Page 42 of A Promise of Forever (The Vallaverse #3)

Forrest

I step out of the cottage into the late morning air, feeling it run over my bare arms in a way that's refreshing after the intense heat of the past two days.

My body is sore in all the best ways, muscles aching pleasantly from extended use and my skin still tingling from where Sterling scented me so thoroughly.

I can't stop smiling like an absolute fool, the bond between us thrumming with contentment even though Sterling is already drifting back to sleep inside.

I pull out my phone and send a quick message to Caelan: Meeting in the courtyard. Five minutes.

His response is immediate, a phone call rather than a text. I answer with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

"Please tell me you're dressed and I'm not going to walk outside to see my brother actively knotting his Omega in the courtyard," Caelan teases.

I laugh despite the tension I can feel building. "I've been asked not to go too far from the cottage, so we're meeting in the courtyard like civilized people. Get your ass out here and give me an update on Wilson. I already know it's going to be bad news, so let's just get this shit over with."

I hang up before he can respond and take a position in the center of the courtyard where I'll have a clear line of sight to the cottage windows.

Sterling will be able to see me the entire time should he need it, which should help ease his separation anxiety while we handle whatever crisis has been building over the past two days.

The back door of the main house opens and Caelan steps out with Bryn at his side.

But they're not alone. Behind them is another Alpha, Draven, our family lawyer.

The sight makes my stomach sink with dread.

If Draven is here personally rather than just being consulted by phone, the situation must be significantly worse than I anticipated.

I sigh heavily, dragging a hand down my face as they approach. "This is bad, isn't it?"

Caelan reaches me first, and his nose wrinkles slightly as he catches my scent. "Jesus Christ, you smell like you've been marinating in Sterling for days. Which I guess you have been, but damn. That's intense."

The observation makes me grin with possessive satisfaction. "I'll make sure to let everyone know the next time you're unavailable because Bryn is stuffed up your ass. I'm sure the whole organization would love detailed updates on your sex life."

Caelan actually blushes, a rare sight that makes Bryn laugh outright. The Valla looks thoroughly pleased with himself at having caused that reaction in his usually unflappable mate.

"I don't think I've ever seen you speechless," I say with genuine delight, enjoying this moment before we have to deal with serious problems.

"Fuck off," Caelan mutters, but there's no real heat in it.

Draven clears his throat, reminding us that we have actual business to discuss. "Forrest, we need to talk about the legal situation developing with Detective Wilson."

The lawyer's formal tone kills my good mood immediately. "What's he done now?"

"Formal charges have been filed," Draven says, pulling out a tablet and scrolling through what looks like legal documents.

"Wilson is claiming you kidnapped Sterling through coercion and manipulation.

He's provided testimony from several officers who claim they witnessed Sterling in distress during your encounter at the Night of Scarlet.

He's requesting that you be brought in for questioning and that Sterling be placed in protective custody pending investigation. "

“That's complete bullshit. Sterling came to me voluntarily. He was running from Wilson, not from me."

"I know that, and you know that," Draven offers, his tone unnervingly calm.

"But Wilson has painted a very compelling picture for the authorities.

He's claiming that Sterling was vulnerable and traumatized when you took advantage of him, that any bond mark placed without proper consent during a heat-induced state of impaired judgment should not be recognized. "

Rage floods through my system so completely that I have to force myself to breathe through it. The idea that anyone could think I would force Sterling into anything makes me want to tear down the entire legal system with my bare hands.

"We're going to have a difficult road ahead," Draven continues, his expression sympathetic but realistic.

"Wilson has connections within the police department and, apparently, some judges who are willing to hear his case despite the obvious bias.

He's leveraging his position as a law enforcement officer to maximum effect. "

Caelan steps forward, his own anger visible in the tension of his shoulders.

"I also called in some backup because this goes farther than just attesting to your claim on Sterling.

This is about a power struggle that Wilson is eventually going to lose, but right now he has the upper hand through institutional support. "

I frown as movement catches my attention. One of the house staff opens the back door, this time allowing three more people to step into the courtyard. I recognize them immediately: Moses St. Clair, his Alpha mate, Ames, and Lorcan bringing up the rear.

The St. Clairs are one of the most powerful families running security in the region, with connections that span both legitimate and criminal enterprises.

Just a few years ago, they were little more than one large building working for a handful of powerful families, but they've since expanded, their name almost synonymous with security detail.

Moses is a Valla like me, with the kind of ruthless intelligence that's built his empire. Ames is both brains and logic, Moses’ Valla brother, Hunter, noticeably absent.

"What do I owe the honor?" I ask, genuinely surprised that they've shown up personally rather than just providing information through intermediaries.

Moses extends his hand for a firm shake. "Your brother reached out when you were otherwise occupied. We've been doing some digging into Wilson's background and activities for other reasons and so our interests are pretty well aligned."

"What do you have for me?"

