Chapter 3 #3
What are you up to, little female?
Apparently deciding she’s safe, she places delicate hands on the railing and uses it to support herself as she leans out over the balcony.
What’s she searching for that’s putting that worried expression on her face?
Her long white hair floats around her face in the breeze as she leans further over the railing. Errant strands kiss her cheeks, shoulders, and collarbone, sending a surge of jealousy into my chest.
I know, logically, that the feeling is ridiculous. At this point, I’ve accepted that it’s another part of the strange spell I’ve fallen under.
What worries me, is that I can get so close and she has no fucking idea.
If I can hide out here watching her, then anyone could.
Alexander could.
I growl low in my throat, but bite the sound off when her head snaps in my direction.
Good, I think with satisfaction. She heard that.
At least she isn’t completely oblivious.
Fuck, why do I want to wrap her in my arms and take her home?
My Alpha has never been so certain of anything the way he’s certain that this female belongs to us. My instincts are little more than a primal, salivating monster. One who will tear apart anyone who gets between him and what he wants.
He wants this girl. And I, apparently, am on the same page, because I want her too.
I fist my hands, battling back that part of me before I do something insane. Like, go after her and fuck her until she’s round and swollen with my heirs.
Okay, psycho. You do not have heirs, you are not a Fatesdamned regency era Duke. Dial it down before you lose control.
My pulse is still galloping like a racehorse, so I press myself back into the stone wall of the mansion. Fate’s, I’d merge with the damn thing if I could.
Despite knowing I need to leave, my boots stay firmly planted in place.
The Omega gives her surroundings one more nervous pass and crouches down on the opposite side of the balcony near the trellis.
Thank fuck I moved.
My eyes narrow.
What the hell is she doing?
A second later, I hear a faint chirping noise from her direction. Despite the absence of domesticated pets at HQ, I easily recognize it. It’s the sound someone makes when they’re trying to get the attention of—
A huge black cat materializes mid-stride and tears up the side of the trellis, shredding petals and greenery into ribbons beneath his claws. Without hesitation—or fear, apparently—the cat leaps off the trellis, soars through the air, and lands on the balcony directly next to the Omega.
She stands, cradling the cat in her arms and nuzzling her face into its fur.
I have no clue when my mouth fell open, but I snap it shut with an audible click.
What the hell…?
“What are you doing back here?” She whispers, adjusting its huge body in her arms. I squint for a better look at the beast, but it’s honestly unnecessary.
That is one unnaturally large cat. It has to be feral.
Or part mountain lion.
“Was that you I felt slinking around out here?”
I blow out a breath, slightly amused, but mostly irritated. It seems she does have survival instincts.
She just chooses to fucking ignore them, apparently.
The cat is purring so loud I can hear it from where I stand. There’s a stabbing feeling in my chest again, and I realize, with a vague sense of concern, that I’m… jealous of the cat.
I press the palms of my hands into my eye sockets. Holy shit, I’m losing my mind.
She slides down the wall, sitting cross-legged with the animal in her lap. The cat lies there contentedly as she runs her hands over its body in soothing strokes.
I just stand here like an absolute creep, staring at her. I want to hear her speak again. I want to get closer. I want to scent her, because I’m damn sure she’s an Omega.
The wind picks up, almost as though the universe heard my desire. My nostrils flare, but the only smell that registers is the metallic chemical scent of high-end suppressants.
I’m both annoyed and strangely relieved. If I already feel possessive without even scenting her…
She’s an Omega. The suppressants confirm it.
Why military grade, though?
Those are heavy-duty and not healthy for Omegas long-term. Coming off of them eventually will be hell without an Alpha to tend to her. Even then, it won’t be a walk in the park, that’s for sure, especially if she’s been on them for longer than a few years.
Her soft voice pulls me out of my thoughts.
“I know I said you couldn’t come back, but I’m glad you did,” she murmurs to the animal, and it butts its head against her hand, clearly asking for more pets.
She laughs, and my eyelids shut on impulse. I bask in the way the sound fills up something inside of me I didn’t even know was empty.
