4. CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

"We don't have a choice," Renzo insisted. "You all said it yourselves. There were about a dozen Alphas out of the camp to deliver some Omegas to the port along the Mississippi and are due back no later than tomorrow."

He pointed to the ship that was slowly passing their position. "If we don't find help from someone, we're sitting ducks."

Even though they had killed the remaining guards and left their prison, the fact remained they hadn't exactly known how to get away without making it obvious what direction they were heading. Hell, until he'd been kidnapped and taken to that godforsaken place, he'd never been in the woods. Hiding their tracks hadn't been something any of them had experience doing, and as he'd looked back at their more than noticeable trail, it wouldn't take the returning Alphas more than a minute to figure out what direction they were headed in.

Based on their slow pace, due to at least a dozen injured Omegas, he would guess the three hours it had taken them to get to the riverbank would take the Alphas about thirty minutes. Either they found a mode of transportation that wouldn't leave any trace, or they were going to be recaptured and beaten for their troubles.

Arwel set his jaw and glared at Renzo. "And what if they are another Alpha group who are more than willing to imprison us?"

He made a good point, but they just didn't have any other options. He sighed in relief when he saw the ship slowly circling back. "Fine. Why don't half of you take guns, go into the trees and surround us. That way, if they do attack, you can fight back. If we're lucky, we'll defeat them and get control of the boat so we can escape."

"Why don't we just take the ship, regardless?" Arwel asked. "Leave them behind. That way, we're not putting ourselves at risk."

"No," Fennec cut into their argument. "If they offer to help, we accept it. But we're not leaving anyone else to deal with the assholes who will be after us."

Arwel looked as if he were about to argue, but he held his tongue. After a staring contest with Fennec that lasted for a full two minutes, Arwel nodded and gestured for some men to follow him. Within seconds, they were swallowed by the woods.

Turning to the water, Renzo watched as the ship headed their way. He seriously hoped like hell he hadn't made a mistake by waving them down.

"Do you think they will help or attack?" Fennec asked softly so as not to freak out the others that stayed on the shoreline with them.

If only it were easy to tell. "Those are Omegas on the bow, but there's at least one other steering and who knows if there might be more hiding inside."

Fennec glared over at him briefly before returning his attention to the boat. "That wasn't an answer."

"That's because I don't have one," Renzo told him honestly. If only there was a thing like being psychic, because he seriously was more than a bit terrified whoever was on that boat would either mow them down before they even dropped anchor, or a massive force would descend upon them the moment they neared the shore.

Maybe he never should have tried to flag them down, but the fact was, there was nowhere they could run where Alphas–whether it be the ones who had been holding them before, or another group with the same goals–would find them. He didn't feel there was such a thing as safety west of the Mississippi.

Then again, some stories from the Omegas he'd treated the last year he'd been held captive said it wasn't just those on the west side. He hadn't exactly been blind to the inequality of how Omegas had been treated compared to Alphas, but he had no clue the disparity had been as bad as some described.

He just wished he knew how in the hell to change it. Some of his classmates had often talked about Omegas as if they were nothing more than a pet to consider taking in or not instead of an actual human being. Thankfully, his actual friends had believed, like Renzo, they were just as important to the human existence as Alphas. Possibly more so since they were the ones who actually had the babies.

Yes, admittedly, an Alpha was also needed for that to happen, but an Alpha's job in the process was over with very quickly. An Omega needed to nurture and care for the fetus for nine months in order to bring a new life into the world. Something their depleting population was desperate to have happen.

Which was why he'd never understood the reasoning behind treating Omegas like they didn't matter. To Renzo, they mattered more than an Alpha. Yet, based on what he'd witnessed, they were abused, raped, tortured, and sold as if they were nothing.

Without realizing it, he was holding his breath as the boat came to a stop right before them. Both Omegas held guns, but they hadn't raised them to point them at anyone. "My name is Coleson. We believe we saw you trying to flag us down. Do you need our assistance?"

The profound relief that filled him sent the breath he'd been holding whooshing out of his body, leaving him lightheaded. "We do," he called out, refusing to wince when his voice sounded desperate. If it got them out of there, he didn't care one bit what he sounded like.

