“He killed Mitah, and he hates the queen,” I say, failing to hide the tears as they spill down my cheeks. “Ask around,” I insist when Bock remains silent. “He’s helped many shifters. And he was only trying to help me. I was in so much pain. Please,don’t hurt him. He’s going to change the realm for us all.”
I realize too late that my attempt to protect Durin has exposed my deceitful answers. It also gives away my feelings for him. Bock may be distracted from the reason Mother and I went to the market alone, but I’m sure he’s now convinced that I fell for the fae who took advantage of me.
I wince, waiting for him to lash out. But he looks at me with pity instead. The poor, ignorant Omega, falling for her abuser. I bet he uses it to make himself the hero.
A sudden shriek from the crowd pulls everyone’s attention away from me. When I find the source, I’m shocked to see Jevive wrench free from her mother’s grasp and storm toward us.
“What aboutme?” she whines at Bock. “I presented as Omega. I’m in my three-moon period. You told me I would become Luna. Now that Rue returns, I’m just cast aside?”
Bock seizes her by the back of the neck and growls softly in her face. “Watch your tone with your Prime. You were not given permission to speak.”
She whimpers and averts her eyes from him.
“I thought Rue had been killed. Have you no sympathy for what she endured? She has the right to reclaim her title. And I deserve the Luna who was meant to be mine. Now, off with you.”
If only we could have hidden it longer. Why did Cirro have to find me that night? In just a few months, Jevive would have presented and become the new Luna, just as Mother had hoped. I could have remained here safely and “presented” later.
But Durin and our pup... They would never have become a part of my life. One of them wouldn’t exist at all. Maybe it was all worth it to keep a piece of Durin with me. He isn’t perfect, but he’s mine. In a way. Maybe he is actually strong enough to defeat this many Alphas. Perhaps he’ll risk it and rescue us from this life.
But if he doesn’t, this is my only chance at being spared thelife I ran from.
“She’s right, Prime,” I say quickly. “I was gone. And I’m no longer untouched. It’s only fair that she’s allowed to fill the role that she was promised.”
I pray silently that he is grateful to take the out. That he prefers a pure mate, one who hasn’t shamed him as I have. But he’s already made up his mind. He shoves Jevive toward her mother and gives her his back as he glares at me.
“You’d give up your right so easily, Omega?” he asks, his eyes glowing with anger again. “After I so graciously allowed you to keep it?”
“It sounds like someone enjoyed her heat a little too much,” Mannus says, peering around Bock’s large frame so I can see his ugly face. “You weren’t ashamed to return to your Prime. You were hoping the fae would fall for you once his pup was born. How pathetic.”
I instinctively cradle my belly, feeling threatened by his accusations. My tears flow even faster, only giving credit to what he’s claimed, what Bock was likely already thinking.
But my fear isn’t enough for Mannus. He’s angry. He was cast out for months, living in the forest alone because of me. He’s not finished hurting me yet.
“I’ve been near the castle while hunting for you, Omega,” he says with a truly wicked grin. “I’ve overheard things. You think you can win the fae’s heart? You say he hates the queen? Then why is she preparing a grand celebration for him as we speak? A festival to present him as her consort. Her lover. Her most precious and intimate companion?”
He shakes his head and chuckles, mocking me. “Do you really think he’d chooseyouover the queen?”
My throat closes up, and my heart feels like it was ripped from my chest. I want to disappear. If it weren’t for the innocent pup who needs me to survive, I would gladly surrender myself to thecold waters of the stream I once hid in.
Mother tries to come comfort me, but my father steps between us and holds her back.
I’m trapped. By my fate, by the Prime, and by this new pain that’s suffocating me. Everything seems to be closing in on me. I feel smaller and more helpless as Mannus’s words replay over and over in my head.
In my desperation, I lose my grip on the loathing and disgust I’ve been holding back for so long.
“Maybe Durin would choose the queen,” I spit at Mannus before turning to the almighty Prime. “But I’d probably choose her overyoumyself!”
Gasps echo through the forest, and growls of his enraged Alphas rumble around me. “What did you say to me?” Bock asks, leaning down until his face is right in front of mine.
This close, his fangs are as big and sharp as tent spikes. But I’m not intimidated. I’m fueled by agony, and my rage outweighs his bark. There’s no keeping my feelings buried now that my soul has been opened wide.
“You expect me to fight for you?” I scoff. “You really think that any Omega—besides Jevive’s shameless ass—wants to be your mate? To spread their legs for you and every Alpha in this pack whenever it suits you? To have them ripped open if they refuse? To be resented by the Betas for stealing their mates? You honestly believe you’re powerful enough, andattractiveenough, to be worth that? You’re out of your fucking mind!” I scream.
He growls and starts to say something, but I’m not finished. I yell the words to make sure my words are heard over his.
“You’re arrogant, selfish, and utterly clueless about what it means to provide for a pack. You think your status makes you desirable, but you might as well be a fae for what a cruel, heartless bastard you really are!”
I’m fully aware that a shifter could be killed for showing suchblatant disrespect to their Prime Alpha. But even Bock wouldn’t dare harm an Omega. We’re far too valuable and rare.