Chapter Twenty-Four

Silas

Willow. Willow.

How could I have been so stupid?

Here I thought one runaway omega was the least of my concerns. She was nothing more than a cover—a reason to walk away from my old life, and pretend I was coming back.

The commander will know something is wrong by now. If he, if anyone, finds me knot-deep in a fugitive omega … I can only imagine how they’ll conspire.

He was in on this from the start.

It’s all an elaborate attack on the good name of Pack Shire.

I assumed she was somehow connected with Kane—maybe they’d fled their own village so they could be together. It would certainly explain why he’s so possessive. But I didn’t scent any omega on him when first we met.

And then we met again, and all I could scent was heat.

Fact is, I haven’t been thinking straight since I first laid eyes on her. Alphas aren’t meant to think when heats are involved. They’re meant to fuck, and knot, and breed.

Shit . What if she’s pregnant?

I can practically hear the gossip now. The sentinels’ chief of recruitment runs away with Pack Shire’s youngest, and he fucks his pups into her? Forget dishonorable discharge. I’ll be executed.

No you won’t , I remind myself, because none of that matters . I’m not going back to Southside, and, clearly ... neither is she.

Willow stirs. She feels my chest, checking I’m still there, as her eyes struggle open. “Alpha?”

“Silas.” Kane interjects. “Call him Silas.”

There’s that possessive streak.

Willow lifts her head. “Silas?”

“I guess you don’t remember,” I smile, pinching her chin. “I did try to introduce myself.”

She blushes. “Sorry.”

“What’re you apologizing for?” Kane snaps. “He’s the one who barged in.”

“I’m sorry for that, too,” she says. “I should’ve—”

“Not gone into heat?” Kane challenges. I shoot him a look.

Shame twists Willow’s scent. “It—it was early. I didn’t think …”

I try to recall her recruitment papers, running the math in my head. Normally, we bring in new mothers an entire cycle out from their heat. Considering Willow disappeared right around the time she was meant to be assigned, it does seem she’s a little ahead of schedule.

Kane must read the concern on our faces. “That bad?”

“No,” I answer. “Not necessarily.”

“It’s not normal,” Willow whispers. “Not for me.”

I try to consider what else I know about her. Noble family, plus a father like Byron, plus a contract to the sentinels … it’s highly likely this is her first heat with an alpha.

Though that doesn’t explain how she’s not a virgin.

Pushing my curiosity aside, I start, “Omega—” then, at Kane’s death glare, “ Willow. How long have you been with Kane?”

She looks at him uncertainly.

“Nearly a month,” he supplies.

“In close quarters?”

Willow blushes deeper, and Kane folds his arms. “That a problem?”

“No.” My shoulders relax. “It explains a lot. Sustained proximity to a potential mate, only a few weeks out from your heat—it makes sense your omega got a little eager.”

The news doesn’t put her at ease like I hoped. “ Eager is one word for it,” she mutters. “It felt more like she was trying to kill me.”

Kane’s glare flicks to mine, almost like he’s seeking guidance, before he loops an arm around Willow’s waist. When she doesn’t resist, he draws her into his lap—her still-naked body straddling him as she tucks her face in his neck.

“I’m tired,” she breathes out.

I stroke her back. “Then rest.”

“No. Tired … of fighting.”

That’s when I see her hips squirming, and scent the honeyish slick dripping into Kane’s lap.

Moving without thinking, I lift her weary thighs so she can seat herself Kane’s cock. If he wasn’t hard before, he sure is now, groaning lowly as she sinks all the way down.

“Good girl.” He kisses her temple. “Don’t gotta fight it.”

Her glassy eyes flutter closed. She swivels her hips a little more before going slack.

Kane starts. “Omega?”

Her breathing is even, face at peace in the crook of Kane’s neck. I smirk. “Think she wore herself out.”

“Yeah, but …” his grip tightens, like he’s fighting the urge to buck. “Right now?”

“You are the one who told her not to fight it.”

Willow sighs, and Kane throws his head back, looking pained. “Fuck,” he grunts. “How’s she milking me this damn hard in her sleep ?”

“Probably needs a knot.”

He takes a tight, restraining breath. “Trust me—she’s about to get one.”

I quirk a brow. “That’s got to be a record.”

