Page 158 of Daisy

"I will," she promises, rising on her toes to kiss me softly. Her lips taste like determination and fear and everything I love about her. Through the kiss, I can feel the others watching us, their scents mixing with ours. Pack. Family. "I love you."

"Love you too," I say against her mouth, the words feeling like goodbye even though I refuse to let them be.

She pulls away, but I hold onto her hand for one more second. Feel the delicate bones, the calluses she's earned from training. My fierce omega.

The rooftopacross from Governor Crane's mansion gives me a perfect view of the target, and more importantly, a clear line of sight to protect Daisy when she goes in.

I adjust my rifle scope, settling into position. My job's simple. Make sure no one gets in or out of that mansion without authorization. Make sure my omega's escape route stays clear.

Simple. Right.

Nothing about this feels simple when I can feel her anxiety spiking through our pack bond, when her fear-scent is burned into my memory, when every breath tastes like the protective fury of five males who would die before letting anything happen to her.

"Status report," I say into my comm, watching the mansion's windows for movement.

The radio crackles with updates that make my chest swell with pride: "Omega House secured. All omegas evacuated to safe locations. Zero casualties."

"Government complex breached. Multiple arrests in progress."

"Stock exchange secured. Financial records seized."

I feel the others' reactions to each victory through our connection. Relief. Satisfaction. The sweet taste of justice served. We're not just taking down Governor Crane—we're dismantling the entire power structure that treated Daisy like property.

"Package approaching target," August's voice cuts through my earpiece. Package. Our code name for Daisy, like she's cargo instead of the heart of this entire operation.

Through my scope, I watch her team approach the mansion's front entrance. Even at this distance, I can make out her small figure in black tactical gear, moving with purpose toward the place where she was raised to be the perfect political pawn.

My finger tightens on the trigger. Every protective instinct I have is screaming. She shouldn't be down there. She should be somewhere safe while we handle this.

"Package entering building," August reports. "Radio silence unless emergency."

I track movement through windows, watch for approaching vehicles, listen to radio chatter from teams across the city. But all I can focus on is the bond between us, that warm thread that connects me to Daisy.

She's focused. Determined. A little scared but holding it together.

Then her fear spikes through the bond like a physical blow.

"Shots fired at Package location!" The radio report makes my vision go red. Every muscle in my body coils to spring, my scent flooding the air with protective rage so intense it makes my own eyes water.

Fuck. Fuck. No.

The others feel it too through our shared connection. Dante's terror tastes like copper and honey. Hawk's fury burns like gasoline. Cassian's deadly calm wraps around us all like a promise of retribution. August's panic threads cold through everything.

Five different types of protective instinct crashing into each other until I can barely think straight.

My scope sweeps the mansion's windows frantically. Looking for threats. For movement. For any sign of what's happening to my omega.

"Come on, sweetheart," I whisper. "Come on."

Through our bond, I feel her fear transform into something else. Determination. Anger. Steel.

That's my girl.Our girl.

Then the radio goes dead.

Complete silence. Not even static.

"August, report," I say into my comm. Nothing. "Dante? Hawk?" Nothing.