Chapter 10

Ezra

I wished I could say the Council's actions were shocking, but after learning about their deceit, I would put nothing past them. They crossed enemy lines, extorted their own kind, lied through their teeth, and murdered those they swore to protect. The list of their sins grew longer with each passing day.

A heavy weight settled within my chest at Brielle's revelation. The ensuing silence stung worse than an injury from a tooth or claw.

My wolf howled in distress, unsure of how to soothe his mate.

Brielle fell asleep shortly after she told us about her father, and I spent the rest of the drive lost in thought. A few hours later, we crossed into Hidden Creek territory. I nodded at the Enforcers on duty before turning to Korren.

"Take Brielle to our den. Valor and I will meet with Alpha Wynn and Bishop."

Korren gently roused her, brushing the dark strands of her hair from her cheek.

Brielle woke and turned her beautiful face toward me. My wolf encouraged me to say something—do something—but the words died on my tongue, and my hands wouldn't move from my sides.

Next time,I promised. Next time, I would figure out how to behave around my mate, but I had a job to complete first.

"Stay with Korren, little fighter," I murmured. "He'll make sure you're comfortable."

Brielle nodded and turned to Korren. "Looks like you drew the short stick."

He laughed. "That's not how I see it. These two are jealous because I get to take our beautiful mate home, and all they have to look forward to for the next couple of hours is work."

Brielle blushed. The warm, peachy color illuminated her face, reminding me of how she looked when she came.

My cock stirred. I quickly glanced away, refusing to meet my Alpha with a hard-on. A man had to have some dignity.

When I turned, Valor was waiting for me with a knowing smirk.

"Not a word," I warned.

"I wasn't going to say anything." Valor held his hands up in mock submission as he fell into step with me. We wound through the center of Hidden Creek on our way to the Alpha unit's house.

I pushed Brielle from my mind and focused on the Council and the nano-hackers I'd planted in their facility. Once I reached my workspace, I could activate and guide them into position.

When we arrived, the door opened before we could knock. Isolde—the Alpha unit's mate and the first Omega in Hidden Creek since Alpha Wynn overthrew his father more than ten years ago—greeted us with a smile.

"Valor, Ezra, have you returned already?" she asked brightly.

"Only just." Valor smiled. "We were hoping to see Alpha Wynn. Is he here?"

"He's up in his study." She stepped aside, allowing us to pass.

We thanked her and jogged up the stairs. As we entered Wynn's study, we found Bishop sitting across from the Alpha. Their faces were tense, and it looked like we'd interrupted a heated conversation.

"Wynn, Bishop," I greeted them.

Valor greeted our Alpha and Beta with a tilt of his chin.

Wynn waved us in, and Valor and I sat in the two remaining chairs in front of his desk.

The Alpha of Hidden Creek was brilliant, but he had little patience for social niceties. It was one of the reasons we got along so well. While others thought me robotic, Wynn found my single-minded focus refreshing—necessary even. He was one of the only other people outside my unit I felt I didn't have to wear a mask for.

He leveled his ice-blue eyes on us for a moment before he clasped his hands together. "Well?" he asked without preamble.

"We found our fated mate," Valor answered, slipping into the familiar cadence of an Enforcer reporting to his superior.

"Congratulations," Bishop said. "Why don't you look happier?"

"Unfortunately, we ran into some complications," I said.

"I don't like the sound of that," Wynn grunted.

"Whatever you're imagining, it's worse. This season, the Council presented the units with an image of an Omega who won the three previous Hunts. They taunted the room and spoke of how easily she bested the others."

Bishop ran a hand over his face. "They singled her out."

"Exactly. Then, they released her long after the other Omegas. She hardly had time to get out of sight."

"Fuck," Wynn muttered.

"That's not all," I continued. "They also sent her out at the peak of her heat. She was concealing her scent, but no one can hide from Valor. We were forced to claim her in the woods to prevent a blood bath—one the Council undoubtedly instigated."

"Why would they do that? And why would she continue to participate in the Hunt with those odds? I'm sure there were sanctioned packs willing to take her in. She could have easily found a unit that way," Bishop said.

"That's what we intend to find out," Valor said. "There's one more thing. Brielle—our fated mate—was more desperate to escape than the average Omega. When we claimed her, an overwhelming sense of failure poured through the bond. We're not sure what that was about."

"How is she now?" Wynn asked.

"Reserved, but more talkative than when we left the facility," I replied.

Wynn nodded. I could see the gears turning in his head as his eyes met mine. "And the nano-hackers?"

"Successful. Once they're activated, we can start gathering intel."

There was a pregnant pause as Wynn mulled over the information. I figured we were thinking the same thing. Brielle had a history with the Council—that much was clear. She was a trove of information. Perhaps we could gain the upper hand if she told us what she knew.

Finally, Wynn spoke. "For now, make Brielle comfortable. Get to know your mate and prove yourselves trustworthy. We want her to understand that Hidden Creek is her home—her pack. The questions can wait. We don't want her to think we're using her the way the Council has and cause her to close herself off to us."

He had a point. Asking too many questions this early would put her on alert, and she'd clam up in an instant. I already knew she was cunning and observant. I marked every careful expression that crossed her face and noted the precise way she chose her words.

She didn't trust us—and for good reason. She would have been a fool to do so without proof of our loyalty.

It filled me with pleasure even as it sparked my annoyance.

In unison, Valor and I said, "Yes, Alpha."

"I also want to set up a meeting with Brielle and Isolde. She'll acclimate quicker if she's around another Omega who can vouch for us."

"I think that would be good for her," Valor agreed. "I'll talk to her about it when we go home."

When we go home.

To our mate.

The words coursed through me like an electric current, and they only dug deeper as we said goodbye to our Alpha and Beta. We left the Alpha's house and silently headed down the path, each of us lost in thought.

I'd never been good with new people—hell, it took me months to bond with my unit—so how difficult would it be with this female who was made to complete the unit I already found complete?

It was the first time in my life I was uncertain about anything.