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The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. Victor exchanged a glance with Riley, both thinking the same thing. Pearson wanted fodder to continue his drug experiments.

"Did he say why he needed this information?" Martin asked.

"For Jacob," Noah said, his voice small. "He said he needed shifter blood so he could fix Jacob properly. Make him whole again."

Mo reached across the table and took Noah's hand. "You believed him?"

Noah's eyes flashed with anger. "No, and he knew it. That’s when he said if I didn’t do what he asked, he’d keep hurting Jacob until I did.” Alex shifted subtly so he was closer to him.

Victor's jaw clenched as he fought to control his rage. "When was the last time you spoke with your dad?"

"Two days ago," Noah answered, his voice stronger now that he was sharing his burden. "I text every other day. I'm supposed to update him today on what I've learned."

"And what happens if you don't answer?" Alex asked, his hand resting protectively on Noah's shoulder.

Noah swallowed hard. "He said he'd know I betrayed him, and Jacob would pay."

Mo reached over and squeezed Noah's hand. "That's not going to happen. We won't let it."

"Noah," Riley said gently, "do you know anything about the layout of the house where Jacob is kept? Upstairs or down?"

“Jacob is in the attic, but there’s something going on in the cellars.”

“Going on?” Zack asked.

“I wanted to know everything,” Noah admitted. “I saw three other doors, but they were always locked. There were weird smells, like chemical. Made my nose itch." Noah's voice dropped.

The adults exchanged grim looks. Victor could feel the tension radiating from everyone in the room.

“Okay,” Zack leaned forward. “You’re gonna go with Alex while I make us some food, and you’re not to worry about this anymore. We’re going to contact Daniel and Raschid and get Jacob out. Don’t call your dad until we say.”

Alex shoulder nudged Noah and Noah smiled for the first time. “Okay.”

Okay.Victor met Mo’s gaze and knew they were both thinking the same thing. That they hoped they could keep their promises.

Chapter Nineteen

Mowentupstairssupposedlyfor a shower, but really because he needed a moment to process everything that had just happened.

And remember he was still searching for Khloe. It was almost like she was forgotten in the middle of the huge, awful shit that was happening. No one had mentioned her since Daniel that one time.Have I forgotten her?

No.

Except he had no idea how to keep her alive in other people’s minds when so many bad things were happening to so many kids.

The door opened and he looked up. Zack came in.

"You okay?" Zack asked, his voice gentle.

Mo shook his head, unable to find the words. Zack closed the door and walked over, sitting beside him on the bed. The mattress dipped under his weight, and Mo found himself leaning against Zack's solid warmth almost instinctively.

"I don't know how to feel," Mo admitted. "I'm happy with you and Victor, happier than I've been in... maybe ever. But Khloe's still out there somewhere, and with everything happening with Noah and Jacob, it's like she's been pushed aside."

Zack wrapped an arm around Mo's shoulders. "She hasn't been forgotten. Daniel's still working on finding her. We all are."

"But no one talks about her anymore."

"Because we don't have anything new to tell you yet," Zack said, his voice rumbling through his chest against Mo's ear. "But that doesn't mean we've stopped looking."