Moses' expression darkens with something that looks like disgust. "It seems that Wilson has had his hands in quite a few pots over the years.

He's been known to have issues with his Omegas, though he's been very careful about keeping those incidents from becoming official reports.

Multiple complaints that mysteriously disappeared, hospital visits that were explained away as accidents. "

The information confirms what I already suspected about Wilson's character, but hearing it laid out so clinically makes my rage burn hotter.

"Know anything about someone called Thatcher?" Moses asks casually, watching my reaction carefully.

"What the absolute fuck?" The words explode from me before I can filter them. "Thatcher is supposedly the name of the drug dealer who's been operating in my club. The one we've been trying to track down for months."

Moses snorts, mild satisfaction filling his features.

"Apparently, this fucker has gone by quite a few names.

Wilson, Thatcher, Gideon, maybe others we haven't uncovered yet.

He uses different identities to compartmentalize his various criminal activities, keeping each operation separate enough that connecting them is nearly impossible. "

"Thatcher is Wilson?" I'm reeling from the implications. "So the drug problems in my establishment, the Omega who was assaulted, all of that traces back to the same bastard who was abusing Sterling?" Not that the St. Clairs would know about all of that. I have no idea how much Caelan told them.

"That's our working theory," Ames confirms, pulling out his own documentation.

"Caelan gave us a rough rundown of everything.

We haven't found concrete proof yet that would hold up in court, but the circumstantial evidence is compelling.

The timeline of when Thatcher supposedly physically appears in the area matches when Wilson is given jobs in this particular part of the city.

The physical descriptions from various witnesses are consistent, although vague.

And the pattern of targeting Omegas is identical. "

Draven looks between all of us, his legal mind clearly working through how to weaponize this information.

"If we can prove that Wilson is behind the drug trafficking, we can flip this entire narrative.

Suddenly, he's not a concerned officer trying to rescue an Omega from a criminal.

He's a dirty cop using his badge to cover his own illegal activities. "

"But proving it is going to be challenging," Moses cautions. “Wilson has been very careful about maintaining separation between his identities. We need something concrete that ties them together undeniably."

I nod, understanding the problem. "So what's our immediate strategy? Wilson has filed charges and is demanding I show up at the precinct for questioning."

Draven cuts in again. "You're not showing up at that precinct, not unless they come to arrest you with an actual warrant. Right now, this is just a ploy to get you off your game and on their territory. A lesser man would fold under the pressure and walk right into Wilson's trap."

"Sterling is mine now anyway," I say, letting some of my possessive satisfaction show. "We completed the bond during his heat. There's a bite mark and everything. That gives me legal standing as his mate regardless of what Wilson claims."

Caelan grins widely. "You always did work fast when you finally decided you wanted something. No half measures from you."

The comment triggers a round of laughter that helps cut through some of the tension.

"I've got an Omega to get back to," I say, glancing toward the cottage where I can sense Sterling sleeping peacefully. "And I need to figure out a way out of this situation that doesn't involve Sterling being traumatized further."

"You have more than just yourself to rely on, brother," Caelan reminds me. "You've got our entire organization backing you, and the St. Clairs as well."

Moses and Ames both nod their confirmation. "You have us and our resources," Moses says. "But we do have a certain Omega of ours who told us that if we weren't home by lunch, we're not getting fed. And trust me, you don't want to face Koa when she's decided to withhold food as punishment."

Ames snorts with obvious affection for their Omega. "Hunter would absolutely hang that shit over our heads for weeks. He's petty as hell when he wants to be."

The glimpse into their family dynamics makes me smile despite everything. "We'll have to have you all over for dinner at some point. Sterling would benefit from meeting a few other Omegas who are happy where they are."

"Listen to yourself," Caelan chuckles, a stupid boyish grin splitting across his face. "You're sounding like a proper family man now. Making dinner plans and thinking about Sterling's social needs. I love it."

More laughter follows, and I realize how much my life has changed in just a few days. A week ago, I would have been focused entirely on business strategy and eliminating threats through violence. Now I'm thinking about dinner parties and my future with my Omega.

"Keep me updated on any developments with Wilson," I tell Draven and the St. Clairs. "And thank you for the assistance. I won't forget this."

They all nod and head back toward the main house, leaving me alone in the courtyard.

I immediately turn toward the cottage, finding Sterling sprawled across the bed exactly as I left him.

He's completely relaxed in sleep, his face peaceful in ways I've never seen before.

His bottom lip is still a little swollen from my mark, and seeing it makes possessive satisfaction surge through me.

I shed my shoes and the shirt Sterling scented so carefully, wanting to feel his skin against mine without barriers. Then I climb back into the nest as carefully as possible, trying not to wake him.

But Sterling molds to my side immediately the moment I settle, his body seeking mine even in sleep. Within seconds, he's tucked perfectly against me with his head on my chest, soft snores starting up seconds later.