“Don’t. Please. It’s not the priority. Why are you here?”
Em stirred. Maz checked his pulse, which was returning to a normal rate. “Hey,” he spoke softly. “You’re back. You okay?”
Em blinked a few times. “Did I dream, or did he turn into a wolf?”
“Not a dream. We’re shifters, and we’re with Lidon Hayes.”
Would it ever stop surprising him, the power that burst from even the mention of his name?
“It’s true,” Riordan said. “All the rumors you’ve heard about him are true. He’s powerful and kind. His pack treats omegas as equals. I fled from the city months ago, and they took me in.”
Soft awes went through the room.
“What is this place?” Lucan asked. “Before we get discovered, please tell us. Why are you all here? What doctors were you talking about? And you don’t look so well. Are you sick?”
Several omegas climbed off their beds and assembled around them. Riordan finally dared to step farther into the room, though he was still shaking.
Em slowly sat up. Maz let go of him, and his friend took him over from Maz.
“I’m Per, and this is the omega internment camp where the army does medical testing on omegas, all in the name of science,” Em’s friend said. “None of us are here voluntarily, none of us are free to leave, and none of us are getting enough to eat and drink. As a result, most of us are malnourished, underweight, and suffer from various medical issues.”
Maz’s heart raced. It was as they had feared, then, maybe even worse.
“Except those who have agreed to be used by the officers as…as whores.” Em bit out the words “Not that I judge them,” the omega added. “It’s survival of the fittest here.”
“And Armitage condones this?” Maz asked.
Em scoffed. “It’s an army facility, ain’t it? Doesn’t that say enough? Besides, he picked himself some pretty omegas first to serve him.”
Maz and Lucan shared a look. “We’re gonna get you out of here.” Lucan choked back a sob. “This is… This is atrocious, and it needs to end now.”
Per’s eyes were kind. “I love you just for saying that, but what can the three of you do against a whole army?”
“We didn’t come alone.” Maz rose to his feet. “We came with a team, with members of our pack…led by Lidon Hayes.”
Bray had no idea how long he’d been out, but he woke up with the mother of all headaches and a taste in his mouth as if he hadn’t brushed his teeth in a week. Yuk. He carefully shifted his body, wincing in pain, his muscles all tense and tight. He forced himself to get up. At least he was still in wolf shape. That was good.
He gingerly moved until circulation had returned and the worst stiffness was gone. Judging by the darkness outside, it had to be around eight p.m. or so. God, he wished he had something to eat. One of Vieno’s egg salad sandwiches. Or Sven’s chicken soup, equally delicious. And Lidon could grill a mean steak. The man was useless in the kitchen in every other way, but he knew how to prepare a prime cut of meat. Bray’s mouth watered at the thought.
How long before they’d find out he wasn’t Lidon? And what would they do when they did? Armitage would be livid when he discovered that not only had he not captured Lidon, but also that Lidon wasn’t the only one who could shift. That much Bray was certain of. The general was not a man who appreciated being lied to and kept out of the loop. Hopefully, his pack would rescue him before the situation became dangerous.
He’d sensed Kean and Ruari worrying for him, but the feeling had eased off. He sent them thoughts, silent messages, that he was okay, that he was hanging in there, hoping they’d reach them. They wouldn’t rest before he was free. Not Kean and Ruari, but neither would the others. His father, his brother, Palani, Rhene, Sivney. Everyone. They’d come to get him.
Footsteps sounded in the hall, and Bray retreated to his corner. He didn’t try to play dead or fake being asleep. What was the use? Besides, the room had video surveillance. In wolf form, he’d picked up the faint buzz of a camera easily before he’d even spotted it.
The door opened, and Baig and Eastwood were pushed into the room by a bored-looking soldier, who shut the door behind him. Both doctors stood trembling in the room, fear radiating