Chapter 26
Rue
It’s been only two days since he last left, but I’m already dying for Durin to return. Since learning about the pup, he’s visited us consistently. Yet, I still can’t shake the fear that he’ll disappear on me again. There’s nothing I can do if that happens, but the worry still gnaws at me.
I’ve seen many shifters fall in love and make beautiful lives together. I always hoped for something similar. At least the being happy part. But I’ve come to terms with the fact that it may not be what’s meant for me.
I’ll just have to make the best of whatever I get.
Even if Durin and I aren’t destined to be together, this pup is still meant to be here. I can pour my heart into nurturing him and cherish the loving moments with him–each smile he gives me, every time he reaches for me, when he begs to be held. I’ll have the connection I’ve hoped for, just rooted in a different kind of love.
I’m blessed no matter what happens with Durin. Fate has given me this precious gift. I’m not dumb enough to miss that. I plan to let fate unfold as it wishes this time. It’s not about me anymore. My life now revolves around this pup, who will be entering the realm any day now.
My hopes rise even more when a twig snaps outside our hideaway. I jump up in excitement to see Durin, wondering what he brought with him today. The last time he was here, he left a sack of salves for my feet and ankles as well as sleeping tinctures and charms to ease aches and pains. I wish I’d opened it before he left so I could tell him how unnecessary they all were.
He has much to learn about Omegas. Maybe his kind become invalids while carrying their young, but not us. I may waddle when I walk, but I’m as strong as an ogre.
I giggle as I ready my words to tease him for it. Armed with the salves, I burst through the thicket, planning to toss them playfully at him. He can give them to some pitiful fae who might actually need them.
But all I see are trees and the scattered light they’re letting through. I take a few steps and scan the area carefully, half expecting him to pop out and surprise me. But I only see the ballberry bush with its fruitless stems and the other plants that have drawn up their leaves for the Still Season.
My mood sinks, and I turn back to the thicket. But there, blocking the entrance, is a giant Alpha wolf that somehow snuck up behind me. The wolf’s dull, grey coat and hateful eyes are unmistakable.
It’s Mannus.
Terror slams into me so hard that I drop the salves and stumble backward.
He immediately shifts back, glaring at my stomach. “What the fuck is that? ”
“It’s nothing,” I stammer, covering my belly.
“You stupid, selfish Omega,” he growls. “You’ve been hiding out here all this time, carrying another Alpha’s pup?”
His sweaty neck is suddenly right in my face. He grabs my hair and jerks my head to each side, looking for a mate mark.
“At least you weren’t dumb enough to let him claim you,” he sneers. “The Prime will show you a little mercy for that, though you hardly deserve it for what you’ve done to me .”
“Who else is in there?” He stops and scents the air. “Come out, Lasha! I can smell you.”
He glares at me as he waits for her to emerge from the thicket. “You’re lucky there’s no Alpha scent. I’d happily tear open your lover’s throat without permission from the Prime.”
Mother quietly emerges with one of her market sacks stuffed with supplies. I think she’s trying to rescue some of the beautiful things Durin brought us for the pup. The Prime may throw them out in his anger, but I’m glad she managed to gather what she could when she realized what was happening.
As Mannus explains how he expects us to behave on the way to camp, I glance back at our simple home. I’m filled with grief before we’ve taken a single step away. Even if we managed to escape again, we could never return here. It would be the first place they’d look for us.
I mourn for the beautiful basket Durin brought for the pup, the bed that’s given me rest for many moons, and my swing, along with the kind dryad it hangs from.
“Goodbye, dryad,” I whisper. “Thank you.”
Mannus catches my words and mocks me. ““What’s this? A heartfelt goodbye to a tree? How pathetic. Now, walk, little bitches.”
He shoves us in the direction he wants us to go, following closely behind. “You made a fool of me to the pack! And the Prime forbade me to return until I found you. Well, not you, Lasha. The Prime only cares about his mate .”
Mother doesn’t react as she picks the easiest path she can through the forest. Mannus growls at her indifference. “I could just leave you here, Beta. Or kill you. The Prime wouldn’t care either way as long as he got his precious Omega back.”
“Please, don’t hurt her,” I plead, baring my throat as I walk. “I’m sorry! This is my fault, not hers.”
I feel filthy, exposing my neck to him, but I can’t let him hurt my mother. She was only trying to protect her daughter like any mother would.
“Shut up, Omega!” he snaps. “I’m bringing her back so she can watch what becomes of you.”
And there it is.
It’s not just Mother and me. Even this loathsome Alpha knows the Prime’s ways are despicable. But he benefits from them, so he’s more than happy to support him. And he’ll no doubt be taking advantage of them very soon.
Our new, peaceful life was just a tease. Mother will be punished immediately. I’ll be mate-claimed first, then punished for the rest of my life.
Unless Durin finds us, that is. I’m sure he’ll try. But even if he does find us, he can’t take on an entire pack’s Alphas by himself. And would he be willing to risk everything for us? Are our lives worth more than the rest of the realm’s?
No, they’re not. And I couldn’t even blame him if he chose Faerie over us.
I’m being dragged back to the fate I thought I could run from. Pack Omega. A mate to every Alpha. A warm body with a knot hugger. I’ll be nothing more than that once this pup is born.
I guess it was my true fate after all.
To be continued…