The Omega Queen

Caleb - Instructions

For a long time, I thought patrolling was boring. Now it has become my norm, as night after night, I make sure my territory is safe from any threats. Not being able to sleep because of the nightmares that plague me day and night, I try to keep myself active, not wanting to go crazy with the memories from the past.

I pass a place in my territory that only I and a few others know and stop. Tonight is not like any other. Tonight is one of those times when I become a monster. For the next few hours, I will be Caleb Black, the most feared rogue in Romania.

Twigs snap behind me. “You are late,” I say to Yavor, a bounty hunter vampire—one of the few vampires I tolerate.

“Finding your next victim was not as easy as the other Omegas you asked me to find for you,” Yavor complains as he drags after him a female.

Her hands are bound with silver shackles, a chain attached to them. A gag is in her mouth, preventing her from talking or screaming for help. Like someone will come to her rescue.

I snort. “She is not a victim,” I retort. “Right, Corrine?”

“But you will kill her just like you did with the others.”

“What I do with her is my business,” I growl and take out the envelope from my back pocket. “Take your money and leave.”

Yavor takes the envelope from me, and Corinne takes advantage of the small exchange and runs away. I was expecting that.

Yavor counts the money. “I will wait for your next email. I am curious who I have to find next.”

Katherine or Ivona, I wonder. I am yet to make up my mind.

‘Let’s finish with the Omega females, then move to the others,’ Raven suggests.

Ivona it is.

“Good luck hunting,” Yavor chuckles as he shoves the money into a pocket and disappears into the night.

I inhale deeply, Corinne’s sweet scent burning my lungs, and I start running after her. It does not take long to catch up with her. After all, Omegas are not fast runners.

The gag from her mouth is gone, she probably removed it when she fled.

“Please, Caleb, please,” she starts begging as I tackle her to the ground.

“Save your breath, Corinne,” I snarl as I wrap my hands around her throat and start squeezing.

She claws my wrists. “Please.”

“You were the most vicious, Corinne. Why should I spare you?”

She keeps clawing my flesh, blood running down my skin. “Do you know how long I have waited for this night?”

Her mouth opens, but no sounds come out as I squeeze even harder.

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. Not yet, at least.”

I keep tormenting Corinne, letting her run away from me and then catching her again in an endless cat-and-mouse game until I catch the scent of Tatiana.

“That’s quite enough, Caleb,” Tatiana says.

“Why do you always show up when I am having the most fun?” I demand to know. I stand and look as Corinne coughs and inhales big mouthfuls of air. “Why can’t I have my revenge?”

“Because this is not who you are.”

“You don’t know what or who I am,” I snarl. “I am just a monster that lurks in the shadows waiting for the right moment to strike!”

Tatiana comes to me and puts her palm against my cheek. I flinch. “I know it is hard, Caleb, but you have made so much progress already. Leave Corinne in my hands and only make sure to patrol the border during the Full Moon.”

“Why? Why do I have to patrol the border that night?”

“Because that is the night when the Fire dies.”

I frown, not understanding what she means.

Tatiana helps Corinne to her feet. “You are coming with me,” Tatiana says to the Omega female. Before leaving, Tatiana gives me a potion. “It will help you sleep.”