Chapter 20
Buck Forest, Devil Estate
I’m trembling.
My hands shake so much that I can hardly wriggle my fingers into gloves.
Sirens wail, echoing around the small hallway on the third floor next to the emergency exit that leads out to the staircase, which zig-zags down the log cabin’s exterior sides.
All the lights in the cabin have been cut.
I can only see through the shadows by the dawn light, which is filtering through the door’s small window.
All but the lightest of the estate’s security measures have been turned off to allow our enemies onto our territory, even if they think that they’re raiding us.
My own panted breaths are loud in my ears.
This is it.
Morning has come, and with it, so have the Mayor, Sheriff, and their men.
Fletcher.
Just for a moment, I’m taken back to that day in Ace Hall with Fletcher dragging me into his arms, where he’s shushing me but at the same time, biting into my neck and severing our bond.
I break our bond…
My heart feels like it’s being torn apart. Flames surge through my chest.
“Alpha,” I mouth. “Alpha…”
Then I’m grounded back into the present by a new Alpha, who is as gentle as Fletcher was violent that day, winding a black scarf around my neck as protection against the storm outside.
When I take a deep sniff of the scarf’s wool, I can smell my other Alpha, warm and cinnamon.
Finally, being surrounded by them both, my heart calms.
I don’t need my first, false Alpha.
I never did.
Now, I have two true Alphas.
I glance at Lark who’s standing next to me.
Kai is fussing to adjust a scarf around Lark’s neck as well, as much as Lark will allow. It’s navy blue wool, and I’m certain that it belongs to Antonio.
We’re wearing heavy raincoats, and in the silence apart from the sirens, Kai moves to pull up Lark’s hood and mine, after his own.
I peer out at Kai.
It must be almost time to set the plan in motion.
“Give it a few more minutes,” Kai says. “We don’t want the rain to entirely wash away your scents.”
“Are you certain that your dad won’t simply stick to protocols? Anyone chasing us will have to come through the house, but what if it’s a whole team of cops?” Lark asks.
I shake my head, feeling sick. “Dad loves a hunt. The only time Dad really talked to Thomas and me, when I was growing up, was when he wanted to boast about how he’d brought down one of his enemies. He gets a twisted thrill out of ruining people. So, he does it personally.” Then I pale. “Shit, what if he drags Thomas along with him to try and teach him the business?”
“Would Thomas be part of something like that?” Kai’s gaze darkens. “I’ve heard about him from my solider. He sounded like a good man. But then, he’s an Alpha—”
“My twin has no choice about working for the Mayor and his pack.” My eyes smart with tears. “And he’s the man who taught me how good an Alpha can be. He hates everything that Dad does. But he’ll be sent back to the Alpha Center, if he stands up to him again. What if it breaks him?”
“Being in the Institute didn’t break us.” Lark’s voice is low and earnest. “Your brother survived once. If he’s anything like you, then he’d survive again.”
“We’ll get him out too, lass,” Kai promises. “When this is over, we’ll try and extricate your twin from that toxic pack.”
My throat is thick with tears. “Thank you.”
“He’s your brother and that makes him pack to me. I love my Omega brother. If he was in danger, then I’d do anything for him. Now, tell me more about your bastard of a da. Will he definitely chase us by himself?”
“He’ll be watching.” I steel myself. I’m certain of this, and it scares me that when I analyze it, the pack that I grew up in is more criminal than my new pack of actual outlaws. “When he thinks that it’s a single Alpha and two Omegas, then he’ll chase us himself with only Thomas and Fletcher. I doubt that he’s told more than a dozen of his corrupt men about this op. He won’t have contacted other law enforcement with the leaked information that Antonio’s contact gave them. This is personal for both the Saint and Ace packs. If I’m captured here by anyone else, then I could tell them about Fletcher’s mistakes. It will ruin the packs’ reputations.”
Both Lark and Kai growl.
“You expect them to try and kill you.” Lark turns to me, snatching my gloved hands in his. “Why didn’t you…? I’d never have agreed to…”
“I expect them to try,” I say, softly. “I don’t expect the Devils to let them succeed.”
“Well said, lass.” Kai’s gaze is thoughtful. “Since they’re hunting us, there’s only one route out this way. That’s why we’re taking it. They’re going to think that we’re cornered. But when would they try to strike?”
I furrow my brow in thought. “Fletcher sees Omegas as all the same: pretty but dumb. In his studies and training manuals, he didn’t think that we were good at being outside.”
Lark snorts. “Not entirely wrong in my case.”
“He’ll see us and think that we’re in a total panic. As you’re the Alpha with us, you simply need to look like you’ve lost control over us.”
“In this storm,” Kai points out, “that won’t be hard to do.”
“Leave the door banging in the wind,” Lark adds. “Then it’ll be their Alpha brains made dumb with the aggressive instinct to hunt us.”
And not in a sexy, primal way.
“Shouldn’t we at least take a weapon?” I bite my lip.
Kai crosses his arms. “I am the weapon.”
Except, he’s more of a bookworm than a warrior. I don’t want to hurt his feelings by pointing that out.
Kai beckons Lark and me toward the exit. Then he cups both of our cheeks for a moment.
