“Sure would. Some omegasarelike that, though. Brainwashed ones underGunner.”
He was right about that. “Hopefully we’re gonna changeallthat.”
“Yeah,” Colin said almost wistfully. “Wewill.”
* * *
The campnearly exploded with excitement at our arrival. Immediately, the new alphas were stormed with a bright welcome and invited around the campfire for a late dinner. They happily dug into a round of venison burgers. I was starving. I wondered if it was too early in my pregnancy to be eating for two, but right now I was hungry enough to eat for the wholedamnpack.
As I dug into my food, Colin satbesideme.
“Phew! What a mission, huh?” He nearly shoveled the entire burger into his mouth at once. “We didgreat!”
I didn’t really feel like talking with a mouthful of food. “Mmhmm.”
“You were great out there,” Colin continued, “it was like you’ve been doing this sort of thing your whole life. Sneaking around and fighting forjustice.”
I swallowed. “I mean, Ihavebeen living in exile for awhile.”
“That’s true.” Colin looked at me. “You know, we make a great team. Don’t youthink?”
He had been helpful and somewhat of a comfort during the mission. He was the alpha I trusted the most, besides Virgil. Nobody else had rushed to my aid as often asColinhad.
Not even Virgil,I thoughtbitterly.
“Yeah, we do,” I told Colin, who instantly beamed. “I wouldn’t mind another missionwithyou.”
Colin smiled brightly. “Thanks,man.”
Through the thick smoke of the campfire, my absent minded gaze found Virgil. He was speaking to the new alphas, deep into conversation, completely unaware of me. A pang of pained longing shot through my chest. I hated admitting it to myself, but I missed him. I missed what we were before all of this overthrowing-the-government shit popped up. It was selfish of me to think that, and I knew it, but I wasn’t getting in the way of anyone’s plans so I didn’t care. Not only that but I washelpingVirgil’scause.
And he couldn’t even spare a moment to give me one smallthankyou.
Staving off frustration, I finished my dinner and decided to take a little walk outside the camp to clear my head. Everyone was still busy with the newcomers and nobody noticed me skulk off. Or at least, that’s what I thought until I heard a familiar voice callmyname.
“Hector!” Colin caught up with me with a smile. “Hey. I saw you going off byyourself.”
“Hi,”Isaid.
“What are you up to?” Colin frowned slightly in concern. “It’s dangerous to go out alone atnight.”
I bristled at his condescending tone. I didn’t need an alpha talking to me like that when I’d probably been in more dangerous situations than he’deverbeen.
“Just taking a walk,”Isaid.
“Cool.” He smiled. “Mind if Ijoinyou?”
I wanted to be alone, but I wasn’t going to admit that to his face. Besides, since becoming pregnant, Ihadbeen more cautious than I ever was before. If anything happened to me, it would also happen to my baby, which was an unacceptable thought. So maybe having a just-in-case bodyguard wouldn’t besobad.
“No. Go ahead,” Itoldhim.
“Great!”
We strolled around the outside perimeter of the camp, far away enough that I didn’t feel overwhelmed with the crowding bodies and noise, but close enough that I could still hear the softened chatter and smell the smoke. It was a cool night, and the new moon had just begun to turn into a visible sliver ofwhite.
I breathed in deeply, then exhaled. In less than five months, I wouldn’t be alone in this world anymore. A new life would be born from me. I wondered what the moon’s phase wouldbethen.
I wondered if Virgil would know about the babybythen.
