by P. Jameson
“Don’t know.” Evander was shell-shocked, swollen-lipped, and ready for...something. The alphas couldn’t shift unless they took an omega mate. But damn, was his animal close to the surface. “We’ve never had an attack so close to the castle before. But now the walls are gone and all bets are off.”
“Don’t you dare blame this on the omegas.” My voice was a growl, but that was better than a whine.
He shook his head. “The omegas aren’t to blame for this. I told you I’ve fought for your people—”
“My people?” Ugh. What had I been thinking? Wanting to kiss this man when he certainly wasn’t my prince. He was no better than any other alpha.
I just wanted to go back to the Badlands and find a heat bunker so I could ride this out and be miserable on my own. But since the city was imploding, the likelihood of that was pretty much zero.
“You know what I mean.” He let out an annoyed grunt as he put himself back together. Got ready to fight, like a good alpha soldier.
“No, I don’t. Because you have no idea what it’s like to be an omega.”
“You’re right about that.”
Another explosion, and a knock on the door strong enough to break it in half brought the argument to a screeching halt. Evander strode over to the door to open it. Even in the middle of a potential attack, he never once considered the person on the other side could hurt him.
Another of the king’s generals, Solen, stood on the other side.
“Where the hell have you been?” Solen demanded. He was a huge alpha, taking up all the space in the doorway. “His Majesty demands your presence. The betas broke into the armory and all hell is breaking loose.”
“Fuck.” Evander blew out a hard breath. “What do you want me to do?”
Solen jerked his head back, like he wasn’t sure he heard him right. “Your job?”
“I am doing my job.” That growly tip to his voice that I liked so much was back. “Rielle has almost completely beat her addiction to juice, and she’s—”
“Your job is being a soldier in the king’s army.” But Solen looked past Evander, his hard gaze landing on me.
“She’s—” Evander almost gave away my secret. But he didn’t. He said he’d protect me, and so far he hadn’t let me down. If he told Solen I was in heat the other alpha could think it was his responsibility to take care of it. And if he stayed too long, he’d lose control. Evander’s shoulders straightened when he sighed, and he turned to me. “I have to bring you back to the clinic.”
“Evander. No!” I pleaded with him, pressing my lips together to suppress a whine. Don’t let Solen know… “I can’t go back there. It’s not safe.”
There would be no way to keep the other patients from ripping the needles and wires away from their bodies and rutting me if they knew I was in heat. The whole damn army could line up to take a turn and there would be nothing either of us could do about it.
“No. You’re right.” He marched over to me and took me by the arm, leading me to the bedroom. The door slammed shut behind us and a whine escaped my lips. He lowered his nose to my neck and inhaled with a lustful groan. “Damn. You’re further along than I thought.”
I nodded, because I couldn’t speak.
“You have to listen to me.” He took me by the shoulders and looked me in the eyes. A jolt of familiarity rocketed through me.
I was looking into the eyes of my prince. No, I couldn’t be. Was I already experiencing the heat fevers? Evander couldn’t be my prince. It had to be the heat talking.
His arms stiffened, holding me at a distance, like he knew I’d figured out who he was. I couldn’t reach him, couldn’t rub against him, couldn’t get any relief.
He closed his eyes for a long blink. “My first duty is to the king. I hate it as much as you do. If I don’t defend the castle, things could end up worse than they already are.” His eyes flashed with longing that I felt to my bones. “Leaving you is the last thing I want to do, Rielle. The last fucking thing. You have to stay in this room. There’s a lock on the door. You’re safe here. Promise me you won’t open the door for anyone. I’m coming back to take care of you.”
“I’m scared.”
He pulled me close and kissed my forehead. As I slipped deeper into my heat, I could let myself believe he was my prince. “I won’t let anyone hurt you. Trust me.” But the way he said those word was so familiar.
So familiar.
Chapter Eleven
Evander
“Never order me to do my job,” I told Solen as we rushed through the courtyard. “I technically outrank you.”
Solen laughed a brutal chuckle. “No Alpha outranks another unless you’re king. You might be his right-hand, but that doesn’t mean I can’t take your place if you keep fucking around.”
The veiled threat didn’t bother me. Solen didn’t want closer to the king. He just wanted to rule his piece of the pack and fight humans.
Still, I wouldn’t let him talk to me like a beta. I’d worked too hard to get where I was. Given up too much.
“You heard what I said. Never again,” I snarled. “You have no idea what I’ve sacrificed to fulfill my duty to the kingdom.”
There was only the sound of our boots thumping against the stone walk and faint cries in the distance. The explosions that rocked the windows and lit the sky had ceased for now.
“No more than any of the rest of us, I’m sure,” Solen grumbled. “We all know how the world works.”
Yeah, but I didn’t care what Solen thought he knew. He had no clue what I’d gone through to keep my oaths. Just like he had no idea the lengths I would go to keep Rielle now that I had that chance.
“You think you know.” I shook my head. “Get back to me when you’ve found your mate. And when she’s in fucking danger. Something she might have been spared if you hadn’t—”
Ignored her. Abandoned her. Broken your promise to her.
