Niko, who was the most out-of-the-loop, looked thoroughlybamboozlednow.
“But your scent?”Isaid.
Hector shrugged. “Scent-blockers, for covering up the omega smell, and alpha-scent supplements. That’s why I’m sosmall.”
Although there were obviously individual differences, most alphas tended to be tall and muscular to a degree. When I first met Hector, I attributed his small size to a lack of nutrition or cramped space in Scarlet Ridge. I knew now that wasn’t the caseatall.
“But - why cover that up?” Niko asked. Then in a lower voice, he asked, “DoesGunnerknow?”
“No,” Hector said, with somewhat of a smug smirk. “And I covered it up because, hell, have you looked around? No way in hell I was going to sit around and let them treat me like an omega.” He frowned. “No offense. It doesn’t mean I don’t know what you’re going through, or that I’m not sympathetictoit.”
“It’s not like you’re exactly living the high life,” Niko said with a shrug. “You live out here alone in the dirt, and you kind of look like shit. Nooffense.”
Hector smiled mischievously. “Nonetaken.”
“In any case,” Virgil said. “Now that we’re all on the same page, we should discuss ourescape.”
“I agree,” I growled. “None of us can go backtherenow.”
“I’d hoped that Gunner wouldn’t catch on to my treachery, but unfortunately he has,” Virgil said with a sigh. “That’s going to hurt any future plans I had about helpingthepack…”
“Forget the pack!” I snapped. “We have to look after ourselvesrightnow.”
But Niko frowned and looked disappointedly at me. “David, there are other omegas just like me who are stuck there through no fault oftheirown.”
I thought about this and sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. That was insensitiveofme.”
“You’re both right,” Virgil said. “Right now, the important thing is to get us out. For the rest of the pack, I have an idea. But for now, it’ll havetowait.”
“Are you thinking about some kind of mass break-out?” Hectorasked.
“Something like that,” Virgil murmuredvaguely.
A distant rustle in the trees made me freeze. Instinctively, I held Niko close. As far as I was concerned, anyone who wasn’t one of us four was an enemy. It was us against an entire pack of bloodthirsty shifters; and we had to win, nomatterwhat.
“Get ready to fight,” I growled under mybreath.
Out of the trees, a familiar man emerged. One of Virgil’s comrades - or ex-comrades now, I supposed - Delta. His face was fatigued and haggard, like he’d been awake allnight.
“Looks like I finally found you,” he said, his voicehoarse.
“What do you want?” I snapped, putting myself in front of Niko like ashield.
“How did you find this place?” Virgilasked.
Delta ignored me and rolled his eyes at Virgil. “Gunner had me searching all nightforyou.”
All of us froze. One of Gunner’s most trusted underlings was right here in front of us - and he had the power to make our life alivinghell.
Ifwe let him live. My wolf stirred, growling. I knew it was safest not to let Delta go - but I heldmyselfback.
“Relax,” Delta said, looking at me warily. “I’m not here to sellyouout.”
“Tell us why youarehere,”Virgilsaid.
“I know what’s going on here. You’ve been sneaking around, acting all suspicious. I’ve seen you talking with David and that omegathere.”
My lips curled into a snarl. My grip tightened on Niko’sshoulder.