“Fuck off.”

“I’m just saying. Pretty quick on the uptake for someone who, two days ago, wouldn’t even touch her. Guess she got you nice and pent up.”

“Shut up,” he growls, then, at another little sigh from Willow, groans. “It’s not like that.”

“Then what’s it like?”

I’m playing dirty. Pressing him for information when all he can reasonably think about is the hot, tight pussy wrapped around his cock—not to mention while Willow is still out cold. But if I want answers, this might be my only chance.

Kane nuzzles Willow’s hair. “Complicated,” he says at last.

“Because she’s a stranger?”

“No.”

“Because she’s spoken for?”

“ No.”

I hesitate, waiting until another minuscule gesture from Willow makes his breath hitch. “So she rejected you.”

Kane starts to snarl when Willow tenses, no doubt giving his cock a good tight squeeze. “Shit,” he hisses. “Gonna—” His face falls over her shoulder, canines primed against the soft pink flesh.

I straighten. “Hey.”

Growling, he softens his jaw, sucking instead of biting down.

I sit back. “Good boy.”

He wraps his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against him. Willow murmurs contentedly, but otherwise doesn’t stir, snuggling in deeper.

“Christ,” he says at last. “That was close.”

I grunt. “You’re telling me.”

He kisses her shoulder, smoothing over the love-bruised flesh. “Don’t think she’d ever forgive me if I …” he huffs, “you know.”

I watch him—his hands, uncharacteristically soft, like they’ve only learned to be soft for her sake. Even those violent ruby eyes have lost their fire, staring down as if the mere sight of her is precious.

Finally, I dare to prod, “How long?”

“I already told you. Got here a month ago.”

“I meant, how long have you been in love with her?”

Kane doesn’t balk like I expect. “What’s that gotta do with anything?”

“Because you’d do whatever it takes to guarantee her trust.” I shrug. “Most rogues, in my experience, wouldn’t.”

“And what does a stuck-up village alpha know about rogues?”

“Enough to know that when they scent an omega in heat, they don’t hesitate.” My gaze narrows. “Nor do they ask permission.”

Something in my words makes Kane bristle. He cradles the length of Willow’s spine, almost like he’s shielding her from me.

“She got hurt.” I grit my teeth. “Didn’t she?”

For some reason my heart is pounding. Am I really afraid of what will happen if I push Kane’s buttons? No. This isn’t about him. It’s about her.

And what I’ll do if I find out who hurt her.

“Was it you?” I ask, my voice low. Kane’s eyes flash, and I go on, “Maybe you were in rut, or just staking your territory. Maybe … things got out of hand.”

“Watch your mouth.”

“Maybe you regretted it. Promised her it wouldn’t happen again.”

“I said watch your fuckin’ mouth .” His scent turns coppery, hungry for blood.

I force myself to pull back. The last thing Willow needs at the end of an arduous heat is two alphas at each other’s throats.

Kane glares a moment longer. Finally, he mutters, “You’re an idiot.”

I quirk a brow. “I thought we were done with name-calling.”

“She asked for me. You really think she would’ve done that if I’d—?” he cuts himself off, like the very words are toxic.

But he’s got a point. Even with a strong, hot-blooded alpha sitting right in front of her, all Willow could think of was Kane. It’s easy to judge him—rogue alpha, quick to bare his teeth—yet of the two of us, I’m the only one who wouldn’t take no for an answer.

My heart is pounding again. “But someone did hurt her.”

“Fucking hell.” He sighs. “ Yes . Happy?”

Of course I’m not fucking happy. Someone dared to put their hands on this sweet omega. Hurt her so badly that, even on death’s door, she was too scared to ask for help. If not Kane, then maybe it was another rogue.

Or maybe … it was someone from Southside.

“If you ask her about it,” Kane growls, “I’ll kill you.”

I blink. It’s hardly the first time he’s threatened me, but somehow, it is the first time I’ve believed him.

There’s no fighting this. I don’t know why I’m even trying. As soon as Willow’s heat is over, I’ll be on my way—far away—and all of us can enjoy our self-imposed exile in peace.

“Understood,” I say plainly.

Kane’s lingering stare makes my skin crawl. As if he’s looking right through me.

Whatever he finds, I can tell he’s unconvinced.