“Can’t,” Titan growled. “Pack watches out for each other.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck. Someone might die from this. He was one person and a pup; he could move around a lot more freely than an established pack. Ottis thought quickly. “Give me until tomorrow,” he said, sticking to the truths. “I won’t join the pack run tonight, but... but you can try to talk to me tomorrow.”
Just that he wouldn’t be here by this time tomorrow. But Titan could still try.
“Okay,” Titan finally said, looking sympathetic. “I’ll tell the rest tomorrow.”
The rest of their brothers would push harder than Titan; they would stick around Ottis every single minute of the day, to keep him safe.
It would be suffocating.
Titan pulled Ottis into a loose hug, smelling like bread, omega, pup, and milk. “Rest. You’ll need your energy to face those assholes tomorrow.”
“Ugh,” Ottis said.
Titan laughed, waved, and disappeared out of Ottis’ cabin.
Ottis trailed his fingertips through Marcie’s fur. His heart pounded. The moment Titan told their brothers, he would never get another second of peace. It had been the same when Sevrian destroyed his leg. Back then, he’d had at least two brothers in his space all the time, checking his temperature, piling plates of food on his nightstand even though he was full. Hell, they had tried to follow him into the bathroom, blindfolded to preserve his modesty.
Ottis had come so close to fighting them off. In the end, he had left the pack so they couldn’t follow him around anymore.
But back then, he didn’t have a pup to protect.
“What should I do?” he murmured. Marcie squirmed onto her back and tried to bite his fingers; she batted at him with her little paws and wagged her tail.
She was incredible. He loved her with all his heart. But it was dangerous out there; Ottis knew she would be safer if he left her with the pack.
But Marcie would also cry for him when he never returned. He couldn’t do that to her.
He drew a deep breath. “I’ll be as safe as I can. I have some things to help.”
He huggedthe omegas of his pack. Then he slipped into the pack house and approached his omega dad. “Can I talk to you for a second? In private.”
Dad eyed him and headed for the soundproofed office. When the door turned, Dad turned to meet his eye. The sight of his dad always shocked Ottis a little; Dad was older now than when Ottis had left the pack some years ago. But his eyes were still kind, his stance patient. “What’s wrong, pup?”
“I’m going to do something stupid,” Ottis said. “Please ask the pack not to rescue me.”
“Hmm. Are you going to tell me what this stupid thing is?”
Ottis fidgeted. “Are you going to try and stop me?”
Dad sighed. “I can make an educated guess. Your brothers have been... scrabbling to do something about whoever hurt you.”
“That’s an understatement.”
“It’s not safe out there. Especially with a pup like yours; Marcie does strange things sometimes.”
“I know.” Ottis sagged.
“I could drop you off somewhere. It’s safer than traveling on foot. We’re a ways from the nearest big town, and you know the rumors that have been floating around.”
“Yeah. But I need to do this on my own.”
Dad sighed again. “Fine. You’re aware that your brothers might chase you down anyway?”
Ottis groaned. “Those jerks.”
At that, Dad cracked a tiny smile. “Call me if you need help.”
