Chapter Thirty-Seven

Silas

I knew something was wrong the moment I saw Skinny leave the caves. Alone.

Since Hoffran’s visit, I’ve had to relocate deeper into the forest. Technically, I’m still on his territory. But if Skinny’s expedition is anything to judge by, I’m the least of their problems.

No-one has been in or out of the caves since Skinny left. It gets so dark that I doubt there will be any more action, and yet, my alpha is on guard. Imagining all the reasons Hoffran might send his packmate north.

The moon is nearly full in the sky, and everything is quiet. Too cold for the local critters. Or maybe, like me, they’re just holding their breath, waiting for something to happen.

That’s when I hear it. Faraway, but somehow crisp, sending a bolt of lightning straight to my alpha.

Willow’s chirp .

I’m already moving, tearing through the trees, as though I’ve been saving my strength for this very moment.

The second I hit the caves, I can smell her. She’s mixed in with the scent of several alphas. Flowers. Honey. In this icy winter, she is a fresh breath of spring.

She chirps again, and again, each time like a punch to the heart.

I round the rocky walls into a shallow alcove. Three alphas are locked in a brawl. I could pick them out, if I tried. But in truth none of them matter.

Not when Willow, my omega, my imprint mate, is huddled just a few feet away.

I must say something to make myself known, because everyone stops. Hoffran demands to know what I’m doing here. I must say something to that, too.

Enough talking, my inner alpha roars. Omega’s in danger.

He makes a compelling argument.

I take Hoffran first, leaving the brawny red-head to Kane. Our bodies collide with surprising force. He’s strong, for an older alpha. I force him to move, testing his agility. He blocks the obvious blows with ease, his own attacks few but precise.

I duck and ram his stomach with an upper cut. Hoffran chokes, doubling over.

There’s my opening.

I clock him across the side of his head. The impact should’ve been hard enough to knock him out, but instead he staggers, steadying himself against the wall. At the same time, his packmate goes flying. The two of them collide and drop in a heap.

My eyes snap up, locking with Kane’s. He glowers as if to say, You’re next .

I’ll deal with him later. First, these Pack Hoffran alphas need to die for whatever they did to my mate.

“Wait!”

Willow’s shriek makes me realize I’ve got my fist in Hoffran’s collar. He stares up at me groggily. His packmate is out cold.

“Don’t kill him,” Willow gasps. “His omega—”

I snarl. What the fuck do I care about his omega?

“Silas!”

Willow is breathing hard. Standing tall, and yet, her body sways, like she could topple at the slightest breeze.

Lower, she commands, “ Don’t. ”

A feeble remnant of myself tells me I don’t take orders from anyone. My inner alpha must disagree.

I release Hoffran, letting him pass out in peace. Willow doesn’t take her eyes off me, like she knows the second she blinks, I could turn feral again. Finally I stand, stepping away.

She turns to Kane. “Mindy,” she says. “I need to see her.”

What the fuck is a Mindy? my alpha grumbles.

To my surprise, Kane doesn’t fight her, following close behind as she blusters right past me. In the two seconds she’s within arm’s reach, I swear I can hear her pulse throbbing, begging for my bite.

Mate. Mate. MATE.

She leaves the alcove without so much as a second glance. Kane sneaks me a glare, like he’s warning me to get lost while I still have a chance.

The two of them slip into one of the bigger caves, with a tighter opening. I smell a dwindling fire, smoke mixed in with the scent of another omega. She smells tart. Sick? No … pregnant.

Suddenly my heart thuds. Here I thought Hoffran was simply posturing. It didn’t occur to me what he might be protecting.

Soft voices drift out of the cave. Willow apologizing. Trying to explain. She snaps something at Kane, and he grumbles, shouldering past me on his way out. He returns a few seconds later carrying a pack.

More low voices. Scattering. Rustling.

“Please,” Willow insists. “I want you to have it.”

I hang back, the minutes dragging like hours, keeping an ear out in case Hoffran and his packmate come to. Wherever the third one’s gotten to, I doubt he’s going to make it back tonight, but I can’t be too vigilant.

“Willow,” I hear Kane mutter, “time to go.”

