Page 15 of Feral: Part One

Kael’s scowl softens, his shoulders tensing as he steps closer. “Princess, I didn’t—”

Preston shakes his head, his hands reaching for Kael’s shirt to tug him closer. “Alpha, I need to put on clothes and I think you can help me. I promise it’ll be okay. If you have to keep usseparate for your own sanity, fine, but after today, he’s going to be mine too. We just need to find out why the council needs this so fucking much.”

Andthereis the confession. With any of the other Omegas, Preston would have said that the Omega was his to play with, not that the Omega washis. Kael and Thane both clock the choice of words. It’ll make it easier for me when I give into my own desires because there’s no way in hell I’m letting Slate go through another bond removal surgery. I’ll figure it out.

I watch Preston lead Kael down the hall, our Omega so easily disarming an Alpha that most people are terrified of. Only once they’re in the room do I turn to Thane. “What the fuck’s their game?”

“No idea, but it’s not about rehabilitation. They want Slate bonded, and they want it bad. Why him? Why now?”

“He’s not just another Omega. He’s… different. Broken, sure, but there’s something else. The council has to know something.”

“We need to play this smart, Leek. Keep Slate alive, keep the council happy, but don’t let them pull our strings. We’re too close to freedom to fuck this up.”

“Yeah, smart. Easier said than done with a feral Omega and a pissed-off Alpha.”

Thane just shrugs. “Seems like there’s going to be a lot of angry fucking going on in the future. Tell me, was he tight?”

I bust out laughing and shake my head. “Tell Kael you’re going to bond him and you’ll find out for yourself.”

Slate

Malik returned at some point and overturned every last piece of furniture in this place, ignoring me completely. It was like this morning had never happened and I just sat on the mattress, watching him work. He brought me a warm cloth for my arm, his elegant fingers gliding across my skin as he cleaned me up.

I tried to think of something to say but everything sounded too insincere in my head. So, I just stayed quiet, mourning the loss of his presence when he left. And now, I’m pacing, trying to keep my hands off my cock as another feral spike sits just beneath my skin.

Kael fucking my goddamn skull did wonders but it’s also not set me on an entirely different path. I need stimulation. I need someone to touch me, to caress me, to give me all the things thatOmegas need. And now I remember why I shied away from the brief caresses because it only made it worse.

Renewed panic claws at my chest as I start looking around the mess of the room, searching for something safe. At Veltmoor, they provided enough pillows to suffocate me with but I never used them. Here, I need them. Needsomethingto block out the rest of the world. Which is how I find myself dragging everything off the bed and crawling under it to shield myself away from everything else.

It's like I can finally breathe in the darkness as I curl under one of the blankets and pull the phone to my chest that I snagged from the nightstand. Settling further in the fabric, I dial the only number I’ve ever memorized—Veltmoor’s main line.

I need answers. I hope Victoria doesn’t pick up and definitely not one of the executives, but maybe one of the Beta nurses that always looked out for me or one of the few Omegas that didn’t think I was a monster. The phone rings several times, my heart in my throat as I hold my breath, tears prickling in my eyes.

Just when I think it’s a lost cause, a sweet voice answers and relief floods me. “Veltmoor Omega Refuge, this is Riley.”

“Thank fuck,” I whisper, curling tighter in my blanket pile.

“Slate?” Riley’s voice rises, a mix of shock and worry bleeding through the earpiece. “How are you calling here? They said they took you to Wolfscorge. I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

“I know,” I whimper, clutching the phone a little tighter like it will save me from this place. “I’m confused and terrified, but I need answers.”

“Yeah, whatever you need,” Riley says, her tone warm like it always is. I wish I had been attracted to her because I would be honored to have her as my mate. “I don’t even know how you’re calling here.”

“That’s not important,” I snap, then soften my voice, my panic leaking through. “Riley, I had a spike here.”

There’s a bout of silence and then a gasp. “You shouldn’t have. You’re on medication.”

“And I think one of these Alphas is my mate,” I say, finally acknowledging the truth. To be honest, if Kael is my mate, there’s a good chance the rest of them are too and I just… “I got here and then was told someone was going to bond me.” She doesn’t answer, the line going quiet. “Riley? What’s going on? Why am I like this?”

“Slate, your meds… they were supposed to suppress your spikes, but if you’re off them, or if they’re not working, a true mate could trigger them. It’s rare, but it happens. Your body must be reacting to him.”

“Butwhy?”

“Slate, babe, I have no idea. Wolfscorge isn’t usually a place for Omegas like you. They should’ve kept you here, figured out your meds, your spikes, and everything else before shipping you off again. But the council… they pushed for you to go. I heard Victoria arguing with someone about sending you there. However, none of this is protocol.” A door opens and then closes, the sound of rustling leather reaching my ears before Riley speaks again. “Okay, I can talk a bit more freely in here. I have about five minutes before they figure out I’m gone. Slate, your file says you’re not allowed another pack. No one should be trying to bond you. Granted, everything is shady when it comes to Wolfscorge, and we have no oversight over there.”

I knew something was fucked up about the request. I swallow back a whine as I reach down to palm my cock through the borrowed pants, trying to stave off the building heat. Fuck, this is annoying. “I’m just here for a year,” I mutter.

“No, babe. Where did you hear that from? Slate, Omegas don’t leave Wolfscorge. Their packs don’t leave.”

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