If the scene wasn't so tense, I would have laughed at this man embarrassing himself. He assumed Farley was one of them just because he was in human form. It didn't even occur to them that he was an omega shifter with his leg band removed.
Farley raised a brow. "Which maniac? I see quite a few."
The alphas' confusion was almost comical. They still didn't get it.
But that was the least of our concerns right now. Animus stared right at us and smiled slowly.
"Now, this is a surprise," he said. "I didn't expect you to show up. Then again, who knows if that truly is your intention?"
This was so not the time to deal with his high-winded crap. We had to clear out all these alphas one way or another so the omegas could escape.
"We're just trying to get through," I said.
Animus narrowed his eyes at me. "Have you ever heard the term ‘fox in the henhouse’?"
My lip raised in irritation. Aside from the convenient metaphor because of my species, I knew exactly what he was implying. That I was an alpha trying to trick him and reach the omegas to use them for my own gain, which was the furthest thing from the truth. But I already knew I couldn't convince Animus with words.
"Fine," I said. "I know you don't trust me, so I'll stay here. But let my mate through. He's an omega."
Animus's gaze flickered to Farley with a flash of recognition. They had a brief staring contest before Animus quietly said, "Go on."
What was Animus thinking? He clearly trusted Farley more than he trusted me or any of these other alphas. It was almost as if Animus was trying to help us. But if he was malicious, like Kamari said, why would he do something like that?
"Wait, an omega?" one of the alphas cried, glaring at Farley. "He better not be one of ours!"
"I think I know who it is," a deep voice called out. "Let me see that face of his."
The crowd parted. A thick middle-aged alpha with slicked-back hair sauntered through them, holding his head up high. The others stood back in reverence as if recognizing him as their leader.
Farley stiffened.
"Santino," he said quietly, his voice tight with rage.
"I recognize that human face, all right," Santino muttered. He wore a smug grin and looked at Farley like he was a nuisance, albeit an amusing one. "Since I was the one who slapped that leg band on you, eh, Farley?"
"Go fuck yourself."
The hairs on my pelt raised in fury. I glared at the sack of shit that captured and controlled Farley for two years, treating him like an object. My jaws ached to bite him.
But as Santino swaggered up to Farley, my mate grinned.
"Oh, I've been waiting for this moment for a long time," Farley said, cracking his knuckles.
"What are you gonna do?" Santino asked with a sneering laugh. "Even with that leg band off, you're just an omega. You'll never be—"
And then Farley punched him hard in the face.
The violent blow knocked Santino to the floor. He staggered, clutching his bloody nose. Apparently, he was too busy being bigoted towards omegas that he didn't expect one to pack such a powerful punch.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Animus smirk.
"Fuck, that felt good." Farley turned to me, grinning as he shook out his wrist. "Quinn, I'm going to the aviary. Can you hold these assholes off?"
I nodded, happy he was handing me the baton. "Trust me. I will."
Farley strode past the crowd towards the aviary. Nobody dared interrupt him. The rest of the alphas were cowed by him punching the crap out of their leader and didn't want a taste of it for themselves.
But I wasn't Farley. With Farley gone and Animus too strong to fight, the alphas were left without a target, so they turned their rage on me.
