Page 23 of Feral: Part Two
Slate's eyes meet mine again, and for a moment I see past all his defenses to the scared, hopeful person underneath. "You really believe that?"
"I have to," I admit. "Because the alternative is that nothing we feel or choose matters, and I refuse to live like that."
Slate searches my expression for a few more seconds before I lean in to kiss him, tasting the sweetness of his scent on his lips. He groans into the embrace as I place a gentle hand on his belly, Slate melting against me. When he pulls back, his expression is much softer, a small smile playing on his lips that disappears almost as quickly when the back door to the house opens.
Ulysses steps out onto the concrete, wearing an amused smile on his face that immediately sets my teeth on edge. There's something predatory about his expression, Kael stepping into the courtyard behind him. “See? All here, Ulysses.”
"You didn't tell me that Slate was heavily pregnant," Ulysses observes, his eyes fixed on Slate's swollen belly. "He was not when he walked in here not too long ago." There’s a spark of interest in his expression that just as quickly disappears, but I already know that the council is catching onto our feral pack status. How else would Slate be this close to having his babies?
Kael shrugs with practiced nonchalance. "I thought the doctor would have kept you updated. Slate isn't really fond of going out and doing anything yet."
The casual dismissal seems to work, but I can see Ulysse’s mind working, processing the timeline and trying to make sense of how rapidly things have progressed. His eyes narrow slightly as he calculates dates and possibilities. He moves toward Slate, our Omega, immediately wrapping his hands around his belly in a protective gesture, eyeing the approaching figure with suspicion.
"It seems that your newest Omega has been faring well," Ulysses muses, his tone carrying false warmth. "And you allseem much closer than during the first mating bite." Then his expression shifts to something all business, his Alpha voice on display. "Kael, if you would please hold your Omega. It is not the Beta's job."
I frown at the dismissive way he refers to me, the casual assumption that my presence beside Slate is somehow inappropriate or insufficient. The hierarchical bullshit they enforce here has always grated on me, but this feels particularly pointed.
Slate just stares at the council member, obviously uncomfortable with the attention and the implied command. His dark eyes flick between Ulysses and Kael, uncertainty and defiance warring in his expression. However, Kael isn’t as offput with the demand, taking the few long strides to us and scooping Slate up. He settles into the lounge and places Slate in his lap, the performance specifically for the council member's benefit, a display of Alpha dominance that makes my stomach turn even though I understand the necessity.
Slate stiffens initially at the contact, his body going rigid with tension. But then he relaxes, accepting Kael's position behind him. I place a soft hand on Slate's arm, offering what comfort I can while maintaining the facade we need to survive this inspection.
"This is definitely progress and I'm very proud to see it," Ulysses says, clapping his hands together. "You’ve definitely never afforded any of the other Omegas this kind of attention, so I’m happy to see it. In the next few days, we'll be stopping through more often to ensure that the progress stays on track."
"What progress?" Slate asks, his voice tinged with confusion and growing irritation. "I'm doing fine."
"You still don't seem all that comfortable with your new pack," Ulysses explains. "This is about rehabilitation..."
Slate grits his teeth at the word, anger radiating off him in waves. But before he can respond, Preston bursts out laughing from Thane's lap, the sound cutting through the tension like a blade.
"I don't remember you being so disrespectful, Preston," Ulysses says, his tone turning a few degrees colder.
Preston's expression shifts from amusement to fierce protectiveness. "That's when I didn't know you were lying to us. We're not getting out of here and Slate is mine. He'll be comfortable when he's ready and we don't have to prove shit to you. There's no progress to be had. We're a pack, end of story."
The boldness of Preston's declaration makes my heart race with both pride and terror. He's essentially just told a council member to fuck off, which could have serious consequences for all of us. But there's something magnificent about the way he claims Slate, the way he refuses to let anyone question their bond.
"Yes, of course. But have you noticed any changes? Anything out of the ordinary?"
That same damn question again. He asked me that question when I showed him the pool house and again of my Alphas. I don’t know why he thinks he’s going to get a fucking answer out of us.
I start thinking up some sarcastic response to deflect his probing questions, hoping my humor will be enough to irritate him and make him leave. After all, this sudden interest in our Omegas means that they know exactly what’s supposed to happen here. I also don’t like that they showed up just after Preston’s first shift. It seems all a little… coincidental.
My lips part with some asinine joke just as a roar rattles through the courtyard. It’s nothing like the ones my Alphas let out earlier, ones that had me horny as shit and connected to the rest of my pack all at once. No, this one is more primal,fullyanimalistic, and… terrified? It’s also unlike anything that should exist in this supposedly controlled environment.
I twist my head to the outer fence, my eyes widening as the plaster falls away like a piece of paper, a large brown bear rushing through and tumbling straight into the pool.
Thane and Kael carry our Omegas back inside the house without hesitating, their protective instincts overriding everything else. Ulysses’ eyes widen with fear as he stares at the massive bear thrashing around in our pool, his composed facade completely shattered.
"Since when were there wild bears in Wolfscorge?" I ask, though I already suspect this isn't just some random wildlife encounter.
Looking closer, I can see several darts embedded in the bear's back; the poor creature too weak to get out of the pool. His movements are becoming increasingly sluggish as whatever sedative they shot him with takes effect.
I move closer, driven by some instinct to help even though I'm not exactly sure what I could possibly do against a bear, sedated or not. But before I can get too close, Ulysses is already on his phone, pulling me back with his free hand.
"No, he's vicious. Don't touch him," he warns, his voice tight with panic.
I just stare as guards file into the courtyard, their weapons raised, focused on the confused animal. The sight of so many armed men in our space makes my skin crawl, a stark reminder of how little control we actually have over our own lives.
Some part of me wanted to ask why we didn’t just try to leave anyway. We knew we weren’t going to get out, but that didn’t mean we willingly had to stay. However, after the call with Jules and the uncertainty of our babies’ safety out in a world we hadn’t been in… the safest place was right here, even if it came with 24/7 observation.
