Chapter 24

Twenty-Four

JACK

I t was a beautiful day out at the water.

"This boat is so fucking awesome," said Blade as I zoomed across the water with the speedboat. The wind on my face was the best feeling.

We were making our way back to the dock when I saw Jade waving her hands frantically.

"Wonder what's wrong," I muttered.

"She's acting like the house is on fire," said Ryan. "Don't worry too much, guys. She's always been dramatic."

My sister wanted to major in drama until my parents encouraged her to be something more as an omega. My parents advocated for omega rights and ensured she had the perfect education to get into the nursing program, even though she wasn't as excited about it. She did it to make them happy.

But w hy wasn't Vanessa with her?

"What's wrong, sister?" I asked, jumping off the boat as soon as we moored the boat.

The rest of my pack members also joined me standing around Jade. Waiting for her to speak.

"It's Vanessa. She's gone," said Jade, in a panic. Her eyes were wide, and she was trying to catch her breath. "She said she was going for a walk, but I couldn't find her. It's been an hour already."

Panic shot through me.

"Fuck!" shouted Alex. "I knew we shouldn't have trusted her."

"She's fair game for any alpha out there," I said, taking deep breaths.

"I gave her some of my scent blockers," said Jade in a low voice.

"Why?!"

"Sorry," she said.

"There's only one place where she would have gone to," I said. "She's in danger."

Vanessa

"Please, Ophelia," I said.

"It's Queen to you," she replied sharply, straightening her stupid hat. God, I hated this bitch more than my own evil aunt . How could she sit there and allow a mother to be separated from her child? She was a narcissist like the rest of the Royal Pack. I briefly wondered how the princess turned out living in the wild with her mountain pack.

"My queen," I said again, trying not to grovel, but I didn't have much of a choice. The guards weren't around, and I didn't need her panicking. If she started yelling and screaming, my time with Gabe would be over instantly. "Before you call anyone, please let me have a moment with my son. How would you feel if you could hold your son for a moment, then have him taken away?"

There. I said it. I had to use everything in my power at this moment.

A flicker of a shadow passed through her eyes. Her dark memories of her miscarriage evident on her face. Her failure to produce more children for the Royal Pack causing her alphas to seek a second omega.

She pursed her lips. "I'll give you a few minutes with your child. Then I don't want to see you again. Ever."

Breathing a sigh of relief, I kissed Gabe on the forehead. I watched warily from the side of my eye as Ophelia settled back in her chair, watching me closely.

"Were you chasing a little butterfly?" I cooed, and he excitedly pointed out the many roses on the ground.

Each moment was precious.

I took in his giggles and stories about his new toys back at the palace. Even though his sentences were choppy, as his mother, I knew exactly what he was trying to say. I sat him on my lap, sitting cross-legged on the grass. I didn't want to ever let him go. I was tempted to take him and run.

I knew I could outrun Ophelia.

But when Ophelia came back, it only felt like a minute. My heart pounded in my chest.

"Alright, that's enough," she said.

"Okay," I said, slowly getting up with Gabe in my arms in anticipation. I had to run through the thicket of palm trees. I knew I could do it. But with a toddler in my arms, it would be hard. "Thank you so much for allowing me to say hi."

While I talked, I slowly backed off from her until I saw her eyes widen. Then I turned and ran, clutching him in my arms.

"Guards, guards!"

I heard her shouts as I ran out of there as quickly as possible without tripping over plants. I had to get out of here.

Heavy footsteps chased me from behind.

I was getting out of breath from carrying Gabe and also recovering from my heat. My body wasn't ready. All the adrenaline in my body was failing me.

My body was weak.

I was too slow.

"Stop right there, lady," shouted a guard, and I could hear the sound of a pistol click.

I stopped in my tracks. I didn't dare risk my life or Gabe's. If they had to kill me for their prince, they wouldn't hesitate. If they got rid of me, Gabe would have no one who truly loved him.

I slowly turned, holding Gabe tight in my arms. Three delta guards surrounded us, pistols drawn. I covered Gabe's eyes. Delta guards were the angriest and the fiercest at the Royal Palace.

