Page 3 of Dream Mates (Into The Parallel Omegaverse #2)

“My father was engaged in research using qubits to map the fifth and sixth dimensions. He stumbled onto the existence of parallel worlds. I was there when the Temporal Police arrested him and his research partner and dragged them off for breaking interdimensional law. I was fourteen. I hid when I saw what was happening. I got out right before they exploded the super collider to hide what had been found.” Spencer’s voice broke and he looked away.

“Spence, that’s how your dad died? I knew it was a work accident, but fuck.” Evan got off my lap and joined Spencer, putting his arms around his best friend. He started to purr, the calmness coating us.

“My father and Dr. K didn’t die in the explosion.

They were brought to wherever the Temporal Police bring their lawbreakers.

My research yielded little, other than that trying to get them back would be dangerous and fruitless.

Given that my father never returned, and my mother stopped feeling him through their bond, I assume that he’s dead.

I hope you understand why I never told you.

The Temporal Police didn’t know that I saw them, and I worried about the ramifications.

” Spencer rested his head on Evan’s shoulder.

“That’s why you were obsessed with parallel worlds for a while when you were in high school,” Evan breathed.

Spencer nodded. “Indeed. I wanted to see if there was any hope of getting them back. That was also why I told Grace that I wouldn’t stop her from wanting to go home, but being able to do it–especially reliably–would break the law, and it would be best for her to stay here with us.”

“Spence, I’m so sorry about your dad.” This all made so much more sense now. My heart broke for him–to see your dad get taken away like that? Horrifying.

“I knew Grace was from another world because at the beginning she smelled a bit like them,” Spencer added. “Parallel world travel has a smell. Well, it’s not the travel itself, it’s the specific neutrons that cling to you for a time.”

“Neutrons. She smelled like neutrons.” Brennan rubbed his head. “Shit. I don’t even know what to do. Given this is some secret agency I’m guessing we can’t make calls. We can’t report her missing. But she is and people will miss her and there will be consequences. Fuck.”

“There’s nothing we can do but wait and hope.” Spencer sighed. “At least the police investigation is closed. I can delay her job for a couple weeks. Mrs. Beekman thinks we’re going on vacation. That will give us time to weave a story.”

We’d need one. Mrs. Beekman, Grace’s advocate from the Omega Center, would get fierce if Grace simply stopped answering her and showing up for appointments.

“Time might work differently.” Riley took another piece of pizza.

“We should all set our phones to alert us when she gets back, since she had her phone in her pocket. Spencer, you should stay here when they go to the cabin. Send the door camera to your phone so when they bring her back you’ll know she’s here if you’re out. ”

Spencer nodded. “That sounds like a good idea. I can think of many excuses to stay behind without alerting anyone that anything is amiss–which is exactly what we need to do. I can try to do more research, make more calls, but we can’t get our hopes up.”

“We can’t lose hope, either,” Riley said.

“We can’t let anyone know that she’s missing until we know how to handle this or we’ll end up in jail. Fuck.” Brennan put his head in his hands.

We didn’t need that, either. I was pretty sure that Brennan’s mom wasn’t going to help us this time.

“I don’t even know who to call. Secret interdimensional agencies are above my pay-grade,” Jett added, leaning into Brennan’s larger form.

“Riley will go to her sister’s, we’ll go to the cabin as planned.

Spence, you don’t have to stay here alone at the house.

But given we’ll be pretty indisposed, it will be your job to figure out a cover story.

Eventually Mrs. Beekman will call, and we don’t need to be investigated for Grace’s disappearance,” Brennan directed.

Anger swirled inside me. “That’s the plan? We’re not going after her? We’re just going to wait and hope she shows up? We’re going to still go to the cabin? That’s a stupid idea.”

“Where would we go, Wes?” Brennan retorted. “I get that you’re upset–”

“She’s my mate!” I shouted.

“So is Evan and he fucking needs you, too. I won’t let you abandon him during his heat when there’s literally no place to go to and get her back,” Brennan yelled, filling the air with pine, trying to assert his dominance over me.

I stood and growled. “I can’t just sit and do nothing.”

“The moment we know how to get her back we will. But if people know she’s missing, it will be a fucking nightmare, and you’ll probably go to jail,” Brennan snapped.

“We have to handle our shit. She’s not the only one in the pack, so alpha up and help me keep the fucking pack together while Spencer figures out what’s going on and how to get her back. ”

“That’s a little optimistic but I’ll do what I can,” Spencer said. He pulled Evan closer. “Hey, Evan, it’s okay.” He started to purr to calm him down.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever heard Spencer purr.

Something ripped through my bond. A pained expression clouded Evan’s face as he doubled over in pain.

“Alpha,” he croaked, as his omega perfume filled the air.

Brennan ran over to him. “He’s warm. Jett and I will get him upstairs. Wes, get your shit together.”

Evan looked stricken as they helped him up the stairs, muttering soothing things as he whimpered.

“Wes, go and take care of Evan. He needs you. I’ll do what I can to find Grace. There is nothing you can do about her, so focus on him,” Spencer assured.

“She’ll kick your ass if you abandon him when he needs you. As will I. Don’t worry about me, Spence and I will play video games.” Riley took another bite of pizza.

My chest shook. “This is just so much like when they took her to wilderness camp. I couldn’t find her. They were hurting her, and I couldn’t protect her.”

That was the place that finally broke her. Us.

Spence put an arm around me. “I know this hurts. But it’s not your fault. You didn’t fail her. You can’t fall apart. I’ll handle getting Riley to the airport tonight. Go take care of Evan.”

It smelled like it was just a spike. But Evan’s heat was only days away, and emotional news could cause his heat to arrive early.

While I was worried about Grace, Brennan and Spencer were right. I had another mate, and I couldn’t abandon him since we didn’t know where she was and had no reliable way to find her.

Grace would understand. Wouldn’t she?

I finished my bourbon and hugged Riley, then went upstairs to find Evan.

The weight of the loss of Grace made every step seem like a marathon.

Part of me still wanted to rage after her–or curl into a ball.

But I could feel Evan’s need through the bond.

Not to mention, he was upset about her being taken, too.

The Temporal Police. Shit.

Even though we had no idea how Grace got here or if it was illegal, they’d taken her from us. Not feeling her, not knowing what was happening, not knowing where she was, was destroying me inside.

As much as I wanted to be optimistic, I had to come to terms with the fact that she was gone.

Gone. Once again, Grace was lost to me. Once again, I couldn’t do anything about it.

My soul felt raw and angry. I knew I’d be gutted if she ever left me again.

I just never thought that it would happen like this.