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“I have some bad fucking news,” I growl. “Brandy was serious about calling the police.”

Luna’s minty perfume grows sharp with her fear. Her lip is busted open from Brandy’s backhand and an involuntary growl leaves my chest.

I stalk forward, ignoring the way Madden tenses behind her. It’s not like I’m going to hurt her. I’d rip off my own arm before doing that.

I reach out, gently ghosting my thumb across her bottom lip. She tries to hide it, but I notice the way the corner of her deep blue eyes crinkle with pain.

“I’m so sorry, I never should’ve let her into the fucking house.” If only I had kept her outside and sent her on her way, they never would’ve met and Brandy wouldn’t have ever made that stupid call.

“Am—Am I going to be taken away?” She whispers, reaching out and grabbing onto the belt loop of my slacks in such a vulnerable way it has my breath catching in my throat.

Her face falls when I don’t immediately tell her no.

“Fuck!” Kane roars, to everyone’s surprise. His normal cool, calm, and collected demeanor has flown right out the window. “We thought we’d have more fuckingtime!”

“More—more time for what?” Luna asks, her terror obvious in the set of her shoulders. All the progress she’d potentially made in standing up for herself to Brandy is also gone. She’s the closest to the trembling shell of an omega we first found than she’s been since she started staying with us.

Everything is falling apart.

“More time to register you,” I add when everyone else seems to be at a loss for words. “All omegas have to be registered with the Omega Center when they present. Your parents never registered you, so you’re unregistered.”

“Is—is that bad?”

“It means they’re going to take you to be registered,” I sigh. “All omegas need to be registered so that it’s fair for packs to find omegas.”

She grips onto Madden’s forearm, her knuckles growing white with how hard she’s holding onto him. “They’re going to take me away?”

“Yes.” There’s no point in sugarcoating anything. The truth is the only way she’ll be prepared.

“Will they try and make me see other packs?” She whispers.

“I don’t know,” I growl, my hands fisting by my side. I’ve never heard of a case like Luna’s, so I have no clue what will be done, especially since the police are involved now.

“But—But what if I don’t want to be taken away from you? What if I want to stay with you?”

“We’re gonna fight for you,” Chase promises, taking a step towards her. “Like hell are we going to just let you go.”

Her eyes fill with tears and I feel like my heart is being ripped out of my chest.

“I—I’m sorry for—for the trouble I’ve caused your pack,” she whispers as her head falls to her chest.

“No.” I stop myself from pushing Madden away from her so I can be the one to wrap my arms around her. He can support her better than I can. I’ve never been good at comfort or emotions. I’mthe problem-solver of the pack. Always have been, always will be. “You have nothing to apologize for.”

She looks up at me through tear-filled lashes. “But?—”

“No buts. We were the ones who took you in. If it came down to it, you didn’t really have a choice around coming with us,” I laugh bitterly. “We’re the ones at fault and we’ll take responsibility for it.”

Kane’s expression is grim. “Do you think they’re going to press charges?” He asks.

“I wouldn’t put it past the Chief. We all know how Brandy can be. I wouldn’t put it past her to spin some sob story,” Chase says, rolling his eyes.

“I should’ve sent her on her fucking way the first time she approached me,” I groan, scrubbing my hand down my face.

“How—how do you know her?” Luna asks, her voice still shaky.

“She’s an omega that runs in the same circles as us,” I grunt. “It’s a relatively small community, easy to know nearly everyone.”

“Especially if they’re like a fucking fly and won’t leave you alone,” Madden grumbles under his breath, his expression still dark.