Page 10
Shock and crushing disappointment flood my body, quickly followed by confusion. “Are they together?”
Ferris’s eyes finally leave Raine to clash with mine again. “That’s not how things work here. The assembly recently decided that Raine is ready to be matched. The offers to be her mate opened just this morning. Single alphas and packs will be discussing whether they want to offer for her. Omegas don’t choose who they bond,” he concludes, body rigid with tension. “Only the assembly has that power.”
Rage like I’ve never felt overtakes everything inside of me. What kind of backward shit is that? Omegas should always have the right to choose their partners, and not only because they deserve the same rights as everyone else. I thought it was common knowledge that omegas need the power and freedom to choose their partners for their mate bonds to be healthy. Omega choice is the single most important factor in determining the health and future of humanity. How is it that these people don’t understand that, and worse, seek to control it?
My wolf and I are in agreement that this is fundamentally wrong, but as a guest in a community that isn’t like ours, I can’t do a damned thing about it. You could, my wolf growls. What would the Lunar Mother think if I came here for information on the Appalachian Clans but returned with my true mate instead?
The line continues to move, and Aspen continues to do her job flawlessly. I stay silent, my thoughts stuck on the gorgeous omega with eyes like my territory’s forest, and the way her brother’s packmate doesn’t fold to my dominance. Not even a little.
[ 7 ]
DAIR
Grand Prairie Compound
Days Since Last Attack: 84
Everyone has long gone to sleep, but my mind is too busy to rest. I decide to sit on the cabin’s small deck to get some fresh air to try and calm down my wolf. Fresh air typically soothes a little, but I don’t have a way to totally console him. How do you tell the most primal part of yourself that we have to abide by the rules of this compound because we need their trust in order to gain access to their greatest, most well-guarded treasure?
He just needs to be patient. If I decide to pursue Raine, we will need to take this slowly. She’d have to leave with us, which is a huge ask. If she did, though, we could do this right and ensure that our mate is properly courted and seduced so that when it comes time to bite her pretty neck, her heart is full of trust.
When I open the screen door, I’m startled to see that Tore has had the same idea and is lounging in one of the two wooden chairs on the deck. “Couldn’t sleep?” he drawls.
“Nah,” I sigh, settling down in the empty chair. I tip my head back against the wooden exterior of the cabin and look past the porch awning into the dark sky. The full moon was just a handful of days ago, making it harder to see the true beauty of the stars, but simply looking into the vastness of the night makes some of the pressure in my chest feel less significant.
“Itching to get home?” Tore asks.
Yesterday, my answer would have been a resounding yes. Today? It feels like there’s more unfinished business here than just the alliance. “Mostly,” I reply, angling my head back down. “My wolf is starved for our territory, but I know I’m needed here.”
Tore hums his agreement. “So, what’s goin’ on? I know you brushed off Aspen earlier, but it’s obvious something happened today when we met with River and his family.”
Tore has been sensitive about the topic of true mates ever since he lost the trail of his own, but he’s also uniquely suited to offer advice because of it. With the hope I don’t hurt him, I ask, “How did you know that you’d found your true mate?”
His breath escapes in a white cloud. “You’ve heard the story,” he croaks. “I was on patrol when I heard something crashing through the underbrush, so I went to investigate. The closer I got, the more my wolf felt unsettled and antsy. I snuck up on a group of strangers moving through the territory: two humans and two wolves.”
He shifts on the chair, absentmindedly rubbing a hand across his chest. “The moment I laid eyes on the pitch-black wolf, I felt this overwhelming, undeniable connection that only strengthened when I scented her. My wolf urged me closer, but when I revealed myself to the strangers, they bolted. No matter how many times I caught up and tried to signal to the wolves that I was friendly, they never stopped.
“I’ve beat myself up a lot about not shifting back to human to get their attention, but my wolf was dominating me, obsessing over getting to his mate. So to answer your question, he just knew.”
I sit in silence and let the gravity of his story settle in the air between us. Before today, I couldn’t fathom the pain that Tore has been living with, not knowing where his mate went, or if she’s even still alive. Now that I’ve met Raine, I feel like I know my best friend just a little bit more.
Before I can find the courage to voice my secret to Tore, he surprises me by asking, “She yours?”
“Yeah,” I breathe, nervously clutching the armrests. There’s no point in denying it.
“Good,” he says. “You gonna keep her?”
That’s the question, isn’t it? I’m in a difficult position where I have to dance between being the perfect alliance partner and finding my true mate. If I show an interest in her, I’ll need to prove that I want her for more than just the benefit of an alliance, and that I’m willing to work for a real bond between us. “I don’t know,” I confess. My knee bounces as I explain, “The omegas’ partners are chosen by their assembly. She doesn’t get a choice.”
“Alright,” he drawls, eyes trying to pierce me.
I bring my hand up to rub at my jaw, irritated by the near-violent feelings of my wolf. “They’re taking offers for her right now, like she’s a possession,” I growl.
Tore’s typical easygoing demeanor hardens into steel, and his dark berry and birch tar scent deepens with the smoky dominance of his wolf. He stands, stretching his back a little as he turns toward the door to go back inside. With his hand on the door handle, his glowing mismatched eyes pin me in place. “So what are you going to do about it?”
[ 8 ]
FERRIS
