Page 56 of Shared Omega

The Alpha snorts and glances down at the fading semi-hard erection between Truk’s legs.

“Right,” he says sarcastically. “Your services.”

Beneath his pierced brows, his eyes dart toward me again. I have the sensation of being prey in the sights of a deadly predator. I squeeze the gun tighter, taking comfort in its cold weight, even though I know it’s useless.

I take even more comfort in the fact that I have my two Alpha protectors with me.

Still, I feel strangely drawn to this new Alpha too.

It’s just my estrus, I tell myself. It’s messing with my mind, not allowing me to think rationally. But it will pass.

“You said a rescue.” The Alpha’s voice is a low rumble. “Who?”

I wish that Truk hadn’t said anything about a rescue. That could complicate things. This Alpha is clearly from the city ruins, which is where Lily is. And I doubt the Alphas there will be interested in handing her over to us now.

But I’d really like this standoff to have a nonviolent conclusion if possible.

And maybe, just maybe, this Alpha can help us get close to our target.

I decide that honesty is the best policy.

“We’re here to rescue an Outsider female by the name of Lily O’Neal.”

For the first time, I see the Alpha’s mask of cool confidence falter. It’s a small change, but my new hyperacute senses pick up the signs. The dilation of his pupils. The quickening of the pulse ticking in the thick veins at his neck and wrists. A short sharp inhale of surprise.

“Lily?” The aggressive edge has gone out of his voice.

I nod, still keeping my gun trained on his torso.

“You know her?”

The pierced Alpha grows quiet for a moment that drags out into a minute. I can practically hear the gears turning in his head. A log pops in the fire and I jump, but quickly regain my composure.

“Are you deaf?” Dog snarls, his body tense and ready to attack if necessary. “She asked you a question, big man. Do you know this Lily O’Neal.”

The pierced Alpha gazes at Dog with contempt. Dog doesn’t back down.

“Yes, I know her,” the Alpha answers at last. “I can take you to her. There’s just one condition. You have to stop pointing that boom-stick at me.”

“Boom-stick?” Dog scoffs.

The pierced Alpha cuts his eyes at him again.

“A joke, Outsider,” he snarls. “I know what a gun is. But we have little use for such weapons here in the Zone.” He glances toward me again. “I can tell, however, that the omega is adept in its use. Lower it, and we can talk.”

“Don’t listen to him,” Dog growls low, not taking his eyes off the hulking giant.

I try to run through the scenarios here. Even if we manage to kill this tribal Alpha, some of us are sure to sustain wounds and that will compromise the mission. If the Alpha gets away alive, he will surely warn his companions, and our cover will be blown.

And then there’s the third possibility.

He kills all three of us.

I don’t know if he’s that strong, but I don’t want to find out the hard way.

The best thing to do is go along with his proposed truce and pray this giant isn’t planning to screw us over somehow. If he’s being genuine, then maybe he can get us close to the target.

“You really know her?” I ask. “You really know Lily?”