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“I’m on my way to Revelry now.”

Disapproval eeks through the phone. “Thought you left hours ago. Where the hell have you been, Daph?”

“Diamonds. I wanted some fabric for a set and then I found a pack. I’m taking them to the clinic for my heat.”

The words tumble on top of each other, and I pray she didn’t actually hear me. Mellie’s silent for three whole seconds before she shrieks. “Daphne Barnes, you didwhat?!”

Voices filter down the line, and any hope that she could be the bearer of bad news is gone.

“What’s going on?”

“Where is she?”

“I’ll get the car. You check the bail fund.”

Shit. I need to fix this before my friends storm the city. “Put me on speaker, Mel.”

“She already did,” Kai growls. “Talk.”

Alphas are scary, but historically, omegas are the first line of defense for the home. There are records of some ripping encroaching packs apart for getting too close to their babies. As one of Kai’s metaphorical babies, she has no problem going a little feral to keep us safe.

Giving them the brief overview does little to ease the tension. More jostling and soft words before Maverick comes on. “Need names, butterfly.”

My alphas growl at his low voice. Dez and Nate shift closer, bodies sandwiching me tightly. Aw, I guess we’re all territorial. Cute.

Connor waves and Nate holds the phone out with his long ass arms. “My name is Connor Morgan. My pack and I own Morgan Restorations here in Seaport. You’re free to call any of our employees who will vouch for our character.”

Damn. I don’t do cars and even I’ve heard of them. They’re like,reallygood. What the hell are they doing with me?

“You pay them to pretend they like you,” Kai points out.

“Ask for Missy. She doesn’t give a shit about anyone’s feelings. Especially ours.”

“Got their profile,” Maverick says. The men get even tenser. Most packs have profiles on matchmaking or heat help services, but I don’t like it. Not one bit.

Connor barely smothers a snarl. “I would’ve sent it to you.”

“But not until you got wherever you’re taking Daphne.” My alphas begrudgingly agree to Maverick’s point. “Face it, our friend’s in a shitty situation and we’re trying to look out for her.”

Connor peers at me in the rearview and whatever he sees steals some of his ire. “If I were in your shoes, I’d probably do the same.”

“Great,” Lacey says brightly. “So, the profile says they’re?—”

“Don’t tell me!” I yelp, smacking Nate’s arm so he’ll bring the phone back. “Whatever’s in the report doesn’t matter unless it’s going to affect my heat. You’re not criminals, right? Or bonded?”

Nate snorts. “No to both. You a jailbird, kitten?”

“Not yet.”

Connor stops at a light and all three men stare at me. They’d understand if they knew Mellie.

Speaking of, she pipes in. “You don’t have to go with them, Daph. You can hole up at home with some toys. We could give you a helping hand if you need. Whatever it takes to see you through. It won’t be weird.”

“It would definitely be weird,” Kai counters.

“But we’d do it because we care about you,” Lacey says firmly. I know she’s glaring at the other two when they jump to agree.

“Yep, totally!”