Page 12 of Omega's Salvation

Mateo’s hand tightens around mine as we walk down the dirt path to where the council usually meets and I finally address the dark cloud hanging over us when Calista comes into view.

“Where is Gael?” It’s been something on my mind but seeing the previous pack Alpha without her Luno at her side is strange. He was everywhere a week ago and now I haven’t so much as heard from him. Everyone knows pack law suggests that the previous Luno or Luna teach the next one. Gael has been both absent and silent.

My Alpha merely grunts a response so I stop and turn toward him. Calista and the council can wait. Mateo’s jaw is pulled tight, the power dripping off of him reminding me just how powerful and feral his wolf can be. “I don’t know, Nepheline. Fuck. There’s something wrong and-”

“But you can’t check on him, not without talking to your mother.” He nods as I grasp his other hand. He meets my gaze as River and Remi flock in closer. It’s a protective cocoon that I would have balked at a few weeks ago but I love it now. “I’ll go. I’m supposed to learn from Gael anyway.”

“Not alone, sweetie.” I twist to look at River who presses a kiss to my forehead. “We don’t know where Gael is but I assume Calista is keeping him trapped in the house because his support is wavering. We’ve asked Nolan to go with you, a Beta we trust. Just in case something happens.”

The air stills between the four of us and it takes me a few moments to realize that they’re waiting for me to push back. Without that serum, I don’t feel the need to catapult myself into every last situation on my own. I’m still independent but I agree that this isn’t a time to be a hero, especially not around the woman that helped kill my family. “I’ll take him. We’ll go right after the council meeting.”

Mateo’s shoulders drop in relief as if I would have told him no. Of everyone I have met here whether in passing or face to face, Gael has been a secret favorite of mine. He’s the Luno, loved by Ilsa, and a survivor of Calista. He’s also Mateo’s father and from the few stories I’ve overheard, he’s a sweetheart. If Mateo is worried, so am I.

My Alphas bow their head to mine until I’m completely encased by them before we turn to finish our walk to the council meeting. Calista stands there, unamused, her arms folded across her chest. I ignore her attitude as the scent of my Beta fills my nose, the same one from those rags Asani and Mateo brought back.

I don’t even remember what he looks like but I know that I won’t be leaving this building without him. I steel my expression, refusing to give her any satisfaction as I catalog the specks of crimson spread across her clothing. Even the toe of her shoe is covered in my Beta’s blood, telling me that they didn’t just transport him here and leave him locked up.

“Nice of you four to finally join. This isn’t a good look for the Luna’s first meeting, Mateo.”

Mateo wraps an arm around my shoulder and squeezes to keep me from voicing my thoughts. “Mother, you would do well to respect me now that I have the power as pack Alpha. Also, you are to address me as Alpha, not Mateo.”

She chuckles, throwing her head back as she laughs. She tries to exude the same power that Mateo does effortlessly but hers comes up short. “I am your mother.”

“You might be the one that gave birth to me but learning that you have stripped my Luna of everything she held dear in a poor attempt for control renders you bereft of that title. My mother died the night she killed my father and my Luna’s pack. The woman standing before me is the previous pack Alpha but not my mother.”

“Mateo-”

My Alpha lets out a ferocious growl, the sound echoing through the heart. “It is Alpha to you and it will continue to be Alpha until you take your last breath. Now, let’s have this council meeting before they truly do believe I am late.”

I swallow nervously as I follow Mateo inside, moving around a furious Calista. River and Remi stay close behind me, the mindlink from my mates calming my fears.

>

Remi's words are harsher than I expected. >

I straighten my shoulders and clench my fists at my sides. I have words for every single person on the council, including Taras, the one elder Mateo has trusted all these years. I’ll wait for my Alpha to address the pertinent issues and then I’ll say my piece.

At the end of this meeting, they will know who their Luna is.

Especially when I leave with my Beta in my arms.

The serum might have given me the strength of an Alpha but the confidence is all me.

11

MAVERICK

I trail beside Asani as we stroll through the forest to his clinic. I mentioned that he could shift and I drive, although it would take me a bit longer to go around the pack lands. Instead of answering me, he grabbed a coat, threw mine at me and then waited for me to follow. His silent dominance is something my Alpha easily submits to. Where Mateo’s Alpha is fierce and reactive, Asani’s has an entirely different feel to it.

It makes me uneasy.

Not because I don’t want it but because the safety that comes with his presence is terrifying.

I used to be the protector of everyone in my family. I was the Alpha to lean on, to depend on, to ensure that my family had everything they needed.

Here, I don’t have to be that.

Nepheline has five Alphas to support her.

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