Page 76 of Hunted Omega: Part Two

Aria looks away for a moment, processing my words. The tension between us hangs heavily in the air, thickening with every second that passes.

“I should have known,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper. “But how long has he been planning this? What else do we need to worry about?”

I run my thumb along her arm, trying to soothe the tremble I feel there. “We aren’t sure how far his reach goes yet, but Quinn’s digging into his networks. We’ve already managed to isolate some of his associates, and we’re setting a trap, but there’s no question now—Noah won’t stop. We need to be one step ahead.”

Aria turns to face me, her jaw clenched. “We need to stop him before he can hurt anyone else. This has to end, Zane.”

“It will,” I promise, looking deep into her eyes. “But we need to be smart about it. Malachi, Quinn, Dash, and I—we have a plan in place. We’re going to use Noah’s obsession againsthim. Quinn’s setting up a false trail, making it look like you’re vulnerable. Meanwhile, we’ll be ready to spring the trap when he takes the bait. We just need your trust.”

She studies me for a long moment before finally nodding. “You have it, but don’t shut me out. I’m not a pawn, and I’m not going to sit around waiting for Noah to come for me.”

I chuckle softly, kissing her forehead. “You’re not a pawn, baby girl. You’re the heart of this pack, and we’re your shield. We’re in this together.”

As we sit there, wrapped in the cool night air and the warmth of our bond, I can feel the resolve hardening in both of us. Noah may be powerful, but he’s about to find out just how strong we are when we stand together.

“So what’s my role in this plan?” Aria asks, her voice steady despite the lingering fear in her scent.

I smile, pride swelling in my chest at her courage. “You’ll be our secret weapon. We need you to act normal and go about your routine, but we’ll have eyes on you at all times. The moment Noah makes his move, we’ll be ready.”

Aria nods, her eyes gleaming with determination. “I can do that. But Zane, promise me something.”

“Anything, baby girl.”

“When the time comes, let me face him. I need to confront Noah myself and end this on my terms.”

I want to argue, to tell her it’s too dangerous, but I see the steel in her eyes and the set of her jaw. This is the Aria I fell in love with—fierce, determined, and unbreakable. “Okay,” I agree, “but we’ll be right there with you. Where you go, we go. That’s what being pack means.”

We seal the promise with a kiss. It’s soft and sweet, but it’s filled with the fire of our shared resolve. As we break apart, I see movement through the cabin window. Malachi stands there, his expression grave. It’s time to brief the rest of the pack.

Hand in hand, Aria and I head back inside. The atmosphere has shifted, the earlier levity replaced by tense anticipation. Quinn’s fingers fly over his laptop keyboard, while Dash paces restlessly. Malachi stands at the center, every inch the alpha leader.

“It’s time to turn the tables,” I announce, squeezing Aria’s hand. “Noah won’t know what hit him.”

As we gather around to finalize our plan, I can’t help but feel a surge of pride and love for my pack. We may be an unconventional group, but together, we’re unstoppable. Noah doesn’t stand a chance.

The hunt is on, and this time, we’re the predators.

33

ARIA

The dinner tablefeels off tonight. Dash’s usual laughter and upbeat energy are missing, leaving a void that’s impossible to ignore. I push the food around on my plate, the scent of my worried pheromones mingling with the aroma of the untouched meal. The silence is deafening.

“Has anyone seen Dash?” I ask, my voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

Malachi’s eyes meet mine, concern evident in his dark gaze. “He said he wasn’t feeling well and went to his room,” he replies, his voice low and tinged with an alpha’s protective instinct.

Something isn’t right. I can feel it in my bones and see it in the furtive glances the other alphas are exchanging. Without a word, I stand up and make my way to Dash’s room, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm with each step.

I knock softly on the door. “Dash? It’s me, Aria. Can I come in?”

A muffled sound comes from inside, which I take as permission. As I push the door open, the scent of distress hits me like a tidal wave. Dash’s usual citrus and ocean breeze fragrance is now tinged with something sour and sharp. Empty bottlesof sparkling water litter the nightstand, silent witnesses to his internal struggle.

Dash is sitting on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands. He looks up as I enter, and my heart clenches at the pain I see etched across his face.

“Hey, sparkles,” he says, attempting a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. His voice, usually melodic and carefree, now sounds flat and discordant. “I’m not great company right now. You should probably go back to dinner.”

I shake my head, closing the door behind me and moving to sit beside him. The bed dips under our combined weight. “Not a chance. What’s going on, Dash?”

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