We walk in silence for a few minutes.
"It's Maddie."
I glance at her and find her staring ahead at the path we're following back to the Pass. The wind is picking up, and the trees make creaking sounds as they bend and arch.
"What?"
"My name, Omega. It's Maddie."
"Maddie," I say, testing the name on my tongue, and give her my biggest encouraging smile. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Halley."
She scoffs. "Relax, Omega. I don't wanna be friends, just need someone to know my name, ya know? Evidence that I was here in case things don't go well at this Alpha camp of yours."
My smile fades and I don't respond to her surly attitude. I'm sure once she's settled into a settlement in Blackreach, she'll be grateful for the help.
As we top a small incline, the sounds of the bustling camp come into earshot, and a sea of tents spreads before us. I pause for a moment to let Maddie take in the scene. Her eyesdart rapidly as she watches soldiers herd civilians from one processing station to the next, preparing them to embark on to their next destination.
Viper, Knox, and Shade’s proximity has their presence flaring in my heart once more.
I sigh in relief.
‘There you are, baby girl.’Shade purrs in my mind, and I grin.
‘Nearly late, pretty girl. Was about to come drag you home,’Viper joins.
Home. They’re my home now.
‘Blaze, she better be in pristine condition.’Shade warns.
I can feel the smug satisfaction from Blaise as he responds,‘Brought her back safe and sound, although her ass is in used condition.’
There is a beat of silence and then the Pack explodes into bickering as Blaise dances around the topic.
‘What did you do, mutt?’
I don’t intervene and let my cheeky Alpha have his fun.
They ask graphic questions, and Blaise answers with scandalous detail.‘Guess what? She can take a knot back there.’
‘You didn’t!’
‘Oh, I most certainly did, and our girl loved it.’
I should feel shame and embarrassment, but instead, a sense of contentment washes over me. It’s nice to have the Pack behaving so… normal. My soul and heart are full of them, and it’s a powerful sensation.
The only thing missing is Knox’s voice, but I know it’s coming. Our relationship is repairing, and when we finally have sex, it’ll all snap into place the way it should.
A guard alerts the rest of the camp to our arrival, and my Pack is already at the gates waiting. Viper stands with his arms crossed, and Shade is scanning the surrounding area, no doubt for signs of our rebellious Alpha. Behind them, Knox looks asintimidating as ever, his gaze sweeping over me, checking for injuries before scanning my Beta companions.
A quick, genuine smile touches my lips as I flash each of them a grin. I’m overcome with relief at seeing their faces again. Leaving them on this mission was necessary, but it also proved just how much I don’t want to be parted from them. I belong at their sides.
I want to run and fling myself in their arms, but I keep my feet planted.
“Why are they waiting for us like that?”
Maddie is twitchy, her eyes wide and breathing erratic.
She glances at me. The distrust is still there, but also a new kind of feral desperation. Now is not the time to tell her she’s consorting with an Omega who is entangled with not one, but three Alphas and a particularly dominant Beta.
