Chapter 4

4

W e didn’t speak the entire walk home. Neither of us knew what to say out loud, so we stayed locked in our own turbulent thoughts. I could feel my mother’s fear radiating off of her in waves. I felt the same way—furious, frustrated, and absolutely fucking terrified.

I felt Cassian’s eyes on me the entire way home. Felt the promise that lurked in his gaze as he watched me leave, knowing he would likely see me in the morning.

A new omega was typically branded and broken in by the Alpha. Even my uncle wasn’t depraved enough to do the deed, but I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he happily handed the task off to Cassian. His eyes told me as much as we left, sparkling blue pools of joy. Like a kid on Christmas morning.

The worst part, I remembered once upon a time actually liking Cassian. I remembered the boy who snuck me pieces of his lunch in kindergarten when I came in with a piece of bread and an apple that was this side of rotting. He was the kid who gave me my first pack of fruit snacks. I had no idea such sugary, gummy goodness existed.

We were innocent and naive. Not tainted by the problems of our pack and our parents. We sat by each other in class and at lunch for almost the entire year. He always played with me on the playground.

Cassian was my friend until the last day of school when, at kindergarten graduation, his parents saw their precious son sitting next to the bastard. I’ll never forget the look on Patrick Clarke’s face as he yanked Cassian up by the arm hard enough to dislocate the boy’s shoulder. As Cassian screamed, his father slapped him and told him to stay away from the “whore’s daughter”.

The next time I saw Cassian, he led the crusade of taunts against me. By the time high school rolled around, the boy who shared his lunches with me was gone and a vicious bully had taken over. He made it his mission in life to break me.

And now he finally would.

The second the house came into view, a cold sweat broke out on my forehead. My hands clenched into fists, my heart slamming against my ribs. Blood roared in my ears, and, for once, I wanted to shift. My wolf and I felt the same fear, the same rage. Instead of fighting her as I had all day, I almost surrendered to her demands.

I wanted the feeling of my bones shattering and reforming, my fingers curving into claws. I craved the ability to sprint as far away from this house as I could. All I wanted was to run. To fight. To destroy something the way my insides were breaking apart.

The way I knew tomorrow my body would be violated and ripped apart.

A strong shudder rippled down my spine. Picking up my pace, I jogged the last few steps to the house. I threw open the door, and froze, completely horrified by the sight in front of me.

I had seen a lot in the omega house, and heard even more. And while there were whispers of this being done, seeing it was beyond anything my mind could have ever imagined. Worse than any nightmare that snaked into my head.

Maisie was on the floor, on her hands and knees, naked and sobbing as a large, muddy brown wolf snarled and snapped, backing her into a corner.

I had heard rumors that this sometimes happened—that pack members would shift to use omegas in human form, or order omegas to shift to take their wolf in human form. It was an abomination and the most humiliating thing for any shifter.

But seeing it firsthand? Seeing Maisie violated in the absolute worst way possible—sweet, quiet Maisie—was too much.

The snarl tore from my throat even as I heard my mother scream my name. My wolf surged to the front, and I let the shift happen. My body was hurtling through the air, slamming into the brown wolf. I was vaguely aware of my mother pulling Maisie away as the brown wolf rounded on me, growling low in his throat.

My nose caught the scent of blood, and I didn’t have to see Maisie to know it was coming from her. Once shifted, our wolves were bigger than normal wolves. Human bodies weren’t meant to withstand that type of brutality. He could have killed her.

The brown wolf lunged and I feinted to the right, dropping my shoulder so low it was almost to the floor. I reacted on pure instinct, letting my wolf dictate our movements for the first time ever. His jaws snapped by my ear and my head twisted, my teeth locking onto his throat. The taste of blood, warm and hot, filled my mouth and trickled down my throat.

A low whine vibrated through him and his legs slipped out from under him as he tried to submit, his wolf knowing I’d gone for a killing blow. I felt my jaw lock tighter and jerked my head away, ripping out a large chunk of his throat as my mother shouted at me again.

The entire fight was over within seconds, but I was breathing hard, trembling with adrenaline as if I had just gone ten rounds with an upper pack member.

My wolf was happy, sated. She had come out on top.

We weren’t the omega in this fight.

The brown wolf lay at my feet, motionless and lifeless. His blood seeped across the floorboards, staining the white fur of my paws.

