I keep an eye on the others while we ready ourselves. I can tell the alpha is agitated even from here. Despite the soothing things I’m sure Charm is saying, he doesn’t seem to be getting any calmer. Though anyone would be hard-pressed to pacify an alpha when their omega is in danger.
Orion gestures us over after a few minutes.
As we get closer, I hear the alpha say, “It was supposed to be a quick outing. We weren’t going to do a major climb without the rest of our pack. This was supposed to be easy,safe. But one of the cams came loose, and he slipped before I could catch him.”
It’s like he’s talking to himself rather than to us, trying to figure out where things went so wrong.
“It’s going to be okay. We’ll get Cassius out,” Charm says.
“You’re the backup forme. I’m the one going in after my omega, you’re my spotters,” the alpha growls.
“Titus, relax and let the nice people do their job. They’ll get me out in no time, so just stand back and wait,” Cassius calls out, voice echoing from somewhere in the pile of rock.
Despite the upbeat words, his voice is strained. Whether that’s from trying to talk down his alpha for the past hour or from his injuries, I’m not sure.
“No. Once they get me up there, I’ll push the boulders off you,” Titus says.
I think I hear a sigh echo out.
“Why don’t you wait down here with the first aid kit so you’re ready to clean him up once he’s out,” Charm says.
The alpha growls at him.
“We’ll get our climbing gear set up and figure out the best way to help Cassius,” Orion cuts in.
Titus doesn’t argue, likely assuming he’ll be going too. He resumes pacing while we prepare.
Henri flies a drone over the talus, taking images to plan our rescue. Magnus spots Cato while he climbs up to secure new cams.
We map out the safest route to where the omega fell in and get Orion’s approval.
Titus notices as we prepare to go up without him.
“I’m going in first,” he says, eyes dark and unfocused.
Cato places himself between me and the alpha.
“We have specialized training for these situations. We’ll get Cassius and bring him down to you,” Orion says firmly.
“He’s MY omega!I’mresponsible for him. I have to save him!”
Titus tries to push past them, but Charm and Orion hook their shoulders under his and hold him back.
I know he doesn’t mean to hurt them, but it still pains me to see Titus shoving and tearing at them to get loose, even if it’s obvious the alpha is panicking.
Titus is yelling, Cassius is yelling at him to calm down, Charm and Orion are trying to get him to listen, it’s a jumble of noise punctuated by the scent of the alpha’s fear.
Heat builds in my chest, wanting his pain to stop, wanting to save everyone.
Magnus hides his movements from Titus as he prepares a sedative. It will be over soon, I just have to wait.
He has the calming spray hidden in his palm. Magnus steps toward them.
Titus lifts Orion and Charm off the ground, trying to toss them aside. They don’t let go of him, which throws Titus off balance, and all three fall into a tangle of limbs.
“Stop!” I hiss.
The heat leaves my chest as the command burns into the alpha.
