Page 20 of Omega's Salvation

“To see him,” Mateo growls. His hand tightens around mine until his punishing grip has me trying to soften his anger. I don’t fault him for his reaction but my expression will just give Calista one more thing to pick on. “Pack law states that another Alpha can’t enter a home with an Omega in it without the house Alpha’s permission but let’s be real for one fucking second. You’re no longer tethered to my father. You have no right to keep me from him.”

Calista laughs, staying in the doorway to bar our entry. “And yet, he’s still mine. You have no right-”

Mateo steps closer, snarling in his mother’s face. His canines surface, elongating until I’m sure he’s going to shift right here in the open. “I have every right to see the man who gave me a home. Step. Aside.” I nearly miss the way Calista shivers and sidesteps into the foyer as Mateo leads me up the stairs. His heavy breathing increases the closer we come to Gael’s room—or Ilsa's room as I came to learn, that stench of despair and death filling my lungs again.

My Alpha lets out a small whine as he drops to his knees before his father, laying his head in Gael’s lap. His shoulders fall as he holds onto his father’s leg, silence filling the room until it’s almost unbearable. Gael reaches forward and places a frail hand on his son’s head, the tender embrace breaking my heart.

I never got to say goodbye to my father but this embrace feels too similar, too raw in my head from a moment I’ve been trying to block out.

Locke slips from my chest, resting against me as his heartbeat slows. My clothes are stained with the rivers of crimson flowing around me, my pack slain mercilessly across the forest floor. Dying wails of anguish and pain continue to echo through the woods, death surrounding me. Snowflakes dampen the sound as it coats the violence that unfolded here just moments before as if nature is trying to blanket death with its own peace.

There is no blood here, but the anguish is the same.

“You should not have come. There is nothing you can do for me.”

Mateo doesn’t move, still holding his father as if he’s the most precious thing in the world. I step closer and unravel my hand to reveal the small bag Asani gave me. A small container sits inside and I quickly loosen the cap before digging a finger into the paste. The strong scent immediately blocks my senses, peace running through my veins like I’ve never experienced.

Gael looks up from his son, tears blurring his eyes as I lean forward with the paste. He gives me a small nod before I reach toward his gland and run my finger down his neck. He sighs, his entire body sagging with relief as his eyes close. “Asani, I presume? I didn’t even know how much pain I was in. You will be a wonderful Luna. And Mateo, you will be the perfect pack Alpha.” His hands move again to grip Mateo’s head with as much strength as he has left.

Mateo stares up at his father, silently saying his goodbye. I still feel like we’ll see him again because the next full moon is tomorrow but it won’t be a happy reunion. "If I could bring you with me, I would Gael."

"And that is why I know you will be wonderful as this pack's Alpha. My home is here, with your father." Gael sports a small smile, pointing to the little picture on the table beside him. I didn't notice it before but the man is most definitely Mateo's father with the same kind eyes and determined expression.

Slowly, Mateo rises and then bows to his father, giving the previous Luno a respect that many Omegas never receive. I stand beside my Alpha and do the same, waiting until Gael dismisses us.

“You have a Luna to present, Mateo. Make me proud. Make Ilsa proud.”

Mateo leans down and slides a hand around the back of Gael’s neck to bring their foreheads together. It is a gesture usually made between Alphas or mates. It is a testament to Mateo’s respect for his father and the love that he has for a man falling apart in front of him. “I love you, Gael.” Mateo’s voice trembles as he pulls back and then holds his hand out for me to take.

“Gael, I wish I could have learned from you,” I say. “You were a wonderful Omega and are a man I respect with my entire being. I wish things were different.”

“As do I.”

We leave with my hand firmly engulfed in Mateo’s, a snarl ruining the silence when Calista stops our exit with her mouth pursed to say something. Mateo doesn’t wait for her words as he wraps a hand around her neck and thrusts her against the wall, baring his teeth at his mother. “Not a word from you, Calista.” His wolf is just beneath the surface again as he steps deathly close to the Alpha who has ruined both our lives. Blood drips from where Mateo’s nails dig into her neck as he growls in her face.

The sound vibrates through the room as I gently tug on his hand for him to come back to reality. I want her dead just as much as he does but killing her here will only hurt us. We both know that her death must be public.

Mateo finally answers to my soft touch, Calista leaning back against the wall as if she has won. “Control your wolf, Mateo. It would be a shame if your pack knew that it is feral, that you are losing your handle on that wild animal.”

My Alpha tries to answer with a retort but I tug him toward the front door. We don’t need a confrontation. I might be small but his biology is built to provide for mine, an Alpha’s natural instinct to protect and listen to their Omega. Calista definitely went against her instincts but Mateo easily follows me, still seething until we’re outside on the pavement. I find my back against the side of the house, Mateo’s rough kiss dominating my thoughts.

His tongue thrusts between my lips as he hoists me up, dragging my legs around his waist until we’re all but fucking in public with our clothes on. “Alpha, Alpha,” I manage to push out in between kisses. “Mateo, baby, come back to me.” His cock hardens against the apex of my thighs, his knot throbbing against my core. My Omega is needy for it but we have a dinner to attend and although this would fully distract Mateo from the demons in his head, this isn’t the time.

He grunts and presses his forehead to mine, our ragged breathing slowing until I can hear the faint wind running through our pack lands again. “When we get home, I’m going to fuck you until you pass out, princess. I’m going to stuff you with my knot and fill you up until you’re screaming for me to stop.”

I smile up at him as he places me back on my feet, his wolf retreating. He’s deflecting from the scene we just witnessed but I avoided remembering for a long time too. I didn’t want to pull up those memories and the last moments that I didn’t even know were my last moments with my family.

Mateo holds out his hand again for me to take as the others join us. No jokes are shared as my Alphas bound around me, Boone and Nolan following close behind. All that hits my ears is the crunch of snow beneath our boots and the wind whistling through the trees. I have hope that Mateo can fully bring the magic back to the pack lands but I’m not sure how much he’ll have to suffer first.

16

NEPHELINE

By the time we enter the diner, I’m not ready for the chaos that invites us in. Pack members that I’ve seen briefly are chattering away and sharing memories that have brought them together. It reminds me of the festivities I took part in while in the heart of the Redstone pack, dancing the night away with various wolves I had grown up next to.

The parties stopped once I reached fifteen or sixteen, I can’t quite remember but they were always a time I looked forward to. A time I could let loose. A time when the world saw more than just Nepheline, Omega, and future Luna.

“One more dance!” I giggle, throwing my hands out for someone to take. Silver eyes meet mine and then a sloppy smile that tells me Darius is far more drunk than he lets on. “One more dance, Dari. Then we’ll go. I promise.”

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