Page 93 of Shattered Omega

“Right. We’re done,” Flynn said. “Go with him. I have arrangements to make so we can get out of this shithole.”

I turned, forcing myself to smile in the face of Mord’s cold scowl. If I was going to play this card, I had to commit, and the bitter edge of Gareth’s scent was still in the air. I think, just like Flynn, Gareth was jealous. And jealous alphas were never rational.

I needed them irrational while they thought I was stupid, desperate, and terrified.

So I hurried toward Mord and grabbed him in a huge hug, too, despite feeling the hard edge of the gun that was tucked into his belt. “I know it was dangerous for you.”

He froze in surprise, but I looked up at him with wide eyes. “And you said you might join the pack?” I asked, to which he gave a non-committal grunt. “Your scent is very dark, but I really like it—kind of matches mine—so I think that should be okay…” I nodded, glancing back to the other three, who were staring at me in utter shock.

I reached up, cupping Mord’s cheek and dropping my voice just for him. “Thank you for bringing me to them.” His eyes were narrowed as he watched me, as if he wasn’t sure what he thought. He was much more scrutinising than the others, so I just had to pray I did a good enough job.

THIRTY-TWO

DUSK

The bond was empty except for me.

Again, I remained, needing to be an anchor for them. Needing to feel her in this bond somewhere.

First Shatter had been taken from us, now Ransom was out cold on the couch, and before he’d vanished in the bond, I’d felt the feral sickness taking hold. But now Umbra had vanished, too?

“What’s he thinking?” I asked Decebal.

I knew the answer, though. It was something I’d been frightened of since I’d found Umbra waiting in Shatter’s nest, ready to fight me for pack lead.

“She’s still in the bond.” Decebal was working hard to keep us calm, though it wasn’t working. “That means they haven’t bitten her?—”

“It doesn’t mean they haven’t opened the safe. It could mean she’s the one holding out on the princess bond,” I spat. My blood chilled at the thought. “Would we know?” I asked. “If they offer her that bond—will we feel the offer, even if she hasn’t accepted it yet?”

“I…” Decebal frowned. “I’m not sure.”

I clenched my jaw, shoving away what that might mean for Shatter right now.

I needed to think.

I’d been halfway through an argument with Decebal in the parking lot when I’d felt her fear. An argument over what he’d brought for me. “I need it. Now,” I growled, continuing that argument where we’d left it off. “I’m out of time.”

“Dusk—” Decebal’s voice was a warning, jaw clenched.

“You know what he did for me,” I hissed. “You know I need this on the table.”

“It’s not a good idea.”

“It’s the only idea.”

“I’ll give it to you on one condition—” He cut off as I stood and grabbed him by the shirt.

“Don’t play with me, Decebal. She’s gone. Umbra’s gone. Ransom’s?—”

“And then what? You’ll be next?” Decebal demanded. “I’m not spending this many years of my life watching you drag this pack from the fucking edge, so you can throw it all away in a day?—”

“They took her!”

“And if this kills you—what then? Ransom is unstable, Umbra needs?—”

“Her. I’m not stupid. I’ve been watching. This pack has everything it needs without me.”

At last.

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