Page 74 of Hunted Omega: Part Two

I force myself to relax my grip on the steering wheel, plastering on what I hope is a convincing smile. “Just hungry, baby girl. Thinking about what I want to eat.” I give her a sly smile. “Other than you.”

“Mm-hmm.” She doesn’t look entirely convinced as she hums, but she drops it, instead launching into a story about her day at the salon. I listen with half an ear, making appropriate noises of interest while most of my attention remains on our tail.

As we approach a busy intersection, an idea forms. It’s risky, but it might just work. The light turns yellow, and I gun it, sailing through just as it turns red. Behind us, I hear the blare of horns and the screech of tires.

“Zane!” Aria yelps, clutching the door handle. “What are you doing?”

“Sorry, sweetheart,” I mutter, taking a sharp right turn. “Thought I saw a shortcut.”

I navigate through a series of quick turns, my instincts honed from years of evasive driving coming into play. Finally, after several minutes of this, I’m satisfied we lost our unwanted shadow.

As we pull into the parking lot of a cozy Italian restaurant, I allow myself to relax slightly. Aria’s looking at me with a mixture of confusion and suspicion, her orange creamsicle scent tinged with a hint of anxiety.

“Okay, spill,” she demands as I kill the engine. “What’s really going on?”

I debate lying for a split second, but the determined set of her jaw tells me she won’t buy it. With a heavy sigh, I turn to face her, taking her small hands in mine.

“We had a tail,” I admit, watching her eyes widen. “Noah was outside the salon when you left.”

Aria’s breath catches, her fingers tightening around mine. The anxiety in her scent spikes, filling the car with the acrid smell of fear. I hate it. I hate that Noah can still affect her like this, even from a distance.

“He… He was there?” Her voice trembles slightly, and I have to resist the urge to hunt Noah down right now and tear him apart.

“Hey,” I murmur softly, reaching out to cup her cheek. “Look at me, baby girl. He’s gone now. I lost him. You’re safe.”

She leans into my touch, closing her eyes briefly. When she opens them again, there’s a steely determination there that makes my chest swell with pride.

“We can’t keep running, Zane,” she says, her voice stronger now. “We need to do something about this.”

I nod, my thumb stroking her cheekbone. “You’re right, and we will, but right now, let’s just enjoy our dinner, okay? I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.”

As we step out of the car, I scan the area one last time, my senses on high alert. The parking lot is quiet, filled with the usual dinner crowd. There’s no sign of Noah or any other threats. Still, I keep Aria close as we walk to the restaurant, resting my hand protectively on the small of her back.

The hostess leads us to a cozy booth in the corner, and I position myself so I can see the entire restaurant and the entrance. Old habits die hard.

As we settle in, Aria reaches across the table and intertwines her fingers with mine. “Thank you,” she says softly, “for always being there and keeping me safe.”

I bring her hand to my lips, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. “Always, baby girl. You’re my mate, my everything. I’d move heaven and earth to keep you safe. Let’s order food and bring it back to the cabin.”

As we wait for our takeout order, the tension in Aria’s shoulders slowly begins to ease. I keep a watchful eye on the entrance, my body coiled and ready to spring into action at the slightest hint of danger. The rich aroma of garlic and tomato sauce wafts through the air.

“Zane.” Aria’s voice pulls me from my vigilance. “What are we going to do?”

I meet her gaze, seeing the worry etched in the delicate lines around her eyes. My thumb traces soothing circles on the back of her hand. “Noah’s reign ends with us. We’ll make sure of it,” I say, my voice low and determined. “I have a plan brewing, but I need to talk to Malachi first. You’re pack, Aria, and pack means we fight as one.”

She nods, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “I know. It’s just… I’m tired of looking over my shoulder all the time. I want our life back.”

“And we’ll get it back,” I promise, bringing her hand to my lips once more. “Noah won’t know what hit him.”

The waitress arrives with our order, and I stand, positioning myself between Aria and the rest of the restaurant as we make our way to the exit. I scan the parking lot before I usher her quickly to the car.

As we drive back to the cabin, the weight of our situation settles heavily on my shoulders. I know what needs to be done, but the path ahead is fraught with danger. One wrong move, and I could lose everything. The guilt of keeping information from Aria gnaws at me. Is protecting her worth the potential breach of trust?

As I glance at Aria, her profile illuminated by the setting sun, I know it’s a risk I have to take. For her. For us. For our future.

Noah has no idea what he’s unleashed. The hunter is about to become the hunted.

The gravel crunches under my tires as I pull onto the secluded lane. Our little safe house comes into view, a rustic log cabin nestled among towering pines. The weathered exterior exudes a comforting charm, as does the wraparound porch perfect for breathing the crisp mountain air. Smoke curls from the stone chimney, promising warmth and safety within.

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