Lorenzo hummed in acknowledgment and held back, saying nothing. I was embarrassed and saddened that he had to witness their behavior. Maybe Dante was right. Maybe I shouldn’t have come back hereatall.
So far, my pack was doing a piss-poor job of listening to anything I said. Both angry and frustrated, I forced myself tobreathe.
If words didn’t work, then maybe a little magic would get theirattention.
Above the roar of their contemptuous voices, I concentrated hard and raised my hands. When the stalagmites jutted slowly upwards out of the soil, everyone went dead silent. They stared at me with a mixture of amazement andhorror.
“Did that get your attention?” I yelled sarcastically. “Everyone, please listen to me. I canhelpyou. We don’t have to live like this anymore. We don’t need these concrete walls! There’sanotherway!”
“He wants to get rid of our walls?” Jared said loudly, furious. “He’s possessed by the demon! He’s trying to kill allofus!”
“Shut the fuck up, Jared,” I snapped, unable to control my temper any longer. “Just listen to me for twoseconds.”
But the alpha elder and the rest of the mob had begun muttering again and spoke over me. They had clearly lost their patience and didn’t want to hear the rest of mysuggestions.
“I don’t know what you want with us, or why you returned here,” the elder snarled, “but I suggest youleavenow.”
The rusted weapon pointed in my direction didn’t breed confidence. I sighed in frustration. I knew I wasn’t in any real danger with Lorenzo by my side - not unless they stopped bluffing and really startedattackingus.
I shouted, “I canhelpyou- “
“Go away,demon!”
“He’s not Gabriel anymore,” Jared snarled. “Killhim!”
Then, like a ray of sun bursting through storm clouds, another familiar voice criedout. “Wait!”
Stumbling through to the front of the crowd came Otis. I gasped when I saw his belly. He was pregnant, too. His mate Dustin wasn’t too far behind him, holding his shoulders protectively and shooting me a cautiousglare.
“Gabriel!” Otis cried in relief. “You’realive!”
“It’s not Gabriel anymore,” Jared growled. “He’s been possessed by thatdemon.”
Lorenzo sighed and muttered something under his breath I couldn’tcatch.
“I’m not possessed, okay? Gods,” I groaned. “I’m me - Gabriel Brooks. Escapedomega.”
People exchanged glances, unsure of what to think anymore. Otis wasted no time in running up the grassy hill and stumblingtowardsme.
“Otis, be careful!” Dustin calledbehindhim.
Thankfully, Otis ignored him. He threw himself into my arms in a quick hug. “I’m so glad you’re alive! I was afraidyoudied!”
“Nope,” I said. “Alive, and pregnant just like you. Except my alpha’s a dragon.” I paused as Otis’s eyes darted to Lorenzo. “Not that one. Sorry, it’sconfusing.”
“No, it’s okay! But what are you doing here?” Otis asked, wide eyed andbreathless.
The elder and Dustin were screaming at Otis to get away from me. He paid them no mind as I quicklyexplained.
“I learned magic in Cinderhollow tribe - that’s where I live now, where my mate’s from - and they have this magical barrier there, so outsiders can’t get in, and if you guys had one here, there’d be no need for thewalls- “
Something sharp whistled through the air, and a ferocious roar tore from Lorenzo’s maw. I whipped around. Someone had thrown a spear at him. I gasped in shock. Blood trickled down from his wingmembrane.
The first stone had been thrown. Multiple people in the crowd raised their weapons, ready toattacknow.
“Stop!” I cried, waving my arms. “Stopit!”
“Gabriel, we have to go,” Lorenzogrowled.