“I love you.” There’s a fierceness to Kai’s words that catches me off guard and makes Lark blink. “Whatever happens today, beloveds, my life and Soul has been enriched more than you will ever know for having met you and the blessing that was sharing your heat.”
“We’re not going to die.” Lark bares his teeth. “We’re going to win today.”
“Aye,” Kai agrees. “But know that I would die to make sure that you win.”
“Don’t…” I gasp.
But it’s too late.
Kai has turned to wrench open the door.
Instantly, the storm licks its way into the corridor. The wind howls, buffeting across my face. Unstable on my feet, I’m almost knocked backward.
Lark shields me, grasping my hand.
Kai prowls out onto the staircase, before gesturing us to follow him.
My heart is pounding in my chest. Adrenaline surges through me.
To my surprise, once we’ve stepped outside, deliberately leaving the door open so that it’ll bang shut behind us, Kai immediately drops back.
“What are you doing?” I yell, peering over my shoulder at him.
“If someone gets shot in the back,” Kai’s face, hidden in the shadow of his hood, is unreadable, “then I want it to be me.”
Now, there’s my Prince Charming.
Maybe this isn’t a traditional fairy tale. But still, I think that’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.
“Come on.” Lark tightens his hold on my hand.
Together we edge to the side of the high staircase.
I feel queasy, when I peer over the side.
The creek is a long way down. It’s churning wildly, threatening to break its banks. Its roar is deafening.
I shiver, finding each step with difficulty against the driving rain that’s blinding me. The wood is slippery, and I stiffen my shoulders, focusing on not losing my footing.
I cling to the handrail.
All of a sudden, my ankle turns under me. “Fuck.”
My stomach swoops.
I’m going to fall…
Lark cusses, clinging to me tighter and wrenching my shoulder. He twists, pulling me against his chest to firmly hold me around the waist.
“I’ve got you,” he breathes.
Our hearts are both thudding.
Our intent gazes meet.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He nods, carefully placing me back down.
My ankle is sore, but I can put weight on it.
I wince but resolutely take another step.
Lark’s gaze is concerned, and he slows his pace.
Has this put us all in even more danger?
Kai is a steady presence behind us, taking the worst of the storm against his own back.
Finally, we reach the bottom of the staircase.
The dark forest, which is being lashed by the storm, lies on the other side of the water. There’s no way to cross to it from here.
On this side of the house, there’s only a broad ledge that leads beside the house, trapping us against the swirling creek.
Foaming water is breaking in furious torrents over the sides of the ledge, whipped up by the storm.
I’d better not slip here.
Kai leans over me. “Pretend that you’re hurt worse than you are. Crouch down and act like you’re unwilling to get up.”
I let out a distressed wail, before dropping Lark’s hand and falling to the floor.
I clutch at my ankle, crying.
It’s not hard to act, when I’m already shaking with fear.
This low down, I’m drenched by the creek’s water.
“Hurts, Alpha!” I scream above the wind like I’m exactly the type of Omega who Fletcher believes me to be.
And not the rebel I actually am.
“Silence!” Kai barks in an autocratic tone that he’s never used with me before. I have a feeling that he’s never used it with anyone but instead, is mimicking someone who he knows. The King of Scotland? “I told you to be quiet. Now, stand up and get moving, Omega.”
Lark growls at Kai like he’s the threat.
An outlaw. Criminal. A member of the gang who stole us from the Institute.
“Start walking, Broks, or I’ll beat both your foolish behinds,” Kai snarls.
Lark scrambles back like he’s frightened of Kai and panicking (he should win an Oscar).
I whimper, pushing myself up and stepping even further away with my back pressed against the cabin’s rough, wooden wall.
Lark winds his arms around me against the driving rain like he’s holding me in our joint terror of this giant of an Alpha.
I notice, out of the corner of my eye, a flicker of movement.
I nod my head at Kai, whose hands clench for a moment.
The assholes are wearing scent and pheromone blockers.
I should’ve expected that of Dad. It was one of his tactics on a hunt.
What Fletcher and him don’t realize, is that we’re hunting them.
“Alpha, please…” I whimper.
“I’m here, darling,” a man says, fervently.
A man who has no right now to call himself Alpha or me darling. Yet he’s answering like he’s my Prince Charming.
“Fletcher,” I whisper.
This isn’t part of our plan. What the hell is he doing?
He shouldn’t be revealing himself like this. Why has he?
We’ll have to adapt.
After all, I am the bait, and this only means that Fletcher is hooked and caught, sooner than expected.
Fletcher stalks along the ledge, as if my fear of a man who he thinks is a violent criminal has made him forget the stealthiness of his pursuit.
Has made him forget the hunt, his plan, everything but saving me.
It takes away my breath to see Fletcher again.
He looks like he hasn’t slept in weeks.
His face is gaunt. There are deep shadows under his eyes.
He’s dressed in a smart, charcoal coat that matches his eyes.
He’s holding one hand behind him like he often does.
Only this time, he swings it around to the front…and he’s holding a pistol.
I gasp.
Fletcher raises the gun shakily and points it at Kai’s back. “Get away from her, brute.”