Page 18 of Consort

“Now?” I ask, trying to decide if she’s serious. “But what about gaining Bock’s trust? Showing him that I don’t need to be watched?”

“You just did,” she says, grabbing a night wrapping and shoving it in. “And if you think he’s going to be able to control himself for three whole moons, you’re mistaken.”

I stare dumbly at her as she puts another empty sack into the one she’s been packing. “Getting out of camp shouldn’t be too tough. We’ll follow the line of the stream. The real obstacle will be getting past the Alphas who guard the perimeter. But don’t worry. I can get us out.”

“How?” I whisper as my own hands begin to tremble. “Even illusioned fae can’t get past an Alpha’s senses. And what if we’re seen with your market sack? It’s sooner than you’d usually go.”

“There you go again, thinking Betas have no brains. It’ll be fine. Just trust me, and let me do the talking if we’re spotted.”

I’ve always been independent. It feels strange to quietly follow her lead and let her protect me. But wisdom comes with age. She knows things I don’t. This situation is completely unfamiliar to me, so I’m going to have to push my pride down a bit and be afollower this time.

“Okay, let’s go,” she says, throwing the pack over her shoulders.

I follow her down to the secluded part of the stream where I’ve been bathing. A few shifters see us as we head down, but they only smile and go back to what they’re doing. I can’t help but wonder how they see me now. It doesn’t matter what my Luna duties should be–nurturing the members of the pack, helping mothers with their younglings, planning celebrations for mating ceremonies… All they see now when they look at me is heats, mating, moaning,sharing.

Any fond memories of my pack slip away as those words adhere themselves to me. I can’t look these shifters in the eye again. Any of them. The urge to get away from this place is choking the life out of me. I want to run, but I quietly follow my mother along the shore toward the nearest fae market, hoping whatever her plan is works.

She’s been to the fae market many times for things we can’t get from the land. Normally, she has an Alpha with her. But there isn’t one in the pack we can trust with this. We’ll just have to risk it on our own.

“There will be only one guard if we go this way,” she tells me, whispering so low I can barely hear her.

She knows the camp better than I do. I’ve never even been to the edges of the territory other than the times we’ve had to move our camp. If she says this way is the safest, then I trust her.

“Yes, Mother,” I say, reaching out to touch her braid as she walks in front of me.

My shoulders immediately relax when I feel the soft strands under my fingers. She’s always come through for me. This time will be no different. I can’t believe how fortunate I am that she’s coming with me. I’d accepted trading my horrid fate for loneliness, but she’s even managed to protect me from that.

We continue quietly through the forest. The only sounds are the faint clinking of jars in her pack and the muffled sounds of our footsteps sinking into the soft ground. I focus on stepping over purple roots and avoiding bollus plants that snap at my legs as we pass by.

My eyes dart around, looking for whichever Alpha is responsible for this post. I’m hoping we can slip past him while he’s on the other end of his designated area. It’s nerve-wracking not knowing exactly where he will be. Alphas are big and bulky, but they’re stealthier than one would imagine.

Every snap of a twig and rustle of branches makes me jump. My neck becomes sore from jerking it in the direction of each sound, expecting shining wolf eyes to be staring back at me. I keep waiting for Mother to tell me that we made it past, hoping she’s just remaining quiet to be extra cautious.

But no such luck. Alpha hearing is too keen. A giant gray wolf bursts through the trees and growls at us before we can take another step. Mother stops short, and I crash into her back, barely managing to cover my mouth before my scream slips out.

The wolf shifts back, leaving an angry Mannus in its spot. He’s a cocky Alpha I’ve always done my best to avoid. Of course he’d be the one at this post. He stands naked with his short, orange hair sticking out in all directions. His face is twisted up in a grouchy scowl, and his hands are balled into fists by his sides. Despite being my father’s age, he looks like a youngling just waking up from a fitful nap.

“Where do you think you’re going, Omega?” he demands. He then shoots a disapproving look at my mother. “And without an Alpha escort?”

“I’m taking Rue to the market,” my mother says confidently. “We need to find her some… special garments. Ones that no Alpha should see before the Prime does. And do you really think any Alpha could resist peeking? We must go alone.”

Mannus lets his eyes roam over the parts of me such garments would emphasize. He grins wickedly, the tips of his fangs peeking from between his lips. A low growl threatens to derail our plan, almost leaving me slicked and ready to submit.

I hate this body.

“I don’t have the quality fabrics I would need to create them myself, nor the time,” Mother says when he still hasn’t responded. “I’ll have her measured at the market and order some special pieces to be made there.”

“The fae are worthless, but they do make some exquisite garments,” he says eagerly. “He leans forward and whispers in my ear. “Have them make something in gold.”

I’m flooded with relief that he intends to let us go. But his breath is oily on my skin, and his bare cock is inches from my thigh. It’s hard not to vomit. I swallow thickly and avert my eyes for him.

Mother is brilliant. The horny, disgusting Alpha thinks he’ll get a chance to see these garments and rip some of them off my body. He’s too busy imagining what he’ll do with me to realize Bock will tear his head off for allowing us to go alone.

Mannus steps to the side and scents me deeply as I pass. It makes me want to shove his fangs up into his brain. But lust is our ally right now. We just have to get to the market and gather what we need to start our new life together. I can ignore his repulsive behavior in exchange for that.

After trudging silently through the damp woods for a while, we reach the fae market. It’s in a large clearing in the middle of a few small villages. Fae bustle about unconcerned, pulling creaky carts behind them and weaving between colorful tables covered in all kinds of goods and treats.

The little stalls and huts are lopsided and old, but to me, they’re charming and beautiful. The fae themselves are just as colorful with their heads of red, teal, and fuchsia hair. I try notto stare at the long, pointy ears sticking out of the bright manes, but they’re just too fascinating to look away from.

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