Page 100 of Stray Omega

CHAPTER 37: EMBLA

They made it back to the Quarantine Zone just before sunup, and the sky through the vehicle windows was a lovely, dusty bronze. Taliesin was driving, Seraph was riding in the front passenger seat, and the rest of the crew was gathered in the back of the military transport, which was meant for carrying a squadron of soldiers.

The little group had made its way down into the bowels of the city hive without incident. When they had finally reached the awaiting vehicle, Taliesin had been surprised by their unexpected companion, the cyborg beta, but Seraph explained everything as they made their way back toward the Zone.

Leros’s knot had finally abated at some point during their escape. Now Orwen, mean old Orwen, insisted on holding Embla in his lap with his arms coiled protectively around her.

He had come for her.

Embla had been so certain that Orwen hated her, but he had come to rescue her in the end.

Now, as the vehicle bumped and jolted over the cracked pavement of the abandoned highway, Orwen hugged her tightly. His muscles were tense and warm, and his rich alpha scent enveloped the little omega. He purred to her softly. Though he did not speak, Embla sensed that the gruff alpha had many things he wanted to say, but he was holding it in for the right time.

As they drove deeper into the Zone, the sparsely weeded badlands gave way to grassy meadows and finally the dark forests that Embla knew so well. The ancient highway became too ruined to drive on, and Taliesin took the vehicle off-road, weaving between the massive tree trunks in the gradually lightening morning.

There was no need for roads or navigational systems at this point. The energy of the Source was guiding them in. Embla could feel it tugging at her heart like an invisible thread.

Source, it was good to be home again. Back in the Zone where she belonged.

Embla looked out the window at the trees going past in parallax in the dusky morning light. A needle of nostalgia pricked at her heart. This forest had been her home for as long as she could remember. But their destination lay farther ahead, in the Central Ruins where the main tribe of alphas and omegas resided. Part of her wanted to remain here in the forest. She would never feel totally at home in the ruins. But as long as she was with her alphas, it would be worth it. Embla would never ever run away again.

She reached down and rubbed her lower abdomen. She felt a funny warm glow inside, and she knew a tiny life had started growing inside her. Or perhaps more than one.

At last, they reached the far side of the forest. The sun was up now, an orb of molten iron floating above the horizon, setting the sprawling grasslands ablaze with its fiery orange glow.

And there in the distance, sparkling like a cluster of gemstones, lay the ruins.

Ark called out to Taliesin to stop, and the vehicle slowed to a halt.

“What’s up?” Taliesin asked.

“We’re getting out here,” Ark said, “My pack and I have some serious matters to discuss, and I think this is the best place for us to do it.”

“You sure?” Taliesin asked.

Ark clapped the alpha on his shoulder.

“I’m sure. We are all grateful for your help in freeing us from the Outsiders. I owe you one, old friend. Would you be so kind as to take Smoke back to the ruins? I’m sure he’ll be eager to see his mate and brothers again.”

Taliesin nodded. He turned to Seraph in the passenger seat.

“How about you?”

“I will return with you to the Central Ruins now.”

After taking a minute to give Smoke a good thorough scratching behind his ears, Embla got out of the vehicle accompanied by her alphas. They stood at the top of a rise at the edge of the forest and watched as the vehicle trundled off through the weedy-meadows toward the ruins in the distance. The warmth of the sun’s rays was like a physical pressure pushing against Embla’s bare skin, and it was countered by a cool breeze that swept over her shoulders and tousled her hair.

In that moment, Embla felt more alive and free than she had ever felt before.

Embla wondered why Ark had decided to get out here. He said that they needed to talk about something, and Embla wondered what that could be.

Were they going to punish her for running away?

She was too nervous to even ask.

And she didn’t have to. It was Orwen who broke the silence first, although the way he did so was a total surprise to everyone, especially Embla.

The big, gruff, bad-tempered alpha dropped to his knees on the ground at Embla’s feet. His head was bowed low, concealing his face, but the cracks in his voice let Embla know that the alpha was overcome with emotion.

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