Chapter Thirty-Four

Cartan

I whimpered, my shoulder throbbing with searing pain, the infected flesh burning from the panther's claw. I knew I was teetering on the brink of death, my strength drained, every fiber of my being aching. When had I last eaten? I had survived on the meager sustenance of a small water source within the cave where I had taken shelter, but even the cave had its own inhabitant, which resented my presence.

My location remained a mystery, except for the endless expanse of sand that stretched as far as the eye could see. Collapsing onto the unforgiving ground, my knees buckled beneath me, and I cried out as my injured arm bore the brunt of the fall. Tears welled up in my eyes, mingling with the sand beneath me. This was to be my grave, abandoned by my father to meet my end. Why had he forsaken me?

Curling into myself, I felt the unforgiving sun scorching my skin. I yearned for it all to end. Then, a faint sound reached my ears—a beautiful voice, lighter than air. I lifted my head slightly, peering through my blurred vision and the swirling sand. Amidst the desolation, I spotted something—an elegant figure adorned in a flowing white dress with hair of the same hue.

A woman stood in the distance, her gaze fixed upon me. Who was she? Surely, this was a dream, wasn't it? My head grew heavy, and I lowered it once more, too weak to hold it up. I closed my eyes, only to sense something—a gentle hand caressing my cheek. I opened my eyes once more, beholding the enchanting woman.

"What is such a young Alpha doing out here?" she cooed.

I could not muster words. Instead, I wept, and she consoled me, soothing my anguish with tender strokes and cooling touches on my scalding skin. I had lost track of time during my ordeal, but my famished stomach and weakened limbs indicated it had been a considerable duration. But who was this enigmatic woman?

"Do not fret, Cartan. You are not meant to perish here," she assured me.

I wanted to inquire how she knew this, but her gentle touch was more comforting than my mother's had ever been. She continued to caress me until my eyes closed once more, and I drifted into slumber.

The sound of boots roused me from my restless sleep, and I glanced upward to witness looming shadows enveloping me. Horses nearby grew unsettled, their movements punctuating the quiet desert night. Powerful hands seized me, lifting me from the ground, enveloping me in a familiar presence that once evoked a sense of security. However, I hesitated to place my trust in another Alpha again.

"Cartan?" I turned my head to find Tyros emerging behind me, his expression marked with concern.

"What is it?" I asked, puzzled by his worried demeanor.

"Are you all right?" he inquired. "You've been staring into the desert for quite some time, motionless."

I had been oblivious to my distant gaze, as my mind seldom wandered in such a manner. My Omega had been growing increasingly curious about me, which pleased me. However, it also stirred memories of the past.

"I'm here," I reassured him. He nodded, then gestured to the young Alphas we were currently training.

"They want to witness your skills," he informed me.

Just as I was about to turn toward them, I sensed something unusual through the bond—a sharp surge of fear, followed by anger. My mate was never given to anger, but this was not my own emotion. I was certain of it. I had closed off my end of the bond to avoid distraction from Kiandra's sweet call, but hers remained wide open, flooded with turbulent emotions. It put me on edge, as I could not fathom why my Omega was so distraught. Her anger soon morphed into something more bitter and overpowering, and it was evident she needed me.

"Keep an eye on them. I'll be back," I instructed Tyros.

"Alpha!" he called out as I turned to depart.

"Something is amiss with my Omega," I declared, knowing it was reason enough for my sudden departure. The training grounds lay just beyond the camp, so my return would not take long. However, my mate's tumultuous emotions seemed to intensify with each step, leaving me concerned that something dire had transpired.

Nevertheless, the fragrant scent of her filled our tent, indicating her presence. I listened for any signs of her, hearing her soft breathing emanating from our bedroom. I entered that section, but my mate was nowhere in sight, which meant she had taken refuge within the nest. While I was relieved that she sought comfort there, I grew increasingly troubled by the escalating intensity of her emotions.

"Little Omega?" I called out, but another surge of fear reverberated through our bond. Why had my mate suddenly grown fearful of me? Even when I touched her for the first time, there was no fear. She had always been remarkably astute, surprising me and even occasionally outshining me in the most endearing way when she marked me as her own.

