Page 82 of Shattered Omega

But how had he died?

That’s what I needed to know.

Ransom returned in the doorway already, but I didn’t look, instead reading line after line, skimming to get to the answer.

“One second,” I said vaguely, glancing up, and then I froze, my blood turning to ice.

The alpha in my doorway wasn’t one of my mates.

Mord Sato was standing in the doorway, watching me curiously.

But… this was my home.

My nest.

He wasn’t supposed to be here. He couldn’t be here—not when I was so close… My heart hammered in my chest as I glanced down at the computer screen, just in reach, yet…

Mord took a step forward, and I shifted back, a low whine in my chest, eyes fixed on his one boot that was in my territory.

“Your mates,” he said quietly, “Are out of patience.”

TWENTY-NINE

RANSOM

I saw him from the kitchen.

An intruder.

An alpha who should not be here taking a step into her nest.

My omega’s nest–my wife’s nest.

And I was the only one here to protect her.

“No.” The flip was instant as I watched the tail of his trench coat almost vanish. My aura split the air, and he took a step back, dark eyes sliding to me as I made for him.

A flash of the gun I’d left in the second drawer down flickered in my mind.

The rational choice.

It vanished as soon as it came, drowned by an old demon raising its head, finding no place for a weapon like that. Even when Mord lifted his gun, the barrel raised at me, it didn’t matter. I was almost on him, the world around me fading into fury. Not in my home.

This alpha had a foot in her nest.

A low growl rose in my throat. I was almost on him, but not for a moment did I believe a bullet would be enough. A dark beast seized me, and Mord’s aura flared as he flipped the gun in his grip in the last second, using it instead to strike at me as he tried to duck out of my way.

“Run!” I growled, my command ripping from the core of fury that drove everything I was right now, as sanity began to fade. I felt it seize Shatter as I caught the faintest glimpse of her through the door, on her feet, eyes wide beside the bed. Then pain exploded across my skull as Mord managed to smash me against the wall.

He grabbed the door and slammed it shut, trapping her inside.

No.

He grunted as my elbow caught him. Briefly, I realised he was too well trained. He could fight far better than me. I snarled, aura flaring as I flung my weight against him, wild sounds ripping from my chest as the beast became frenzied.

“Fuck—!” Mord grunted. My grip on his shoulder dug in, my whole weight thrown against him.

I heard a crack. Pain was a distant howl.

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