AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ever since we stepped foot outside our bunks this morning, there’s been rumbling all over the Rig about something exciting happening tonight. I’ve caught snippets of conversation around it—the traitor finally being punished, a gift from Gideon. It seems like it would be silly for them to execute her right away, and I know it’s none of my business, but if the storm is keeping us here anyway…
I clear my throat. “What’s the ceremony?” I ask Lila.
Her lips thin in apprehension, her breath staggered.
“It’s normally done at the full moon, but it just passed,” she says. “Sort of a claiming ceremony for the omegas. They bring all the girls who just turned eighteen out to be claimed, and then they…they let the alphas fight for them.”
Boyd has to do a double-take. “Excuse me?”
“It can get violent,” Lila says. “And it would be out of the ordinary to do it now, but with Esther Vinton back home…”
She shudders, not finishing her sentence.
“I swear this alpha and omega thing is the most wild shit I’ve ever heard of,” Boyd mutters. “I don’t get it; how is it that me and Lila here got lycanthropy too, but you’re the only ones who go nuts over it?”
“Remember thatI’mthe muscle, Boyd,” I growl. “That’s why.”
“So what happens during this ceremony?” Boyd asks, looking over at Lila. “Doesn’t sound like the best time.”
“Hard to know,” Lila says. “I haven’t seen it since before the omegas escaped. But from what I hear and see in the mess after…? They gather up on the deck and have it out over the omegas until one of them ruts or bites her. The alphas prove themselves that way—because Gideon wants only the best. He wants the strongest alpha to take omegas, to pass down the bloodline.”
“Psychotic,” Boyd huffs. He looks over at me. “So…brave the hurricane, right?”
I blow out a breath.
“We’ll stay and wait out the storm,” I say. “Safer that way—just stay indoors while they do their weird ritual, and then we’ll head out as soon as the weather clears. You know hurricanes aren’t to be fucked with, Boyd.”
“And neither are crazed alphas,” Boyd shoots back. “But…I trust you, Javi. You’ve never steered me wrong over the years.”
I have to hope he’s right.
?
The storm comes in a few hours later.
While it was brewing this whole time, kicking up a storm surge that threatened to capsize many of the boats moored to the dock, now it’s in full swing. Rain pours on the metal roof of our bunkhouse, Boyd and Lila huddled in the lower bunk while I lay on top. I try to get the ceremony out of my mind, knowing it’s none of my business. I brought in the shipment, I took the payment—this shouldn’t be my problem.
But it is.
Because I keep smelling sweet spring fruit on the air, feeling like I’m biting into a peach fresh off the branch. My rut should be over by now, my wolfsbane all run out—but maybe the energy around the Rig is playing tricks on me, bringing out my lycan when that part of me should go dormant until the next full moon. As night falls, I can’t seem to get the sleep I damn well need if we’re taking off early tomorrow.
The noise of the ocean slaps hard against the sides of the Rig.
The clamor of desire in my mind goes on and on.
It’s after dark when I hear voices shouting outside, a clear sign that something is going on with the Rig’s alphas. My eyes open wide, staring up at the ceiling and seeing nothing but curly red hair and freckles in the pattern of rust.
I don’t think I can leave her.
Not when I know what’s in store for her.
I owe her nothing; I know that. I’ll be fucking over Boyd if I do anything about this. I’ll be fucking over Lila, screwing myself, maybe getting us all killed.
But my wolf demands satisfaction.
I find myself climbing out of the top bunk, dropping to the floor as the sound of voices outside rises. Boyd’s eyes are open, and they glow slightly with lycanthropy as he peers at me from the shadows of the bottom bunk.
“Don’t,” he says.
