Page 10 of Omega's Reign

I push myself harder, running faster, knowing that if I can just close enough space I can have better accuracy. It must be a kill shot.

The familiar hum of the ocean breaks through the sound of my heavy breathing, and I use it to give me one last boost of energy. I don’t think I’ve ever run so fast in my life, but this is for Holly. This is for our territory. I can’t let everyone down, and I can’t let Beckett beat me to the guy. It’s always the alpha who saves the day. I need to prove that wrong.

Subtle movement in the corner of my eye draws my attention to one of the palm trees lining the cliff top with a barrier to keep people away from the edge. There that fucker is. He doesn’t have the energy to keep running, so he’s trying to hide, probably hoping we’ll think he’s gone. But no one escapes our property without our notice.

Instead of calling out to him again, I stalk him like a predator chasing prey. He won’t even see this coming. It’s the only mercy I will give someone. I’m not a psychopath. I’m protective. If they come into my home and try to hurt my pack, they don’t stand a chance.

The blond guy crouches close to the ground, the cinderblock now resting at his feet. He has a phone in his hand, and I’m pretty sure he’s texting someone. I doubt he would risk calling them.

I continue closer, wanting to make sure I hit my target in the head. Lifting my gun, I aim it. Five. Four. Three—

“Beckett ordered you not to kill him. Standdown, Jordan. We need to get information,” Wesley says, his voice humming in my ear.

God damnit.

It takes everything in me to obey Beckett’s order, and I clench my teeth.

“If you move, I will shoot you,” I mutter, quickening my pace to close the space completely.

The guy jerks his attention to me, baring his teeth with a low growl.

“Such a tough guy, huh? How did you think this was going to end? What did you want to get out of this?” I stand firm in my place, knowing that Beckett will be here soon.

“I’m here for Holly. She belongs to my pack. I came here to let her know that we’ll be coming for her. Thought it would be fun to surprise her like this.” The guy smiles, a wicked grin splitting his face, sending a chill down my back. But it’s not him. It’s his comment.

No one claims Holly. She isn’t a piece of property. She is our queen. Our leader.

“What the fuck are you—”

A loud pop sounds through the air, and the guy’s head knocks back into the tree, blood spatter spraying everywhere with the bullet hole.

I gather my bearings faster than I can process what just happened and twist, pointing my gun. Beckett stands only three feet behind me, his gun still trained on the dead man.

“Are you kidding me? You said to keep him alive. Were you just trying to be the one to punish him? I had him. You can’t fucking claim this win for yourself.” Anger boils through me, the surprise of Beckett shooting him sending my mind whirling like a destructive hurricane.

“Calm down, Jordy. This isn’t a competition. We got the information we needed. He didn’t need to live another moment, and you shouldn’t enjoy getting so much blood on your hands, brother. It’s my job to bear that kind of weight.” Beckett tucks his gun back in his holster and stares at the dead man.

“What information? All he said was that Holly belongs to his pack. We don’t even know which one that is.” I clench my fingers, knowing that if I don’t put my gun away, I might shoot at the dead body a couple more times. But that would be wasteful. I’ll just have to swallow my anger.

Beckett wipes his hands on the front of his dress shirt. “But we do. I know exactly who they are. You know Holly’s history. You know why her brothers faked her death.”

The information slowly clicks together in my head like an easy puzzle, and I try my best to remain stoic. He’s referring to the pack that the former king of Gilded Sands arranged for Holly to marry into. He believed that omegas were best used to gain power, and he saw this particular brutal pack as a good ally despite their ruthless behavior. They didn’t believe that omegas were to be cherished. They believed omegas were to be used. To produce offspring. And once they no longer can? The omegas are as good as dead. They can find a new one after if they want. But the most powerful packs ensure that the heirs are limited to keep power in their favor. They entrust the numbers to come from other family members. From alliances. They believe there should only be one true leader despite how many alphas stand by their sides.

The Gilded Sands princes are one of the exceptions. They rule together. Wilder, the oldest, was intended to take over the throne, but he thought it best to have his brothers equally by his side and Holly as a good ally for a territory they didn’t truly want to deal with.

“Come on, Jordan. Holly has been asking for you. I’ll have security take care of this guy. We will send him home as a warning. And then we will deal with that pack. Okay?” Beckett drapes his arm over my shoulders, pulling me along. I don’t respond and let him, staring at the ground until we reach the concrete foundation of the terrace leading back into the palace.

Dozens of betas rush around, following Beckett’s orders to ensure no one else is on the property. This might give an even better reason to keep the alphas of our territory here instead of letting them take their omegas home. Maybe this was a good thing despite the sinking feeling inside my gut. I can only handle one awful thing at a time. Holly doesn’t need this kind of stress. She shouldn’t have to worry about protecting omegas. They shouldn’t need protection. Especially from the ones who claim them.

“She’s in the panic room with Isaiah and one of the alphas who was interviewing as a bodyguard.” Beckett rolls his shoulders. “I need to check on a few things. Can you handle it?”

“Handle our girl? What kind of stupid ass question is that? Of course, I can. She’s all I like to handle.” I don’t give Beckett a chance to respond and jog away, heading toward the staircase that’ll lead to the closest panic room by the library. We have dozens in this palace because we are still familiarizing ourselves with the territory, and we want our staff to also be protected. But there are only a handful that allow just Holly and the rest of our pack inside.

“Send Isaiah out when you get there,” Wesley says, speaking into my earbud.

“I’ll send the bodyguard too. I think we need to figure our shit out and get more verification.” I turn off my communication device without waiting for a response. There’s no point. I don’t need permission.

All I can think about is engulfing Holly in my arms and kissing her until she forgets the trauma she’s been through for even just a little while. I know better than to assume that my affection could cure her fissured soul. She’s been through a lot.

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