Page 138 of Your Wild Omega

“Thanks, alpha,” I tell Rickon, resting my hands on his chest. His heart beats strongly under my palms and his happiness flushes through our third-party bond.

“No matter what happens, I’m proud of you,” he says, kissing both my cheeks.

I nod. Yeah, I’m proud of myself too. Despite all the fucked-up shit, I survived, and now I’m carving out the life I want. “I wanna make sure he can’t do the same thing to anyone else,” I murmur.

Rickon strokes my cheeks. “Agreed. Hold on to that thought today.”

My alpha helps me with my makeup, giving me soft, smoky eyes, and once he’s finished, we head downstairs, where Zack’s hoovering up a bowl of cereal. With no OCB agents in sight, I conclude he must have served his own food.

“Our baby’s all grown up and independent now,” I say, squeezing Rickon’s hand.

He laughs but bleaker thoughts quickly drain our amusement away.

“Ricky, do you think we should leave Zack here today?”

Rickon freezes. “In the library?” he asks, glancing toward the barred doorway.

I nod, my throat closing up. “Didn’t you say he asked you about the process of law recently, and got upset about what Hudson did to you? If he understands what we talk about, he might attack Ray.”

Rickon nods thoughtfully, watching Zack navigate another mouthful of cereal. “Yeah, he’s really piecing things together these days.” He sighs and turns to take both my hands, standing on the step below me. “I don’t know, Red. That might be something you have to decide as his omega. But what I do know is you’ve always refused to put him back in a cell. He’s going to feel everything you go through today, and if he’s here, he’ll be going through it alone, not knowing why.”

My shoulders slump. Yeah, he’s right. I’d forgotten about the effect of the bond. Either choice won’t be good news for Zack.

Someone clears their throat behind me and I turn to find Agent Josef on the stairs. Of the two agents, he’s the more serious one, but he smiles kindly. “Pardon me. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but don’t forget, even if Zack stays here, one of us will come with you today. You’re not doing this alone.”

An emotional prickle darts through my throat as I smile. “I appreciate that. He’s coming, so please stay alert. It could be a real difficult week for us all.”

He nods. “Of course. Leave Zack to Rickon and us. You focus on what you need to do.”

Zack cocks his head, listening in. He turns reproachful eyes to me, his thick brows folding a little as if to ask why on earth I’d consider leaving him behind.

I chuckle and lean in to kiss him. Like Josef said, I’m not alone anymore. I can face anything with my alphas at my side.

Hale paces the courthouse foyer like an angry cat as we arrive. I can almost see a tail twitching in annoyance behind him. He spins at the sound of our footsteps, scanning me up and down. “You’re late,” he snaps, but the tension drains out of his body immediately.

I flash him a half smile, not that he can see it through the face mask I wore to cut body scents. “Better late than never, right?”

He grins, losing the last traces of stiffness. “Yes, of course. I’m grateful you came. Both parties have made their opening comments, and Callisto just finished with his expert witnesses from forensics and the omega health specialist. The defense have called a different medical expert. So far, they’re saying it’s a coincidence Ray was in the trafficking center at all that day.” He glances at me, worry creasing his brow. “The defendant sits in there on the right-hand side.”

I nod, staring at the double doors ahead of me. Inside that room waits the man behind all my nightmares, both the ones in my sleep and the ones while I’m still awake. It feels likeI’m volunteering to morph into my heat-corrupted self. Will the other Red consume me?

A zephyr of licorice scent wraps around me, promising to overwhelm my mind.

I look from Zack to Rickon, the nauseating flutter in my stomach turning into a storm. Good thing I skipped breakfast today. “If I, ah, lose myself in there, do you guys know any secret alpha techniques that can make me pass out?”

Pain shows in Rickon’s eyes as he grasps my upper arms. “None that I know of, Biscuit, but Zack always manages to surprise us.”

Despite my paralyzing fears, I chuckle, and Rickon grins with me. He offers me a scent-neutralizing bracelet to put on my arm. “We can feel what you feel. If I think you’re beyond your limits, I’ll step in, okay?”

When I force out a reply, it comes as a thin, shaky whisper. “Promise?”

He wraps me in a solid hug. “Promise.”

After him, I hug Zack, soaking in his powerful strength. “Love Ohm,” he mutters, rocking me gently.

The last time I faced Ray, these two men were nothing more than a hum in my head. Now they’re here, in the flesh.

I turn and walk through the doors.

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