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Byriel's fists clenched, and his expression went stony at my outburst, but he didn't move to defend himself. "It's one thing for a King to defend the throne, but attacking packs across Havre?" He shook his head. "That makes no sense. He would never—"
"I know you aren't stupid." I gave him a pointed glare. "Attacking his own people really makes no fucking sense to you?"
Thick emotion flashed in his eyes before the alpha could hide it. Deep sadness followed by pain. It caught me off guard, and I took a step back.
"I'm tired of you two fighting," Tzidal said in a firm, soft voice. "I'm sick of the stench of alpha rage. You both need to calm down or take a separate path."
Blue's eyes widened, and he chewed on his bottom lip, waiting to see how we'd react. It pleased me that he didn't move away from us. He was growing more comfortable in our presence, which made me happy. If Tzidal wanted to keep him with us, it was important he settled with our group.
"Byriel," Tzidal turned to the dark wolf, "I assume you're headed back home to Ossory?"
He grunted out a quick 'yes.'
"We are also heading to Ossory," she said, her tone as sharp as her scent.
"If you two can't get along," she crossed her arms, "I suggest you both go your own way, and we'll meet there." She gave me a pointed look. "Otherwise, we're not far off. Surely you both can get along for a few more days."
Byriel's eyes flickered to Blue, then back to Tzidal. He gave her a nod before turning his hard expression to me. "Iam more than capable of controlling my temper."
"Me too," I growled at my mate. I meant to speak calmly, but I was a little too worked up, my wolf and adrenaline ready for a brawl.
Tzidal rolled her eyes, turning back to Lex and Blue.
I drew back my fist and punched Byriel in the chest as hard as I could. He stumbled, then jerked to rush me, but froze almost instantly. His eyes fell to the omegas now watching us.
"Really?" Tzidal cut me a furious look.
I cleared my throat and moved past her, taking the lead.
"How does anyone live with an alpha?" Blue whispered, his voice laced with a bit of fear but mostly confusion.
Lex clicked his tongue. "This is why I eat them."
Through the Woods
Tzidal
* * *
Blueand I sat pressed next to a cluster of bushes, watching the alphas and Lex peer over the edge of a sharp drop in the land. Joon and Byriel exchanged a few glances, seeming to have an entire conversation without saying a word.
Feeling uneasy, I looked up at the Moon. Despite being only a crescent, she was bright tonight, covering everything in soft white light. It should have brought me comfort, but the thick stench of dozens of unknown wolves consumed the air. Each shift in the wind made fear thread down my spine, and I pushed deeper into Blue's side.
I didn't know how we'd get around the camp at the base of the cliff. The steep ledge was surrounded by jutting rocks and massive boulders, making it difficult to tell how far we'd have to travel to get around the area, assuming we could even find somewhere to climb down. The rising mountains on both sides didn't look promising, and Ossory stood just in the distance, only a few days away, but the straightest path was forward, through the camp below.
Byriel tapped Joon's shoulder, and he hitched a thumb backward. Both alphas and Lex slowly inched back, and Blue pulled at my arm to stand up. The second my feet touched the grass, Joon lifted me off the ground and carried me into the safety of the treeline. I pressed my cheek to his shoulder, absorbing his woodsy scent. My wolf settled a bit.
Once we were a good distance away, hidden in the shadows of several trees, Joon sat me down. Then turned to Byriel.
"What do you think? Do you know them?" he whispered as we settled into a tight circle on the ground.
"I recognize two," Byriel said. "Both good wolves. I want to say we can trust them, but, if I'm honest, I've been away from home for too long. I'm not sure what the air is like in Ossory anymore. It seems a lot has changed while I've been away."
His eyes pulled down as he spoke, and I couldn't help but feel bad for him. The alpha was full of so much conflict and fear, and when he thought no one was looking, you could scent his unease in the air.
"Obviously, we need to avoid them," Joon groaned, clearly not liking Byriel's assessment.
"How?" I asked, pushing into Lex. Blue smashed into the siren's other side, both of us trying to leech the heat from his body. It was especially cold, the change in season cutting to my bones. I missed the magical hot spring.