Trained to protect at any cost.

"I'm not moving," I said loudly, not daring to move an inch.

"Release the prince," shouted one of the guards. Their faces were covered with a metal helmet that came to their chin with a red stripe on top of it to show that they were Deltas.

I slowly knelt and set Gabe on the floor.

He was crying as soon as I stood back up. I couldn't do anything about it right now. Every move was crucial.

Anything I did right now could determine our future.

"What's going on?" said King Armon, inserting himself into the drama. He took one look at Gabe crying, and he quickly signaled for one of the maids to take him.

"My king," I said, bowing my head. Not looking him in the eyes.

His tall and lanky frame stood over me. He lifted my chin with his finger, making me look at him. He still hadn't shaved his hideous gray goatee—the wrinkles on his face deeper with age.

I couldn't believe I slept with him and the rest of his aging alpha pack. This was the length I'd go to escape my family. In the end, my psychotic aunt was ecstatic that I was sleeping with the kings, imagining her riches.

"Why do you keep coming back?" he said in a low voice. "I know you don't care about your kid. Is it that you miss me? Do you miss our attention?"

"I'm here for my child," I said.

I wasn't going to lose it. I couldn't let him goad me into it.

"Is that the only reason?"

He was looking at me with desire in his eyes. The hunger that all alphas had in them when they lusted after an omega. He was breathing hard as he gazed at me. He could take me as he wished. To play with as he wanted while his pack watched. And I wouldn't have a choice.

"Yes, my king," I whispered, my pulse racing and my head pounding with dread. "Please let me leave with my child, and you'll never see me again."

"Why can't you stay away?" he whispered, bringing his face closer to mine. "My little temptress."

My core began to warm regardless of how I felt about him. He was an alpha male, and I was only an omega. If he wanted me to spread my legs at this very moment, I would be compelled to do it. He was the king of Howl's Edge. I clenched my thighs together.

A shout snapped me out of the spell I was under.

Looking up, I saw Jack and Alex at the front of the pack as they walked toward us. I let out the long breath I was holding. I hadn't felt so small in such a long time. The sight of my seven men gave me courage, and I snickered at Armon.

"Why would you think I'm here for you? That's my pack over there," I said.

Armon looked behind him and snarled at the sight of the seven burly men heading our way. Even Ryan looked extra intimidating today despite his large glasses and flyaway hair. He stopped the maid from entering the palace with Gabe, grabbing him from her. My son looked excited to see Ryan.

The palace guards moved to stand in front of King Armon.

"It's okay, move aside," said Armon to the guards. They moved out of the way, and I was able to see Laurent wink at me. "I want to see what they have to say and if they're here to pick up their disobedient omega."

"Vanessa is our omega," growled Alex, standing before Armon. "And you will return Gabe to her."

"I am your king," said Armon in a high voice. "None of you will order me about."

"It's illegal to separate an omega from her child," said Jack, stepping forward.

"I trusted you, Jack," said Armon. "My pack brothers and I trusted you with the location of the omega plant. You were highly esteemed. Are you willing to stoop so low?"

"You're the one who stooped low enough to do this," said Jack. My heart lifted at how firm he was. "My job is to protect my omega. Get the fuck away from her."

Armon stepped away from me, and I could finally breathe without his alpha scent overwhelming me.

"We will revolt, and our families will too," threatened Alex, his red hair wild around his face. "I promise you that if you do not hand over Gabe."

"Listen," said Armon, holding his hands up. "Gabe is the prince of Howl's Edge. He belongs here."

"We can share custody," I said, coming to that realization as long as I was in Howl's Edge. "Please, let me have him on the weekdays."

"We will keep him on the weekends," said Armon. "Is that a deal?"

I felt like my heart was shattering into a million pieces. But it was either this or nothing. I hated this so bad.

"Fine," I said before an alpha could interject and ruin everything. I would be able to take Gabe home with us today. My heart swelled with excitement at the same time. We had managed to do it without a huge revolt from my pack. Without any killing or bloodshed.

"It's a deal," said Alex, shaking hands with King Armon.