Page 76 of Nita's Redemption

A flash that reminded her of Zeus whipped past her. The God and his distinct aura was there one moment and then gone too fast for her to say she hadn’t imagined it.

Chapter Twenty Two

THE AIR DIDN’T FEEL or smell right, not like it normally did. Usually when she lifted her head, she could breathe deeply, and it was refreshing. Her lungs would expand as if they were on automatic refill. With the rising of her chest she always felt a sense of calm. There were times when she’d been chained outside of her old alpha’s trailer she’d imagine what clean air was like and would imagine waves like those she’d seen on the television she’d seen once. Nita would get lost in those waves gently rising over wet sand and would pretend she could hear the sound the water made. She would picture magnificent birds flying over the water, their calls mixed with the waves and wind like a song. Since her rescue, she no longer had to pretend. The air was always clean and fresh. She may not see or hear water lapping at sand, but there was something to be said about scenting one’s mates and no sickness permeating every inch of space.

Nita didn’t want to alarm the others, especially her three males when there wasn’t any proof to her suspicion. The odor that filled her senses didn’t appear to alarm anyone else, nor did the constant clacking, which was completely different than any noise that was filling the air. It was almost mesmerizing. She realized it wasn’t a normal sound and sent a message to Bakra in hopes the female could help her find where it was coming from. If everyone in the pub were oblivious to it, maybe they’d be safe, or they were falling victim to the hypnotic without knowing what was happening.

Abe looked up at her from across the room. Before she could school her features into that of relaxation, he put the pool stick down. Shit, she was hoping she could slip away for a moment and maybe breathe outside. Maybe if she wasn’t surrounded by dozens of males with too much testosterone and females loving up all the attention they were getting by the unmated males, she could maybe settle herself down. Hell, the last time Nita had been so on edge had been the night she’d nearly died at the hands of her father...no he wasn’t her father, he was a sperm donor who maybe hadn’t physically taken her mother against her will, but he’d certainly mentally and emotionally abused her.

She sucked in a startled breath, locking eyes with Abe who was making his way to where she stood. Shit, she couldn’t escape without him on her heals. It was probably a stupid idea anyhow. They had a rule about going anywhere alone. Her chest eased the closer he moved to her.

“Mo go hálainn rós, you look upset. What is going on?” Abe stopped in front of her, using his thumb and forefinger to lift her face up to his.

She licked her lips, enjoying the feel of his body rubbing against hers. Damn hussy is what she was becoming. Her lips twitched at the thought. “I was wanting to step outside for a moment for a breath of fresh air. Do you not feel like it’s stifling in here?”

Nita watched his expression, paying close attention for any sign he too felt something was off. His nose flared like a good shifter, testing the air. Her shoulders sagged as he gave a shake of his head. She didn’t need him to tell her all was fine in his world.

“I’ll go out with you. You know the rules, right? I know we’re all badass shifters and shit, but with the unknown, we aren’t taking chances, and especially with you none of us are willing to lose you or allow you to be harmed. Promise me you won’t go anywhere alone when you’re not on pack territory.” Abe’s grip on her chin didn’t relax. His blue eyes flared like his alpha aura was trying to force her.

Nita wanted to laugh at his antics. In the war of alphas, she was pretty confident she was every bit as much an alpha as her males. Maybe not when the twins joined as one huge Lycan beast or Tank when he too morphed into the Lycan form he could become. She narrowed her eyes. “Does the alpha know that you and Link along with Tank have the ability to shift into a Lycan?”

Abe let go of her chin. He looked over his shoulder toward the pool tables where he’d been playing pool. Nita grabbed his arm, making him look at her. “Do not do the inside voice with the other two. I am your mate, and I asked a question. We swore to not keep secrets,” she reminded him.

“I believe Brock has seen us, but we’ve not formerly introduced him to our other beast and neither has Tank. When we’ve gone into battle and we’ve had to shift into our Lycan, there’s been a lot going on. Nobody has remarked about the huge wolven beasts that came into the fray.” Abe inhaled and shrugged his shoulders.

“How is that possible? I saw you that night when everyone came into the camp and—killed every diseased wolf there. I sensed the two huge Lycans like a moth to a flame, I couldn’t help but follow both of the beasts as they destroyed each competitor they encountered. I didn’t realize it was you and Link as one and Tank as the other until a little later.” Nita had been young in age, but old in experience. Seamus had nearly beaten her to death, trying to steal the innate powers she held within her.

“We sensed our female. The three of us, that is. I think it’s why our beasts forced the shift on us. Usually we do our best to work on the outskirts of battles so that we’re not easily seen. That night, though, something else was forcing us to move toward the alpha’s camp. Toward you. Our entire world nearly shattered when we realized our female was a mere child and a tortured one at that. We had resigned ourselves to being mateless that night. We’d known there was no way our Nita would never be able to take the three of us as mates.” Abe inhaled and exhaled loudly, his body going rigid.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, looking around the pub, but all appeared as before.

“I’m not sure. Something isn’t right. The air feels stifling, oppressive. It’s like there’s not enough in the pub, and I have the need to go outside.”

Alarm filled Nita. While she wanted to go out because the air was disgusting to her senses, hearing Abe say he couldn’t breathe was not good. “Get Link and Tank over here now,” she ordered, forgetting she could connect with them just the same.

Abe lifted his hand to his head. “Something is blocking me. Maybe it’s because we’re too close to the door?” he asked, staring at the flashing exit sign.

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