Page 101 of Shattered Omega

I’d read the logs Decebal had given Dusk. I’d heard what Gareth and Eric thought, Flynn had negotiated pack lead with his money, and I was hoping that it was something he was anxious about.

“Outside, before you stopped him, Eric said that… I don’t know, um… you negotiated pack lead, but when I was bitten in, then that didn’t hold up anymore.”

Flynn didn’t know I was aware of his aura sickness—and that did nothing but aid my case.

“He said that?”

I nodded.

“That traitorous fuck... Is Gareth in on it, too?” He straightened as if he was going to stand.

“No, wait…” I tried to make him look at me. “I just got here. I can’t screw this up already?—”

“Telling me was the right thing to do,” he said firmly.

“Please don’t tell him I said anything. I know Eric hates me already. Flynn… please,” I whispered. “An alpha like you should be pack lead.”

He frowned at me, pausing.

“After I’m bitten in, I will back your claim. I’ll refuse them anything if they go against it. I don’t trust anyone else to keep me safe,” I said, brushing my chin where Eric had grabbed me.

“You’re the best of them…” I swallowed. “I thought I would never be loved again. And they’re angry, and they have every right to be, but you, Flynn. You’ve never been like that—you knew, always, that I was your mate. You came to find me at their doorstep… Your instincts were right.”

He was staring at me, muscles unwinding.

He nodded, jaw clenched. “I always knew there was something different about you,” he said quietly.

“Of all of them, your instincts were the sharpest. You are pack lead, Flynn, and you know their strengths and weaknesses.” I pressed my palms to his chest. “I will be theirs, but yours first. I want to change their minds about me, but I can’t do it without you.”

He was nodding slowly, arrogance etched into his features.

“We can’t afford to fight now,” I said. “Show them you’re worthy of pack lead by claiming your scent match.”

There was a long pause. “Yes…” He nodded. “I’m glad you told me, but you’re right. We need to wait.”

I let out a breath of relief. “Thank you.”

I think I had done what I needed to do. The next part of the plan was risky without the confirmation I was seeking in that study.

Flynn went still, eyes wide, cutting me from my thoughts.

“What?” I asked.

“It’s… Eric. He’s… fuck.”

Gareth was in the doorway, eyes wide. “They have him.”

There was a snarl on Flynn’s face as he took a step toward the door before turning back to me. “You’ll wait here. Negotiations might be sooner than we think if they’ve got Eric.”

RANSOM

I’d woken when Decebal’s backup had arrived.

Now, he was gone, leaving me with an alpha I hadn’t met before.

I was in the parking lot before an old building, and I was seated, deadly still in the back of a car that was locked. The alpha in the front was watching me in the rear-view with a furious, ice-blue gaze.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself.

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