Therefore, I struggled to comprehend why my voice had suddenly become a source of unease for her. We needed to resolve this. Her emotions were causing my head to spin, a sensation I was not accustomed to, and shutting her out via the bond was not an option. As her Alpha, it was my duty to ensure her well-being, which meant eliminating any distress or fear. However, for her to heal, she had to come to me.

"Kiandra," I tried, but she remained motionless.

I reached inside the nest to touch her, but as my fingers grazed her ankle, she hissed and curled into a defensive posture. Anger surged within me as I delved deeper into the nest, determined to get a proper hold of her. To my surprise, she thrashed and fought against me, ensnared in the tangle of furs that tightened around her with every struggle. This allowed me to easily extract her from the nest and place her on my lap.

I brushed aside her disheveled hair, noticing a few braids intertwined, but the largest one had come undone. I was aware that the others were scheduled to show her around the camp today, so why was she back in our nest in the middle of the day? She had even discarded her clothing, and beneath the furs, I could feel the warmth of her skin.

However, as I attempted to slide a hand underneath to rest on her stomach, she pushed it away. I growled, warning her not to deny my touch, particularly because I sensed turmoil within our pup. What had agitated our child to this extent? Something must have threatened them for their distress to be so obvious. But what was it? When I attempted to make contact with her bare skin once more, she tried to evade my touch. I growled again, tightening my grip around her, and then holding her chin to make her focus on me.

"Stop!" I commanded, and my Omega whimpered, growing still upon hearing the authority in my tone. I couldn't communicate with her if she remained upset and refused to meet my gaze. I had not seen her all day, so how could she harbor anger toward me? Once my Omega ceased her restless movements in my arms, I began purring to help her relax. Strangely, this seemed to distress her even further, and she struggled to move away.

"Stop that," I admonished her.

"Let me go!"

Once again, I grasped her chin, forcing her to look at me. Her breathing was heavy, and the furs had started to unravel slightly, revealing one of her breasts. My eyes briefly glanced at the soft flesh, my hand yearning to touch it, but instead, I withdrew it and placed it gently on her stomach. I resumed purring, and as the presence within her began to calm down, my mate's breathing eased.

It was evident that both were agitating each other, and I could not converse with her until the storm inside her had subsided. When our pup sensed that someone was there to protect their mother, they grew completely still, and Kiandra let out a shaky breath, relaxing in my arms. She was an Omega and was not meant to harbor such anger. It was clearly disconcerting for her.

I pulled her closer to me, pressing her nose to my neck, and she inhaled my scent, finding comfort in it. I removed the furs covering her, allowing us to be skin to skin, and her legs encircled my waist, seeking my warmth. However, it was not long before I felt her tense again, as if my scent was no longer what she desired.

"Why can't I calm you anymore?" I inquired.

"Just release me," she pleaded.

"Not until you give me a reason to."

"I want to return to my nest."

"It's not the nest you need," I reminded her. Nevertheless, she obstinately pushed away from me, prompting me to guide us back into the shadows. I covered her body with mine, ensuring she felt the full presence of her Alpha.

She looked up at me, desire in her eyes, but an almost imperceptible barrier seemed to exist between us. She was resisting our connection, leaving me perplexed. However, I had a hunch about what was transpiring within her.

"I didn't like leaving you this morning," I reassured her. Her eyes widened, and I thought perhaps that was what had provoked her anger. However, her tumultuous emotions showed no signs of abating. Our pup seemed to feed off her turmoil, and I had to reach down to stroke her stomach to reassure our child that everything was fine. I maintained my hand there while resting on my other arm, hovering over my Omega.

"Why are you so upset? Why are you rejecting my touch?" I inquired.

"Your touch," she scoffed.

I growled, disliking the way she spoke those words.

"Will your touch hurt me too?" she whispered, a defiant look in her eyes.

"Why would my touch hurt you? Do I not make you feel good, little Omega?" I knew I did, but I wanted to understand if there was something that made her uncomfortable.

"I didn't comprehend it at first, but I've been contemplating its importance," she replied, evading my question.

"You're speaking in riddles," I told her.

She pushed up slightly, her face drawing nearer to mine.

"What happens when someone in the clan steps out of line?" she asked.