Sheba turned back to me. “Rorik.”
“Yes, miss.”
She let out a derisive grunt. “At leastyouknow how to act.”
I felt a secret flash of pride. The praise felt good, even if it was more of a sly barb at the cuffed wolf. But at the same time, I wondered what all this praise was leading up to. What was Sheba’s plan?
Sheba flashed a sly grin that bared her yellow fangs. “We have a lead for you—a way you’ll sneak into the dragon’s territory.”
I was no small bear. I was almost too tall to stand up straight in the room. Even in my human form, I stood over six feet tall and neared three-hundred pounds. How could I sneak anywhere? But unlike the wolf beside me, I knew better than to interrupt Sheba and ask.
She raised onto her hind legs and slammed her paw against the wall, making the taped photos flutter from the impact.
“These dragons have a shameless TV program that they use to lure omegas to their lair,” she barked. Then her disapproving tone turned sly. “And that’s exactly how you’ll get in.”
That was not the plan I’d expected. A TV program? I didn’t quite understand what that meant. Omegas weren’t allowed to indulge in frivolous entertainment. Only alphas like Sheba and Knox had access to things like TV, books, and the internet. We had weaker willpower. We needed to focus on hunting and battle training.
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” I said.
“Of course you will,” Sheba agreed. “We’ll get you in, Rorik. But the rest is up to you. The dragons must die, no matter the cost.” She curled her lip. “If you can’t even kill one single dragon, don’t bother coming back.”
I nodded. That was fair. If I failed the most important mission of my life, I wasn’t worth the clan’s time or effort.
“I won’t let you down,” I promised.
After the meeting,the omegas hunkered down in our quarters for the evening. A typical winter storm raged outside, shaking the thin walls. On most evenings, we had nothing to discuss and went straight to sleep, but everyone was alert and excited after Sheba’s briefing. I wondered why, if I was the only warrior being sent in, did she gather all the omegas? Perhaps as a reminder of what I was fighting for—the other omegas were important to the clan’s future.
“Sevendragons?” one of my bunk mates blurted. He was a smaller polar bear named Charon. “I can’t believe you’re going to kill all seven of them, Rorik!”
I grunted affirmatively as I sat on the lower bunk bed. It groaned beneath my weight. Usually the bear shifters took the bottom bunks, and the wolves took the top. Our quarters were too cold to shift into human form, so I remained a bear with thick, protective fur.
“It’s my job,” I replied. I didn’t know if I could destroy all seven, but it was my duty to try. Just one would allow me to return home, but more was better.
“Are you excited?” Charon asked. He put his paws on the edge of my bed, making it groan louder. If he put any more weight on it, the bed would collapse, so I gently shoved his paws away. “Oops. Sorry.”
“I’m as excited as I can be,” I said, scratching my belly. “It’s a mission like any other. Only this time, I’m lucky for the opportunity to avenge our alphas.”
I figured that would be that, but other bunk mates lurked by my bed, curious for more of my thoughts. The wolf Sheba cuffed over the ears—Sorrel—was also present.
“I wish I could fight the dragons, too,” Sorrel mumbled in disappointment.
“You’re too small and weak,” I pointed out.
I didn’t say it to be cruel. It was just the truth. Wolves were weaker than polar bears, and if our goal was to eliminate dragons, we needed all the strength we could get. If a stronger bear existed in the clan, I would be understandably replaced. I simply happened to be the best fighter.
“I know,” Sorrel admitted. “But still. I want to be helpful…”
“You can be helpful by bearing a litter for Knox,” Charon pointed out. “He’s always choosing omegas to be child-bearers.”
Sorrel sighed wistfully, wagging his fluffy white tail. “I hope so…”
Sorrel’s older brother was supposed to be Konrad's top child-bearer before he disappeared in the avalanche's chaotic aftermath. Although Sorrel missed him, the wolf must've wanted to make up for his brother's failure to perform his duty.
I tuned out of their conversation. I was glad Knox hadn’t picked me for child-bearing duties, despite my status as a young, fit omega. My fighting ability was more important to the clan. I liked children, but I had no desire to be pregnant. It sounded like a hassle.
But if Knox picked me, I couldn’t turn him down. I’d step up to the task. That was what we did.
I stopped thinking about it and focused on my goal—killing the vile dragons who’d wreaked havoc on our clan.