There are tears in her voice. “Not now—”

“Yes now. Don’t know how much time we’ve got.”

I scowl. What is he talking about ?

Finally, ignoring her hissing and sniffling, he drags her out. I feel that urge again as soon as she’s in my reach—to grab her, plunge my teeth in deep.

“You’re in the way,” Kane grunts.

I bite back a snarl.

“Yes, well.” I glare. “You’re in front of my mate.”

He steps closer, teeth bared like he’s about to take my throat out. “You think I won’t kill you, just ’cause she’s here?”

Willow nudges past him. Past both of us. “That’s exactly what I think,” she mutters.

I catch her wrist. “You could at least admit you’re pleased to see me.”

“Who says I’m pleased to see you?”

“You’re not surprised.” I smile. “Which means you knew I’d come. And that I’m right.” I stare at her a little deeper, trusting she understands.

There’s a painful beat of hesitation before she yanks away. Kane takes the opportunity to growl, “She told you the first time. Leave her the fuck alone.”

He puts a hand on the small of her back and walks them out. Willow is unsteady, struggling to match his pace. I follow them all the way to the trees before I can’t take it anymore.

“Slow down,” I snap. “She’s not fit to—”

“You don’t know what she’s fit for!” Kane snaps, turning. “She’s not yours, and she’s definitely not your fucking imprint mate .”

Willow swallows. “Kane …”

“She’s been weak, hasn’t she?” I shoot back. “Alphas, they have the constitution to withstand imprint sickness. Omegas don’t . Without a bond, she’s only going to get worse.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Kane rumbles, “she’s getting a bond.”

“ My bond.”

“Kane,” Willow says again, swaying.

My inner alpha locks in. I shove Kane aside so I can catch her, swinging her up into my arms where she belongs. Her omega must sense it, too, because she doesn’t struggle, staring up at me with big glassy eyes.

“Hey!” Kane snaps.

She turns rigid. “Put me down, Silas.”

I hold her tighter. “You don’t want that.”

She looks at me again, darkening. Regardless of how hard her heart is beating, her neck calling for my bite, there’s no tenderness in those eyes. Only pain.

Reluctantly, I set her down. Kane’s scent floods out, reclaiming her in an instant. He runs his hands down her shoulders, examining her for injury.

“I’m fine,” she says, refusing to meet his eye.

He chuffs angrily. Turns to me. In that instant, I can guess what’s going to happen, but my limbs are too heavy to stop it.

Kane rears back and slams his fist into my jaw, the sheer force of it sending me sideways. I taste blood, and then dirt, as my body hits a nearby tree.

Now I see why I never let him get a good hit on me. Rogue bastard has a mean punch.

“For god’s sake!” Willow snaps. “If all you’re gonna do is stand around, beating each other up, I’ll go alone.” She storms ahead, her pissed-off pheromones clouding those sickly undertones.

My poor omega is hanging on by a thread. She knows why I followed her out here. She knows what she needs from me. She’s just too damn stubborn to admit it.

I start to follow when Kane grabs my shoulder. “Haven’t you stalked us enough?” he snarls.

“No offence, rogue, but you’re hardly the one I’m stalking. Besides.” My gaze trails Willow. “I’m not going anywhere until she says so.”

Willow halts.

Kane huffs. “Will. Tell him.”

She doesn’t speak. Doesn’t even turn.

“ Willow ,” he urges.

She balls her fists. “I can’t.”

My alpha is on pins and needles. I’m aware of every breath she takes. Every tiny tremor. She’s fighting her inner omega—fighting me .

And she’s not going to win.

“You can.” Kane’s voice wavers. “Dammit, omega. Tell him .” I’ve never heard him beg before. I should’ve guessed it would sound like this—hoarse, stubborn, like the only person he’s really fighting is himself.

Finally she turns. A single tear rolls down her cheek.

“I’m sorry,” she says. “But it’s true.”

The truest thing in the world. The first truth I’ve ever had the privilege of calling mine. Every inch, every glance, every breath. All of it, all of her , is mine.

I wonder who she’s speaking for now—Kane, me, or maybe herself.

“Silas is my imprint mate.”