Page 30

Callum

I can’t stop thinking about the two pictures Lyle sent me fifteen minutes ago, pictures that had me excusing myself and cursing him out while trying to will my cock to deflate. I’ve never been so jealous in my entire life of that man and even though I’m not attracted to him, seeing Seraphina sleeping with his cock in her mouth was everything. And then the second picture with her sitting up, pupils blown, her cheeks flushed and entire face covered in cum.

And then I called him, demanding to know what had just happened, mostly so I could replay those images in my head. He assured me that Seraphina had agreed the pictures were okay to send before explaining that she fell asleep like that, suckling his cock until he couldn’t hold back anymore. He tried to pull her off but it wasn’t fast enough, their perfect Omega sitting up like a whole beautiful mess.

The fucking asshole was preening on the other side of the phone, I absolutely know it, as he helped her into the shower. And while I would do absolutely anything to rush home and make love to Seraphina, dealing with the investigation into her apartment fire is important.

Which is why I’m now stuffed in Chief Monroe’s office beside my chief, Harrison, and Ambrose trying to figure out the last few details to connect the dots. “We already knew the fire wasn’t an accident. Why are we here?” I could have been at home in Seraphina’s nest… Wait till I tell Ambrose to check his phone so he can see what he missed.

Monroe’s eyes meet mine, the Alpha letting out a heavy grunt. “After Seraphina told us the mudroom had been locked, we went through the apartment again to see if there was anything else we could find. There wasn’t much, but we did find the lock. It hadn’t completely melted in the flames. It wasn’t locked but it was jammed.”

Ambrose sits up, his brows furrowing as he tugs on one of his earrings. “So this was intentional? Like someone had a vendetta against her?”

“I wouldn’t go that far. We have no idea who did what but we do know the accelerant. The lab came back with a positive result—turpentine.”

My fists clench under the table, anger flaring at the thought of someone targeting our Omega. I force my voice to stay even. “Isn’t that from trees or some bullshit? Where the fuck do people even get that? No, what I want to know is if they’ve found anything on the cameras. I checked the app and the security videos were corrupted. Were you able to pull anything off of them?”

Monroe shakes her head, tapping the thick file beside him. “No, the one in the kitchen was melted pretty bad, and the one at the front door is still being processed. Nothing was triggered around the time of the fire, so we’re still unclear on how it happened.”

Harrison nods as he leans back in his sweet, swinging a leg over the other. “Her safety is our priority. Keep us updated.” Monroe agrees as he shakes our hands and then leads us outside. I turn to Harrison, waiting for the words he wouldn’t say in that office. “This reeks of the same bullshit that happened three years ago.”

“With Felix?” That doesn’t make any sense.

“There was some kind of accelerant at the fire he was involved with. Everyone explained that there were no flames and suddenly, the entire building was falling apart.” I’m about to say that that’s a stretch when Harrison adds another piece of evidence. “Some of the doors were jammed then too. Doors that were rarely locked and would cut off access points. I have no proof that these are related but that fire involved turpentine as an accelerant as well.’

That is a bit strange but nothing we can connect yet. We tell Harrison goodbye, hopping into the car as I start scrolling through my phone, hoping to settle the chaos in my head. That’s when a message pops up from Jonah and I immediately dismiss it. “You know what doesn’t sit with me right? The fact that Jonah has asked three times in the last few days to meet with Seraphina. He made a joke that I’m keeping her locked up tight, and I don’t like it.”

Ambrose’s eyes flick to me before focusing back on the road. “Do you think he had something to do with this?”

“No, I just think he’s a desperate man looking for attention, and when Seraphina smiles at you, the entire world falls away. I just hate how insistent he is.”

Ambrose shrugs, an edge to his words despite the casual tone. “Maybe just have them meet? He knew Felix almost better than you.”

“Don’t give me that look, Ambrose. I’m not subjecting Seraphina to any more fucking craziness.” He shrugs again, a smirk tugging at his lips, and I chuckle, the tension easing for a moment. “You just wanted a reason to punch him in the nose or some shit, don’t you?”

Ambrose’s grin turns wicked, his tongue darting out to lick his lips. “If he looks at her wrong, I’d finally have a reason to do something about it.”

Laughter spills from me as I decide to make Ambrose pay for always trying to hurt someone. “No luring him into the house to get rid of him.” I open up my messages, focusing on the two pictures Lyle sent earlier and shove them in Ambrose’s peripheral view. “Although, apparently we missed quite the party.”

He groans, dangerously swerving to the right before correcting the car. “Jesus Christ, you can’t just show that to me. Did he come on her face? Holy shit, I need to drive faster.”

“What the fuck are you going to do about it?”

“I don’t fucking know but how are you going to show me that shit while I’m driving?”

I snort, stuffing my phone back into my pocket. “I just needed someone else to be as tortured as I was when Lyle sent those fucking pictures. God, she’s going to be fucking gorgeous during her heat and I can’t wait. It should hit in the next day or two.” I reach down to adjust myself, imagining as I knot her and soothe her cries while covering her in my scent.

All of this crazy shit with the fire and Jonah can wait until after that.