Page 109 of Your Wild Omega

“Well, I fell off.” She pushes Zack, trying to shake him loose. “But this happened in the gates.” She talks fast, spitting all the details out like she’s in trouble. “My horse shied and crushed my leg against the railing. I’m fine, though, really. The medics checked me out and said it’s just bruised.”

I sigh and slump against the door. Any set can be dangerous, and even more with big animals involved. Now I think about it, I can pinpoint the exact moment Red’s fear and shock spiked through me. That must have been when she fell. My hand feels clammy as I rub it across my face.

Zack’s fingers clamp around Red’s ankle. “Who? Kill.” His words sound even more terrifying because he says them calmly.

“Shit. No, Zack. No killing anyone,” Red says. Bitter panic laces through my chest, but I can’t be sure if it’s hers or mine.

“No killing,” I add firmly.

Zack looks over his shoulder and bares his teeth in defiance.

“I mean it,” I warn more sternly. “Never killing.”

Red clasps his face and tugs, drawing Zack to his feet. “I’m really fine, alpha,” she reassures before kissing him. When they break apart, she smiles sweetly. “I’ll shower and then put some ice on it. Can you get me an ice pack, Zack? From the freezer?”

“I’ll go,” I say softly, turning away.

Zack snorts, annoyance flooding through our bond. He swivels to look at us both, leans in, and turns the shower on. “Wash,” he commands, before stalking out the door and down the hallway.

Anyone else might think it’s such a small thing, but Red and I trade smiles before getting in the shower and cuddling under thewater. Having her in my arms again fills the uneasy emptiness that dogged my day.

“He’s learning so fast, and his personality’s surfacing more and more,” Red murmurs, her words slurred by the water running down her face.

“Mm-hmm,” I agree, holding her close but not squeezing. I’ve taken enough tumbles from riding horses to know what it feels like. “Did you get back on a horse after?” I ask, shifting the subject back to her.

“Yes.” She chuckles, leaning into me. “The handler in charge of the horses made sure of that.”

I lean my forehead against hers. “I should’ve been there.”

“Pfft. What could you have done? All the horses were antsy today, and we were already locked in the starting gates when it happened.” She recounts how the horse next to her crashed into the side barrier right as the gates opened, and how she told Mr Yun to write it into the script.

While she talks, I muster the energy to load us both up with soap. Red’s right; it wouldn’t have made any difference if I was there or not, but I still feel bad. She could’ve at least had one of her alphas for moral support, but we both know Zack can’t be left alone.

Red catches me sighing. “Stop that,” she chides. “I was happy knowing you guys were curled up in your love huddle.”

I snort. “That’s a pretty accurate description. We were in bed all day.”

As Red grins, Zack clears his throat beyond the frosted glass. Red and I exchange glances and giggles. “I think the headmaster’s waiting for us,” she says.

We rinse quickly and pile out. Zack waits with our towels like he’s taken care of people all his life, bundling Red up and lifting her off her feet as if she’s precious cargo. Well, he’s got that right.

An ice pack lies on the bed, and I stare at it, a swell of emotion bringing tears to my eyes. He understands so much these days. I can’t even recall showing him the icepack in the freezer. Maybe he learned it from TV.

I slip into an undershirt and fresh boxers and collapse on the bed, grinning as Zack arranges me and Red side by side. It’s controlling but endearing. Our darling head alpha is doing everything he can to take care of us.

I take Red’s hand as she shows him how to wrap the icepack in a T-shirt and mold it around her calf. The soft conversation lulls me into a trance and I drift off with their dual contentment embedded in my chest.

Chapter forty-two

Red

Pressure lands on my body, trapping me in place. I gasp, unable to move. The House of Bitches looms around me, the nest restraints latching onto my arms. I should be able to get those leather cuffs off again, but every time I try, I can’t seem to move. The air’s become heavy, too.

I whine and thrash, calling for my alphas, but they don’t hear me. Pain throbs up my body and I grit my teeth. Is it my heat? But I don’t think I’m due yet. My befuddled brain casts around for answers.

“Hey,’Lev. Waiting for me?”

My lungs clamp on the haze-thickened smog. It’s him. Ray, the disgusting alpha I hate most in the world. But the OCB shot him, and I kicked him in the face, right? Why is he here now? I shake my head, trying to clear it, but a formless mass looms out of the shadows to stand over me.

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