Zen Stormhold looked at the woman kneeling on the ground, shivering and then at the three men who surrounded her, and his fists clenched at his sides. Unable to stop himself, he took one step forward before Kael's hand caught his arm, fingers digging in just enough to stop him.
"Zen," Kael's voice rang in his mind, sharp and cold. "Don't do it."
Zen didn't look at him. His eyes were locked on Alec and the blood on his hand. An Omega's blood. The bas*ard had hit her. A helpless omega. And he liked it, was enjoying her pain. The stench of his enjoyment alone was enough to make Zen hit him. Someday, this wolf would turn rogue and need to be killed by him. He should do it now.
As the thought raced through his mind, his wolf was extremely pleased at the thought," Yes...Kill him..." It echoed in his mind.
"Zen. This is an order from your Beta." Kael's tone didn't change just because he was speaking in his head. It was still cold and unfeeling as he continued, "But don't show your cards now. This isn't the time. We are here for another job..."
Zen's jaw flexed. The stink of Alec's satisfaction rolled through the clearing—thick with pride, anger, something else. Possession. Then Zen snorted and jerked off Kael's arm. And charged so that Kael's fingers caught empty air. "Zen!" His mind echoed with Kael's shout but it was already too late.
Zen reached Alec in a blur and smashed his fist into the Alpha's son's face. Bone cracked. Blood sprayed from Alec's nose as he staggered back, choking on hos own blood and shock.
The omega flinched and fell back to her knees, not looking up even as the coat slipped from her shoulders. Her face stayed down, her body rigid, like she couldn't process what was happening around her. That someone had protected her.
Alec's lackeys surged forward, but they dared not attack Zen. Zen Stormhold was not someone they could look at casually, let alone hit.
Zen stepped between them and the omega, rolling his shoulders with quiet menace. "Touch what belongs to me," he said, low and cold, "and I'll rip your arms off."
The pack stilled. Jace froze. Theo faltered. Even Alec stopped, one hand clutched to his face.
"Belongs... to you?" Alec echoed, voice wet with blood, disbelief and accusation.
Zen didn't blink. "You heard me."
Alec's face twisted. He tried to hide it—dropped his eyes, nodded, bowed his head but it was too late. Zen could smell it: jealousy. Rage. Claim.
It curled off Alec in thick, sour waves. Not just anger at being struck. No, this went deeper. Alec thought the little Omega was his. Zen's lip curled. Disgust flooded his mouth. Meanwhile, without anyone noticing, the little Omega stared up at the man standing in front of her, protecting her, as she huddled deeper into the warm coat. But no one saw her hopeful glance as she wondered if she really could belong to someone other than the Moonville Pack.
Alec tried to speak, tried to make it better. "Your Highness, I meant no harm. She ran. I was only. Also, she is mine, I mean, are you mistaken about something? She is the Omega of the Moonville Pack."
"I am not mistaken. That coat belongs to me. If it is damaged, I won't forgive you." Prince Zen finished off flatly.
That landed hard.
The omega turned her head slightly, just enough to glance at him through her tangled hair. Her eyes were dull, her expression blank. But she'd heard him. Even now, some part of her was still listening and that little hope that had uselessly lit itself inside her was extinguished in that moment.
Kael stepped forward then, eyes scanning the girl but addressing Alec. "Her clothes are a mess," he said, bored. "If we have to keep looking at her like this, I may put my own eyes out."
Alec's face flushed—not just with blood now, but heat. His hand twitched at his side. Jealousy again. Zen could smell it all over him. The stench of a male who had lost something he thought belonged to him. At this rate, this man would make him retch.
"You're offended at Zen's words?" Kael said without looking at him. "Then fix it. Get her something decent to wear."
Alec's voice cracked. "Yes, Your Highness. Ryn. PackHouse. Now."
Ryn obeyed and vanished into the trees.
Zen didn't move. His coat still hung off her shoulders, covering the worst of the rips of her dress, but it wasn't enough.
As he looked down at her, sitting there, still as stone, her head bowed, arms wrapped tightly around herself like even the fabric touching her was too much, he felt an odd determination within him.
"What are you doing, Zen?"
Kael's voice cut through the silence like a blade in his mind as Zen replied, not bothering to hide the irritation in his tone, "What do you mean?"
Kael didn't answer right away. He stepped forward, adjusted the angle of his stance slightly, and folded his arms, blocking the little Omega from his view. Outwardly, he looked composed as always. But Zen could feel the weight of his scrutiny.
"Don't play innocent," Kael said finally. You weren't just protecting her from Alec. Your intentions were quite obvious back there."
Zen's eyes flicked toward his brother. "Really? And what were my intentions?"
"I think you were seconds away from doing something you'd never be able to take back. Since when did you get interested in unwilling playmates, Zen?"
Zen stilled and even as he protested in his mind," That she was not unwilling. You could smell her arousal as well."
But even as his brother gave him a droll look, Zen caught the girl by the wrist and dragged her back towards the packhouse. His wolf had already decided what it wanted to do.