The crowd cheers as he attacks again, but my father, the monster who gave me half my genetic code, sits up with a smug smile and his arms crossed. He knows I will win.
I refocus on the alpha in front of me.
Jonas is up there; I can feel him. He comes to me every night, trying to coax me to shift.
I won’t do it.
The black lunges, his teeth exposed. I dart in and open up his jugular and then dart away and sit down, watching as his eyes widen and blood fountains across the dirt.
The crowd lets out a boo. I’ve stolen their entertainment. I’ve let them down a good solid show.
How selfish of me.
I hate them; the loathing inside me is growing.
The black male alpha collapses to the dirt, his life pumping out of him and onto the ground. For a moment, I forget he’s not Riot, and I stare, panicking, did I kill him? Is he alive?
No, Riot is safe, I sent them away.
I turn and stalk back to my cage, going in and sitting with my back to the opening.
“Omega, fight me.”
I whip around and find Cindel in the hole.
I look up at my father.
“No!” he thunders.
I take a step towards her. If I die because I’ve killed her, it will be worth it. I take another step.
“CASEY! Get in your cage!”
I ignore the alpha because that’s the one thing an omega can do. I can ignore the commands of any wolves.
I listen to no one.
Cindel moves towards me. I hear Liam cry out. People are frantic, trying to get to her. The dead wolf at her feet is just another obstacle in my way.
“OMEGA!”
I ignore them all, right up until another wolf lands heavily in the pit. I turn and find Jonas.
He bares his teeth.
The two of them think they can take me? I refuse to back down. When Jonas attacks me, I attack back. I get hold of his hind leg and bite down, breaking it in the same spot as Wrath broke it.
He howls.
Cindel lunges for me, but, suddenly, there are sparks between us. I leap back, growling, and am slowly forced back into my cage. Step by reluctant step, they steal my chance for vengeance.
They use electric cattle prods that have been supercharged to deal with rabid wolves. I should have killed her when I had the chance. I should kill them all.
The chain is attached, and I’m pushed back into the dark hole, the ramp lifted, sealing me in. I go straight to my corner and curl up, tucking my nose in my tail.
There’s only one thing that keeps me going these days.
His vow.