I blinked over at my mother and Maisie. My mother seemed stunned, but there was a sad resignation in her eyes. She didn’t blame me for what I’d done. If she had entered first, it might have been her covered in blood.

Maisie was gone. She simply stared at the brown wolf, not blinking and eyes vacant. Blood ran down her back and sides, deep gouges from the wolf’s claws. The blood was pooling around her, but she didn’t move.

I caught my reflection in the hall mirror. Crimson stained the front of my white coat, my muzzle practically black it was so saturated. My mother had the same snow white fur that I did, but while she was pure white, I had a single black star on my forehead. Most Markham wolves were white or gray—another signature of our line along with our green eyes. None of them had any black. The patch of onyx fur on my forehead was simply another way to tell I was different.

Long Mesa had no black wolves. White, gray, brown, and red. But none were black. The mark on my head was yet another mark against me.

“Skye.” My mother’s voice was firm. I swung my head around to see her standing now, Maisie still unmoving at her feet.

“Skye,” she started again, her tone low and controlled, “you need to shift back. Now.”

My wolf whined against the order, but I forced myself to take control, shifting back to my human body. I blinked hard and looked up at my mother once the shift back was complete, crouched and naked on the floor, blood slick on my skin. I had changed so fast that there hadn’t been time to shed my clothes, so they exploded at the seams when my wolf form tore through them.

Mom exhaled a shaky breath, looking from the dead wolf to me. “Go upstairs. You need to get cleaned off.”

I looked down at the wolf, the realization that I had killed a member of the pack sinking in. Not only had I killed a fellow wolf, but now I could see the wolf in question was Dane Loomis, Preston’s older half brother and Allan’s oldest son.

Fuck.

I had killed a council member’s son.

“Skye!” My mom snapped. “Shower. Now.”

My mouth opened but no sound came out. I looked at Maisie. “But—”

Footsteps thudded on the stairs and the male omega, Shane, came downstairs. His eyes widened, so big I would probably find it funny if the situation weren’t so grave. His eyes moved to me. “Shit, Skye. What did you do?”

“He was hurting Maisie,” I tried to explain weakly, standing up. God, blood was all over me. I could feel it matting the ends of my hair, drying on my skin.

“Christ.” He ran a hand over his jaw and looked at my mom. “What do we do?”

“Skye needs to go take a shower,” she said, her eyes still on me. “We’ll clean this up.”

“We?” Shane echoed weakly.

“We,” she replied. Maybe it was residual from when she used to be higher up in the pack, but the omegas deferred to her. My mother was the alpha of the omega house, and ignoring her wasn’t something they would, or could, do.

She looked at me again, her face softening slightly. “Go clean up, honey. Hurry.”

I took the stairs two at a time until I hit the bathroom. I didn’t wait for the water to heat up, a process that usually took several minutes on a good day. I stepped into the cold spray, letting the water start to wash away the blood. I kept my eyes shut tight, scouring my nails across my face. I could feel the blood caking under my nails as I tried to clean my face.

I shampooed my hair no less than three times, standing under the spray long after the water ran from pink to clear. The water went from scalding back to frigid as I emptied the tank of all hot water. Finally, I twisted the knobs. They squeaked in protest, the pipes rattling on the other side of the chipped tile as the water turned off.

I was still shaking and it took several tries to secure the towel with a knot around my chest. Stepping to the small mirror over the sink, I barely recognized the girl standing in front of it. My already brown hair was practically black from the water, my green eyes were huge on my face. My usual tanned complexion was pale. I bit my lower lip between my teeth, worrying the skin until I tasted my own blood.

All I wanted was to crawl into bed and forget what happened today.

I had just finished brushing through my wet tangles when the bathroom door opened and my mom appeared. She set a pair of jeans and a black shirt on the counter before closing the door and leaning against it, her eyes blazing with intensity.

“I need you to listen to me,” she said quietly, so softly I had to strain to hear her. “We’re leaving.”

My heart thudded in my chest, my breath catching.

“Get dressed. Be as quiet as possible.”

“Mom, what the hell is going on?” I whispered, already reaching for my underwear.

“I already packed a bag for you. We need to get to the other side of the compound in the next ten minutes. Hurry.”

I started pulling on my jeans, the heavy material sticking to my damp legs. I struggled to pull them on. “We can’t leave. The wall, the guards—”

She held up a hand, cutting me off. Moving forward, she framed my face in her hands, touching her forehead to mine. “Trust me, baby. We have to go now if we’re getting out, and we have to leave tonight. Before they find the body… before tomorrow .”

