace, stumbling out the main entrance.

The air felt cooler against her skin as the bodies around disappeared, her breathing more slow and calm. Allie didn't waste any more time, swept the area with one glance, her eyes instantly pinpointing a head of curls bouncing around and vanishing into the parking lot.

Allie quickly took off before she could lose sight of him.

"Nate! Wait up!" The omega called out, her short legs carrying her across the distance the quickest they could. "Please listen to me!"

However, she didn't get an answer from his side. The omega still followed him anyway, her thoughts racing almost as fast as her legs could carry. What was Nate going to do? Will the Alpha find the people behind the murder? Allie could practically feel her heartbreak at the thought of her Alphas devastated state.

She had to find him.

***

Her search came up empty. Nate was probably somewhere far off now. He had his cellphone with him, which was a relief. Maybe the Alpha will change his mind and call her soon. She did message him several times, reminding him to be safe.

There was no way Allie could go back to her apartment after what happened. She was in distress, and Rachel would only intensify it with her questions. As much as she loved her friend, the omega had to get away for a while.

Just then, it clicked her. Sam.

Her brother was staying at the hotel for some time. She needed to talk to him anyway. About a lot of things.

Hailing a cab, she gave the address to the driver and sat back. Allie called her brother and notified him that she'd be there soon. He sounded grim on the phone, which concerned her even more. Was he involved in killing Jake? She hoped not.

She entered the hotel; the heat inside clung to her skin in just a matter of seconds. It seemed hotter within the four walls, and she groaned silently in protest to the heat hitting her all at once. Being an Omega, their kind was more prone to heatstroke and heat exhaustion than the others. It also didn't help that she happened to be a Pure Omega, which only doubled her chances.

"Why is it so hot in here?"

Sam heaved a sigh. "I forgot to adjust the temperature."

From his voice, she could feel that something was eating him away. Even though he always tried to look perfect, she could understand when he's not.

"What happened to you?" She turned to him, her eyes scanning his body and scrunched her nose distastefully. Sam was still in his pyjamas, dragging his feet over to the bed lazily. The loose mop of hair sticking out in different direction, the five o clock shadow on his face made him appear worse.

"Did you not hear the news?" Sam scoffed, leaning his head against the bed. "Jake is dead."

Allie exhaled a breath. "I take it you didn't kill him?"

"How would I do that without your help?" He screeched, his eyes wide.

The omega raised her hands in defence. "Sorry, I just assumed since you know..."

"Yeah" He closed his eyes, throwing his Hera back on the pillow. If he didn't do anything, then why was he so depressed? She had never

seen him act like this.

Sam gave her a weird look, his nose turning up as she slid in next to him. He had a look on his face, one that registered as more confused than any other expression. "Why do you reek of a Hellhound?"

Allie looked down at her side while thinking about whether she should be truthful or produce a straight out lie. The Omega didn't want to fabricate a made-up situation, but she also didn't want her brother to dig around in her life. It won't be long till he finds about her relationship with Nate, the pregnancy, his true identity. She was not ready to take a considerable risk.

But since Allie was such a lousy liar when it came to her brother and she wasn't the best when it came to making up stories, she decided to go with the truth. But just this once. "It's a friend. He's a Hellhound"

"Oh?" Sam's brow raised at that. "How come you never told me about him?"

The omega nervously chuckled, looking away and tucking her loose hair. "Because he is just a friend, Sam. Nothing else"

"I hope so. We don't want to be associated with their kind."

Her heart leapt to her stomach at that. He was going to be an uncle to one such kind. Even though the kid will be half-werewolf, it didn't matter.

Allie cleared her throat. "Enough about me. What's going on with you? Why are you so nervous?"

He let out a sigh, pulling his arm off his head. "I got a call yesterday from the Crescent Pack. They asked me about the job."

"Go on."

"I told them you were away for a while and that we need time. They argued at first but then hung up the phone abruptly."

Her blood chilled at that. She knew what was coming next. The omega held her breath, her eyes trained on her brother as he angrily pulled at his hair.

"This morning, they called me and told me the job was done. They took care of it for the last time. It's a final warning, Allie. We have to start cleaning up our act and focus"

"Or what?" She nervously asked.

"Huh?"

"You are very nervous for some reason, shifting a lot, Sam. They must have threatened you with something. What is it?"

Her brother gulped, avoiding her eyes.

"Sam?"

"I—"

"Please tell me. What did they say?"

"They said that if we don't obey their orders then we will be next."

Allie gritted her teeth together. "As in next..."

"Yes. Next in line to die"

***