5. Caja

Chapter 5

Caja

Growling stirs me from my slumber, the sound loud and fierce to my ears. I curl deeper into my nest, trying to escape what happens next.

The screams , I think, shuddering. So. Many. Screams.

I try to drown it out, to pretend I'm somewhere else. But there's nowhere for me to imagine. All I've ever known is hell.

Wake up.

Obey.

Survive.

Try to sleep.

That's my life. My solitary existence. Until my Alpha takes me to my fate.

Please, I pray to the moons. Please don't make it as bad as I fear.

But I've heard the terror in the other's cries. I know it's even worse than I can imagine.

If only I could dream of somewhere safe, if just for a moment.

Murmurs fall around me, that growling sound reaching a crescendo.

I hold my breath and wait, my mind searching for an escape.

Dark eyes. Even darker hair. A perfect nose. Square jaw dusted in fine black stubble. A smile with dimples.

I frown, the picture so vivid inside my mind that I could swear I've seen this male before. But… but where?

Why…? My eyes fly open as the man's name graces my thoughts. Enrique.

I glance around, startled to find a brightly illuminated field.

My focus shifts to the air where a jet soars toward the midday sun. That was the source of rumbling that woke me. I've seen planes before, as my Alpha lived near an old airport. All the overseas shipments went through there, many of them carrying terrified passengers.

Their screams…

I swallow.

Those screams will haunt me until I die.

But there are no screams here, just murmurs.

I follow the source of said murmurs and find several Omegas huddled nearby. Hel. Paige. Wendy. Guerún. The other two are new. Neither of them are X-Clan Omegas either.

"That's from your Alpha," Hel says, gesturing with her chin toward a pack near my nest of blankets.

"M-my Alpha?" I repeat, a shiver traversing my spine. My Alpha is here?

"Enrique," Guerún murmurs.

It's a single word. A name. And yet the profound relief that rolls through my shoulders nearly has me melting into my blankets.

Not Bautista. Enrique .

Because my Alpha is dead.

And I'm safe. Sort of, anyway. I… I have no home. But my Alpha isn't here. He's gone. Forever.

"He brought all of us lunch," Paige adds with a dreamy smile. "But he put yours in that sack to keep it warm and asked us not to wake you."

"Oh." I pluck at the pack and peek inside.

My eyes widen at finding a banana, a sandwich, two bottles of water, and what looks like a cookie.

"Apparently, one of the jets arrived with more food," Paige says before I can ask where all this came from. "Then they turned around and left with another group of Omegas."

"Yeah, there are only three groups left," Hel adds. "Elias says everyone will be leaving by nightfall, so we need to tell him where we want to go. He almost woke you to ask for your choice, but your Alpha stopped him."

My nose crinkles. "My Alpha being Enrique?" I ask, making sure that's who she means.

"Yes. The meal you're craving."

I blink at her. She has a strange obsession with referring to Enrique as food. Still, ignoring that, I reply, "I don't know where I want to go."

"Then they'll take you to Andorra Sector by default," Paige tells me. "That's what they told Guerún."

The Vampire Omega shrugs. "It'll give me some time to think."

I'm not sure what she means by that, and the haunted look in her gaze makes me not want to ask. So I just nod like I understand and rummage through the pack from Enrique.

I'm halfway through my sandwich when the male in question approaches with another Alpha at his side. "Good morning, Caja," Enrique purrs.

Well, he doesn't literally purr. But in my head, I swear I hear his gentle hum.

Actually, I think I heard him purring all night. Perhaps in my dreams?

"This is Sven," he continues. "He's from Norse Sector."

"Hi, Caja," the blond Alpha murmurs, crouching. "Enrique asked me to tell you about my homeland."

I frown. "Why?"

"In case you want to come live in my sector," he says.

I glance at Enrique. "Is that where you live?" I'm actually not sure where he's from. But maybe I can go wherever he is, assuming other Alphas are like him.

Enrique winces. "No, I'm from Bariloche Sector."

