17. Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

A young wolf slipped out of the house, where he was for all intents and purposes being kept hostage. He ran quickly, knowing better than to change into his wolf form. The minute he did, they would know he was missing. Running swiftly, he came to the barrier. It was opaque, and no one knew how wide it was or how tall. They simply knew that it had never been breached before. It was a shield that kept them from interacting with the world beyond. The royals said it was for their safety. He snorted. No one was concerned with their safety. They wanted to keep them away from others so the so-called plague they brought to their kind wouldn’t spread. One day, he and the others would be free.

A hand laid firmly on his shoulder. He spun around swiftly to find his older brother.

“What are you doing out here?”

“It calls to me at night. The goddess stands here and tells me soon there will be freedom.”

His brother shook his head. “They will never let you out. To be what you are is a disgrace to shifters, or so they say.”

It was strange, the things that shifters took their time to think. Anyone who differed from what they considered the norm was beaten and brainwashed until they became the perfect drone of society. Then there were the ones like him. Who kept standing up after every beating, who refused to be something they weren’t even if they were thrown into prison where there was no chance to be who they were. The people in charge watched them day and night, unless the sin that lies within them reached out to infiltrate others.

He wrapped his arm around his brother and leaned into him. He couldn’t do this in front of the others. His brother was here for one reason only: to make sure no one abused him. The higher-ups didn’t like it, but that was life.

Freedom was beckoning. Would it be a year or five? Whenever, he’d be ready when it came.

Savannah hissed as she watched the crystal ball in front of her. “What is that hunter doing? He’s going in the wrong direction. I thought they were born with the senses to sniff an omega out. What good are they if they can’t follow a scent like a bloodhound?” she uttered to herself. This was her private chambers. No one was allowed in here. She took off her red robe and slipped out the door.

The palace was nippy, but it was hard to warm such a large place. The castle was made of stone, and that didn’t help.

“My liege,” a servant called. She waved him off. Their society was based on centuries past. Could she have modernized it? She could and she did for some things. There was a shower and a tub in her bathroom, and an enormous bed in front of the fireplace in her room. She allowed her people to have electricity and running water, but some things were the same. The respect they showed and the tithes they paid.

Society stayed the same. There were lords and ladies, kings and queens, and then there were the servants and those that worked the land. Their thoughts on right and wrong hadn’t changed in a thousand years. It was one of the reasons they didn’t deal with the infidels beyond their borders. The human dogs who did everything under the sun, polluting their bodies and their world. The once crisp clean water was now black with ash. She thought they would have killed themselves off years ago, but still they thrived. It matters not. They will never touch her pure society. Where women know how to stay in their place unless, of course, they were the queen or the ladies who attended her.

She spat, trying to get the taste of the thoughts in her head out. The hunter would prevail. He would kill the omega, thus preserving the sanctity of their way of life.

Reed breathed slowly until his heart was no longer racing. He lifted his foot and kicked the door in to the house that stood alone on the outskirts of a pack he found. His finger pointed at the shifter before he could change into his wolf.

“I need some information, and you’re going to give it to me.” He smiled, looking like the Grim Reaper. “I’m looking for an omega, one that skipped being killed at birth. I hear you’re a seer.”

“Who do you hear that from?” The wolf’s voice was raspy from age and disuse. “Who told you that tale?” He was sitting in an old rocking chair covered with a blue blanket as he sat in front of the fire, trying to get warm. His little wood cabin didn’t offer much, but it was his.

“I have my sources.”

“That’s what they all say.” His laughter was worse than his words. It sounded like he hadn’t laughed in too many years to remember.

“The omega for your life.”

“Lie to the young pups. I know a hunter when I see one. The beady eyes and the black, shriveled heart. It’s the curse of the Black Night. Trying to rectify a mistake she believes she made. I could tell her it was always going to happen that way, but her hubris wouldn’t allow her to hear.”

“The one not hearing is you, old man.” Reed came closer and squatted in front of him. “I want to know where the omega is.”

“She runs in the forest of the ending and the beginning. There will be fruit on the trees to nurture her. She is in the forest of the ending and the beginning. That is where she runs, and her mate will keep her safe.” A hoarse cough came from his lips.

Reed slapped him across his face. “Are you here with me, or is your mind wandering? The omega.”

“I told you where she was. You listen, but you don’t hear. She runs in the forest.”

“I need a city, not some mystic words.” Reed shook him.

“Find the hunters of the past and you will find her. Be careful, hunter, everything is not as it seems. To come out alive, you must walk a straight line. Remember, he who seeks to judge will be judged.”