“Hadn’t what?”
“Nothing.”
I saw a military vehicle parked haphazardly outside the small fence that surrounded the facility and knew it was Solen’s.
“The omega is your mate then?”
I hesitated to give him any more information. What could it hurt? And it satisfied my wolf immensely to tell someone. To stake my claim in even the smallest way. Because no matter what happened when I told Rielle the truth, it didn’t change the fact that my wolf decided she belonged to me.
“Yes.”
“Does she know it?”
That one, I refused to answer. Not only that, I wasn’t sure of the answer. Rielle had surprised me with her talk of my future mate. Did she feel that kind of connection with me already? The idea had my heart pounding inside my chest.
Mine.
I would take care of the king’s business and return to my female. We would set things straight tonight. Get the truth out. I’d tell her everything. Why I’d patched the gap. How it broke my heart every day to wonder about her. How I’d never forgotten her, and never got close to another. Not for friendship, not for love.
I swallowed hard, accepting the truth I’d buried away for so long:
There was ever only her.
I approached the driver’s side and reached for the door when he slammed his hand on the frame.
“Yeahhhh, I’m driving,” he said.
I glared for a moment before stalking around to the other side and climbing into the passenger seat. Solen backed away from the fence and guided the vehicle through the center of Luxoria.
“Why don’t you bring me up to date.”
Solen gripped the steering wheel, his expression darkening. “Beta resistance got the alarm codes for the armory, killed the guards and attendants. Simultaneously, bombs were set around the city and they’re encroaching on the castle.”
“Damages?”
“Not sure. When I left to get you, the king and guards were containing the problem. And the omegas too. You know they like to be in the middle of the battle.”
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br /> “The queen’s court?”
Solen nodded. “And the ones who were retrieved from the Human Keep.” The omegas who were advising the king’s council. “The armory is compromised. All our weapons and artillery. They knew the goddamned entry code. Fuck.” He slammed his palm against the steering wheel.
“And you’re sure it was betas, not omegas?”
Solen eyed me. “You suspect omegas after everything that’s happened?”
“No, I’m asking if you do.”
Solen sighed, maneuvering the vehicle around some rubble in the street. “The omega Ashla used to work in the armory. She knew some of the codes.”
Ashla was Rielle’s friend. One who lived with her in the Badlands. Now, one of Zelene’s ladies. She wouldn’t have risked the others to do something like this.
“You don’t think it was her.”
Solen shook his head. “As much as I pride myself in never trusting anyone… no, I don’t think she has anything to do with this. I know she didn’t.”
There was an edge to his voice that had me looking deeper. “You know.”
Solen shot me a look of warning.
New explosions rocked the windows of the vehicle as we drove. Whatever ceasefire there’d been, was over. The closer we got to the castle grounds, the thicker the crowd became. Many ran from the area, escaping the brunt of the skirmish, but others, mostly alphas pressed inward toward the battle. Defend the castle. It was bred into us all. In the melee it was hard to tell who was a friend and who was a foe.
Solen sounded the alarm on the vehicle and people scattered to let us through as the castle gates peeled back just enough to allow passage before slamming closed again.
With the armory completely overtaken by the beta resistance, all the strategy would have to be done from behind the castle gates. The similarities to a time when Adalai’s father was king weren’t lost on me. A time when the battle was brought to the castle doors… except the betrayer was an omega. And it started a civil war the pack almost didn’t survive.
The war that created the wall. The war that created the gap that I shared with my Little Omega.
This time it was up to us not to repeat the same mistakes the former king and his council made.
Solen and I made our way past the grand stairs that lead to the castle entrance. There was another way in. The main entrance was only used for parties and other special occasions. The guards were double the normal number and weapons were drawn before we approached. One eye-to-eye from either of us was all we needed to gain passage.
“The king and council are in the main conference room,” a guard murmured as we entered. I nodded, not pausing my stride.
I didn’t bother knocking when we reached the king’s office. The frenzied voices on the other side told me it would have gone unheard anyway. Stepping into the room was like stepping into a cyclone of fury and panic. The assembled group wasn’t altogether what I’d expected. Alix, the beta spy who’d helped Cassian escape the Keep, several omega males brought in by Adalai to advise, and only one of the King’s Generals.
Shit.
It made sense why Solen was so angry at my absence. We were supposed to guard the king and queen, yet there was only Dagger with Solen gone to retrieve me.
King Adalai and Queen Zelene stood at the head of the long table, both directing furious glares in opposite directions. Adalai’s was on Dagger, who looked like he was ready to blow steam from his nostrils, Zelene’s on an older omega female I didn’t recognize. Both switched to me in a blink.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Adalai.
“Why are you here and not with Rielle?” Zelene.
It seemed I wasn’t the only one confused about my role these days.
“Got here as fast as I could. Rielle is safe,” I added.
My eyes quickly catalogued who was missing. Charolet, Tavia, and… Ashla. I looked at Solen, who scanned the room with the same urgency.
“Where are your ladies, my queen?”
“Charolet and Tavia are with the others, trying to secure the armory. Ashla…” Her gaze darted away guiltily. “We aren’t sure where she went.”
