Chapter Thirty-Six

Willow

When my eyes snap open. I’m surrounded by fire warmth, and alpha warmth, and comforting cinnamon.

Above me, Kane is slumped against the cave wall. His head lolls, asleep.

Delicately, I sit up, draping his cloak where my body used to be. I crawl towards the mouth of the cave, my inner omega pining, like something’s drawing her out.

Mindy.

I feel my way outside the caves, shivering in the open night air, following the sound of another crackling fire.

“—sometime tomorrow morning.”

I stop in my tracks. That’s Hoffran’s voice.

Of course it’s Hoffran’s voice. What’s he going to do—leave his sick, pregnant omega unattended?

Braze answers, “Assuming Lachie gets them to take the bait.”

“It’s not bait. It’s an offer.”

“Alright, then assuming their offer still stands.”

“If it didn’t, do you really think she’d be here?”

My heart is pounding. I pray they can’t hear it, or scent my mounting apprehension. This is the first time I’ve heard any of the Pack Hoffran alphas speak freely. Their voice are low, almost whispering. Are they afraid of waking Mindy?

“She won’t like this,” Braze sighs.

“She’ll understand,” Hoffran returns.

“I don’t know, Hoffran. Throwing another omega under the cart—”

“Is a sacrifice she’d be willing to make,” Hoffran insists. “If not for her own sake, then for the pup’s.”

To this, Braze has no argument. Or maybe he does. My ears are ringing too loudly to tell. Last I checked, I’m the only other omega here. Which means Lachlan’s bait, or offer, or whatever the hell, has something to do … with me .

My omega screeches at me to run and wake Kane. Before I can muster the strength, Hoffran goes on.

“What I need from you now is to keep your mouth shut. No-one but the three of us can know about this.” His voice darkens. “Which means it’s up to us to make sure the outsiders don’t leave.”

Braze grunts. “For how long?”

“I don’t know. However long it takes Southside’s squadron to double back.”

Air escapes my lungs. I press my hand against the rock, doing everything in my power not to collapse in a puddle.

Southside?

What the hell does Pack Hoffran have to do with my home village? Or any village at all, for that matter? They’re rogues! Worse, what allegiance could they possibly have to the sentinels?

It doesn’t matter. For all I know, Lachlan has already sent that message to Southside, telling them where to find me. I need to put as much distance between me and Pack Hoffran as possible.

I need to get to Kane.

By some miracle, I stumble back the way I came, bursting into the alcove and catching myself on my hands and knees.

Kane jerks awake. “Will?”

I don’t know what alerts him first—my wide eyes or my panicked pheromones—but already, he’s got his hands on me.

“The hell?” he mutters. “Where’ve you—”

“Listen to me,” I whisper urgently, “we have to get out of here.”

Kane reels. “Can’t this wait ’til morning?”

“No. It can’t.” I scramble to gather our things. I barely have a chance to scrunch up the bedsheet before Kane grabs me again.

“Willow,” he murmurs. “Tell me what’s going on.”

Somehow, even in the thick of panic, those ruby eyes keep me sane. Hints of cinnamon seep into me. Reminding me, as long as he’s here, I’m safe.

“It’s Hoffran,” I explain. “He’s sending word to Southside … about me.”

Kane’s face darkens, blacker than night. His every breath is a growl.

“ How ,” is all he gets out.

“I–I’m not sure. But I heard them. Somehow, they know .” Maybe they’ve known since our very first night here. The thought gives me chills.

“Give me the pack,” Kane orders.

I hand it over, glad to let him do the heavy lifting. He’s faster than I could hope to be, sweeping up the last of our possessions. He’s even quiet about it. I guess all these years living out in the wilds has made him light on his feet.

Though, as it turns out, he’s not the only one.

A long, ominous shadow looms over the alcove. Then another. I gasp, gripping Kane to alert him.

Hoffran stands at the entrance, arms folded. Braze hovers at his side. They both have brown eyes—Hoffran’s, sharp, Braze’s, deep. Both equally unyielding.

“Going somewhere?” Hoffran asks.

Kane stands in front of me, poised to fight.

He can take them, my omega asserts. But I’m not so sure. Kane is strong, and bigger than either of them, but two versus one is never great odds.

My inner omega screams out for someone to save us, to save my mate, knowing damn well there’s only one other person she wants to see.

Hoffran sighs. “Stand down, kid.”

“ Sit down, old man.” Kane’s scent is practically venomous. “Before I put you down.”

Braze gives a warning snarl. Panic springs to the back of my throat, my omega clambering to get free.

“I already told you,” Hoffran says, “I can’t let you leave. My omega—”

“Mindy has nothing to do with this,” I pipe up, hating the tremor in my voice. “Y–you just want to sell me to Southside!”

Only Braze reacts, reeling back, whereas Hoffran just stares.

“There’s a lofty price on your head, omega,” he informs me. “If you really want to help Mindy, this is how.”

I was right—Pack Hoffran doesn’t have the resources for medicine, or healers, or anything else Mindy might need. That wasn’t a problem when she and the pup were both healthy. But now?

“Watch your fuckin’ mouth,” Kane snaps. “Willow doesn’t owe you shit.”

Braze snarls, stepping forward. Kane pushes me further behind him. I can see the gears in motion. Pack Hoffran won’t let me leave. Kane won’t back down. One way or another, this is going to end in a fight.

Panic rising. This time I’m not fast enough to catch it. I chirp, so loud it echoes off the rocky walls, ringing out into the night.

Kane snaps around. “Omega—”

Hoffran sees his chance to strike.

Kane reacts at lightning speed, but Hoffran has the advantage—whacking him with all his might. As Kane steadies himself, Braze takes his turn to throw a punch. Kane narrowly avoids the blow, shouldering me in the process.

“Get back!” he orders.

I do as I’m told, watching as Hoffran and Braze team up on my mate. Me, they need alive. But him …

I chirp again. Again. Alpha, my inner omega cries. Save him. Please, god, save him.

I’m delusional. I know that. But I can’t just stand here in silence as my mate gets the life beaten out of him. He’s holding his own, weaving and countering all their moves. But how long before Pack Hoffran’s advantage wins out?

As if in answer, Kane grunts, blocking his head against another nasty blow from Hoffran.

Braze raises his fist. He goes to slam it down, ignoring my screams—my muscles tightening, bracing, as if I’m the one who’s about to break into pieces—

“Excuse me.”

Braze stops. Hoffran stops. My heart stops. Kane slips away, standing in front of me once more.

That voice.

Standing at the mouth of the alcove, Silas’s shadow spills forth. He looks almost exactly as I remember him. Huge. Muscular. Short black hair pushed back. Glowing amber eyes focused.

My inner omega squeals for joy. The rest of me reels. How can he be here?

“You,” Hoffran growls, confusing me further. “I told you to get off my territory .”

“Oh, don’t worry, I will.” Silas’s gaze slides to mine, and my whole body throbs, instinctively aching for his bite.

He smirks.

“Once you hand over my imprint mate.”