My lips form an "O" shape, yet the sound doesn't leave my mouth. I… I'm not sure how to respond. I thought maybe he was from a land of kind Alphas. Apparently not.

And I don't think staying here with him is an option.

Unless they take me back to my brothers , I think, grimacing.

"But you're planning to go back to Andorra Sector for a while, right?" Sven says, his comment clearly for Enrique.

He runs his fingers through his thick hair, something I've seen him do a few times now. The strands tickle his ears, suggesting that maybe it's a bit longer than he's used to. But I like the length. It gives him a somewhat wild appeal. "Yeah, that's the plan. For now."

Sven nods. "It's a good plan."

Enrique gives him a look. "I'm sure your brother feels similarly." His sarcasm is evident in his tone, but it just makes the other man chuckle.

"He's used to managing intimidating Alphas and fending off challengers."

"I won't challenge your brother," Enrique tells him.

"Oh, I know. But I don't think you'll submit to him either."

Enrique shrugs. "I might." But then his gaze returns to me. "Sven will tell you more about Norse Sector, in case that's where you would like to go."

"What if I want to go with you?" I ask before I can think better of my bold question. "I… I mean…" Crap. Why did I say that?

However, he doesn't seem to mind my boldness. Because he smiles in response. "You're welcome to go with me, peque?o tesoro. In fact, I would very much like that. But Sven had to offer an alternative."

"Just following Ander's new courtship rules," Sven drawls. "I'll let him know her choice."

He leaves before I can tell him I haven't actually made a choice. Not one I vocalized, anyway.

But I… I like the idea of following Enrique.

Besides, several of the other Omegas are going there, too. And they've been pretty nice to me so far. Mostly, that is.

Hel likes to tease me, but not in the same way the Omegas teased me back home. She smiles and shares information. The Omegas in my Alpha's nest never smiled, and they certainly never shared anything either. No food. No water. No kind words. Just… barbs and cruelties.

Enrique brushes his knuckles down my cheek, an action he's done several times now. I like it. It's almost like a mark, his scent embedding itself into my skin. I lean into his touch and inhale, his woodsy cologne surrounding me.

"The jets will be leaving around sunset," he tells me before glancing at the others. "There are showers on board that you all can use once you're in the air. New clothes will also be available, but sizes will vary."

"Will you be on the jet?" I ask, embracing my bold streak and hoping he still likes it.

His answering grin tells me he does, but it's a short-lived expression as he replies, "I don't know yet. But once I have my assignment, I'll share it with you."

Something about that feels like a promise. An intimate vow. It has my wolf wagging excitedly in me, like she's pleased this Alpha is favoring us.

Is he ? I wonder, staring into his dark eyes. Does he feel as drawn to me as I am to him?

I don't get a chance to ask because someone calls his name from the field, drawing him away from our group. He sends me a wink before he leaves, the look one I commit to memory.

"You should be careful," one of the unnamed X-Clan Omegas cautions. "I was talking to a Beta earlier, and he warned me that Enrique was one of Carlos's favored generals. He's not a good Alpha."

My brow furrows, her description at odds with my instincts.

"It's true," the other unnamed Omega says. "I heard their conversation. He was saying how he didn't understand why the Alphas have let Enrique live after everything he's done."

The original Omega nods. "Yes, exactly."

"Maybe he helped the other Alphas stop whatever was happening here," Guerún offers, her voice soft. "They all seem to be friends."

They do, I think, agreeing with her. If Enrique's bad, the others wouldn't be so friendly with him.

But knowing he's from here does make me a little uneasy. Did he know my Alpha? I wonder.

Of course, he did, I realize in the next instant. Enrique knew my Alpha's name, and he told me he's dead.

He didn't seem all that upset about the loss, though. So maybe they weren't friends, just acquaintances.

"Well, I don't trust him," the first X-Clan Omega says with a flip of her long brown hair.

"Same," the other agrees.

Guerún shrugs. "His intentions feel safe to me." Her nose crinkles after she says it, like she's surprised by her own words. But then she glances at me and adds, "He seems very fond of you."

