Page 95 of The Omega's Bloodline: Part One

“Um, okay, well, so far I’ve been the only one able to see the entity. Seth and Caden could sense it, but only when it got close.”

Yelena tapped her fingers against her thigh. “Why only you?”

“I have no idea. Though, to be fair, I don’t know anyone else who’s been in contact with it. Caden and Seth couldn’t see a spirit we encountered in the Appalachians either.”

“If you’re the only one we can rely on for detection, I need you to walk the perimeter.”

“No,” Caden snapped. “That’s not safe.”

Yelena rolled her eyes. “Panther, we don’t have time for your fussing. We’re potentially evacuating nearly a hundred people in a few minutes if whatever followed you breaks through our wards. Logan is here and she will do her duty for the good of the nest.”

I can go with her, I offered, projecting the thought to the vehicle’s inhabitants.

“Why can’tIgo with her?” Caden asked.

“Because you need to learn your place.” Yelena growled. “Haru, take Logan. Use your largest form so you can be quick about it.”

Yes, Mistress.

I slid out of my seat and Caden took over the driver’s seat for a faster getaway. I shifted into my strongest wolf form. It was about three times the size of my usual form and didn’t suit life in the nest very well so I rarely assumed it. I crouched to the ground, focusing on Logan.

Climb on.

She did as instructed, thighs squeezing me just behind my shoulders. I set off with a smooth gait and followed the outer perimeter of the wards, reinforced by a nine-foot-tall iron fence that was decorated with hundreds of protective charms. This area of the nest contained the garage and extensive food gardens that looped around the main building, and the forest beyond the fence stretched for miles.

Anything?

“Not so far.” Logan’s fingers dug into my fur. “Can I ask a question?”

Yes.

“Is Yelena good to you? Do you actually like her?”

I snorted.Of course I like her. She saved my life. We’ve been lovers for years now and I’ve never had the desire to leave her.

“I try to trust the vibes I get off people, but Caden’s worried. Seth had a horrible experience in a nest and we’re all really on edge.”

Understandable. Seth and I were in that same nest together.

Logan’s fingers squeezed tighter. “Really?”

He was a comfort to me.We spent a considerable amount of time in the infirmary together before I came here.

“From the animal fights?”

I paused and glanced at her when she reached out to stroke my head.Yes. That’s how I lost my voice.

“I’m so sorry.” She likely said the words automatically, but her tone rang with sincerity. Logan sighed and looked around, surveying the forest outside of the fence. “Would it be possible to get into the trees?”

Why?

“I don’t know how it works, but the forest has given me warnings about the entity before. It might help figure out how close it is.”

Sure. Let’s finish the perimeter first and let Yelena know.

I got going again, picking up my pace. I hadn’t let anyone ride on me like this for years. Logan was an easy weight for me to carry in this form—solid and steady. I liked having her up there. Her power thrummed against me like warm water trickling down a waterfall, but I wasn’t even sure if she was aware of it, given how focused she seemed to be on everything else.

The forest was quiet around the nest, but not eerily so. Flickers and scrabbling of woodland creatures and birds were still audible, though there seemed to be fewer than usual.

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