“What are you doing here, Sara?” Cole asked, her tone clipped.
The woman was Sara, Alpha of Pack Sandstorm.
“I wanted to see for myself if it was true.” Her critical eyes moved from me to Cole. “I see that it is.”
“Now you’ve seen her, you can leave,” Cole replied.
Sara’s eyes narrowed.
“What possessed you to take her?” Sara demanded, making no effort to leave.
Cole didn’t answer immediately, and an uneasy silence filled the space between the sisters. I felt like I was intruding on something private, like I wanted to shrink to the size of a mouse, smaller, small enough to disappear.
“It was a situational decision,” Cole began, exhaling heavily through her nose. “The Blizzard boy is hot-headed and arrogant. It was clear he used the omega as a status symbol. Claiming her was necessary to ensure compliance,” she explained.
I was just an inconvenient pawn in the game Cole was playing with Ashford.
“Necessary? There was no other way for you to ensure that the boy understood what was required of him?” Sara asked.
“You requested non-violence,” Cole replied.
Sara seemed surprised at this.
“He allowed you to take her without challenge?” she asked, looking me over.
Cole snorted.
“I offered him the opportunity to challenge my claim.” She shrugged. “He didn’t accept.”
The reminder made me feel sick. Ashford didn’t even try to stop me from being taken. He hardly protested. Was he so scared of Cole, or was I just not worth fighting for anymore?
“That is surprising,” Sara said.
Cole hummed in agreement and turned her head to look at me, where I stood just over the entrance to the room.
“Come here,” Cole said, waving me towards her.
I stepped forward apprehensively. Sara was clearly displeased with me; I felt her disdain every time she looked in my direction. I had no desire to be anywhere near an angry alpha.
Cole growled low, frustratedly, stepped forward, took hold of my upper arm, and pulled me to her side.
“Harriet, this is my sister and Alpha of Pack Sandstorm, Sara,” Cole introduced. I bowed my head respectfully. “And, dear sister,” she continued, almost mocking, “this is my current omega, Harriet of Blizzard.”
“Current?” Sara asked, not acknowledging me.
“I told the boy, if he can repay the debt by the National Assembly, that he can have her back,” Cole explained, speaking of me like some schoolyard toy they were arguing over.
Sara laughed derisively.
“You think bringing an omega into our home is trivial, a game even?” Sara asked.
Cole released my arm and sighed exasperatedly.
“She’s an omega, not a bomb,” Cole replied. “What damage can she do? Look at her. What about her is threatening?” she asked.
“Ouch.” The insult stung. I was still a wolf; I had wolfish instincts and a desire to be a capable pack member like everyone else.
“Excuse me?” Cole asked.
