Chapter 22 Thorus

Our little omega has a big appetite. It takes several hours and multiple matings before she is finally satisfied enough to sleep. My knot releases for the fourth or fifth time, I can't remember which, and I slowly slip my cock out of her, taking extra care not to wake her from her slumber. Then I carefully climb out of the nest and motion for Brik and Markus to do the same. They follow me to the center of the cave, and watch attentively as I feed a few more pieces of wood to the fire.

"Syra needs her rest," I tell them. "Her heat isn't finished. Not even close. It will require at least one more day of hard mating before she's in the clear. Probably more."

The two younger alphas nod silently. Neither one of them has any complaints about that, but I can see they're tired, and no wonder. They've spent the past several hours vigorously fucking the most insatiable omega I've ever seen. Most alphas would have passed out from exhaustion by now.

I am proud of them.

They are good alphas. Brave and strong. Their desire to protect their omega is matched only by the desire to pleasure her.

Once the fire is burning nice and warm, I use one of the waterskins to rinse the seed and slick off my dick. It pains me to do so. I would gladly wear the omega's slick as a badge of honor, but the scent of it is too strong for what I must do now.

"Syra will wake up in another hour or two," I tell the younger alphas. "When she does, she will be hungry for more mating. You must give it to her, but you must give her food and water first, no matter how desperately she begs for your cocks. You have my leave to spank her into submission if necessary. After she has been fed and watered, you should mate her however you see fit."

Brik gives me a curious look.

"What about you?" he asks. "Are you going somewhere?"

"I'm going out for a little while."

I move to the other side of the cave, where we have a few items stashed. There is an old wooden crate containing waterskins, some dried meat and other food, and a jar of scent-masking paste which I prepared several months back. I open the jar and begin spreading the paste over my body, starting with my face and hair and working my way down from there.

"Where are you going?" Brik asks.

"Remember last night, the burnt ruins of the barn? Remember the scent trails? Half the group of Farlanders followed Syra and Markus to the cemetery. The other half followed Delphine and her alphas. I intend to pick up the second trail and see where those Farlanders went."

I would prefer not to do so, especially with Syra still in heat, but I cannot let the trail go cold. Not now, when we are so close.

"Let me come with you," Brik says.

I can see the fires of vengeance blazing behind his eyes. He wants to catch the Farlanders as badly as I do. They murdered our pack brother a year ago, and we've been attempting to track them down ever since.

"No," I tell him. "Your duty is here, with the omega. You must protect her, and you must get her through her heat."

"But Thorus, there are at least a dozen Farlanders in that gang. Even a great warrior like yourself cannot expect to take out that many alphas all on your own."

"It is not my intention to fight them," I say, as I finish spreading the paste over my legs. "I'm just going to spy on them. It's unusual for Farlanders to venture this far in-Zone. I have a feeling they're up to something—something big, something bad."

"When have the Farlanders ever been up to anything good?"

"Precisely."

I'm also thinking about the omega named Delphine, and her piece of shit alphas who attacked Syra in that barn. When we smelled their scent last night, I thought perhaps the Farlanders were chasing them, but after hearing Syra and Markus's story, I'm no longer so sure.

With my body now covered in scent-masking paste, I cross the cave again and retrieve my loincloth from the place where I dropped it earlier. As I'm putting it on, I look at the other two alphas.

Brik and Markus.

It's clear the young alphas are still uncomfortable around one another. Markus is probably still feeling a little jealous about sharing Syra. Brik, meanwhile, is still distrustful of Markus for his lack of piercings.

He wouldn't be if he knew the rest of Markus's story.

Earlier, while Brik and Syra were bathing, Markus told me the reason he abandoned his pack. I'm tempted to share that information with Brik now, in order to ease the tension between them, but I decide not to. For one thing, Markus shared that information in confidence. It is his story to tell, not mine. More importantly, if the two young alphas are going to reconcile with one another, it is up to them to do so on their own. I cannot force them to do that.

There is only one person who can help bring those to hard-headed young alphas together, and right now she is sleeping.

I turn and look down at Syra where she lies curled amid her nest of furs. Her bare skin practically glows in the firelight. She is, without a doubt, the most beautiful and precious omega in all the Zone. For a moment I can scarcely believe I'm about to leave her to pursue the Farlanders.

But then I remind myself of my duty as a ranger.

If my suspicions are true, then the Central Ruins, and even the Source itself, may be at risk. And without the Source, none of us can survive. Not me. Not Brik and Markus. Not Syra.

Sometimes, in order to protect that which is most precious to us, it is necessary to leave it for a little while.

At least I know I am leaving Syra in capable hands.

I stand over her nest a moment longer, drinking in the sight of her sleeping form, allowing her beauty to fuel me for the mission upon which I am about to embark. Then, without a word, I turn away from her and move down the corridor which leads out of the cave.

It is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.