Fennec took one step forward. "We were being held prisoner by a group of Alphas not too far from here." He pointed to Renzo. "Our doctor, who was also being held, freed us and killed those guarding us, but there is still a group of Alphas who are currently away selling other Omegas. We do not know where to go or how to get away from them once they return. I know this is a lot to ask, but we're hoping for a ride to somewhere safe so they won't be able to find us."

Was it completely wrong to lust after someone he hadn't spoken to but a few words, much less even touched? Yet, hard as he tried to deny the connection he felt, Renzo wasn't able to refute–even if it was only to himself–how much he desired the Omega before him.

Even as he thought it, Renzo knew it to be true. Yet… the need to jump into the water and wade to Coleson, who was standing on that damned boat as if he was in complete control of everything around him-which for all Renzo knew, he might–and assure the Omega he was the one who would determine if they would ever… What? Be together?

Even as he thought it, Renzo shook it from his mind. Coleson had barely even looked at him and when he had, it had been with contempt in his eyes. Why in the fuck would Renzo ever imagine them being together?

With no ability to come up with a reason, he forced himself to concentrate on what was happening.

"How do we know you're telling us the truth?" It pained Renzo, but Coleson's question wasn't unfounded. If it had been him in their shoes, especially after everything he'd witnessed since being kidnapped, he would have demanded the same answers.

And why the hell was he willing to just trust Coleson? As an Alpha, he felt he was the responsible for those he'd…rescued? No. Okay… Maybe… Technically. But… No. Not really. He might have been the one to kill those holding them prisoner, but if it hadn't been for those that had been freed helping him, there was no way Renzo would have managed to kill all the guards, much less get them to the river.

The need to reassure Coleson was profound. "I know, as an Alpha, there is no reason to trust our word. And if you are too afraid to bring me aboard, I get it and won't ask you to. But I hope you will consider allowing all the Omegas here to board your ship and take them to safety."

It was a lot to ask, and he'd doubted he would make it to safety if he stayed behind, but it was a risk he was willing to take after everything the Omegas with him had endured. "Several need medical attention, but we haven't dared to stop during our escape."

There was a beat of silence, but when Coleson lowered his too stiff shoulders a fraction, Renzo knew these men would help. When Coleson looked over at the other Omega standing next him, they each dipped their head slightly as if giving their okay to help.

"Fine, you may all come aboard, but we are heading further west to some trading posts and we ask, in exchange for taking you to a safe place, that you help to keep us and this ship safe while we conduct business." Coleson's request was reasonable, and it was in their best interest to help in order to keep them all safe.

"We have plenty of guns," he gestured to the Omegas that were on the shore with him. Then he called out to those who had been hiding. "It's okay to come out, Arwel."

Even though he and the others made their way out of the trees, Arwel kept a wary eye on Coleson and the other Omega. "Who else is on that ship?" Arwel called out to Coleson.

Coleson gestured to someone, and an Alpha came out of what he assumed was the bridge. "This is Lowen. He's here to help protect us as well as make the deal with whoever we meet at the various ports."

When no one else came out, nor did Coleson say anything else, Arwel demanded, "Who else is there? There's no way you honestly expect us to believe it's just you three when there are Alpha camps up and down this river."

Coleson glanced at the other Omega, who shrugged as if he had no clue what Arwel was talking about. "I told you, other than when I got captured, this was as far east as I've ever been."

"You were taken by Alphas?" Arwel practically shouted. "Then how did you get free?"

The Omega pointed at Lowen. "Lowen here and his Omega rescued me and about a hundred others at one port on the Mississippi. It's why we're looking to trade on the Missouri since he now has a price on his head."

"We live in a town that Coleson and his friends are making into a sanctuary for Omegas," Lowen said proudly. "My Omega, Ford, would be with us but he's pregnant, and we didn't think it would be safe for him. Plus, he's currently having morning sickness and being on a boat would probably make that worse."

He couldn't explain it, but Renzo instantly like the Alpha. More importantly, he felt he could trust him. All of them, really. For the first time since he'd been kidnapped and taken to this hellhole, he was beginning to think there was a light at the end of the tunnel for all of them.