Tension hung in the air and pricked my skin like electricity. I stared hard at Flint. He met my gaze, unwavering. Neither of us lookedaway.
Finally he sighed and dropped his gaze. “No, I haven’t told him,” he mumbled toJericho.
Jericho grimaced slightly, looking back and forth between the two of us. “I don’t know if I should be here for this,then…”
“Jericho, can you watch Casey for a bit? Flint and I need to have a talk,” I saidfirmly.
He nodded. “Sure cando.”
Casey’s eyes were wide as Flint and I stood from the table. “Are you two fighting?” she asked quietly. Panic rose in her voice. “Do you hate eachother?”
I sighed. “No, honey, don’t worry. We still love each other. We just need to talk aboutsomething.”
“We’ll be back before you know it,” Flint toldher.
“Okay…” she saidsadly.
Jericho caught her attention. “Hey, Case. Check this out.” He stuck two fries up his nose, which made Casey laugh. I appreciated him taking the heat off ofus.
Flint and I snuck behind a large pine tree, out ofsight.
“Okay,” I said with a sigh. “Explain what’s goingon.”
Flint grimaced. “Charlie, before I tell you, I need you to staycalm.”
Instantly anxiety burst inside my chest. “Well, it’s hard when you preface it likethat.”
“I’m sorry. Listen.” He took one of my hands in his own. “Just know that whatever happens, Iwillprotect you andCasey.”
Annoyance built inside me. I resisted the urge to tear my hand away from him. “Will you just tell me what’s going on already? You’re stressing me out evenmore.”
Flint stared me in the eye. “Hector has infiltrated thepack.”
My blood ran cold. “What?”
“Yesterday, during the hunt, we scented him. It was a fresh scent, and it was deep into ourterritory.”
I almost didn’t want to ask. “Where… where did you findit?”
His mouth went tight. “It was close to ourhome.”
“No, no, no, that’s not possible.” I stepped back as anxiety flooded my veins. “He wasn’t supposed to come back here. I’m so stupid, Iknewhe would do something likethis.”
“Charlie, listen to me,” Flint growled, taking me by the shoulders. “I told you nothing would happen to you, and I mean it. I’ll fight for you, and so will every member of the hunting guild. Hell, the wholepackwill fight foryou.”
“What are you talking about?” I mumbled, feeling utterly defeated. “I’m just some outsider, an omega. Why would they care aboutme?”
“Because you have worth,” Flint growled fiercely. “You’re not just some omega, and no one cares where you came from. You’re an individual and you deservefreedom.”
I knew Flint was right, but years of living through hell at Scarlet Ridge had burned the opposite thoughts into my mind. It was hard to think any otherway.
Flint’s fingers dug into my skin. “Charlie. Listen to me. You’re my mate. You meaneverythingto me. I’m not going to let some disgusting rat take you away from me. He can try all he wants, but he won’t getanywhere.”
“It’s not just Hector,” I mumbled. “He’s working for Gunner. Unless that changes, he’ll neverstop.”
“Then we’ll attack at the root,” Flintsaid.
My eyes widened. “You’re not going to attack Gunner, areyou?”
