29. Excerpt from The Omega Trilogy

Releasing in 2026

"I've texted ahead to let them know you're with me."

She nods, blinking at me with wide eyes.

I can feel my pack pacing just on the other side of the door. I wonder if she can feel them, too. She has to, there's no possible way she doesn't. My own skin is prickling with their energy. She's looking up at me so solemnly. So trusting. This was a bad idea.

"We've never had an omega in our home. They're," I glance over my shoulder at the piece of wood keeping her safe from the energy and questions waiting for her, "anxious. They're very anxious."

Her eyes flick from mine to the door, then back to me and she nods again.

I take a deep breath that moves my chest and shoulders. "I'll try to keep them from overwhelming you, but they're…anxious." They're far more than anxious. They are scared. They're nervous. And worst of all, they're hopeful.

With any luck, I'll open this door and they'll behave like the good alphas I know them to be and she won't be any more alarmed than she already is. The acrid scent of fear isn't rolling off of her the way it was when she first took my hand, but she is by no means calm or relaxed. If they come at her too strongly or too fast it could startle her. No, it will terrify her. She could bolt. Jesus, if she runs at least one of them will chase her. "Please listen to me. It's okay to be afraid of them, they'll understand that, but please, please don't run. Okay? They won't hurt you, but they might chase you if you run."

She very cautiously puts her hand in mine and blinks up at me again as she gives my fingers a soft squeeze.

I drag in another long breath and let it out slowly. So many things could go wrong and every one of them will be my fault. This is the perfect opportunity for an irreversible and horrific disaster. This was a very bad idea.

"I'm going to open the door now," I say loudly enough that both the trembling omega behind me and the alphas stalking back and forth on the other side of the door can hear me clearly. I pause with my hand on the knob and look back at her one more time before I twist it. "Don't run."