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I repress my laugh, because clearly she’s under his skin, and he thinks she’s a beta. I need to convince her to tell them.
How?
“I’ll be there by dawn.” I hang up, my mind already racing with possibilities. I open another database, determined to uncover every scrap of information on Noah. If this guy thinks he can get away with terrorizing Aria, he has another thing coming.
Maybe if I can get everything I can on him, then she will come stay with us. Hell, we can keep her safe. I just need to convince her of it.
As the night drags on, my search becomes more frantic. Every new piece of data paints a clearer picture of the monster we’re dealing with. My perception shifts as I try to uncover more, only I keep hitting wall after wall, almost like someone purposely hid everything.
I stare at the screen, the words blurring together. My chest tightens with frustration. I need more. I need something concrete to nail this bastard, and I need to be there when Aria wakes up. It’s a drive inside me that can’t be ignored.
A thought strikes me, and I pull up my contacts. Cayenne is Aria’s best friend and someone who might know more about Noah. She’s been a friend to me too, a fiery redhead with a personality to match. If anyone can help, it’s her.
I dial her number, my heart pounding in my chest. The phone rings once, twice, three times before a groggy voice answers.
“Quinn? Do you have any idea what time it is?” Cayenne’s voice is thick with sleep. I can almost hear her glaring at me through the phone.
“I know, I’m sorry, but it’s about Aria. She’s in trouble.”
That wakes her up fully. “What happened? Is she okay?”
“She’s safe for now, but I need your help. Do you know anything about a guy named Noah? Aria filed a restraining order against him.” My fingers tap out a rhythm on my knee as it bounces in place.
There’s a long pause on the other end, and I can almost hear the gears turning in her head. “Noah…yeah, he’s bad news, Quinn. Really bad.”
My body goes on instant alert. “Do you have any details? Anything that could help us find him?”
Cayenne sighs, and I hear the rustle of sheets as she sits up. “Quinn, this is complicated. There are things about Aria that you don’t know, things she’s been through that she’s not ready to share.”
I swallow hard, knowing I have to push her. “Cayenne, I know Aria is an omega.”
The line goes silent, and for a moment, I think she hung up, but then I hear her take a deep breath. “How… How do you know?”
“She didn’t tell me directly. I figured it out, and I know she’s been through hell. There was an incident earlier. Aria said she saw someone in her apartment, but I can’t find a single camera near her apartment.”
“You won’t find any.” There’s another pause, and I can almost see Cayenne’s face. She’s torn between loyalty to her friend and the desperate need to protect her. Finally, she speaks, her voice barely above a whisper. “Okay, Quinn. I’ll tell you everything I know.”
She takes a deep breath, and I hear the hesitation in her voice. “Noah R. is Noah Roberts. He’s dangerous, Quinn. He’s not just some asshole ex. He’s part of a group that preys on omegas, exploiting and trafficking them. Aria got out, but not without trauma. He’s been hunting her ever since, and I lost his trail.”
My blood runs cold. “Damn, Cayenne. Why didn’t she come to us sooner? We could protect her. It’s literally what we do.”
“She’s scared, Quinn. She’s been through so much, and she’s afraid of dragging you all into it, but if you’re going to help her, you need to know everything. I’ll send you his last known addresses, associates, and anything I have on him, but be careful. These people are dangerous.” I hear her fingers flying over her keyboard. “Don’t push her either, Quinn.” There is an edge to her voice.
“I haven’t,” I assure her. Then, taking a deep breath, I voice the thought that’s been haunting me. “She’s a scent match, Cayenne.” The words hang in the air, heavy with implication. My heart races, a mix of excitement and fear coursing through me. A scent match is rare, precious—something every alpha dreams of finding. But with Aria, it’s complicated. The protective instinct it triggers wars with the knowledge of her trauma, leaving me feeling both drawn to her and terrified of pushing too far.
“Fuck,” she hisses. “So was Noah.”
My entire world bottoms out. It isn’t like I didn’t know an omega could have multiple scent matches. She or he would have to in order to build their pack, though many of us build packs on our own due to the fact that finding an omega isn’t a guarantee.
“No,” is all I can say, and I swear my whole world tilts on its axis.
“Yeah.” She snorts. “Quinn, you didn’t hear this from me, but he…” She curses like a sailor. “Her humor is a product of her trauma. The more she dissociates, the closer her memories are.”
I lick my lips, my leg bouncing restlessly. “I’ve seen it happen.”
“She doesn’t trust alphas, and she doesn’t trust packs,” she continues. “She needs to tell you her story, but don’t push her, and don’t corner her.”
“I’m guessing that’s what happened with Zane.” Now I’m cursing.
