you would not take me from him.” There is anxiety in her voice, and the mutt begins thrashing in earnest again as her words stoke his anger.
“We cannot linger here,” I repeat. “You are on the cusp of your heat. I need to get you to safety. I have a place where we can go, but it will take the night and then some to reach, even if we travel swiftly. If you go into heat this close to the village… I don’t like to dwell on what might happen. But they may take you away from Brandon and me. They may have another Alpha tend to you. You will be insensible and will not even care by that point. While I’m not knowledgeable about Omegas, happen I know more than most. My mother was an Omega, and she told me things about them. I think in the hope that I would be a better man than my father.”
I point to Brandon. “When I cut the ropes, he will follow in wolf form, and he will catch up.”
She looks doubtful. I am leaving gaps in this story.
“Won’t he attack the horse?”
“Not if we have a head start.”
She looks like she wants to argue. But I don’t give her any chance. Taking the blade from my belt, I flip it handle outward, and rap Brandon over the back of the head. Finally, the bastard goes still.
“Oh! What have you done?”
“What I needed to do,” I say.
I cut his bindings swiftly from his wrists and ankles. Shifters are fucking hardy, and I expect he will rouse faster than I would prefer.
Tucking the blade back in its sheath, I mount behind Jessa, wrapping the cloak tightly around her.
“I do not like to leave him,” she says.
“He will follow us, I promise.”
Sooner than I would probably like. With a nudge to the horse’s flanks, we take off at a fast canter.
We ride throughout the night. As we near the outskirts of the Lyon clan, I hear the distant howl that tells me Brandon is closing in.
An old outpost we use as a lookout for Blighten during the winter months is situated to the north of the clan. It is kept stocked with wood and has fresh water via a well. But we will need more things if we are to get through Jessa’s heat. Stopping is a risk. I don’t want Brandon to confront me in the village, not while Jessa is close to her heat. I trust Pete and a few others I consider higher ranking, but certainly not all the Alphas within my clan. I cannot protect her from the weaker Alphas and fight Brandon at the same time. If I linger in the village, it will trigger the same carnage that would have unfolded at Ralston.
Omegas also prefer a quiet place where they can feel safe to nest when they go into heat. The old lookout will be perfect, nestled as it is among the trees far from man. When the leaves drop with the turn to winter, it offers views all the way to the distant mountain passes, thus allowing us early warning when the Orc trains are sighted.
As I come to a thundering stop in the village square, Pete is the first to greet me.
“I need supplies gathered swiftly,” I say. “Get a couple of younger Beta lads on fast horses to ride ahead to the lookout lodge with them. Enough food to last a week. Pelts and furs from the stores. If there are any of the softer blankets, take those as well.”
Pete’s eyes shift to Jessa. He takes a step back before returning his attention to me.
“Omega?”
“Aye.”
Jessa wraps the cloak tightly around her, and I feel the tension enter her small body.
“I will see to it,” Pete says. He doesn’t ask more. I have an Omega, and he will know what that means. Lads are sent scurrying, and horses are brought out. Seamlessly, Alphas are positioned around the square to keep the area around us clear.
As the lads hasten to load horses with supplies, Pete returns to me.
“There will be a shifter coming through shortly,” I say. “Tell the villagers to keep out of his way. He wants Jessa. He will follow after us as long as no one tries to stop him.”
Pete raises a brow. “Is that advisable? Shifters can be ferocious when their mate is taken. You might be injured.”
“Advisable? Big word there, Pete. Since when have I done anything advisable?” Now it is my