Page 99 of Hunted Omega: Part Two

ARIA

The cool autumnair nips at my cheeks as we walk down the bustling street toward the café. After spending days cooped up in the pack house during my heat, we all need a change of scenery. The sidewalk is narrow, forcing us to walk in pairs, but I can’t help noticing how the pack subtly positions themselves around me. Malachi and Zane lead the way, their watchful eyes scanning our surroundings. Quinn and Dash flank me on either side, their warmth a comforting presence.

“I spy with my little eye,” Dash begins, a mischievous glint in his eyes, “something… caffeinated and delicious.”

Quinn snorts. “That would be the entire contents of the café we’re heading to, genius.”

I can’t help but smile at their banter. It feels… normal.

As we enter the café, the rich aroma of coffee and freshly baked pastries envelops us. The warmth is a welcome respite from the chilly air outside. Malachi guides us to a corner table, his hand a gentle pressure on the small of my back.

“I’ll order for us,” Malachi says, his voice low and reassuring. “Zane, Quinn, can you do a perimeter check?”

They nod, moving off with practiced ease. I watch them go, a mix of gratitude and nervousness swirling in my chest.

“Hey, sparkles,” Dash says, sliding into the seat across from me. “Looks like you’re stuck with the handsome one for company.”

I roll my eyes but can’t suppress a smile. “Lucky me.”

As Dash settles into his seat, his eyes light up with that familiar spark of excitement. “So, sparkles, you won’t believe what happened during my last writing session,” he begins, leaning forward conspiratorially. “Picture this. There I am, strumming on my guitar, when suddenly,bam, inspiration strikes like lightning.”

I smile at his enthusiasm as he continues. “I’m talking a melody so catchy, it practically wrote itself. And the lyrics? Oh man, they just flowed out of me like… like…”

“Like a river of cheesy metaphors?” I tease, raising an eyebrow.

Dash clutches his chest in mock offense. “Ouch! You wound me, fair omega, but seriously, I think this could be the one—the song that finally captures what it means to be part of this pack, you know?”

As he launches into a detailed description of chord progressions and lyrical themes, I let my gaze wander around the café. It’s busy, filled with the hum of conversation and the hiss of the espresso machine. Normal people living normal lives. For a moment, I let myself imagine what that might be like.

“…and then the bridge kicks in with this killer harmony—are you even listening to me, Aria?” Dash’s voice breaks through my reverie, a hint of amusement in his tone.

I turn back to him, offering an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I got a bit distracted, but it sounds amazing, Dash. I can’t wait to hear it.”

He grins, reaching across the table to give my hand a quick squeeze. “Well, you’ll be the first to get a private concert, Ipromise. Right after I figure out how to rhyme ‘Aria’ with something other than ‘area.’”

I laugh, grateful for the moment of normalcy amidst the chaos of our lives, but even as I engage with Dash’s animated storytelling, a part of me remains alert, aware that this peaceful interlude could shatter at any moment.

I catch a whiff of a familiar scent—pine and smoke with an undercurrent of something acrid. My body tenses, and Dash’s story trails off as he notices the change in my demeanor.

“Aria?” he asks, concern evident in his voice.

I swallow hard, my fingers wrapping tightly around the mug of tea Malachi placed in front of me moments ago. The porcelain is scalding against my palms, but the pain keeps me grounded.

“He’s here,” I whisper, meeting Dash’s eyes. “Noah’s here.”

Dash’s expression hardens, all traces of his usual playfulness vanishing. He gives a subtle nod to Malachi, who’s returning with a tray of food. In that moment, I see the silent communication that makes them such a formidable pack.

“Those alphas don’t stand a chance against our pack, sparkles. We’ve got you covered,” Dash says, his voice low and steady.

I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. The fear that once paralyzed me is giving way to a steely resolve. I’m not the same omega Noah knew. I’m stronger now, protected and loved.

“I need to face him,” I say, surprised by the steadiness in my voice.

Dash nudges my chin so I’m looking at him and only him. “What do you need from me?”

I lick my lips. “Sit in the booth behind us?” I jut my chin toward the booth. “Don’t leave me.”

“Never,” he promises, planting a kiss on the corner of my lips before slipping out of the booth and into the next one.

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