It's been two weeks since the F.B.I. agents left town. Since then, we've grieved the loss of old man Jefferson. Ashley took time off to console her father while I continued patrolling the town. I loved the peaceful atmosphere and its inhabitants, but sometimes it got too quiet.
Loneliness.
Living a lie was never easy. It forced me to distance myself from everyone. I could never bring myself to a point where I could date and settle down with a guy, letting him know I was a lone male Omega. I couldn't take the risk; the Wolven Council would descend like vultures.
It's almost unheard of for an Omega to live free from their birth pack's control for six years. Many male Omegas who tried to flee were captured within days and subjected to brutal retribution by their packs. They were sent for indoctrination until they became willing breeding tools.
A shudder ran down my spine. That would be my fate if they caught me, but luckily, I had contingencies if the Wolven Council's dogs captured me. Death would be preferable. I rubbed the back of my neck where a rune sat. I would rather die than become a tool for them to abuse.
I grabbed the warm coffee mug and took a long sip. The rich, bittersweet flavor instantly woke me up. Meanwhile, Cookie purred happily as she enjoyed her meal, her elegant tail swishing behind her. Her joyful meows filled the room, showing how much she loved her food.
I was about to move toward the back deck when my cell phone rang. I reached across the counter and answered the call. "Good morning, Gina. What's the latest gossip?"
"There's no time!" Gina yelled, wiping the smile off my face. "You have to get your ass out of Haven's Point right now."
The warmth of the coffee in my stomach turned to an icy block, sending shivers through my body. My fingers tightened around the cup, and I watched as tiny cracks spidered across the porcelain surface. They found me. But how?
"H-How?" It was the only word I could stutter out. Everything I had accomplished turned to dust before my eyes.
"I don't know the details, honey," she sighed. "But the F.B.I. agents came back and put the precinct under lockdown. They're investigating our involvement in hiding you for so long and allowing you to join the police."
Bile rose in my throat as I stumbled up the stairs. How many of my friends and colleagues were going to lose their jobs—or worse, end up in prison? My breath hitched at the implications, and I cursed.
"Don't lose your head, Caleb." It had been a long time since I'd heard my name. "The agents can't do anything drastic since we fall under the protection of the Shifter Council. The worst that could happen to my husband and those under him is a slap on the wrist. The Shifter Council's stance on male Omegas has always been clear."
Right. The Shifter Council believed the werewolves were despicable in their treatment of male Omegas and condemned their actions. They would ignore the Wolven Council and step in to protect their own.
"Now, you don't have time to waste. Don't worry about Cookie or your cabin. We'll take care of her and your place. Just get out of there and run... But if they—"
I replied confidently, "Don't worry. If they capture me, I'll survive. They have a big shock coming to them."
**********
I ran down the stairs and came to a screeching halt, carrying a red bag on my shoulders. Years ago, I had made plans in case my cover was blown, just like I did when I ran from my pack. Everything I needed was in the bag. But where to flee to? America wasn't safe anymore. Maybe Europe, or even Asia. I shook my head as I rushed toward the back door.
I pulled my phone out of my jacket pocket and crushed it. I tossed the remains of the device into the waste bin. Before leaving, I picked up Cookie and hugged her, earning a meow before kissing her on the head.
"I'm really sorry, Cookie," I said, a sob catching in my throat as I hugged her for the last time. "You can't come with me, but Aunty Gina will take care of you. So please be a good girl for me and behave." I gently placed her on the couch before opening the back door. A final meow made me pause. Cookie's amber eyes looked at me, and it felt like she was piercing my heart before I rushed out of the cabin.
As I slipped into the cover of the forest, I could see dozens of headlights stretching out into the distance, sirens wailing in the background. Idiots. Did they think I'd turn myself in? If they wanted me, they'd have to haul back my lifeless body.
I was running through the thick forest, the leaves a blur of vibrant green as I dashed by, feeling the underbrush slap against my ankles with each step. Despite the sweet smell of blooming flowers and the musty scent of decaying leaves, I couldn't calm down. I knew the Council mutts and the F.B.I. were hot on my heels, relentless in their pursuit.
As the sun set, it painted the forest in shades of gold and orange. I emerged into a clearing, spotting the abandoned barn on the far side where I had stashed a getaway car. But before I could reach it, a massive, fur-covered body crashed into me from the side, knocking me off my feet. I hit the ground hard, a cloud of dust rising around me as I coughed and struggled to stand.
The ground shook as thunderous paws closed in on me, and before I could regain my footing, the beast tackled me again. A menacing growl, accompanied by the warm, putrid breath of the wolf, drew closer to my face. A massive, dark brown wolf loomed over me, its snarl revealing sharp, glistening teeth.
"Get off!" I yelled, sending thousands of volts of electricity through my hands. With a yelp, I blasted the wolf off me. I sat up, wiping the wolf's saliva from my face. Gross!
"Hold it right there, Mr. Grand," a familiar voice cut through the tension. A group of F.B.I. agents emerged from the forest, aiming their weapons at me. "There's no need for this situation to escalate further."
Agent Benette's eyes found the wolf lying on the ground, whining as the lightning discharge pulsed through its body.
"Well, then you should train your mutts not to attack me without using their heads," I quipped, readjusting the red bag on my shoulders. A dull throb pulsed across the left side of my torso. "The idiot can thank his luck for surviving."
Bones snapping echoed through the clearing as the brown wolf shifted into human form. I rolled my eyes—figured this sleazeball would have the nerve to pull a cheap shot. Slade stumbled to his feet, muttering curses under his breath, while a few people quickly averted their eyes from his naked, flailing self.
"Fuck, that hurt," Slade muttered as he walked over to the witch, who held out a pair of trousers. After he made himself decent, he turned to me and glared. "I'll fucking put you in your place, little Omega."
Without wasting another second, I threw a kinetic bolt at his chest, sending him tumbling into another agent.
"Enough!" Benette roared, sending the nesting birds scattering into the cloudy evening sky. "Attack my agents again, and I won't be lenient with you."
"Fuck off," I replied. "Save your threats for someone who cares."
Benette's eyes flashed amber at my defiance. "It seems you're not going to cooperate. So, you leave me no choice." He turned around and addressed the witch behind him. "Restrain him. I won't waste my time with an insolent pup."
As the witch stepped forward, everything fell quiet in the clearing. She lifted her hands high and spoke with an ancient-sounding power. Everyone waited, feeling the tension in the air. But when she finished the spell, the magic fizzled out. Her eyes went wide with disbelief as she stared at her hands, trying to figure out what went wrong.
What a bunch of idiots. "Do you think I'm an idiot, Agent Benette?" I rubbed the bridge of my nose. "The clearing you're standing in has runes of suppression around the perimeter. Only the one who drew them can use magic here. I might not be a warlock, but my runes level the playing field when dealing with spellcasters."
The earth shook beneath their feet, and then sinewy roots snaked out, wrapping around their ankles and slowly climbing up their bodies. Panic erupted as they desperately tried to break free from the tightening grip of the relentless roots, their shouts and cries echoing through the air.
"You won't get away from us, Mr. Grand," Agent Benette yelled as he clawed at the roots entangling him.
I shrugged. "Maybe not, but you'll have to try harder next time."