Page 42 of Omega Hunted

“Open any boxes; there are all kinds of books, my… Raff… he was big on books.” He threw me a glance, but I wasn’t ready to discuss Raff with him. I crossed to the taller bookshelf against the far wall and pressed my thumb to the underside of the middle shelf. There was a quiet click, and the entire unit released, swinging slowly away from the wall on concealed hinges. Soren’s eyes widened.

“This is the panic room,” I said. “It has reinforced walls, independent ventilation, enough food and water for a couple of weeks, blankets, a radio, first aid kits, a tunnel leading out to a fully equipped camouflaged and scent blocked staging area with another smaller safe house, more like a cottage, and comms in it to call for help.”

I stepped inside, flicked on the lights, then showed him the control panel beside the door. “If you ever need it, close the door and hit this. It’ll deadbolt from the inside; head downstairs; there’s another door there; the code for both doors is 18166. That’s RAFF in numbers, okay? No one gets in without the override, and only you and I know that code.”

“Okay.”

“We’ll add some baby stuff in case, but I hope you never have to use it,” I said as I swung the bookcase back into place until the lock engaged with a solid click. “If anything happens while I’m outside, or if you get scared, this is where you go. No hesitation.”

He nodded, and I gestured at the nearest chair.

“I’m going out to run the east fence line,” I said. “Patrol. A few hours, maybe less depending on the snow.” I stopped. His chin had dropped. “What?”

He shook his head. “Nothing. I’m fine here.”

“Soren.”

“I’m fine.” He didn’t want me to go. I almost told him I could skip patrol, and the thought stopped me cold. Three years, and I hadn’t missed a run. The fences still needed checking. Cameras still failed. Trees still came down across the perimeter. So why was I suddenly looking for reasons to stay here with him?

Because he needs us.

“I’ll be on the fence line,” I said, giving no room for argument, then softened when he seemed stricken. “Not far. If anything changes with you or Asha, you open the door and shout, and I’ll hear you. I’ll find panic alarms for the next time I go out; I know I have them packed up somewhere.”

He nodded, staring at the books with an uncertain expression.

“That’s where I’ll be.” I crossed to the window and pointed at the tree line east of the house, where the fence turned north. “You’ll see me shift back before I reach the yard.”

He stared at where I was pointing. “Okay.”

“Okay,” he said. Then, gestured at the chairs: “Who is Raff?”

“I need to patrol,” I said, already overstimulated by even being in this room, and evading the subject like a boss.

Fuck. Raff, I miss you.

After setting a fire in the old grate, I left Soren in the library with the mountain view in the window and the snow coming down, and I closed the door on memories I didn’t need today.

My wolf was already pulling toward the door before I hit the stairs, impatient to get this over and done with and get back for Soren. I needed the cold air and the distance and the clean hard work of the fence line, he needed…

Our omega.

Usually, we disappeared into the trees without another thought, but not today. Before we reached the first fence corner, he’d already stopped, one paw up, and three times he stared toward the house.

Turning back toward Soren. Stay. Protect. Home.

“We have to work,” I told him. But the truth was, I understood him completely, and I’ve never patrolled so damn fast.

A voicemail was waiting for me when I got home.

Static crackled for a second before Ronan’s voice came through, rougher than I’d heard it before, as though he was walking while he talked. “Cass, it’s me. Don’t call back. I won’t have this phone by the time you hear this.” There was a pause, followed by the sound of wind rushing across the microphone. “I’ve identified our omega as Soren Kastor. The files we recovered weren’t complete, but there was enough. Birth records. Family trees. Breeding agreements going back generations.”

Fuck, if he’d found that out, then others could too.

Hunters maybe.

“It’s the Kastor family. If Soren Kastor’s alive, every family connected to that network will already know he’s missing. Not to mention whoever the fuck the father of the baby is.” More harsh breathing. “Shit, Cass…” Wind swallowed part of the next sentence before his voice came back. “The bounty won’t stay local; hell, it won’t even stay regional. Every family with money, influence, or a claim to that bloodline will be looking for him now.” I knew that. Some hunters would want the child, but others might want to stop anyone else from getting her, either.

He fell silent for a couple of seconds, and I thought the message had ended, then he coughed, and when he spoke again, his voice was rougher.