Before I became an omega.

That was assuming the pack let me live for killing another member.

I nodded and stepped back before pulling my shirt over my head. If we ran, we might make it across the mile and a half to the other side of the compound, but even that would be pushing it. I started braiding my hair quickly as my mom opened the door. She glanced around, lifting a backpack before handing me my school one.

Judging by the weight, it no longer contained the textbooks I brought home from school hours earlier.

I went to the nightstand and grabbed the book I had been reading, shoving it into the front pocket before I pulled the pack onto my shoulders. I held my breath as she eased the door open, looking around the hallway. She reached back, threading our fingers and tugging me behind her.

I pulled her to a stop outside the door. “What about Maisie and Shane?”

Her mouth flattened. “I wish they could come with us, but there isn’t time.”

“But, Mom—”

She pressed a shaking hand to my lips. “Skye, you are my priority. Now be as quiet as possible. Maisie and Shane can’t know we’re leaving. It’s safer for them to be in the dark if Linden asks questions.”

Years spent in the omega house had its benefits. We knew every floorboard that creaked, every nail that protested under our weight. Moving swiftly, we avoided them, going down the staircase and heading for the back exit in the kitchen. The concrete stairs leading out to the backyard had long since crumbled so we jumped the two feet to the ground. Without speaking, we broke into a dead sprint.

My heart pounded, muscles burning as I worked them harder than ever before. We raced across the hard dirt, keeping to the shadows, avoiding the glare of the floodlights stationed around the compound. Everything was quiet and muted, the air hummed with the sounds of cicadas. The swollen full moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft silver light across the ground at our feet.

After nearly ten minutes of running, being sure to stay off the roads and paths of the compound, we came to a set of boulders and rocks near the western gate entrance. Staying downwind of the wolves on patrol, my mother pulled me down into a crouch.

“Come on,” she murmured under her breath, her eyes sweeping the area. A few agonizing seconds later, headlights turned around the bend of the road leading to the compound. The car stopped several yards in front of the gate and the driver got out.

Zara.

“ Run ,” my mom ordered, pulling me with her. We circled around behind the rocks, running silently across the ground to the back of the SUV. She lifted the hatch, only allowing us a small amount of room to slip into the empty back.

The SUV reeked. Something strong and floral that almost made me sneeze as my mom covered us with a blanket. She gingerly pulled the hatch closed, locking it. I held my breath, waiting for the guards to notice, but Zara had them under control.

“Alpha Linden didn’t mention you would be leaving the compound tonight,” the first guard argued.

“My husband,” she snapped, her voice firm and level, “is planning the funeral of his father. I’m heading into town to pick up a few things I thought might comfort him and our daughter. And last time I checked, I was the Alpha’s mate. Don’t forget who you’re speaking to.”

I could practically feel both guards submitting.

“Yes, ma’am,” the second voice whispered, contrite. “May we do anything to assist you?”

“Get out of my way,” she retorted coldly, turning back to the car. Her feet crunched across the gravel of the road and she got in the car, slamming the door. The perfumed scent was even stronger now. She must have bathed in the most potent fragrance she could find, but it definitely did the trick—no way would they be able to scent us under the haze of that stench.

A minute later, we were driving through the gates of the compound for the first time in my life. I held my breath until I was dizzy, and my mom reminded me to breathe.

“You two okay?” Zara called over her shoulder, maneuvering a turn that had us both sliding into the left side of the car.

“Is anyone following us?” Mom asked, her voice muffled under the flannel blanket.

“No,” Zara answered. I heard the engine rev as she stepped on the gas. She took another sharp turn, drove for a few minutes and then stopped the car.

Mom threw the blanket off us as Zara got out to open the hatch. Once we climbed out, I realized we were standing in a parking lot. There were four cars on the lot and two light posts, only one of which wasn’t working. The yellow light cast a sickly pallor across our skin.

Mom threw her arms around Zara. “Come with us.”

Zara hugged her back for a moment before shaking her head and pulling away. “I can’t leave Bella. You remember what I told you? Where you’re going?”

Mom nodded, reaching for me and pulling me under her arm.

“How did you know?” I asked in a rush, my mind still reeling that I was outside the compound for the first time in my life. “How did you know what happened?”

