Page 23 of The Alpha's Mates

“Why play games? They could have kept me locked up. They would have eventually found this place and could have easily dragged you all back to their village. They released me, knowing there was a chance we’d disappear and they’d never find us.”

Emma scratched her cheek, her eyes falling to the fire as she thought it through. “I think you’re probably right. We should go. It’ll be safer for all of us. If they prove to be monsters, we’ll leave again. But maybe we wait a day or two. Make sure you’re thinking straight?”

“Probably not a bad idea,” I admitted. “They managed to completely change my mind aboutsomealphas and claimings in only a handful of hours. It’s wise to wait and make sure that it’s not some kind of trick, or…something.”

The relief on the women’s faces told both of us that we were doing the right thing. We were all sick of running. Of merely surviving. This was our one chance to possibly have a home again. That was another reason to take the time Emma suggested. We all wanted this enough that we might overlook some glaring red flags.

“And I’m really interested in seeing if we can help Vera find out what’s going on with the Moon Goddess,” Emma added.

“You and me both. Our kind is in serious trouble.” I pulled my hair back into a low ponytail, tying it with a spare piece of leather that Emma passed over to me. “Between the declining birth rates, our war with the humans, and constantly being at each other’s throats, if we don’t do something we won’t last long.”

“When will we go to the village?” Harper asked. She’d been elected as a spokesperson of sorts by the other women. That was fine by me, it meant I only had to answer questions once and the omega had a good head on her shoulders.

“We’ll go in three days' time, at first light,” I told them.

“That’s going to make for a few miserable days for you,” Emma commented.

“I know. And it’s safer to travel in the darkness, but I don’t want to show back up at their village in the middle of the night. The last thing we need is some lesser alpha getting jumpy and forcing me to fight him.” Emma snorted out a laugh and I arched a brow at her in question.

“Sorry. Just picturing us showing up and asking to be taken in, then having you toss an unconscious alpha at their feet.”

We both laughed at the mental image. “I think that’s giving me a bit too much credit.”

She shook her head and gave me a look of disbelief. “I don’t think you realize how strong you are, Reese. You never fight ifwe can run, which I totally understand. But I think if you fought more, you’d see that you’re not so easy to defeat.”

I patted her shoulder and gave her a smile. She was always building me up. It was possible she was right, but for the sake of my little pack, I tried to avoid conflict. If I fought the wrong wolf and was killed, they’d all suffer. I couldn’t allow that.

“Get some sleep,” I told everyone. “We’ll start making preparations to move in three days' time.”

CHAPTER 12

Reese

“Are you going to let those alphas claim you, Reese?”

I looked down at Clover’s eager face. “What do you know of claiming?”

Emma snickered at my predicament. The last thing I needed was to explain to this young girl the sexual acts that happened during claimings.

“My mama told me all about them.”

“Really?”

Clover heard the doubt in the word. “I’m an omega.” She gave me a soft smile. “Mama wanted to make sure I knew what to expect. She told me about heats, ruts,andknotting.”

Emma and I both stopped abruptly in our tracks, staring at her in shock. The rest of our pack was following behind us. We were all carrying our supplies, so we walked slowly along through the forest. It would take days to get back to The Venat Pack’s village at this pace.

I gave the air a gentle sniff. My nose wasn’t as sensitive in human form, but it was still sharp. The wind was swirling from behind us, mostly all I could smell was my pack.

“How old were you when she told you of those things?” Emma asked.

“Eight.”

My jaw dropped. “Usually mothers don’t tell their pups about such things until they present.”

“She knew I would be an omega since she was and I was so little as a child.” She had a typical omega build. She was graceful and willowy. Her blonde hair was so light it was almost as white as the snow.

I should have Em shift so that we have a strong nose. We’re heading to safety, but I shouldn’t relax too much.

---