Chapter Six

Cartan

She thought I hadn't seen her, but it didn't escape my notice how the princesses subtly turned their heads, discreetly focusing on something further away. I didn't make it obvious as I kept my eyes straight ahead, catching a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of something moving behind the fabric in the distance. I tried not to smile, but I knew the hidden fourth Omega had shown up. Who else would be so bold or make the princesses at my feet tense in such a strange manner?

No, whoever this fourth Omega was, the only one not written or spoken about, she had found a way to reach her sisters without being discovered. Some fighters had mentioned a woman disappearing in the library where they had searched for her, yet if all the sisters hid their natural Omega scent, that must mean the fourth did as well, blending in like any other Beta servant. However, I knew the fourth one would not come out of hiding until she deemed it safe enough. Whoever she was, I already knew she was clever, and I had to lure her out with the one thing she desired—the safety of her sisters.

I ordered my fighters to take them to the dungeons, knowing the last Omega would feel too tempted not to react. I watched as the princesses were dragged through the room before I turned my eyes to the fabric. It wasn't moving anymore, and I smiled as I moved away from my spot.

"High Alpha?" Tyros called, but I ignored his words.

I walked over to where I had seen the fabric move, then pulled it away, revealing nothing but a stone wall in front of me.

"Interesting," I whispered.

"What is it?" Tyros asked.

"Do you see something?" I questioned, nodding to the wall.

He shook his head.

"I had read this entire place held hidden tunnels for escape under siege, but I thought they were merely rumors since the princesses were still here. Now I see they are indeed true."

Tyros looked confused, not understanding what I was seeing, yet I reached out and began feeling along the stones, sensing an inconsistency in the way they were shaped. However, it was clear this one only opened from the inside. Fortunately for me, I knew where the last Omega was headed. I turned to Tyros, telling him to enjoy the party and that I would soon return.

"You don't need my assistance?" he asked.

"This I can handle on my own."

"What exactly is it?"

I smiled a crooked smile, not yet ready to reveal that I had found the last Omega I was searching for. Instead, I walked away, slipping past the Alphas enjoying themselves and into the hallway. I moved underground to the dungeon and listened to the queen yelling her frustration, banging her hands against the steel door, and berating the fighters. I listened to them laughing, yet as they passed me, they inclined their heads slightly before departing. My smile did not waver, and I continued to where the princesses' cells were.

"I hate Alphas!" one of them spat.

"We haven't been around many," another countered.

"Well, I don't need to. This is enough. I will forever hate Alphas!" she growled, making my smile grow.

Whoever the clan leader that got the fiery one was certainly in for a battle. She almost tempted me to take her myself, but I remained quiet as I listened to them vent their frustration.

"We will stand tall as always," the queen said.

"Stand tall while we get fucked?" her sister retorted.

"We must show them we do not bow."

"How do we do that if we are the ones under a big Alpha's body?"

I almost wanted to laugh. She certainly has fire, I thought, but then their conversation took a more interesting turn.

"You know Kiandra will come for us, right?"

Kiandra, so that was her name? I mused to myself.

"I don't want her to," the queen replied.

"But she will. You know her."

"She is smart. She will know to save herself."

"Just because she can probably recite our entire library doesn't mean she understands the consequences of real-life choices. Father and you have sheltered her!" the third one joined in.

The queen did not respond, but that was not necessary. Their conversation had already piqued my interest in this fourth Omega, the youngest of them all. I wasn't even completely certain of her age, but she had to have just reached her twenties or so, and the little one was determined to save her sisters all on her own.

I slipped into the darkness, hiding behind a corner not far from where the princesses' cells were, and then I waited.