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"Yes. And,” Tzidal paused before speaking again, her voice strained. "And Hida attacked me right after they killed Korban. He tried…" she swallowed thickly, the words struggling to come out.
I stepped toward her, a twinge in my heart at the look on her face.
"He tried to hurt me, but Byriel wouldn't let him," she whispered. “That Alpha attacked another member of his pack to save me from the humiliation and pain of being taken by force. He has good in him, and I want to use it. I want to use him to get what I want, which is Hida's head."
I pulled my eyes away from my distressed Omega and looked at Byriel's weak, pathetic form. I was so conflicted. This Alpha had a hand in killing so many but had also helped protect Tzidal in a situation most would have simply walked away from.
Her idea wasn’t stupid, but I didn’t know if it was smart.
No one just severs their allegiance to their King so easily. If Byriel agreed to this, it could be a trick. The temptation to sink my teeth into the sniveling Alpha's throat, and end the whole conversation was almost overpowering.
"Look at him, Joon," Tzidal whispered. "He's as good as dead anyway. He might not survive his injuries, and if he does, the King won't let him live. Especially if he helps us. We might as well use him while we can."
"Fine," I relented, not happy with a single aspect of this plan. "But if at any point he proves himself in any way untrustworthy, Lex will eat him."
"Yes!" Lex hissed, his eyes flashing with excitement.
Tzidal nodded. "We agree then?"
"If I help you," Byriel leaned forward, listening to our every word, "will you release me from my torment?"
"Yes," I said without hesitation. "And I look forward to it."
The River’s Edge
Tzidal
I askedByriel to wash in the river so I could dress his wound. I could see an infection setting in and was worried he'd be dead in a few days if it wasn't properly cleaned. I needed him better to guide us through Vaesen. He knew where Hida was, and I couldn't risk losing the Alpha when I was so close.
Byriel sat in the river bed, breathing heavily and grunting hard at every little movement. I could see a thin layer of sweat over his brow from where I sat in the tree line. He was moving so slowly, and with so much effort, I was amazed he hadn't passed out from exhaustion.
"This is just sad," Lex said, sitting cross-legged on a nearby rock, watching the Alpha struggle.
"At this rate, winter will arrive in Vaesen before we do," Joon frowned.
"Do you need help?" I called out to Byriel.
Joon jumped up. "No, he does not!" he yelled loud enough for the Alpha to hear. Byriel simply turned away from us, still trying to pry his wet shirt off.
I took in Joon's tense stance, knowing better than to challenge an agitated Alpha. "I'm hungry," I said, looking up into his eyes and giving him the saddest pout I could muster.
Joon rocked on the balls of his feet, eyeing my sudden change in subject. He glanced at Byriel, then me, probably sensing what I was up to. I smiled sweetly at him, rubbing my stomach.
"Fine.” He took a deep breath then pushed his Alpha into every word he spoke. "But you are in no way allowed to help him. Do you understand? Do not go near him, Omega. I mean it." He pointed his finger at me as if it made his point clearer. I wanted to bite it.
"I heard you," I said, holding my hands out in surrender. He had no right to command me in any way, but it would be easier to let him think he had the upper hand rather than argue. So I pretended to relent and gave him my most adoring smile, but I had spent my life with too many Alphas for his bossy voice to affect me.
"Okay,” Joon nodded, moving slowly away. He turned to Lex. "Watch her," he ordered.
Lex nodded lazily, playing with the hem of his robes.
Within moments, Joon shifted and was gone, his massive wolf cutting through the trees and into the distance.
"Okay," I huffed, walking over to Byriel.
"I don't suppose I can convince you to stop?" Lex asked as I stepped foot in the water, edging closer to the weak Alpha.
"No," I said firmly.
