Chapter Five

Kane

Omega is acting different today. She stumbles through the forest, barely looking behind her.

I almost revealed myself the second I saw her this morning. She’s not even clothed properly—wearing only her underdress, her bow, and her half-laced boots.

Is omega trying to get sick ? my inner alpha rumbles.

Prowling silently, I keep a close eye. She veered off her usual path almost an hour ago, but I can’t tell if it’s on purpose. She seems to be acting purely by instinct, which—stupid as it is—makes my inner alpha curious.

What trouble are you getting yourself into now ?

The further she walks, the closer I dare to get. That fruity, honeyish scent I’ve grown to know so well trickles behind her. It’s also different from normal.

My nose wrinkles.

Not just different. Wrong.

Suddenly she stops, so I stop, watching intently as she pulls out her bow and arrow.

Mm, my inner alpha growls, clever omega.

Somehow she spotted it before I did—a doe grazing up ahead. Omega braces her bow, the arrow quivering between her fingers. I’ve watched her shoot the damn thing a hundred times since we met. At first I thought she was arming herself in case our paths crossed again, but now I understand.

Omega’s life doesn’t revolve around me. I’m the pathetic one, stalking her day in and out like I have nothing better to do.

She shoots. Misses. Shoots again—even worse.

Her hoarse cry shocks me, as she drops to her knees. Omega hurt? my alpha demands, but I force myself to hang back.

What am I even doing here? Omega has already run away from me twice. Barricaded her den to keep me out. The longer I hang around, scaring her, protecting her—what’s the difference?—the more she’ll hide.

I take a step back, careful not to make any noise.

That’s when her head snaps up.

She’s standing, having already prepared one of her arrows. Instantly my senses are on high alert. What can she see? I know it isn’t me, or she’d be looking my way.

Instead, she’s glaring straight ahead. A burst of panic springs from her scent.

Oh, fuck.

I see the bear a second before it strikes. Omega only manages half a scream before lunging out of the way. The bear turns, preparing its second attack.

Snarling, I tear through the trees, knowing a single moment’s hesitation could cost this foolish little omega her life. She must know it, too, as she pulls back her arrow and fires.

The bear roars, struck, but it seems more annoyed than anything.

She takes the opportunity to run, leaping aimlessly into the forest.

I’m not going to catch up in time. The bear charges, and omega loses her footing, hitting the ground. The bear rears back—

“Hey!” I shout.

I’m not sure it even notices me until I ram its flank. Damn thing is huge . Ten times stronger than me, easy, not to mention hungry. Probably looking for a good meal before it goes into hibernation.

I whip out my dagger, tearing into its back leg. The bear growls, showing no pain, but at least it’s attention has shifted to me.

Omega rolls over. “Y–you!” she gasps.

I spin my dagger. The bear comes at me, fangs flashing, and I dodge just in time. Under no circumstances can I let it pin me.

It’s sluggish on the turn, and I see my opening: Right before its massive head snaps my way again, I jab its jugular, the blade striking soft, vulnerable tissue.

The bear stumbles. I don’t know if that’ll be enough to keep it down. Beasts like this have so much blood, it’s hard to tell what’ll actually land the killing blow.

Sure enough, the bear remains standing, eyeing me and omega with a newfound caution. I twirl my blade again. Come at her—I dare you.

At last, the bear begins to retreat. It limps back a few more messy paces before turning and galloping away, favoring its right side. The scent of blood fills the forest. Tart. Earthy. Familiar.

I glare after it for several hard moments before finally shifting my focus. Behind me, omega has struggled to her feet. She grips a tree for balance, shuddering through every breath.

“You …” she whispers. Swallows. “How are you here?”

I sheath my dagger. “You’re welcome.”

“I—” she shakes her head, like she’s trying to remember something important. “I need to find … my … arrows.”

Omega smells sickly, like wilted flowers . I should’ve guessed it when I saw her leave the cabin in only her underdress. When she veered off-course.

Cautiously, I place my hand on her forehead.

Fuck. She’s burning up.

Ignoring her protests, I loop an arm around her stomach and lift her up in one harsh swoop. She coughs, pounding my chest, but I barely feel it. Either she’s always this puny, or she’s even sicker than she looks.

Suddenly she goes slack, her head dropping against my shoulder.

“Hey,” I bark. “Hey!”

Her breaths are thin. Her under-dressed body gleams with sweat. She feels impossibly light, like she’s hollow on the inside.

“Dammit, omega,” I growl, holding her close as I charge through the forest. “Stay with me.”

There’s no response. Her pale, dainty features look more at peace than I’ve ever seen them.

“Dammit,” I say again, under my breath.

You should’ve taken the fucking rabbit .