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"That's okay, sweetie." Lex smiled, releasing Blue's arm.
Slowly, with his attention repeatedly pulling back to the fight in the distance, Blue stood and grabbed my wrist to follow. He walked slowly, looking back a few times at the alphas and Lex.
Lex gave me a slight nod, and I returned the gesture in understanding; he'd follow us but keep his distance. I wasn't simple enough to wander into an unknown pack's den without some kind of protection.
The second we hopped down the side of a ridge, Blue's whole demeanor changed. He smiled sweetly as the fighting faded into the background, his shoulders relaxed and breathing even.
"Alphas are really scary," he said with a nervous laugh. "I've heard lots of stories, but I never imagined them to be so true. I've never seen one up close before. They're…big." His eyes widened as he described them.
"That's why it's important not to leave home," I scolded, feeling a little motherly. "I'm sure your parents will be very happy to have you back."
He shook his head. "I don't have parents."
"Oh." My chest tightened for him, and I grabbed his hand. "Grandparents?"
He shook his head again.
"Who takes care of you?"
He pressed his lips together, his eyes pulling down a bit at the corners. "No one." He forced a smile. "It's just me, but I'm used to it. It's okay."
I gave him a soft look, trying to hide my disbelief. Abandoned pups would never be left to fend for themselves in a proper village. If he belonged to a pack, he had a guardian.
"You really have no one?" His eyes fell to the forest floor at my questioning. "Who feeds you? Clothes you? Where do you sleep?"
He nervously twisted his fingers together, struggling to meet my eyes. "I'm of age. I don't need anyone," he said almost defensively.
"Blue." I shot him a look, letting him know that he hadn't answered my question and wouldn't be getting off that easy.
"I have a room at the temple, across from the priest's."
"So the priest takes care of you?"
"I guess," he mumbled. "But no one really cares if I come or go." He shrugged.
I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to argue with something that couldn't possibly be true. Omegas were highly coveted, and to let an unclaimed one wander about so freely was dangerous to everyone.
A chilly breeze filled the air, and the scent of a foreign flower filled my lungs. It was thickly sweet and lovely. As we walked further, small, yellow buds with feathery petals came into view. The flowers hid deep within the tall stalks of dry grass all around us. They were so out of season. So vibrant and lively. I had to fight the urge to lean down and smell them.
Turning to Blue, I opened my mouth to ask him what kind of flowers they were but stopped at the odd look on his face. He moved his eyes all around, acting as if we were being watched. Then he came to a complete stop, his body stiff and skin shimmering with an iridescent light.
"We can't go any further," he whispered.
"Why?"
He slowly moved his hypnotic gaze to a thick jut of trees in the distance. He eyed it like a beast might burst from it, ready to feast on our bones.
"Because if we do," he whispered, a shiver working through his shoulders, "I'll accidentally let them in."
The Fight
Joon
* * *
I launchedmyself at Byriel's wolf, snarling and snapping at his grey pelt and legs. His jaws locked onto my scruff, and he bit down, puncturing my skin. I whipped around and shoved my back claws into his gut, flinging him away.
Snorting hard, I circled him. Byriel's wolf-form stayed still, watching my paws and the angle of my shoulders carefully. His skill and size matched mine meaning it wasn't possible to wound the alpha without killing him. Which was fine by me. But Tzidal was sure to have a few things to say if I gutted the fucker on the forest floor.
