Chapter Eighteen

Aziz

Jack cocked his head at me that morning, watching me get dressed. "Where are you off to?"

"What makes you think I'm going somewhere?" I stopped and looked down at myself. It had been four months since the threat came in a message on my phone. We'd continuously run perimeter checks and beefed up security, but it had become apparent that the threat over text message was hollow. We had loosened up things a bit but I still kept watch.

"You're wearing those pants. You only wear those pants if you're leaving the compound or this house."

"I do not," I argued with a smile.

"Yes, you do. Trust me. I've been watching you and taking you in for a long time, alpha."

Bryant cooed in his arms. He still had a morning feed from his papa's chest and had just finished up. Jack wanted to wean him completely but also knew the little one was comforted by it.

"Do I need to apologize again?" I asked sincerely. I would continue to be sorry for the time I was in limbo between Jack and Bella. I did the right thing, but it came at a price to my omega. A price I could never repay.

"No. Of course not. But you didn't answer my question."

I chuckled. "A team errand. Nothing fun, trust me."

He nodded. "Okay. Don't have fun without me. We'll be here."

I hadn't exactly lied to my omega. Not really. I'd received another message, this one from my former clan.

The one Bella used to be the alpha of.

The one that wanted me to take her place.

I didn't know what this person wanted to tell me, but whatever it was, they refused to say over the phone. Even encrypted email was denied. They wanted to see me in person.

Great.

I ran back to my clan lands as my hyena but stopped short of crossing the perimeter. I was no longer Bella's mate and shouldn't have been on clan land without explicit permission from Eliza, the new alpha.

"Don't come over. They will be able to scent you." A voice came from my right. I turned and shifted at the same time, putting on my clothes.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I'm David. Eliza's son. She told me to come and let you know what was going on."

"Go on," I said as David emerged from where he was hidden behind a tree.

"The clan is being torn apart. We are half as many as the last time you decreed Eliza the alpha."

"What happened?" I asked as a new guilt rooted in my stomach.

"Someone came in and claimed ownership over all the omegas and females. Even my mother has been demoted. This person is taking over everything. If he continues, there will be nothing left of this clan."

"I understand why you are upset but, David, I gave over this clan to your mother. Why call me? I'm not in a position to take over."

He hefted out a long breath as his shoulders tensed up. "Because this person is Goliath. He says all of this is because of you, Aziz."

"Goliath?" I took in a sharp breath. "I haven't heard that name in a long time."

"Well, he's heard of you. He tells everyone this is all your fault."

"It's not. He's the one destroying and abusing and torturing people."

"I'm just relaying a message," David said. "Look, I have to get back. Whatever you are in, whatever took you away from Bella, our last alpha, it's here, and it's eating us alive."

I left my old clan lands with a weary heart and a confused mind. Why in the hell would Goliath go and pick apart a clan I hadn't really been a part of in over a decade minus the small stint of time after Bella passed?

When I got back to the omega house, I found that Jack hadn't fared well. The truth was, he hadn't been well in a couple of months and while I suspected the reason, we didn't know for sure.

"Nauseous again?" I asked, seeing his greenish hue. King had Bryant in his arms while he stirred something that smelled like macaroni and cheese. It had been one of Jack's staple meals during this sickly time. No one else was sickly. No one else throwing up or any other signs of a stomach bug.

"I'm not sure what it is," Jack answered, his face resting in the palms of his hands.

"King, you mind watching Bryant for a few? I need to talk to Jack in private."

"Take your time," the lion said, pulling his wheat hair from Bryant's chubby fist. "We're all good here."

I led Jack back to what had become our room and asked him to sit down. "Omega, we need to talk."

He blew out a breath. "About my being sick?"

"Yes. Have you considered that you might be pregnant again?" I broached the subject, not knowing how he would react. Bryant was the product of violence and rape, but I didn't know if he would choose to have more children. We certainly hadn't been careful or even brought up the subject of protection.

Jack's eyes widened, and he nailed me with a stare. "Gods, how I didn't see this before is brain-wracking. We have some tests in the clinic."

"I have one," I said, producing the test from my back pocket. I'd picked it up on the way to see Jack, determined to have this conversation even if he was feeling well. My hyena had picked up on the change of scent months ago, but I'd chalked it up to mating and marking.

Two minutes later, Jack was crying. "You didn't want another baby?" I asked, not able to decipher his tears.

"I do. I want one with you and, while Bryant is a blessing to me, I wanted a child with someone I loved, you know?"

"I do. And I do love you. More than you will ever know."