I could stand here forever, still as a Fatesdamned statue and twice as hard, listening to her soft voice.
The scent of suppressants hits me again. I wrinkle my nose on impulse.
Could her designation be why there’s little information about her?
Omegas are rare. Their families keep them damn near hidden until they can be properly courted and Bonded. Especially rich humans who want to use their daughters as bargaining chips rather than find a pack that will truly love them.
Varenthrall is exactly the kind of asshole who’d hide away his Omega daughter for later use as potential leverage. A man who cultivates relationships with the Severed isn’t the kind of father who’s worried about his child making a love match.
The thought of her with some bullshit human pack sends fire skittering through my veins. Even the mere idea of this girl belonging to another Alpha is enough to make me want to tear out of my skin.
I don’t understand why I’m having such an out-of-character reaction, but I know to trust my instincts.
Everything inside of me is screaming that this girl is mine. There’s no sense in denying it, even to myself.
I need to mark her. Bite her. Claim her.
I want to sink my teeth into her neck, and at the same time, sink so deep inside of her that neither of us remembers what it feels like without me there.
It’s not rational, but I’m far past rationality.
The cat is still purring, but every few seconds its ears twitch in my direction. When she resumes talking, I swear to the gods the thing turns its head and looks right at me, like it knows I’m here.
“I can’t stay out here long.” There’s a tremor in her voice. A sense of underlying fear, and something inside of me sits up and pays attention.
“If father decides to come check on me, he’ll find you for sure. I doubt you can run very fast. You can stay here, but just…” she trails off, then sets the cat down, unfolding from her position on the ground with all the grace of a dancer.
Her gaze darts behind her.
She seems afraid someone is going to sneak up from behind.
I nearly scoff. As if I’d allow anyone who means her harm get within ten paces of her. Then again, she has no idea she apparently has a new stalker. And to be fair, I’ve never stalked someone before, but I’m strangely okay with the prospect of doing just that when it comes to this Omega.
It’s a night full of surprises for both of us, it seems.
Turning back to the cat, she addresses it sternly, pointing her finger at the damn thing like an old school marm, which should look outrageous.
But, nope… apparently I think it’s adorable.
“Stay away from the West end of the house.” She orders. “That’s where father spends most of his time. As long as you hang out over here, you should be alright.” She gives it one more pet and turns around to go back inside.
Fuck, I don’t want her to leave. I want her to stay out here so I can look at her all night. I’ve never had this kind of reaction to females. Not vampires, and especially not humans.
Every now and then, on very rare occasions, a Scent Match forces a Fated Mate Bond that allows a human to tie their life-span to ours but otherwise, we don’t entertain romantic relationships with them as a rule. The discrepancy in life spans is just too large to ignore.
“ETA, Caelan,” Dax’s voice crackles through comms.
I unmute him and force moisture into my dry mouth before answering.
“Getting ready to head out. I was watching the girl. See if there’s any info there.”
Not a lie.
“Why’s your Bond shut down so tight?”
There’s no suspicion in Dax’s voice. Only concern. I usually let a bit trickle through during recons so he and Vae know I’m alright, but it’s not abnormal for me to block the connection completely.
“Just trying to focus.”
Also, not a lie.
I know I need to leave, and I’m just about to make myself move, when things go to shit.
The cat lets out a weird yowling scream I’ve never heard from a feline before, startling both me and the Omega. I freeze, muscles coiled tight, bracing myself for attack. The Omega visibly tenses as the cat scrambles down the trellis and shoots across the yard, disappearing into the trees.
The Omega’s expression bleeds from confusion into fear. At the same time, I catch the muffled footsteps of someone crossing her room, headed straight toward her.
“What’s happening?”
“Wait,” I snap.
A large man appears in the open balcony doorway. He’s well-dressed and stylishly put together, only just starting to go grey at the temples. His sharp features would be handsome on someone else, but those cruel eyes can’t hide who and what he is.
Her father.
His gaze sweeps over her. He doesn’t even try to mask his distaste. Adjusting his cuff links, he takes two measured steps forward, stopping mere inches from stepping on her bare feet.
