Chapter Forty-Two

Kiandra

I sensed an unusual breeze caressing my skin, an unfamiliar chill that usually never troubled me with my Alpha's protective embrace. Confusion washed over me as I felt the cold touch of the wind, prompting me to blink open my eyes. A hint of worry tingled within me as I glanced around, but Cartan was nowhere in sight. This was unsettling, as he rarely left me alone at night and hesitated to let me go even in the mornings.

"Cartan?" I called out, but there was no response. Instead, a soft, distant sound reached my ears, like a faint whisper that I strained to decipher.

I decided to leave the nest, donning one of the stolas nearby before making my way to the front of the tent where a small fire was burning. My calls for Cartan went unanswered once again. The gentle whispering persisted, sounding like a voice, though the words remained elusive.

With curiosity gnawing at me, I pushed aside the fabric covering the entrance of the tent and found myself face to face with an elderly woman. Her hair was as white as the dress she wore, and she stood serenely in the midst of it all, her gaze fixed upon me.

"Hello?" I called out, my voice tinged with uncertainty.

A serene smile graced her lips. Initially, I couldn't pinpoint what it was about her, but I felt an overwhelming sense of safety in her presence. Drawing nearer, I soon realized the source of this feeling—she was an Omega.

"Who are you?" I inquired.

She remained silent, continuing to smile as she reached out to touch my cheek. My sisters had often described our mother's touch as the most soothing sensation in the world, yet I had never experienced it. However, the touch of this older Omega seemed to come close, filling me with an inexplicable connection. Why did I feel such a strong bond with her?

"You're an Omega," I whispered.

Her reply was equally quiet. "So are you."

"Do you live here?" I questioned, my mind racing to connect dots that I knew were likely inaccurate. How could an Omega survive alone in the Black Desert?

"You're a good Omega," she praised. "Smart, strong, and kind. You're good for him."

"Cartan? Are you…?" I started to ask, but she raised a finger to her lips, silencing me.

"No matter where you go, he will find you. So don't be scared."

"Scared?" I whispered. "What am I scared of?"

"I believe there may be little for you to fear, but fear always exists. Wherever you go, your Alpha will come for you."

"I don't understand any of this," I whispered, growing frustrated that her words were not making sense to me.

"Just trust your Alpha," she advised. "He won't rest until he has you."

"Has me? Cartan never lost me."

The older Omega continued to stroke my cheek, soothing my entire being. I felt an overwhelming sense of comfort, like being wrapped in a protective cocoon. My eyelids grew heavy, and although I didn't want to stop gazing at the older Omega, the world began to blur and fade into darkness.

My body jerked awake, a sudden sense of suffocation overwhelming me. I was trapped in darkness, disoriented, and alarmed. Frantically, I groped around, my hands encountering something rough, but I couldn't find an escape.

"Hey!" I shouted, panic rising within me. "What is this? Let me out! Let me out!"

Tears welled up in my eyes as I struggled to comprehend my situation. Where was I? What had happened? I attempted to take deep breaths to calm my racing mind, but the air felt oppressive, as though I had been cut off from the fresh wind.

"Calm down, Kiandra," I whispered to myself, trying to control my hyperventilation. "Just calm down and think."

Gradually, I began to discern peculiar details. The sound of hooves reached my ears, and I felt the swaying motion of a wagon, all while surrounded by absolute darkness. I extended my hands again, encountering the rough texture of fabric and exploring its contours. It felt like a burlap sack or some equally coarse material. I had been placed in a bag! But why? Who had taken me? I couldn't fathom that Cartan was merely playing a game with me, especially after our intimate encounter last night. No, this was something altogether different.

I sniffed the air, but it offered no clues, being dense and humid. A slight jolt indicated that we were traversing a rough road. How long had I been asleep? Did Cartan know I had been taken?

A multitude of anxious thoughts raced through my mind, and I dreaded the worst. There had been a time when Omegas were more plentiful, sold as commodities, mere breeding stock. I wondered if that might be my grim future. I could already envision myself with a price tag around my neck.

Gods, I prayed that such a fate wouldn't befall me. I'd rather endure anything than be sold off like chattel. A surge of longing for my Alpha overwhelmed me, and my heart ached for Cartan. But then I remembered the woman from my dream—the one who had assured me that wherever I went, Cartan would find me and urged me to trust in him.

I knew she was right. Cartan was no weak Alpha. Deep in my heart, I recognized him as a true Alpha, one who would stop at nothing to find me, even if I were taken to the farthest reaches of Verocca, under the control of a cruel Alpha or Beta lord. I could withstand any torment, confident that Cartan would come to rescue me.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pang in my heart, an intensity of aggression beyond anything I had ever experienced. I smiled and withdrew from Cartan's aggressive emotions, unable to bear such intensity. He had learned of my disappearance, and his fury knew no bounds. He is coming for me, I thought, placing a hand on my stomach.

"It's okay," I whispered, feeling our unborn child's fierce energy. "Your father is on his way."