Hel snorts. "Because she's about to go into heat."

I blink. "What?"

"You can't feel it?" she asks me.

"She said she's never gone into heat before," Paige interjects. "So she wouldn't know what it feels like. Not only that, but our estrous cycles are individualized, which means we all go into heat at our own pace."

Wendy nods. "Yes, that. I assume that's why the Alphas are trying to get us all to a sector sooner rather than later. Odds are high that at least one of us will be going into heat soon, and they want to protect us."

"Or breed you," one of the unnamed Omegas mutters. "That's why I want to go home."

"Same," the other echoes.

Paige's gaze narrows. "Well, I have no interest in returning to Cusco Sector."

The other two females scoff and huddle together. I don't know if they knew each other before coming here or if they met in their group. Regardless, they seem to be bonded by similarity.

Ignoring them, I think about what Hel said regarding my heat.

I don't feel any different.

Well, that's not true.

I feel satisfied. Full. Hydrated. That was certainly different from my norm.

"What sort of changes…" I trail off as movement catches my gaze to the right.

Elias and another Alpha are walking toward us; Enrique is nowhere in sight.

Goose bumps pebble down my arms, the Alpha with Elias exuding a dominant air that makes it impossible to meet his gaze. He's powerful. In charge. And commands attention.

"All right," he says, his voice gruff. "We've been able to make arrangements for most of you to go where you've requested." He pulls out a clipboard and starts reading. "Hel, Alpha Ragnar is expecting you in Savage Sector."

Hel perks up at that, her blue gaze bright. "You spoke to my brother?"

The Alpha glances up. "No. Alpha Du?an was able to pull some strings. Savage Sector isn't all that accessible, but we've found a way to make this work for you."

She nods.

He continues by addressing the two unnamed Omegas— Farah and Latya , I learn—and tells them he's not been successful in contacting their Alpha. "You're going to Norse Sector for now. Alpha Alana is going to take over trying to reach your home sector."

The two females share a look, uncertainty written on their faces.

But the Alpha doesn't give them room to debate or make further requests, he simply tells them they need to go join a group across the field.

"You're on the next flight out," he informs them before moving on to me, Guerún, and Paige. "I don't have room on my jet to fly you directly to Andorra Sector with us, so Enrique is going to bring you there after he's done dropping off everyone else."

Wendy is the last one he addresses, confirming she'll be taken back to Tallinn Sector.

"There are four other Omegas joining you all on the journey, bringing the total count up to nine. Everything is prearranged, but you will be traveling for a few days. Should you need anything, Enrique is your Alpha. He'll do whatever he can to make you comfortable. Understood?"

Those of us who are left—Farah and Latya already ran off to the other group—nod.

"Good." He looks at me, Paige, and Guerún again. "In case you're unaware, I'm Ander Cain, the Alpha of Andorra Sector."

"You probably should have started the conversation that way," Elias drawls.

Ander ignores him and adds, "We're very pleased with your choice to join us. Accommodations are already being prepared for you, and we look forward to welcoming you into your new homes, however temporary they may be."

He gives a little bow of his head and turns away without saying anything else.

"Not bad, Cain," Elias says as he trails after him. "Kat would approve."

"Stop goading me, E," Ander replies.

Elias presses a palm to his chest. "Would I do such a thing?"

"Every fucking day of my life," the Alpha of Andorra Sector growls.

Elias chuckles, their conversation quieting as they make quick work of the field with their long strides.

"Well, he's terrifying," Paige whispers.

"Yeah," Hel agrees. "He reminds me a bit of my brother."

I say nothing, my gaze searching for Enrique as I recall what Ander said. " Should you need anything, Enrique is your Alpha."

Enrique is going to be our escort to Andorra Sector.

He's our Alpha.

My Alpha.

Farah and Latya's warnings play through my mind, eliciting a shiver down my spine.

Can I trust him? I wonder. I want to trust him .

Because the notion of him being my Alpha is quite appealing. Perhaps a little too appealing.

Maybe I am about to go into heat.

I just hope it doesn't happen on the plane…