Page 6 of Guarding the Runaway Omega

“It’s no big deal. Just some scrapes from when I fell in the woods.”

More shuffling noises sounded and while Jasper appreciated that some wolves could still see in the dark, it might make things easier if he could see too.

“Do you have a lantern in here? Flashlight? Anything?”

“We shouldn’t chance it while those wolves are still out there hunting for you.”

Jasper shuddered. “Good call.”

A few moments passed that involved more shuffling, then a small round container was pressed into his palm.

“This is a poultice I use for healing. Put some on then keep the container in your jacket.”

“Thanks.”

This guy knows his stuff.

“We’ll be ready to leave in a few minutes.” Hawk sighed. “I don’t have any shoes that will fit you. The best I’ve got are these Sherpa-lined slipper boots. They’ll still be huge on you, but… Well, they’ll have to do.”

“I’m sure I can make them work. I really appreciate you going out on a limb for me like this.”

When Hawk didn’t respond but instead went back to whatever task he was doing, Jasper couldn’t hold back any longer—his curiosity had endured all it could. Sure, he wanted to know about the guy Hawk had been speaking with, but what he really wanted to know, was where he was and what the hell they were going to do next.

“Um…by the way. Where are we?”

The movements stopped. “Gods, I’m sorry.” The noise of what had to be a heavy bag being dropped sounded near the entrance. “All I can think of is getting you out of here as quickly as possible. It didn’t occur to me how truly lost you must be. Right now, we’re at an outpost of the Guardian Pack.”

Jasper gasped. “Guardian Pack? But that’s… There’s no way! I was running from where I escaped, but I don’t think I was gone for more than… Well, it couldn’t have been more than half a day and I wasn’t moving as fast I probably should’ve been.”

A low growl rumbled from Hawk. “Clearly, wherever you were being held wasn’t close to the Yukon Deltas.” Hawk mumbled some curses under his breath. “I’ll need all the details of what’s happened to you later. But right now, we have to leave.” Jasper started as his shoulder was clasped. “You’re no longer safe here.”

* * * *

Hawk kept the duffel bag he’d packed with supplies hoisted over one shoulder and supported a cranky Jasper on his opposite hip as he scrambled through the woods, skirting the boulders near the creek. After a brief argument with Jasper regarding the necessity of carrying him since he was exhausted and couldn’t shift, he’d grumbled briefly before wrapping his arms around Hawk’s neck and giving in.

Already attuned to his surroundings at any given moment, Hawk remained on alert even more than normal. Every snap of a twig, every hoot of an owl or rustle of leaves was a sound for his wolf to analyze, to verify that it wasn’t an approaching enemy. Whatever fucked up thing was going on with the Yukon Deltas, he knew it would be ugly. His father had warned him about that pack from the moment Hawk had first shifted. The Deltas prized power, wealth and prestige and was the most brutal group in the Alliance. If there was a dissenting vote, it would be amongst their council members.

Then there was the recent attack by them on the Wolf Creek Pack’s Alpha and his mate.

While the events surrounding the battle for power had occurred months ago, and the would-be usurper Alpha killed, not everything had been resolved. No one knew what had happened to the wolves who had fought for the opposition.

Perhaps that’s what’s behind my mate’s captivity.

Hawk clutched Jasper tighter. Whoever had dared to hurt his mate, to touch him, would pay with their lives. But first, he had to get them both away from the Guardians and meet up with his dad.

Who has some explaining to do.

Hawk protected the top of Jasper’s head with one hand as he ducked beneath a low-hanging bough, then continued up a rocky incline that would allow him to view the garage area where the pack’s fleet of Jeeps were kept.

If he was actually a beta and Jasper was an omega, then something wasn’t right. He shouldn’t be able to scent Jasper, to recognize the mating pull. Not if what his parents had told him at puberty was true. As he struggled to keep his balance on the uneven ground with the weight he carried, he mused that he wasn’t all that surprised about his questionable beta designation. Something in his spirit had always nagged at him, somewhere deep inside he’d carried the belief that he was in truth an Alpha. Yet, he’d allowed the repeated jabs and mocking from others over the fact that his mom had been a human, and that he wasn’t a full shifter, to keep him from facing the truth.

However, the time for hiding from himself was over. He had a mate to protect and care for.

“Wait here,” Hawk whispered as he set Jasper down behind a large boulder. “I need to get us a vehicle. I’ll pull the Jeep up as close as I can, but don’t show yourself until I wave you over. If I get caught, run.”

Hawk swallowed down his fear. He doubted Jasper would get far without his help, yet he’d already endured so much and made it this far on his own. His mate wasn’t helpless, but his ordeal then the escape had taken its toll. All Hawk could do was pray that the gods would watch out for them both.

Jasper nodded. “Gotcha.”