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"Careful," the King warned, his voice like gravel, "or I'll give you the last fight you'll ever have." I could hear the hope in his words. He sounded like nothing would thrill him more than to rip into his only son.
Byriel swallowed hard, his breath jerky. He took a moment, his fists uncurling, before finally bowing his head in submission to his father.
"I apologize," Byriel finally said. His eyes were just as flat and lifeless as his words. It made my heart break for him.
The old wolf's face split into a satisfied smirk. "No backbone at all."
Byriel nodded once, "May I go?"
"No." The King settled back into his chair. The wood creaked beneath his weight. "I'm waiting to meet this omega that was so important you were willing to abandon my orders and throw away your whole life."
Byriel took a slow breath but showed no other reaction to his father's words. "He's simply a wounded pup I found in the woods. He's not of any importance to me. I barely know him. I was planning to take him to the temple and see if they could help him find his parents. If nothing else, maybe settle him with a new family."
"How charitable of you,” he shot, his eyes moving slowly up and down Byriel's stiff form. "Omega!"
I hesitated, not sure if he was speaking to me. When the King didn't move, I slowly stood up, leaving the mess of broken glass at my feet.
Byriel spared me a quick glance. Then his head snapped fully to me. His eyes went wide, and his mouth slightly opened as he watched me move into the light directly in front of the King. Byriel stared at me, then he spun, checking all the corners of the tent as if expecting Joon to jump out of the shadows.
"Yes, Sir?" Blue's voice made me spin to the tent's entrance.
The look of absolute terror that filled Byriel's face made my bones shake.
Within The Camp
Joon
* * *
I barreledstraight through the crowd of burly wolves, shoving and punching my way to Lex. Almost all the young alphas quickly wandered off, not interested in challenging an older, more skilled wolf. But a few seasoned alphas stayed put, stepping up, ready for a brawl.
Pushing my way passed the alphas that refused to back down, I balled up my fists and set my stance. Ready.
"What the fuck?" A tall alpha with a chipped front tooth puffed up to me.
"You will not fucking touch him again," I growled, knowing damn well that defending Lex was putting an unnecessary target on my head, but I couldn't just let them kill him.
"You cannot honestly mean to defend this piece of shit!" The alpha's eyes burned red. It was clear whatever enraged the alpha was personal. Perhaps a loved one was consumed by a siren. Hell, maybe it was Lex that did it, but I still wasn't going to give the asshole a chance to exact his revenge.
"Is there a problem here?" Jonelle eyed the group as she strolled past them, glaring at each, forcing them to submit to her higher rank.
"My apologies, Warrant," the alpha took a careful step back. "We were just trying to dispose of this deadly creature, but this," he snarled at me, "this alpha stopped us."
"He was right to," Jonelle snapped. "Sirens tend to have lots of secrets. Capturing one is next to impossible, and killing one is just stupid. He could know where allies are hiding or the location of unusual camps. Hell, he might even be working with an allied group for all we know."
"My apologies," the alpha lowered his eyes, and I smirked.
Jonelle didn't move, just glaring at the wolves in front of her. Once she had her fill of their unease, she barked out their dismissal, and they hurried away.
My shoulders relaxed a bit as they disappeared, leaving Jonelle and me on the edge of the camp. I glanced back at Lex, fighting the urge to tend to him, but anything that might come off as caring for a siren would not be well received. I noted his bruised and bloody face, and the cuts along his hands and arms. He'd need to feed and rest, but from what I could see, he'd live. Hopefully, it wouldn't take too long for him to heal.
"What the fuck is a Warrant?" I asked, needing something to distract me. I itched to find Tzidal but had no idea where to look, and I needed to help Lex, but I couldn't with so many eyes on me. So instead, I stood, fists ready and wolf on edge.
"It's my rank," Jonelle said. Her sharp tone conveyed her insult.
"I fucking know that," I said in a harsh whisper. "I've never heard of it. What is it?"
"It means I'm an expert." She tipped her head back, surveying the camp around us. She looked fierce in the light of the roaring bonfire not far from us.
