Page 71 of Shared Omega

He nods toward where Truk and I are still connected.

“When the knot’s undone, get dressed,” he says coldly. “I’ll take you into the ruins.”

PART THREE:

THE RUINS

CHAPTER 21: TRUK

By the Source, I have dreamed about this all my life, and now it is finally happening.

We are entering the city ruins.

All four of us—Kane in the lead, me and Dog behind, the three of us forming a protective triangle around Sloane in the middle.

The monolithic skyscrapers tower ahead of us, blocking out the sun. According to the stories, they were built over a century ago, before the big change. Now these man-made structures are gradually being reclaimed by the earth as their vertical stone walls are covered over with crawling vines.

High up, glass window panes wink in the sunlight amid the dense leaves of the enwrapping foliage. Other windows, their glass long since smashed out, stare darkly out from the walls like dead eyes. A cloud of white birds weaves in and out of the verdant, overgrown towers.

At first glance, the entire city appears to be deserted, but my nose tells me otherwise.

There are hundreds of Alphas here. Maybe even thousands. I can smell their collective scent wafting on the cool wind that is blowing through the canyons of the city.

Kane is leading the way ahead of us, his steel piercings and steel-gray mane catching the light. As we near the edge of the city, he cocks his head back and lets out a long, sharp whistle at the highest edge of audibility.

“Look,” Sloane gasps.

But I have already seen them. First, a few shadows moving within the busted out windows of the ruined buildings. Then other figures at street level stepping out of alleyways and climbing up from grates and open holes that connect to the deep, underground bowels of the city.

Alphas—several dozen of them. Many are armed with knives and clubs. All of them are ready for a fight.

At Kane’s signal, however, they all stand down.

“See, we were right,” Dog says, pitching his voice low so only Sloane and I can hear. “He was planning to ambush us as soon as we arrived.”

But now, it seems, that ambush has been called off.

The emerging Alphas are looking on in confusion, they are wondering about the change of plans no doubt. And they are probably wondering what the hell a half-breed like me is doing in this place.

Most of them glare at me hatefully. Some of them even curl back their lips in a threatening snarl. They don’t want me here.

When their eyes land on Sloane, however, their attitude shifts to outright shock.

They see her three fresh marks, and they are beginning to understand what that means.

She has been mutually claimed by the three of us. By their laws, that makes her our shared omega. And by extension, that means that we are now a pack, Kane, Dog, and me.

It is now our duty to protect Sloane, and that includes Kane.

It certainly complicates things.

As the group of curious Alphas close around us, Kane gestures to an adolescent Alpha who is staring at Sloane with a look of blatant infatuation. When Kane barks an order, the boy snaps back to his senses.

“Go fetch Addom and his pack,” Kane calls. “The omega too. The one called Lily. Have them meet us in the great temple. We have much to discuss.”

The adolescent nods and rushes off down the overgrown street, disappearing into the shadows.

CHAPTER 22: SLOANE