“Tell it to Satan.” He ran his dagger through the old man’s heart. “Thanks for the clue, by the way.” He cleaned his dagger using the blanket covering the old man. He left, slamming the door behind him. When he stepped down from the rickety porch, laughter filled the forest. A tendril of fear went down his back. He left the old man to be discovered by his pack or eaten by the predators in the area.

He should have given him a name. Reed got into his truck and headed to the nearest highway. He knew where to start his search.

Amelia stretched; her life with Rome was like a dream. Things had been silent over the last three months. Rome didn’t believe they were safe, but it was hard for her to be constantly diligent when nothing had happened. Rome watched her like she was a convicted felon, and it was his badge if she broke free.

Amelia begged, pleaded, and even resorted to pouting until he agreed she could go three towns over with Sheela and her son Todd. She argued that even if a hunter spotted her, they wouldn’t dare approach her when she was surrounded by two other wolves. He gave in because he knew she was going stir-crazy. She was learning to fight with him and his brothers for the last two months. She needed a break. If Rome learned she was sick when she woke, he’d have her in bed with an ice pack, a thermometer and her legs up to keep her stomach from being nauseous, there were times when he acted his age.

“Are you ready?” Sheela brought her out of her thoughts.

“Are we here already?” She looked around, not knowing where they were. They left about two hours ago. They were three towns, more than a hundred miles from pack lands.

Sheela promised to take her to an outdoor mall and the farmer’s market that was next to it. She could see this was the place. There were classy shops lining both sides of the street, with patios and chairs to sit on. There was also a drugstore. At the end of the block, the farmer’s market started. She could see the makeshift vendor booths from here.

“Where are you going?” she asked Sheela in her most casual voice.

“I thought we could start with that bistro. You said you were hungry.”

“I am.” Honestly, she was starving, but considering what she ate for breakfast, she was going to keep that to herself. Of course, she threw up everything she ate. That was also a secret.

“Go get us a seat. I’m going to run into the drugstore, and I’ll be over.” Amelia took a step back, hoping they would go along with her.

“You know I am under strict orders not to let you out of my sight.”

“If you’re sitting outside across the street, you’ll be able to see the door and thus me when I go in and come out.”

“When you use words like thus, I know you’re up to something.” Sheela crossed her arms and started patting one foot.

“I just want to make sure we get a good table?” Sheela turned to look at all the empty tables and then arched a brow that said try again. “Todd can come with me. He can wait at the front of the store, and then we’ll come here together.”

“You’re up to something, alpha mate. I will figure it out. Todd, go with Amelia and try to keep her out of trouble.” Amelia gave an exaggerated sigh, trying to hide her smile.

“Yes, ma’am.” Todd diligently followed her across the street, stopping at the front of the drugstore as Amelia strolled the aisles aimlessly, paying close attention to all the products for a woman’s monthly while her eyes were scanning the pregnancy tests. She left the aisle and picked up dishcloths before grabbing the pregnancy test on her way to the large coolers to pick up a drink. She paid and stored what she bought in the large purse she was carrying.

“Ready.” Todd stepped out before her, making sure the way was clear.

“Did you get what you wanted?”

“No, they didn’t have it, but I got this.” She pulled out a bottle of Mountain Dew. The pack knew that their alpha mate was addicted to the soda, but she was careful to only drink so much. Todd laughed when he saw the soda and then escorted her across the street to the small bistro.

“You got the best table,” she teased Sheela.

“It was hard. I saw the table at the same time another woman saw the table. Our eyes met as we both ran. Our heels made horrible clicking sounds on the cement. I beat her to the table by an eighth of an inch. She tried to talk me out of it, but I refused to be moved.”

“Wow, the drama that happens when I’m not here to see it.” Sheela laughed and Todd looked at his mother like she grew an extra head.

“This is an Italian restaurant. The food is excellent. The owner insists that he was nursed on the nipple of Italy. How could his food be anything other than excellent?”

Amelia hoped they got to meet the owner before leaving. He sounded like an interesting man. A server came out, and they ordered from the menus that were on the table. Amelia knew better but couldn’t stop the craving. She ordered her favorite soda but refused wine. She wasn’t driving, but it was better to be cautious until she knew the results of the test.

The food was excellent, but the person she was hoping to meet wouldn’t be in until later. She shrugged. She didn’t get everything she wanted.

“My treat.” Amelia reached for her purse.

She felt the presence of a hunter. She looked around and couldn’t see anyone. The hunter found her.