Chapter 8

Korren

"Wynn is going to lose his shit when he finds out they're using the Omegas as bait for their sick games," I said as we navigated the forest path back to the facility.

Valor was holding Brielle, much to her displeasure. We refused to let her walk. She initially argued with us but quickly discovered it wouldn't work. We still felt guilty about how we had to claim her, and those feelings encouraged us to care for her and demonstrate the differences between her new life and the one she had before the Hunt.

My wolf was smug now that we'd claimed our Omega.

We were whole—complete—and a sense of peace enveloped us. Part of us had always been waiting for her.

Our bond was strong, even in its infancy. I felt the tugging and prodding as Brielle tested its endurance.

Ezra narrowed his eyes. "Good. It's about time something is done." He glanced back at Brielle, his face unreadable. "If we hadn't found her, there's no telling what would have happened. The Council needs to be held responsible."

Brielle let out a soft snort.

Ezra tilted his head in her direction. "Something to add, little fighter?"

She scanned our faces, suspicion dulling the fire in her eyes.

"The Council will do what they want. They're never held accountable for their actions—not when they're farming the cattle the sanctioned packs desperately need. It's almost laughable to think anyone would defend us."

Us. It was all I needed to know where she stood. Brielle still considered herself one of the Omegas.

One of the cattle.

I couldn't blame her, but the sentiment carved through my chest.

"We would," Valor said.

Quiet descended upon us as Brielle's words churned in our minds. The Council betrayed her—risked her—today, and it likely wasn't the first time. I felt her resistance to the bond. She had subconsciously erected a wall between us, reminding us that trust was earned, not given.

The orange and yellow light of dusk contoured the cold metal peaks of the facility, giving it an eerie glow. A guard waited outside. I caught the smirk on his face before Ezra cut off my line of sight and approached him.

"I want to see Councilman Raza. Now," Ezra said, his tone curt.

The guard blinked. "That's not poss—"

"Now," Valor interrupted, Brielle still securely in his arms. "Or the next person he'll speak to will be Alpha Wynn."

At the mention of the Hidden Creek Alpha, the guard went pale. "Right." He cleared his throat. "Come this way."

Alpha Wynn gained a fearsome and ruthless reputation when he took over as Alpha of Hidden Creek. No one challenged the Alpha and lived.

The guard led us to an empty parlor.

"Have a seat," he said, gesturing to a table with light refreshments. "Help yourself while I call the councilman."

Valor settled Brielle on a chair, and I grabbed a water bottle and handed it to her.

She took it, nodding her thanks as I sat beside her.

She was sated for now, but it wouldn't be long before her heat demanded our attention. We wanted to be far away from the facility when that happened.

I kept a hand on the nape of her neck to soothe her. Physical contact temporarily eased the ache of an Omega's heat, but eventually, it wouldn't be enough. It was the reason Valor had insisted on carrying Brielle.

Councilman Raza entered the room, and Brielle stiffened. Though her face was set in an unflinching scowl, her fear echoed through the bond, and her heart began to race.

My wolf growled, and my protective instincts forced me to move before I had time to think. I slid in front of Brielle, blocking the councilman's view. Valor moved to my side as Ezra stepped forward, cutting off the councilman's advance.

Surprise replaced her fear.

Did she think we wouldn't defend her?

"What is all this about?" Councilman Raza asked, annoyed.

"Funny. We were wondering the same thing." Ezra stood to his full height, towering over the older shifter. "Our mate was released into the Hunt while in heat. I can't imagine the Council unknowingly made such an error."

Councilman Raza's face flushed with anger. "Are you accusing the Council of endangering an Omega?"

I called on my gift, and his internal organs appeared as if his skin and bones were made of glass. His heart rate increased, pumping blood rapidly through his body, and his cortisol spiked. He was lying.

"No, I'm not." Ezra's voice was icy. "I'm saying that someone on your staff must have known and thus failed to inform you. So instead of standing here defending yourself, I think your time would be better spent figuring out how it happened and ensuring that it doesn't happen again."

"Of course," Councilman Raza said through gritted teeth.

He turned on his heel and headed toward the door, but before he could leave, Ezra spoke up. "The release papers, councilman," he said.

Councilman Raza's shoulders tensed, and he turned back to us. "I'll see to it that the papers are delivered promptly."

As he moved to about-face, Ezra stopped him again. "I'm sure you want to know how our Omega is faring, given the egregious way she was placed in harm's way."

I bit back a smirk, and Valor snorted beside me.

No one could get under someone's skin like Ezra—he was like a cat with a mouse.

Councilman Raza visibly exhaled, his features softening with faux remorse. "Yes. How could I have forgotten? I was just so taken aback by the error." He stepped toward our mate. "Forgive me. Brielle, how are you?"

Something murky and disingenuous passed over his face.

Though her fear still hummed down the bond, Brielle looked him in the eye, her face like poisoned honey. "I'm exactly how you expected me to be."

The councilman gave her an icy glare, and Valor growled.

Raza's lips twisted with a condescending smirk. "Glad to see you got what you wanted, Brielle. I'm sure the Goddess will make your womb fruitful."

He left the room, and a guard entered with our belongings.

As Valor took his comms unit—undoubtedly informing our Gamma and his superior Enforcer, Alaric, of our Omega—I turned to Brielle.

"Are you all right?"

"Fine," she said, keeping her eyes forward.

She wasn't, but I wouldn't push her. Even with her mental walls in place, I felt whispers of her rage, disappointment, and anxiety.

Echoes of failure thrummed down our bond.

Failure? Why?

The question was a plague, a disease that needed to be dug out and cleansed. I suspected it was the key to understanding our mate and earning her trust.

I took Brielle's hand in mine. Her eyes widened in surprise at the contact as I stared into her beautiful golden eyes. "You'll be safe with us. You'll be safe in Hidden Creek."

It was a promise I intended to keep.