Page 43 of Omega's Reign

The others circle around us, caging me in a muscular circle that I can’t get enough of. It feels so perfect being with them, all of us together. It gives me the strength to keep pushing forward.

This is what I’m fighting for. I’m fighting for a pack. I’m fighting for others like me to have their own packs, who love and cherish them and give them everything they need. Everything they could ever want. A good life. A happy life.

I laugh and kiss each of them, wiggling in Andrew’s arm until he sets me on my feet. “We need to get ourselves together. It’s not over.”

“We can’t exactly follow him, Holls,” Isaiah says, glowering at the man from over his shoulder. “What do you think we should do now?”

“Give him an ultimatum. If he wants to live, he’ll tell us where to find Hector.” Jordan touches his weapon, the holster hidden under his arm beneath his jacket.

“I’m kind of in the mood to cut it out of him,” Wesley says, pulling a knife out and aiming it at the guy.

“It would be payback too.” Isaiah motions to the cut on Andrew’s cheek.

I dab it with my shirt, glad to see it wasn’t deep as it already starts to coagulate. “I’d be happy to assist. Guys like this need to be put in their places.” I say it the way I do so he knows what it feels like to be considered beneath me. Only an alpha would talk to him like that. It should be extra annoying when it comes from an omega. “Pull down his pants. I know exactly where I plan to start.”

The others remain expressionless, but Jordan breaks, frowning at me, probably imagining the pain I pretend to want to inflict. It’s such a guy thing to feel bad over an appendage that some don’t deserve to even have in the first place.

Damn. I am a monster. But this isn’t about the act. It’s about the mind games that come along with it.

“My queen, don’t you think that’s a little—”

I bring my finger to Jordan’s lips, cutting him off. “There is no mercy for those against us. Now yank down his fucking pants,” I say, channeling my brothers’ attitudes. This is something they would pull. Freaking out someone to get them to comply.

The beta on the ground thrashes, trying to spit out the gag from his mouth. The fabric, which I think might be a dirty shirt found in the car, doesn’t fall free from his mouth.

I grab a blade from Wesley and slap it against my palm, strolling closer. With a sadistic grin, Wesley follows my lead, leaving the others standing in silence, ready to intervene only if they feel the need to.

Wesley grabs the man’s waist, hooking his fingers to the buckle of his belt.

The beta thrashes harder, screaming, doing his best to fight even though his hands are bound.

I stand over him and smile. “Is there something you’d like to say?”

Wesley reaches out and grabs the fabric from the guy’s mouth, yanking it free. The beta chokes and coughs, his eyes red and shining with tears, his fear palpable enough for me to smell, the odor disgusting.

“Please don’t hurt me. I’ll tell you where Righteous Waters is hiding. Just don’t hurt me.” The guy heaves a breath and grinds his teeth.

I stare at him for a minute, letting the seconds drag on, wanting him to feel the fear that every omega feels when they face the world each day if they don’t have a loving pack.

“Please,” he begs, his eyes dripping with tears.

I look at the others. “If this is a trick, you will pay.”

“It’s not. Please. I’ll show you. I’ll give you anything you want,” the beta says.

I bend over and pat his cheek. “I know you will. I’m your queen.”

21

Enemies

Wesley

We have a visual. I can’t believe we actually have a visual. These fuckers have been like ghosts, haunting us without us getting a good lock on them. It has made me question my ability in protecting our palace and our territory. It has also affected my trust. And when you can’t trust anybody, it makes things a lot more difficult. There’s more work involved. The last thing we need is to be going into a trap.

But Righteous Waters no longer has the resources that it used to. They can’t just call up all their allies and get them to join in a fight against a reigning pack. That’s what happens when you make deals with men who can’t guarantee to follow through. Because Holly’s father was not liked. He had a lot of enemies, and trying to use Holly to bribe an ally wasn’t going to work.

Not when she has brothers that care about her.

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