Zara sighed. “I came by to see how your mother was after meeting with Linden. I saw Maisie and... Your mom explained what happened. We agreed the safest thing for both of you is to get you out of the compound. This was our only shot, while Linden was still meeting with the council and planning the funeral.” She looked at me, reaching up to cradle my cheek in her hand. “I’m so sorry, Skye. I’m sorry for so much.”

I looked from my mom to my aunt. “So, what happens now?” I looked around the dark parking lot, expecting to see headlights piercing the dark as my uncle came after us.

Zara glanced at her watch. “I need to go before Linden realizes what happened. Here.” She pressed a set of keys and a rolled wad of cash into my mom’s hands. “This is all I could get without Linden noticing. The car is clean—I bought it a few years ago in case I needed to grab Bella and get out. It can’t be traced. The cash should be enough to get you to Washington.”

“I’ll pay you back,” my mom promised, tucking the money into her pocket.

Zara waved her off. “No, you won’t. You’re my best friend, Addie. I can’t believe how long you stayed. It never should have gone this far. Linden is out of control.” Her gaze shot to me, her mouth fixed in a grim line. “I can’t believe he’s doing this. The Long Mesa pack is falling apart. There’s so much more going on you don’t know about.”

“Then come with us,” Mom urged, grabbing her hand.

“Bella won’t leave her father, and I can’t leave her any more than you could leave Skye.” She pulled a phone from her pocket, handing it to my mom. “The only number programmed in here is my sister’s. When you get to her pack in Washington, Zoe will let me know. If you run into trouble, she can help. She’s expecting you in a couple of days. If you stick to the back roads, you should make it in about two days. There are a few motels on the way you can stay at. Use the cash. There are wigs in the trunk of the car you can use for disguises.”

Disguises ?

The realization that we really were using the getaway meant for her and my cousin was sinking in. She was worried enough about my uncle to feel the need to go off the grid and hide their appearances to escape him.

Mom took the phone, looking at it with uncertainty. “I don’t want to start a pack war. Zoe is taking a big risk helping us.”

“Zoe loves you, and she hates Linden. She says the best thing she ever did was leave and marry into another pack. She says their Alpha, Gabriel, is a good man. He’ll protect you.” Zara smirked. “Besides, I think he hates Linden more than Zoe does. Apparently they had a major disagreement years ago.”

“I remember,” Mom said softly. “They were teens. Linden was furious for months but wouldn’t say what had happened.”

“Gabriel will protect you,” Zara assured her. “Blackwater is a large pack, one of the biggest in the country. And we both know that Linden is in no position to launch a pack war. Truthfully, if things don’t start turning around soon, I don’t know how much longer the pack will last. We’re losing members and gaining too many loners that don’t want to follow the rules. Pack members aren’t being held accountable—what happened tonight to Maisie is proof of that.”

Jesus, Maisie .

“Mom, we left Maisie. And Shane!” Panic twisted in my gut all over. We left the other omegas completely unprotected.

Mom sighed, stroking my hair. “I told you we couldn’t get everyone out and save you,” she said.

I recoiled. My life wasn’t any more important than theirs. I opened my mouth to argue, but Mom stopped me.

Her gaze caught mine and held. “You are my daughter, Skye. I never should have let it go this far with Linden. I should have figured out another way to get you away from that pack a long time ago.”

“You need to get on the road. Linden will know you’re gone soon. You need to be firmly inside Blackwater territory before he catches up. He can’t touch you once you’re there.” Zara moved back towards her car.

“I love you, Z,” my mom said, reaching out for one last hug.

“I love you, too, Addie,” Zara whispered, hugging her tightly. She let go and looked at me for a second before drawing me into her arms.

“You did the right thing tonight, Skye,” she told me quietly, her hands smoothing across my back. “You’re stronger than you know. Long Mesa was never the pack for you. You’re going to find your place. Promise me you’ll take care of your mother.”

“I promise,” I swore, looking over her shoulder at my mom. I hesitated for a second and looked at Zara. “You need to get Bella away from Cassian. He’s… he’s a monster.”

Zara clenched her jaw and looked away. “I’m well aware of what Cassian is. But Bella thinks it’s an honor to wed the future Alpha. She’s so consumed with what her father wants and expects... I’ve tried. She won’t listen to me.”

I hugged Zara once more, wishing there was a way she could come with us.

She let me go and got into her car, turning it around and heading back towards the compound.

Mom walked over and wrapped her arms around me. “Ready to go?”

“Absolutely.”