“Stop!” I shout.
I skid to a stop, but Bear grabs my arm, dragging me towards the gates.
“Don’t stop!” he shouts.
His words seem to reverberate around us. I stare at her, I can’t look away. So this is what my future looks like. She looks half-starved, terrified. She’s crying so hard her sobs are all I can hear. The omega never stops running.
Walker holds out his hand. A bow and arrow are dropped into it.
I scream at the girl, but she doesn’t listen, just keeps running.
He holds up the bow.
“Don’t do it! Walker, no!”
He lets the arrow go. It’s a clean shot, straight into her heart. She hits the ground, rolls hard, and sprawls in the dirt like a rag doll. Her red blood seeping out to stain the grounds of Foreen.
“NO!”
“Keres! Move! Or we’re next!” Bear roars.
Mordecai lets out a growl, and that hits me, waking me up. I turn and start running. We fly across the ground, but the gates stop their opening and start closing.
“What?” I stutter, my eyes widening.
“We need to get in before they close or we’re dead!” Bear shouts.
I put on a burst of speed, and he lets go of my arm, accelerating. Cadel and Mordecai pass me but don’t leave me the way Bear does.
We’re almost there, but the gates are almost closed. I run faster, putting all my energy into it.
Bear passes through and then Mordecai and Cadel.
I race through only a few seconds before it closes with a sick thud. I slow to a stop, panting and looking around frantically.
Inside, the city feels like entering a different world. The air is cooler; it smells like death, and I’ve never seen such well-preserved ruins from the old days. Maybe dying out there would have been better.
I spin and find myself looking up at Mordecai as he advances towards me. I step backwards, but he keeps coming until he grips my head between two massive hands. My heart slams in my chest.
“Wait!”
He keeps coming.
“Alpha, wait!” I don’t know what he’s going to do, but I know what I’ve seen of alphas. He could kill me easily.
“Omega,” he whispers. “Why do I know you?”
I try to shake my head, but I can’t move. I’m surprised by his whispered words. His pale blue eyes search mine as if he can find the answer if hejust searches deep enough. His hands are rough and calloused and so strong. I feel tiny and helpless in a way I have never felt before.
“Kaida Keres,” he whispers. His thumb brushes over my lower lip, and I tremble, locking my limbs so I don’t step into him.
“That alpha is gone.”
I snatch my head back, and, sure enough, Bear has disappeared. Cadel kicks a skeleton and watches it collapse on itself. His dark gaze takes everything in. I can’t help but feel he’s a little feral, a little too dangerous.
The pull of these alphas has my brain tilting wildly. I let out a whine, and both of them snap their heads to me, nostrils flaring.
“Omega,” Cadel says slowly, stretching out the word.
