Page 75 of Hunted Omega: Part Two

“I love it here.” Aria sighs, her shoulders visibly relaxing as I park.

“I love that you love it here.” I unbuckle her seatbelt and press a soft kiss to her cheek. “Come on, let’s go feed our pack.”

Aria smirks, and I make sure to climb out of the car first and check our surroundings as I stride around the side of the car. The familiar scents of pine and earth fill my nostrils, but there’s no trace of any unwanted visitors. Still, I can’t shake the feeling of unease that’s settled in my gut.

“Stay close,” I murmur, helping Aria out of the car. She nods, slipping her hand into mine as we make our way to the cabin.

The moment we step inside, the tension in my shoulders eases slightly. The warm glow of the fire and the mingled scents of our pack envelop us like a protective cocoon. Dash’s head pops up from the couch, his usual goofy grin in place.

“About time!” he calls. “We were about to send out a search party—or eat Quinn’s cooking out of desperation.”

Quinn’s indignant, “Hey!” from the kitchen makes Aria giggle, the sound like music to my ears.

As we set out the food, I catch Malachi’s eye. He nods imperceptibly, understanding passing between us. We need to talk and soon.

I set out steaming plates of hearty stew and crusty bread, the rich aroma of herbs and spices filling our cozy den. Aria’s musical laughter mingles with the clinking of cutlery as our pack settles around the table.

“Hope you’re all hungry,” I say, unable to keep the pride from my voice. “I may have gone a bit overboard.”

Dash snorts. “When don’t you, Alpha?” He reaches for a roll, earning a playful swat from Aria.

“Wait for everyone to be seated!” she chides, though her eyes dance with mirth.

As we dig in, the banter flows freely. Jokes and teasing jabs fly across the table, punctuated by appreciative groans over the food, but beneath the lighthearted atmosphere, I sense an undercurrent of tension. Malachi’s eyes keep darting to the windows, while Quinn’s fingers tap an anxious rhythm on the table. Even Dash’s jokes seem a bit forced, his smile not quite reaching his eyes.

Catching my gaze, Aria winks, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. It’s moments like these that remind me why I fell in love with her. Why we all did. Our Omega, the heart of our pack.

“You okay?” Aria asks, her brow furrowing slightly. “You seem distracted, and don’t give me that ‘everything’s fine’ bullshit. I know you better than that.”

I force a smile, reaching across the table to take her hand. “Just thinking about how lucky I am,” I say, the half-truth tasting bitter on my tongue. Every lie, even by omission, feels like a betrayal, but isn’t her safety worth more than full disclosure? God, I hope I’m making the right call here.

Aria’s eyes narrow, and for a moment, I fear she’s seen through my facade. “Zane, I know you’re hiding something. Don’t make me pry it out of you. I’m not some damsel in distress, you know. I can handle myself.”

Her assertiveness catches me off guard, and I can’t help but chuckle. “I know, baby girl. You’re the strongest person I know—scariest, too, when you want to be.”

Aria’s eyes soften at my words, but the determined set of her jaw remains. “Then trust me, Zane. Where you go, we go. That’s what being pack means.”

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. She’s right, of course. Keeping her in the dark won’t protect her, it’ll only breed distrust. “Alright,” I concede, lowering my voice so only she can hear. “After dinner, you and I need to talk. There’s… more we’ve uncovered about Noah and the trafficking ring.”

She nods, squeezing my hand. “I figured something was up. Thank you for not keeping it from me.”

The rest of the meal passes in a blur of conversation and laughter, but my mind is elsewhere, rehearsing how I’m going to break the news to Aria. As the others begin to clear the table, I catch Malachi’s eye and nod toward the porch. He understands immediately.

“Aria and I are going to get some fresh air,” I announce, standing and helping Aria to her feet. “We won’t be long.”

Outside, the cool night air nips at our skin. I lead Aria to the porch swing, settling her onto my lap as we gaze out at the darkened forest. For a moment, we sit in silence, my arms wrapped protectively around her waist.

“Alright, spill,” Aria says, turning to face me. “What have you learned?”

I take a deep breath, bracing myself for the weight of the conversation. “You already know about the trafficking ring and that Noah’s involved, but there’s more. We’ve uncovered new intel. He isn’t just a player in the network, Aria—he’s one of the key figures. He’s been using his connections to find specific omegas, the rare ones, like you.”

Aria’s eyes widen, her breath catching as the severity sinks in. “So… it isn’t just about control? It’s bigger than that?”

I nod, tightening my arms around her. “It’s way bigger. We found evidence that he’s been working with other high-ranking alphas and orchestrating these abductions for years. They are after omegas who have unique traits, omegas with abilities that can manipulate pack dynamics or calm even the most volatile alphas. You, Aria, fit the profile perfectly.”

Her scent shifts, a ripple of fear laced with determination. “So I’m a target specifically because of what I can do?”

“Yes,” I confirm, my voice low and serious. “But it isn’t just about your scent or ability. Noah’s obsessed with you. He’s been tracking you and manipulating things from the shadows, probably for longer than we even realized. The ring sees you as some sort of crown jewel, and Noah wants to deliver you to them—or worse, keep you for himself.”

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