My eyes went to Adalai. “Cassian is with them?”
The king nodded, his scowl growing by the second. “Now Dagger wishes to leave as well.”
“I belong with my mate,” Dagger snarled.
“Who will guard your queen and my heir?” the king shot back.
“That’s your job. Your Majesty.”
Well, shit. Talking to the King Alpha like that… it could go either way these days. But since Adalai was dressed for war and strapped with weapons, I could only hope Dagger didn’t buckle under his wrath.
Zelene turned toward Adalai. “I told you, Addy. I don’t need protecting. The castle is safe. Especially with you out there, making sure this problem is taken care of. Let him go help Tav.”
Adalai glared down at her as he waved Dagger away, and his expression promised she was in trouble. Whether it was for the nickname she’d used or for undermining his orders, I couldn’t tell. But when I looked hard enough, I could see the softness she conjured in him. The love he had for her. An omega.
The King Alpha loved an omega.
For the first time since Adalai abolished The Division, I let myself believe in what could be.
In that moment, I realized that all those silent wishes I’d wished at the wall… all the times I’d hoped the world could change for me and my omega, so we could keep our childhood promises to always be there for each other… those wishes were finally coming true.
Chapter Twelve
Rielle
Evander lied to me. He promised he’d stay with me through my heat. I understood he had responsibility to the king, but it would’ve been nice for once for someone to tell His Majesty what they really thought.
I chuckled to myself, because even if the alphas didn’t tell him, I could guarantee he got an earful from Zelene.
Evander hinted that he wasn’t happy blindly following the king, and I’d love to ask him why he did it. But I was an omega and questioning my king was treason. Punishable by death. Not the quick and easy kind, either. It was more like the kind that made sure no one ever did it again.
But as far as heats went, this one wasn’t horrible. I never slipped into a place where I lost all control. That was the worst part of the heat, feeling like an animal but being trapped in my human skin. I still felt like me, just with a whole lot more needs. Maybe the most me I’d felt since waking up in Evander’s facility.
And, instead of some dark and dirty bunker, I spent most of my time in Evander’s soft bed. It smelled like him, and once I stripped down and wrapped my sore body in the cool sheets, I could pretend he was here with me. That my hand was his and he was taking care of every wave of need. When it got too much to handle, I found the giant shower in his bedroom. I’d turn the water on and let it run over me for hours. In the bunkers, we always did our best to wash the scent away to protect ourselves from unwanted intruders. This time, it made me sad. Evander wouldn’t be drawn back to me in the most primal way if he couldn’t scent me. He’d never defy honor for the sake of passion.
For so long I’d dreamed of living in the castle, and now I was dreaming of destroying it. I didn’t want that anymore. I wanted peace. But more than anything, I wanted Evander. For now, I’d have to rely on my fantasies, where the lines blurred between him and my prince. Where they had the same eyes. The same honor. And an undeniable desire for me and only me.
Because he’d broken his promise to me, I didn’t have any problem going back on my word, either. I didn’t stay confined in the bedroom. Venturing into the living room was dangerous, if any enemy wolves or humans had their eye on Evander’s quarters. If they’d been watching the medical facility with the knowledge that an omega was recovering from a juice addiction, just waiting for the moment to strike. As sure as the moon would come into her full glory would a female wolf go into heat.
I didn�
�t do it to spite him. My reasoning was simple. The kitchen was stocked with delicious food, and I was starving. I had to stay strong, because soon, I’d be called upon to fight. I didn’t belong in this beautiful outpost on the hill, surrounded by nothing but comfort and luxury. I should’ve been wearing the battle leather of Luxoria, fighting alongside my omegas.
That still sounded so weird. Didn’t matter what I was wearing. I’d been bred to defend myself. I didn’t need weapons or fancy armor.
After indulging in some fruit, I headed back to that soft bed, hoping that Evander returned soon. My heat was in this place that I thought I’d actually enjoy taking care of it. It had always been so scary before. He’d want to know that. For his research of course. If we could figure out how to control omega heats and make them less scary for unmated females, that would be revolutionary. We lost so much time each month keeping ourselves safe. We might not have to worry about alpha attacks anymore but our heats made the males lose all reason.
Another explosion rocked the city. I sucked in a breath, knowing Evander was out there somewhere. Was he fighting, or was he safe in the castle, orchestrating the battle? I didn’t know exactly what he did for His Majesty, besides whatever was asked of him. Evander was an important alpha, and King Adalai wouldn’t put him in harm’s way.
He was too important to lose.
For the king, too.
I almost jumped out of my skin, going full wolf, with the knock at the door. My first instinct was to burrow deep under the covers. To make myself small and insignificant and all the things I absolutely hated in order to keep myself safe.
The banging persisted, becoming more urgent. What if it was Evander? Could he get locked out? No, the alphas used top of the line technology like facial recognition and codes to keep them safe. But Ashla, Charolet, and I had easily broken into the armory before our adventure in the Human Keep, and Solen said it had been compromised again. So it was possible that the system had been hacked or the castle had shut it down to protect it from further attack. Neither option made me feel better.