Page 9 of Shattered Omega

“He punched me,” he hissed, voice low and furious.

“Who?” I blinked.

“Umbra.”

I tried to sit up, but as soon as I moved, I almost toppled to the floor.

How had I ended up on this end of the bed? I’d gone to sleep next to Shatter—with Ransom at my back.

Had he…?

I straightened. Had the little shit shoved me away while we were sleeping?

Oh. He deserved a punch.

“I’m pack lead.” I kept my hiss low. “I get to sleep next to our omega.” On the first night we’d all been with her at least—or what the hell was this all for?

“Neither of us do,” he hissed back.

I realised, with a grin, that there was a deep purple bruise swelling around his eye.

“He got you good,” I said, peering over his shoulder. “What did you do?”

“I just wanted to cuddle her.”

I grinned as I peered over to see Shatter curled up in Umbra’s arms. She looked so tiny engulfed in his huge frame, and he had both arms wrapped around her possessively as he held her close. Her eyes were closed, half her face obscured by curls that were still glossy from the ball the night before.

Honestly, violence or not, I’d take it. It had been a long time since I’d seen that side of Umbra, and he deserved a peaceful morning.

Ransom, however, did not look ready to drop it. He was pouting, and he shuffled closer carefully, reaching for her.

I didn’t warn Ransom that violence while sleeping was not a new phenomenon for Umbra, and he certainly shouldn’t try. He’d stolen my place next to Shatter so it was fair fucking game.

Umbra shifted in his sleep, his arms tightening around her, a faint growl rattling in the air with a deep inhale. Ransom drew back, a bitter look on his face.

And that was when I caught Shatter inch one eye open the slightest bit, a flash of gold glinting in the dim light filtering from the bathroom.

Her gaze found Ransom, then mine, before she snapped it shut again.

I swear she wriggled against Umbra, the ghost of a very smug smile edging her lips as his sleepy growl cut off for a deep purr.

SHATTER

Wolfsbane and blood vibrated in the air with Umbra’s purr.

I was warm and cosy right now. There had only been one second this morning when I’d felt fear creeping in; a flicker when reality had crashed in and everything that happened last night came to haunt me.

And then, as if he could sense it—which he might have from my scent—Umbra had drawn me tight into his arms as he slept and drowned all my fears away.

My alpha.

He had gone to a dark place last night, and I needed to bring him back. That was my job—because I was theirs, no matter what anyone said about bonds and evil fucking parasites.

I knew it was hard for him. I knew how much it had devastated all of them, seeing the ruin of our home.

I was determined, though, that I wouldn’t let it be enough to destroy us.

The real issue, though, was that I think some of my worry had like… rubbed off on him on a hormone level, because he just landed a lumbering, sleepy punch right into Ransom’s face for trying to cuddle me.

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