“Better than an empty one,” Lev mutters.
I snicker. “I suppose that’s true.”
“You had no control over what you were taught before now. We’re going to get you up to speed with things, and what you do with what you learn will be entirely up to you,” Orion assures me.
“Finders keepers, cub. You won’t be slipping away on us. Will you?”
“No.” his voice and tone do funny things to me.
“You’re a little diamond in the rough; I can sense it. They tried to dull you and hide your shine, but it’s still there, winking in the sunlight. You’ll have to be brave enough to take what you want. Do you think you can do that, Cub?”
His rich voice is a caress I want more of.
“Yes.”
“Good. Chin up when we arrive, and if anyone gives you a hard time, you get Orion or me. We’ll sort them out.”
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
“Nice girls deserve nice things, cub. You’re going to be packed now. We take care of our own.”
Is that all?Disappointment yanks me from my arousing thoughts about the man in the driver’s seat and his fit brother. Crossing the line unleashed something inside of me I’m not sure how to put back. There’s a new awareness and a sense of free will that I’d never experienced behind the wards.There’s a reason for that.Anger simmers in my belly. I can’t believe how much the pack kept from us. A few hours of conversation has only revealed the tip of the iceberg. My heart aches for all the omegas left behind, ignorant of the lives they could be having.
“We can’t let them get away with this,” I whisper.
“Believe me Cub, we won’t.” Lev’s eyes flash like lightning.
“The Lunar Goddess brought us together for a reason.” Orion’s voice is like thunder, full of righteousness and wrath. Together, they’re a storm I want to get lost in while I ride out its wildness. The magic washes over me. Needles and pins drag over my skin as a light breeze passes over me as we cross into their land.
I hold my breath as it weighs my worth. The intensity increases. I suck in a breath as the pins and needles dig deep, raking over my body like invisible claws. I suck in my breath as the crescent moon on my shoulder begins to itch. Reaching over my shoulder, I scratch, and the burning begins.
I hiss and squirm on the leather seats.
“Brook?” Their voices sound far away.
“What the hell is going on, Orion?”
“I don’t know.”
My vision darkens and narrows. Muscles tensing, I’m jerked like a marionette. The world around me drifts away.
“Take this, Brookie.” I hear my sister’s voice and feel a soothing cool touch. “Please. Open your mouth.”
I try to relax as she pries my lips open. Strong hands grip my jaw.
“There’s my cub.” Lev’s hands bring me a brief reprieve. Liquid coats my tongue, and a warm hand massages my throat to help me swallow. The fire begins to recede. The hands leave me, and the waves of unending cramps start again.
“Put your hands back on her.” The torture ends.
“What’s going on?” Moss asks, confused.
“I don’t know,” Lev growls. “But we’re not leaving. If she needs us to sit beside her all night, that’s what we’re doing.” In a sea of chaos, the weight of Orion and Lev’s hands keep me from getting lost in the dark abyss trying to bind me tight.
Stuck in the in-between, I see a forest. I feel the carpet beneath my feet. The wind blows through my hair as I race beneath the bright white orb that hangs high in the sky. The wild scent of trees, moss, and plants fills my lung. Here there are no limitations or mundane worries. I push myself, running faster, my legs pumping higher and my arms swinging. I leap over a log and come down on four legs instead of two.
* * *
Orion