Finally Found

Chapter 3

After Victoria's phone call, the police sent a detective to the hospital to collect Phoebe's statement. Victoria was grateful they sent a female. She met countless people from the law enforcement, she could see that detective Wilson is one of the good ones. Both her and Cassandra were next to Phoebe the whole time when the detective was questioning her. Phoebe told the detective everything, from the first time he yelled at her, the constant beatings, how he took her money to buy alcohol and countless lottery tickets. By the time Phoebe finished, both the alphas were filled with emotion. Cassandra was filled with sorrow, knowing what her mate had gone through alone. Victoria was livid, she wanted nothing more but to put that bastard straight to jail.

Detective Wilson assured them that they're going to arrest Phoebe's father and bring him to the precinct. That is how Victoria found herself standing behind the one-way mirror, watching the detective interrogate the man. Next to her was James Roth, an assistant district attorney. Victoria went head-to-head with him a couple of times in the courtroom. He's good. Plus, Phoebe's father, who Victoria later learned named George Wilson, chose to forgo an attorney and to represent himself at court. There was no doubt that this would be an easy win for James. He also told her a judge had granted a protection order for Phoebe. George wasn't allowed to be within a hundred feet from Phoebe.

"She deserved it!" George yelled. "She's my daughter, what I do to her is none of your business! Now tell me where she is! She needs to make lunch, she missed breakfast already."

"She's covered in bruises all over her Mr. Wilson!" Detective Wilson laid photos of Phoebe's bruises on the table in front of him. "You kicked her so hard, you broke one of her ribs!"

"That isn't true, I didn't kick her that hard. She's faking it. And the bruises? It's called discipline. I don't know how you do it in your house, but this is how it's done in mine. And you don't have a say in it, detective." George was standing, his fists on the table, leaning forward to the detective. The latter didn't even flinch, she just sat there staring back at him.

"So, what are you going to charge him with?" Victoria turned to James.

"I can't charge him for the past beatings, but with Phoebe's statement and the hospital charts, I'll charge him with class A battery, one year in prison and a five thousand fine." He replied.

To be honest, Victoria wasn't happy with that. She wanted him to rot in prison his whole life. But she knew that James was right. "I want a permanent order of protection against him. And make it a hundred yards"

"I'll make a few calls," James nodded. "His arraignment is tomorrow morning if you want to come."

"I'm going to stay with my mate at the hospital, I trust you to do a good job counselor" Victoria took her purse and left the room. Leaving the precinct, she heads to the hospital.

—

When she arrived back at the hospital, she found Phoebe all alone in her room. She was watching the tv. It seemed that she didn't realize Victoria was back. Victoria stared at the younger woman from the entryway. She thought Cassandra was the most beautiful woman, but here you are, looking as beautiful as Cassandra. Although their beauty differed from each other. While Cassandra has this tough, athletic beauty, Phoebe was the opposite. She had this soft and gentle kind of beauty that made her want to protect the omega more. And when Phoebe laughed at something from the tv, right there and then, Victoria felt herself falling deeper.

The more she stared at Phoebe, the more she realized how frail and thin Phoebe looked. Victoria couldn't help but to think back about all the things George did to you. What kind of father lets her daughter starve? How can he beat his own flesh and blood? But then again, alcohol can make you do lots of things. She was still staring at Phoebe when the latter's voice broke her trance.

"Oh, you're back." Phoebe said quietly. She muted the TV and faced Victoria.

The alpha gave her a smile and nodded. She took a seat on the chair next to the bed. "Where's Casey?"

"I think they needed her in the OR. She just left about 10 minutes ago." Victoria hummed at the information." So, how did it go with my dad?" Phoebe asked.

"The DA is charging him with battery. He's looking at one year in prison. We'll get the court date tomorrow. And a permanent restraining order is in process" Phoebe nodded at this.

They were silent after that. Phoebe unmuted the TV but lowered the volume. While Victoria checked her emails on her phone.

"Mrs. Arnault?" For the first time, Phoebe called out to the alpha.

"You don't have to call me that darling. Victoria is fine. You can call me anything" She looked up from her phone.

"Victoria," Phoebe corrected, "What's next? What am I going to do after this? And can you get me discharged sooner? I can already imagine the hospital bill. Oh God, I need to get back to work. They'll replace me if I'm gone too long. How am I going to pay the bills?" Victoria could hear the panic in Phoebe's voice. "Can I be discharged now? Can you talk to them? Please, I need to-"

Victoria cut her, putting a hand on the omega's arm. "Phoebe, I'll take care of you. Both me and Cassandra will. We have more than enough to do that. Don't worry about the hospital bill, it has been taken care of. And we won't let you work until you fully recover. You just need to focus on getting better for now."

"But they'll fire me! How can I live then?"

"Like I said before Phoebe," Victoria turned fully facing Phoebe, her eyes hard and determined. "We'll take care of you. You'll stay with us at our house. You don't need to worry about anything but your health. It's time for you to let go and rest, let us take care of you."

"Are you sure? Both of you have done so much for me already. I don't want to be a burden to you and Cassandra-"

"You are not a burden. And you will never be one. You are our mate. It's our duty to protect and care for you as your alphas. And it is a given that we care and love you so much. I know you don't know us that well yet. But we have a long future ahead of us to fix that." Victoria assured before continuing, "And I think you're forgetting something Phoebe."

"What am I forgetting?"

"We're mates. We belong together. I've been mated to Casey a long time ago. And now, we finally found you, our omega, ten years later," Victoria caressed Phoebe's cheek, "We're not going to let you go sweetheart."