I looked around frantically, trying to find him. He had described a den - my eyes were peeled were such a thing, but when I couldn’t find it, I was filled withpanic.
“Charlie?” I called desperately. “Please, where areyou?”
Ruffling leaves sounded behind me. I whipped around in time to see two furry ears sticking out from a pile of leaves. He shook the leaves off his face, revealing the surprised face of mymate.
“Charlie!”
I ran up to him, nuzzling him frantically and burying my nose in his fur. He whimpered and nuzzled me back. A powerful, warm feeling rose in my chest, like returning home. I licked my mate’s cheek and ears until I was satisfied with ourreunion.
“What happened?” I asked. “Tell meeverything.”
He shifted back to human form for ease of speaking. He looked so small, delicate and fragile like that. His pale skin was paper-thin and his soft eyes were full of relief. He reached out and laced his fingers through my fur as hespoke.
“I was sleeping, waiting for you and Casey to come back, when I heard glass shattering and got scared. I knew it wasn’t you, or anyone we knew, because the door was locked and they would have just knocked… I knew there was only one person it couldbe.”
“Hector,” Igrowled.
Charlie nodded. “I didn’t know where you were, but I couldn’t waste time howling for you. I had to get out of there as fast as I could. I was scared out of my wits, but I shifted to wolf form and when I saw Hector, I clawed him in the face andran.”
“You did?” I asked, amused and surprised. “Good foryou.”
He smiled. “He was too busy cursing me and whimpering over his eyes that he didn’t see the direction I ran off in. But to be honest, I didn’t really know where I was going… I just ran and ran.” He ran a hand over his belly. “I guess my nurturing instincts kicked in, and I knew I had to protect mybaby.”
I growled protectively. “I’m here now. We’ll protect our babytogether.”
“Thank you, Flint…” He threw his arms around my neck and buried his face in my fur momentarily. When he pulled back, he gestured to the pile of leaves he was still sitting in. “I didn’t know what to do when I reached this cliff, so I figured the only thing I could do washide.”
I sniffed. “That reminds me… You smell kind ofweird.”
“Oh, that.” He blushed and began digging through the leaves. “I was still freaked out that Hector would follow my trail and find me, so I tried to disguise my scent. I think this was an old badger’s den or something. I rolled around in it for a while until I knew I smelled thoroughly disgusting.” Hegrinned.
“Smart omega,” I growledaffectionately.
Suddenly a swig snapped loudly. My attention turned swiftly to the woods behind us. I let out a sigh of relief, thinking that it must be Jericho and the other alphas catching up tous.
But then I turned to see an unfamiliar face. A brown, thin wolf stood there, glaring at me with narrowed yellow eyes. But his eyes were clearly in bad shape; I saw the claw marks and red streaks on his face, from Charlie’s attack earlier. I was extremely smug, and proud of myomega.
“There you are,” the wolf growled at Charlie. I recognized the voice asHector’s.
Instantly my body reacted. I threw myself in front of Charlie and snarled so loud the noise tore through the sky. My massive wolf blocked Charlie from sight. I dug my claws into the ground and fiercely glared at Hector. His wolf was smaller than mine, and he was already weakened, and I knew I would easily win in afight.
“How many times do we have to tell you to stay off Indigo Mountain pack lands?” I snapped. “If we were any other barbaric pack, we would have ripped you limb from limb by now. But to be honest, I’m thinking about doing that rightnow.”
But to my surprise, Hector lowered his head slightly in a form of submission. “Please wait. I know I should not be here. Just let mespeak.”
He waited, looking at me expectantly. A growl reverberated in my throat but part of me wanted to hear him out. “Speak,then.”
I felt Charlie’s fingers clutch my fur as he huddled behind me. The only reason I hadn’t chased off this mongrel yet was because I knew Charlie wassafe.
Hector lifted his head. “We know about the omega Charlie’spregnancy.”
Charlie gasped. “How?”
Hector flicked his tail in irritation. “Foolish omega. Your scent is clearly different. Any wolf could seethat.”
“Watch your mouth!” I snapped. “One more word to my mate and I’ll tear your throatout.”
His lip twitched. “My apologies. But back to the point. Gunner is aware of the omega’s current pregnancy. It is unacceptable for him to remain here. Since the omega belongs to Gunner, this current pup rightfully belongs to him as well. The omega can stay here until he whelps, but after that I’ll be back to collect him and thepups.”
