Page 14 of Pack Rivals, Part One

"Her heat's coming."

"Have you ever heard of an omega discovering their designation this late on?"

"No, never." That's why I'm convinced there is more to this story.

Perhaps she was sent in by some low life with the motive of causing chaos at the benefit tonight. There're plenty of individuals who'd like the alphas in this city to run amok. It would give them the proof they need to lock us up. They don't like the fact we're becoming more and more powerful every day. Shit, I mean, between Pack York and mine, we own most of this city. There are people that don't like that.

I flick my gaze to the omega's reflection again. The girl is unbelievably cute, with long lashes that brush against her soft cheeks. How could anyone use her like that? She'd have been ripped apart if she'd fallen into her full heat among all those jacked-up alphas. It would've been a blood bath.

It's why omegas need to be mated and bonded and under the control of a responsible pack of alphas. People who will ensure they're not running loose with a heat blowing.

The air in the car grows thick with her sweet, musky scent and I wind down the windows and blast fresh air through the car.

Ten minutes later, I'm pulling up outside the address she'd given me, praying she actually had it right. As I expected, this side of city is the shit side. The buildings are run down, the garbage uncollected from the edge of the road and the sidewalks so cracked it looks like someone took a hammer to them.

I don't like it. Don't like that I'm delivering this omega to this place. If it's a dump inside, I don't give a shit what Alicia or this other girl says, I'm taking her home.

For a moment, my hands hesitate on the steering wheel. I could take her home anyway. Tuck her up in my bed and take care of her until she's thinking straight and can deliver me some sensible answers.

But, hey, I'm a lot of things, not always walking the straight and narrow, but I'm not that kind of man.

I cut the engine.

"Should I wake her up?" the friend asks.

"No, I'll carry her in."

She goes to argue, but I'm around the side of the car and opening the door before she has a word out.

I know I'm being a dick, only carrying her because it gives me the excuse to hold the sweet little thing in my arms and breathe in her scent. Fuck it, I'm only human.

Gently, I reach over her again and unbuckle her belt. She murmurs, seeming to react to the proximity of my scent and my body. She wraps her arms around my neck without opening her eyes.

I can't help smirking at her friend as I slide my arms under her body and lift her out of the car.

She leans her head against my shoulder and wriggles against me, as if she's trying to fit her body as snug up against mine as she can.

I grind my teeth and close my eyes.

Will power, Silver. Fucking will power.

I cling to it as I place one foot in front of the other.

"Where are we?" she whispers into my neck, her breath tickling my skin.

"You're home safe and sound now, baby girl."

"It isn't really my home."

I don't know what that means so I press the buzzer and hope for the best. A young woman answers and after I've explained the situation, she tells me she's the omega's cousin and that the girl just moved here from Naw Creek.

I carry her up the flight of stairs, her friend still hovering at my heels.

"You can wait in the car," I tell her.

"Uh uh, I want to make sure you're delivering her to the right place."

At the top of the stairs, a woman with the same caramel hair as the omega greets us.

---