Page 84 of Feral Omega

Watching me.

Those pale eyes bore into mine from beneath the shadowed ridge of his hood. His chest rises and falls with each ragged, mechanical rasp of his breathing, but otherwise he's utterly motionless. Statuesque.

Frozen.

As if he's afraid the slightest shift might shatter this fragile moment between us.

My gaze drifts to the fresh bandage wrapped around my arm, the gray fabric stained with rust-brown blossoms of dried blood. The pain radiates through my entire limb now, a dull, throbbing ache that pulses in time with my heartbeat.

Fever, maybe?

Infection?

I can't afford either right now. Not out here in the merciless wilderness, with only this untamed beast for company.

Wraith's eyes follow mine, that icy gaze lingering on the wound. A muscle twitches in his temple, his chest rising with a deeper inhale. I can practically see the thoughts flickering behind those frosty depths, the war between instinct and restraint raging just beneath the surface.

Slowly, carefully, I try to sit up. Every movement sends fresh lances of fire searing through my arm, the agony stealing my breath. Black spots dance at the edges of my vision as I slump back against Wraith's solid frame, gasping.

A low rumble vibrates through his chest, the gravelly sound somewhere between a growl and a purr. His arm tightens fractionally, drawing me closer, shielding me from some unseen threat.

I should be terrified. Should be fighting with every ounce of strength I have left to break free of his unbreakable grip.

But I'm not.

Because as much as this alpha is a beast, a brutal force of nature encased in flesh and bone... he's also the reason I'm still breathing. The reason this fever-dream of a life hasn't ended in a gory splatter or a frozen, forgotten grave.

He saved me.

The realization settles over me like a warm blanket, quiet and comforting in its simplicity. This monster, this nightmare given form, chose to spare my life when he could have so easily snuffed it out.

And not just spare it—protect it. Tend to my wounds and shelter me from the elements and whatever other horrors lurk in these unforgiving peaks.

I owe him a debt I can never repay.

My chest tightens at the thought, a strange ache blooming behind my ribs. This feeling, this fragile spark of... what? Trust? Kinship?

It terrifies me more than Wraith ever could.

Because to trust an alpha, to let one get under my skin... it's a death sentence. A surrender of everything I've fought so hard for, all the boundaries and walls I've erected around my heart to keep the monsters at bay.

A soft huff of breath escapes my lips, the sound ragged and raw. Wraith's head tilts ever so slightly at the noise, his pale gaze boring into me with renewed intensity.

I can't bring myself to look away.

Can't bring myself to shatter this strange, tenuous peace between us.

A howl pierces the still morning air, distant but unmistakable. Wraith's entire body goes rigid, every muscle tensing like steel cables pulled taut. His head whips toward the cave mouth, a guttural snarl ripping from his chest as he surges to his feet.

I cry out as he moves, the sudden motion jarring my wounded arm. Pain explodes through me in a blinding wave, the cave spinning sickeningly around me.

Wraith doesn't seem to notice. He's already stalking toward the entrance, shoulders hunched and bloodied fists clenched at his sides. Every line of his massive frame radiates a feral, predatory menace that has my instincts screaming at me to run, to hide.

Another howl splits the air, this one closer. Followed by the muffled crunch of boots on snow, the unmistakable sounds of voices drifting through the trees.

Wraith snarls again, a bestial rumble that sets my teeth on edge. He plants himself squarely in the mouth of the cave, a looming silhouette backlit by the watery gray light filtering in from outside.

I struggle to sit up, fighting a fresh wave of dizziness. Whatever is out there has triggered some primal switch in Wraith's fractured psyche, sending him hurtling back into that dark abyss of savagery and violence.

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