As Viol descended, I noticed with a pang of dread that they weren’t alone. The remaining omegas in the clan were present, too. But my heart squeezed painfully when I noticed a white wolf standing beside the two alpha bears.
Sorrel.
He’d finally grown into his big paws, yet even from a distance, I noticed he was skinny. My chest ached. Was there not enough food to go around? Or were the alphas starving him on purpose to hurt me?
When Viol touched down, he released me without a word. The cool, hard earth felt painfully familiar beneath my paws. I didn’t want to be here for any longer than we had to be.
“So, Poppy the traitor. You got our message,” Sheba began, spitting my name like a curse. “Let me repeat it. Your brother, Sorrel, in exchange for the dragon.”
Cautious optimism pooled in my chest when I glanced at Sorrel, but he met my gaze with a neutral expression that made my tail droop. He looked oddly restrained, as if holding back. My hope fluttered. Maybe hewasexcited to see me, but the alphas wouldn’t allow him to show it?
“Sorrel,” I greeted softly.
“Poppy,” Sorrel said.
His eyes flashed as he gazed down at me. His height had shot past mine, just like I knew it would. Despite his thin flanks, he was a large omega wolf. He must’ve been proud.
“You’ve grown so much,” I murmured.
“Where have you been?” Sorrel demanded. His sharp bark startled me, as did the way his lips curled into a snarl. “It’s been years.Years. You think I’d be happy to see you after you ran away with the dragon that killed Konrad?”
My heart sank like lead. But at the same time, confusion tore me up. Weren’t the alphas offering Sorrel’s safety in exchange for Viol? Why was he acting so aggressive?
“I know. I should have returned,” I agreed. “Can we please talk without bringing up the past?”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” Sorrel snapped. He took a step forward, advancing on me. “Don’t you understand what’s happening here?”
I didn’t move. I wasn’t afraid of my little brother. It didn’t matter that he was bigger than me now. He’d always be a pup in my eyes.
“No,” I admitted. “Tell me.”
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Viol stiffen. His eyes sharpened into purple slits, darting to glare at the alpha bears, but he didn’t move.
“The alphas told me. I know all about what Rorik did,” Sorrel growled. “He failed his mission. He was supposed to kill the dragons. But just like you, he was a total failure.”
Viol’s sharp gaze slid back to Sorrel. “Who saved you during the avalanche?” he asked suddenly.
The fur on the back of Sorrel’s neck rose. “I’m not speaking to you,dragon.”
“Who saved your life that day?” Viol snarled. “Because I’ll bet it was sure as fuck wasn’t Sheba or Knox. It was Rorik, wasn’t it?”
Doubt crept into the edges of Sorrel’s face. He shook out his pelt. “Yes,” he said grudgingly. “Rorik dragged me out of the snow, and Charon tended to my wounds. But it doesn’t matter. I looked up to Rorik. We both did. We wanted him to succeed sobadly. But he was weak. He let the dragons control him, and now he’s under their spell.”
My heart couldn’t take this anymore. “There’s no spell,” I cried. “Sorrel, please listen to me.”
“And if an omega as powerful as Rorik can’t resist the dragons’ magic, thenyouobviously can’t, either,” he snapped. “So don’t waste your breath, Poppy, because I can’t believe a word out of your mouth. You’ve been dead to me for a long time.”
I closed my eyes.
Without knowing it, Rorik had protected me again. I knew Sorrel thought I was dead. I knew he’d grieved for me. I knew that, despite his venom, his grief had been earnest. The barbed words spewing out of his mouth now were dampened by that knowledge.
But it still hurt.
“Enough, Sorrel,” Viol growled, angrier now. “Leave him alone. Your problem is with me.”
“You’re damn right it is,” Sorrel growled back. “You took everything from me, dragon. My brother. My love—”
“Konrad wasnotyour love,” Viol snarled. “He was a predator, and he was using you. And trust me, I regret making a martyr of him.”
