Killian
The prince sawfear flash across the mysterious omega’s eyes. Killian didn’t blame him. He knew from experience that it was only a matter of time before his father turned his anger away from the guards and onto him.
But then the omega stumbled. Quick as lightning, Killian darted forward to catch the omega, hooking his hands firmly under his arms and hauling him upright.
“Are you alright?” Killian asked.
The omega — Scout—stared at him, wide-eyed, and nodded.
“Killian, let go of him!” his father snapped.
The king surged forward, intending to sever the connection between the prince and the omega. But in another movement so quick the king could barely process it, Killian had spun around to stand firmly in front of Scout.
Nobody in the audience made a sound. Even the birds in the sky were silent, as if they could sense the conflict building between the two wolves below.
The omega behind Killian let out a shaky exhale. He gripped the edge of Killian’s shirt uneasily.
“What is the meaning of this?” the king said. “Do you know this omega, Killian?”
“Not any more than you do,” Killian said calmly. “I only met him now.”
“I see.” The king’s teeth were clenched tight as he glared at Scout. He turned and motioned to the guards, who were closing in on the stage. “Shall I have him removed?”
A burst of rage flared in Killian’s chest. The mere thought of having Scout removed suddenly made him angrier than he’d ever been.
“No.”
His voice rang out loud and crystal clear. A low gasp rippled across the crowd. Even the guards looked stunned.
The king, however, didn’t seem to process his son’s defiance.
Of course not. No sane wolf would ever stand up to him in public like this.
He reached behind Killian, grabbing at Scout like he was a piece of garbage to be disposed of as quickly as possible.
“I saidno!” Killian snarled. He thrust himself in between Scout and the king with his fangs bared. His wolf’s voice trembled in his throat, a deep growl that bubbled towards the surface.
Scout, the king, the other omegas, and every single pack member surrounding them watched in stunned disbelief as the crown prince protected a low-ranking omega who had deliberately broken the rules.
The reality of the situation finally hit the king, and he exploded.
“Guards!” he screamed. “Get this omega out of my sight! Have him executed in the city square! Let this be a lesson to every omega who dares pull this kind of stunt inmykingdom!”
Behind Killian, Scout let out a strangled gasp. Instantly something flared up inside Killian — a feeling he’d never experienced before. It was anger, fear, and a protective urge all in one intense surge of emotion.
The other omegas on the stage gasped and moved out of the way as the guards climbed up and headed towards Scout. The king was spitting with fury, his bony finger pointed at Scout like crosshairs on a gun.
Killian shot out and snarled at any shifter who dared get close to him. The guards stumbled back, torn between the king’s orders and the prince’s obvious disagreement with them. They glanced back and forth at the pair of royals in confusion.
“Why are you getting in the way, Killian?” the king spat. “The guardswillremove that omega!”
“No,” Killian growled. “I won’t let them. And I won’t letyou, either.”
Scout pressed closer to Killian’s back, and the prince could feel the omega’s heart beating a mile a minute with fear. Without thinking, Killian stuck his hand back and grabbed Scout’s, intertwining their fingers.
“What are you saying?” the king asked.
“I’m saying,” Killian began, loud enough for the entire arena to hear, “thatthisis the omega that I choose.”
