Page 11 of Untamed Omega

“Sam!” I called after him. His pace quickened and at the very second I thought I’d caught up, he weaved through the trees and with a loud, ear-piercing growl, shifted into his bear. My knees buckled at the sight and sound of him. It had been so long since I saw my mate in this form. He was even more beautiful than I remembered.

I couldn’t have kept my own bear in check even if I wanted to. He tore out of me, ripping skin and shredding muscles. The transition so fast, pain radiated through my body both bear and human.

Find mate. Chase him. Won’t lose our omega.

At least we were on the same page.

Our lands were vast. I knew each acre of them by heart, especially after all the long walks and runs I’d been taking to getmy mind off Sam. Off what I’d done to him. A life I could never recapture.

But I could capture him.

His bear was fast, but my mate was still on the mend. His body was weak. He hadn’t had much to eat.

I let him go for a while, hoping he would cast out some of his fear and anxiety about realizing who I was and that we were here, together, again. We bobbed through brush and jumped over veins of the stream that ran through our lands. Hopped over exposed roots and darted around trees, playing a game with each other. Several times, his bear stopped and faced me, let out a huff of anger, and then took off again. His steam would run out soon and, when it did, I would be there. Not to force anything on him but to clear the air.

See if there was any chance he would ever be mine again.

Even if he didn’t want me, I would still give him the best care I had to offer. I would see him well if it was the last thing I ever did. If he no longer wanted to be my omega, I would still be his alpha in spirit. Care for him. Keep him safe and protected, from the distance he allowed.

Please, stop.I spoke through the whisper of a bond I hope we still shared.You’re not well enough for this.

Sam, a few feet in front of me slowed but didn’t stop. Had he heard me?

Sam, omega, please. You will hurt yourself. Please.

Sam, the bear, stopped and whirled around to face me. His breaths were labored, and his scent had turned sour. He wasn’t well. Goddess, I just wanted him to be well.

Slowly, I walked up to him and my bear nuzzled his nose. Gently.

My omega swiped at my face with his claw. The coppery scent of blood filled my nose, and I stumbled back, realizing what he’d done.

What I’d made him do.

Sam stood before me in human form, thin but with bruises far more faded, yellows and pale greens, than the night before. “I’m so sorry.” I felt awful that I’d made him run. He already had such little muscle tone. He needed to be recuperating, not sprinting away from what once was.

My bear protested, but I forced a shift back to two legs. “It’s okay. I was chasing you.”

“It’s not okay. I don’t…violence is never the answer. I’ve seen enough blood spilled. Are you hurt?” He took a few steps in my direction and touched my face.

“The shift healed the scratch, Sam.”

“It’s been so long since I heard anyone say my name, and now everyone is calling me that. Feels like a dream.”

I nodded. My hurting omega. He’d been through hell.

His chest moved with shallow breaths. The air around us crackled with the magic and power of our shifts. Sam had once been a powerful bear. He could’ve outrun me at the worst of times. We would have to get him stronger. Those bastards had to have drugged him or something, otherwise, he’d have shifted and they’d never have taken him.

We might not ever know what happened that day.

But he didn’t deserve it.

But now he was here. In front of me. Tears welled in my eyes, making his form blurry. I couldn’t do anything but stare at him. Did he hate me? Had he forgotten I ever existed? Had they taken some of his memory?

Chapter Twelve

Sam

We faced one another in the woods. Naked of both fur and clothing, it was only fair that our emotions were equally exposed. Or perhaps fair was not the correct term. That implied choice, where none lay. Recognition after so long came with a heavy weight of grief, joy, pain, relief, anger, more pain… And we had so much to say to one another.

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