My jaw aches from clenching it. Varenthrall hasn’t said a word, but the way he uses his larger Alpha stature to loom over his daughter registers as a clear threat.
I want to rip him apart for that alone.
“Idril.”
His voice isn’t warm. It holds a world of contempt and distaste that isn’t lost on me.
It isn’t lost on her, either. She flinches, but holds her ground, craning her neck to look at him.
“Father.” The tone is respectful, but I can hear the fear in her voice. I must make some kind of sound because Dax is suddenly in my ear, snapping at me to calm down.
“Chill the fuck out. What is wrong with you? If he hears you, you’re fucked.”
I take a calming breath, knowing he’s right.
“Alexander is leaving,” Varenthrall continues. “Come say goodbye.”
Her brows furrow in confusion. “Why?”
Her question clearly shocks them both. Her hands fly to her mouth, eyes wide with terror. She looks like she wants to snatch the word from the air and shove it back down her throat. I can see tears pooling on her lash line from here.
Varenthrall doesn’t speak, but the aggression pouring off him is strong enough to make my stomach roll.
The asshole clearly doesn’t use any kind of desceneter.
He makes his daughter inject suppressants, though.
Why? Doesn’t he know what they do to her? Doesn’t this asshole care?
For a long moment, father and daughter stand motionless, neither making a move. Then, quick as a snake, Varenthrall’s hand snatches Idril around her upper arm and squeezes. She yelps as he stalks across the room, dragging her behind him by her arm.
I watch, dumbfounded, as she struggles after him, tripping in a desperate attempt to keep up.
His hand is so large wrapped around her bicep that his fingers overlap, but that doesn’t stop him from squeezing and hissing at her to ‘be quiet, don’t make a fucking noise, Omega.
You’d think you’d have learned your lesson. ’
The two disappear from view, but I stay frozen for long minutes after I hear the door to her room slam shut behind them.
A red mist takes over my vision. The warmth in my chest has gone from a gentle, calm pool to a swirling, molten lake of destruction and wrath. I’m shaking, all my muscles strained and quaking in an effort to be still and not rush inside and rip that asshole’s spine out through his neck.
“So, the daughter knows the Severed, too, then,” Dax hums, and his commentary nearly costs me the last bit of sanity I’m clinging to.
“He made her go with him,” I snarl, each word clipped so there’s no fucking confusion on his part. I can already hear the distrust in his voice. Can already see exactly where this is going. He heard the conversation, but he didn’t see how she was treated.
He didn’t watch her eyes fill with terror. Didn’t witness her being dragged behind her father like a doll. Didn’t see how she struggled to be brave despite her obvious fear.
Dax sighs, long and weary, like he knows something I don’t. “It’s time to get out and come home, Caelan. Get here, and we’ll regroup.”
I want to. I want to unstick my boots from this section of pavement and leave, but I also want to kick the door down and take the Omega with me.
Idril. Her name is Idril.
Such a strange name. Unique. Just like her.
“Caelan!” Daxen’s shout redirects my attention. “Two SUVs are coming up the drive. They’re a quarter mile out. Could be more security. Could be Deadwalkers. I can’t tell from here. You need to get the fuck out of there now.”
The snarl I’ve been biting back escapes, and my body finally decides to obey me. I make myself take a step, then another, even though my body and mind are screaming at me to stay.
When I’m sure I’m once more in control of my limbs, I escape into the trees and race through the forest, hating myself the entire time.
Eventually, I find my way back to the Denali, parked on an old back road a half mile outside the property line.
I barely remember the run back.
My body is on autopilot, while my mind’s on that fucking balcony.
With her.
I sit in the driver’s seat, hand clenched on the steering wheel, and debate what to do. Now that I’m out of Idril’s immediate orbit, everything feels like some kind of strange dream. I’d almost entertain the thought, if not for the warmth I still feel in my chest.
A silver pool, sparkling and still, lapping gently against the edges of my soul. I don’t know what the hell it is, but it feels like Fate.
And if there is one thing I’ve learned during my long life, it’s that you never, ever fuck with Fate