Killian’s unmarked scent gland itched at the base of his neck. He ignored it. He was too messed up from... before, for an alpha to want him. He had too many nightmares, too many scars.
Hell, he was afraid of accidentally hurting an alpha.
“Does anyone else need assistance?” one of the alpha rescuers shouted.
Killian startled at the sudden noise, his heart pounding rabbit-quick.Me,he thought.I need to get out of here.Then he could’ve smacked himself. Obviously the rescuers hadn’t come prepared with buses to truck them out; they had been focused on taking down the threat. And now everyone was waiting for transport out of here.
But even though the kidnappers had been defeated, Killian didn’t feel safe. He wanted to huddle under a blanket and pretend his life wasn’t crap. He wanted a full belly, and something that could promise him safety.
He pressed his nose to Naddie’s hair, trying to anchor himself with her scent. His hands were shaking.
Low, heavy footsteps thudded nearby. Killian froze—prey instinct.
When he finally managed to turn his head, he found a huge gray wolf padding toward him.
Their gazes met, the wolf’s bright golden eyes locking onto his plain brown ones. Fur was missing from one side of the wolf’s snout, the bare skin covered in pale mottled scars. He looked fierce. Surely the wolf wasn’t about to attack him. Or eat him.
Killian sat so still, he didn’t even breathe.Don’t speak. I don’t want to say something weird!
To his horror, his mouth moved. “I’m not tasty. No matter how often the folk tales mention rabbit stew, it’s all lies. You can’t believe them. I will get stuck in your teeth and choke you. It will be the most pathetic alpha death in history.”
The wolf paused. And huffed.
Like he waslaughing.
Killian wanted to dig a warren to the center of the Earth, and never show his face again.
With a slow wag of his fluffy tail, the wolf lay down next to him, not touching. The alpha kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, looking around at the rescued omegas and babies.
Killian watched him for a long time. It felt as though the wolf had forgotten about him, so he took the chance to study the alpha. Blood matted the fur around the wolf’s muzzle. It was in his scent too, layered over forest and wild animal.
He smelled dangerous. But also, somehow, comforting.
Killian couldn’t help noticing the foot of space between them, the pure strength coiled beneath that thick, soft-looking fur. What would it feel like to run his fingers through it?
Then the wolf turned his head, one golden eye landing on Killian’s face.
Killian froze, his heart tripping.
The wolf opened his mouth. Was that a smile? Without waiting for a response, the wolf turned back to the babies, his tail wagging lazily.
Maybe he’s waiting for me to let my guard down,Killian told himself.Then he’ll pounce and make rabbit stew.
Even so, his body began to relax. Maybe his brain was overloaded with all the stress from today, and it had given up.
It wasn’t until much later, that Killian realized he had completely forgotten to mope about his past.
2
HANDPLANT ON A PEEN
PRESENT DAY
“I want ice cream,”Mathlin said, sticking his head in the freezer. “There’s no more ice cream.”
Killian snorted. “Two weeks at the safe house, and you have becomesospoiled.”
“Can you blame me?” the other omega whined. “This place is amazing! All I have to do is ask for food, andit shows up on our doorstep.”
