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Caged.

But finally… finally not alone.

“Do you?” she repeats, leaning closer and squeezing my hand.

My lower lip trembles. I squeeze back, feeling that connection pulse as I whisper my answer.

“Yes.”

Chapter 5

Vaelenor

I’m downstairs sitting with Caelan when Calder arrives with the new Omega in tow.

“We’re a regular Omega sanctuary around here,” I grumble to my silent Packmate, one eye on the procession in the hallway. “I wasn’t aware we were housing another one. Don’t think this one got anyone shot, at least. So... silver linings, I guess.”

No answer.

“Too soon?” I quip, forcing my lips to curve into a smirk.

I sigh, the smile falling off my face faster than I worked to make it appear.

Caelan doesn’t even twitch, but I can imagine him rolling his eyes at my stupid joke.

But he’s not, because he’s still in a Fatesdamned coma. It’s been nearly two weeks, and outside of that one random evening no one can explain, there’s been little progress. Calder says his internal organs are healing “nicely,” but I don’t know what the hell that even means.

Is he, like, baked chicken now, instead of deep-fried?

“Alright,” I mutter, slapping my hands on my thighs. “Time to go see what all the fuss is about.”

I leave, meandering into the hall, not even bothering to look at the nurse on duty anymore. I already know I’ll see the same pitying looks they all give me when I’m visiting Caelan.

I’m here more often than I’m not, honestly. Lately I’ve been hoping Caelan can’t hear what I’m saying, because I’ve spent a lot of time complaining about the Omega.

Like... A LOT.

Which wouldn’t be a big deal, if I weren’t complaining about how much I want her, and how much I want to hate her. Every day both sides of me fight for dominance, and it’s not getting easier.

Well… until tonight. When I watched that fucking Scent-Match Bond snap into place with the wolven and realized Daxen’s been right all along. She lied about the Bond with Caelan. Which means she probably lied about everything.

Which means every time I saw pain in her eyes, she was playing me.

Manipulating me. Just like Dax said she would.

It felt like something broke inside of me when she registered his scent.

That damn Fated Bond snapping into place killed a part of me. A part I wasn’t even consciously aware of.

I wish the Omega never came into our lives. I wish we’d never even found out about Varenthrall or the kidnapped Omegas or the Severed or any of it.

Scowling, I pick up my pace, jogging to catch up to Daxen. I fall into step beside him but he’s staring fixedly at Gav’s back and doesn’t even acknowledge me.

Cool. Awesome.

Halfway down the hall, we stop outside of an exam room. And of course, my attention’s pulled straight toward the Omega, leaning against the wall with a wolven standing guard on either side.

Because I’m weak, I take a second and let myself really look at her.