The Hidden Omega

CHAPTER 3

Like a sword, the words glide into my ear. Above us, the black wolf flares its nostrils and lowers its head. Through the narrow gap between the wood and the ground, its yellow eyes meet mine.

It has a heated breath. Damp. Metal and blood odors. My jaw hurts from clenching my teeth so tightly. Rylan moves in front of me, his body taut and prepared.

Similar to a storm holding back he advances with care and softness. The wolf emits a growl. Deep. Warning. Afterwards, movement stirs throughout the forest: breath steaming in the air, claws snapping, twigs, shadows weaving.

Hunters. Too many. Once more, the voice I detest emerges from the shadows, serene and content. "Can you detect that scent?" Magnus says.

“Just terror. New Omega” My stomach turns over. Rylan's grip on my hand gets tighter. His thumb steadily presses into my knuckles once. Grounding.

As the darkness draws in, fear rushes through my body. My feet are rooted to the ground, despite every instinct telling me to go.

The woodland waits and listens. As if the world itself is holding its breath in terrible, intolerable silence tonight alone, even the moon appears to pause, suspended above us.

"You run on my signal," he murmurs. "No," I reply in a whisper. "I promise not to abandon you." He pivots slightly to gaze at me. In the dark, his eyes shine like gold. Not upset.

Not frightened. Indeed. He inquires, "Do you trust me?" My throat tightens. I do not believe in anyone. I never have.

But something in my chest is broken by the way he stands there, between me and death. I give a nod. The black wolf makes a lunge. "NOW." Rylan charges ahead.

Rylan collides with the wolf in midair, causing the log to tremble. Teeth break. Fur flies. With a roar, the wolf slams into the ground. "RUN!" Rylan yells.

For half a heartbeat, I hesitate— I then take off running. My face is whipped by branches. My boots get grabbed by roots. With my lungs burning, I push faster and harder until the forest becomes blurry.

Snarling erupts behind me. Cries pierce the night. I catch Rylan battling—growls cutting through the silence, bones breaking.

My heart begs me to stop. To go back. However, I don't. I continue to run. The trees abruptly thin out, revealing a moonlit, narrow ravine. I stagger to the brink— And cease. It's a drop. Deep.

Below are jagged rocks. Imprisoned. Behind me, footsteps clatter. I turn just as Rylan rushes out of the trees, his chest heaving and his arm smeared with blood.

When he sees the ravine, his eyes enlarge. "Liora—" From behind him, a shadow leaps. Rylan turns and pushes me away, his claws slashing where my chest was just moments before.

He emits a furious roar tearing from his throat.

Breath knocked out of me, I tumbled to the ground. The hunters get closer. Magnus, towering and composed, enters the moonlight with a blade-sharp smile.

His gaze darts from Rylan to me. "Well, this is disappointing," he remarks nonchalantly. I thought there would be more concealing. Rylan growls.

"I'll rip your throat out if you touch her." Magnus chuckles. "Don't you smell it too? That is incorrect. That is a falsehood. He fixes his eyes on me. "She isn't an Alpha." I can feel my heart pounding in my ears.

Rylan moves closer, positioning himself to shield me. "She belongs to Moonfang Academy." Magnus tilts his head. "She is tied to the grave." A part of me shatters. I yell before I have the chance to hold back—

"STOP!" Sharp and powerful, the sound rips out of me. The wolves become frozen. Each and every one. With their jaws hanging open and their eyes wide, their bodies lock in midair.

The ravine is filled with silence. Magnus's grin disappears. Rylan slowly turns to face me. My voice reverberates once more, wavering and weaker this time.

"Avoid getting too close." The hunters are immobile. They are unable to breathe. They are unable to blink. Rylan looks at me as if I've just ripped the sky apart.

"Liora, " he whispers. "What have you just done?" My legs collapse. The Earth spins.

And all of a sudden— I've left this place. Once more, I find myself at Moonfang Academy's gates. The initial day. I saw him for the first time. --- Elevated above me, the academy gates are engraved with ancient symbols and claw marks.

Groups of wolves pass by, shoving, joking, and bragging. I keep my head down. Remain modest. Keep quiet. Beneath my shirt, my smell blocker is thick. Fresh. Powerful. Secure.

I step inside the gates—. Meet a solid wall of muscle face-, to-face. I stumble backward. Exhale sharply "Oof." As I’m about to fall a hand clasps my arm. "Watch it." The voice is low.. Steady.

I raise my head. Eyes of gold. Dark hair. Tall. Wide shoulders. Every line of him exudes alpha confidence.

Darkclaw, Rylan. He seems to be attempting to determine whether I pose a threat as he glances down at me. I swiftly take my arm free and mutter, "Sorry." "I wasn't searching."

His eyes narrow a little. He leans in. Too near. My heart skips a beat. He takes a breath. Only once. Then he furrows his brow. He murmurs, "That's strange." I tense up.

"What is that?" He glances at my expression then cautiously steps away. "Nothing." Still, his eyes stay locked on me. Not even when I start to walk.

Not even when I'm completely engulfed by the crowd. At that moment, I sensed his focus. Sharp. Heavy. Inquisitive. Similar to a hunter discovering an unnatural scent. --- "LIORA!" The recollection breaks.

I let out a cry and fell back into the ravine. Rylan takes hold of my shoulders and gives me a gentle shake. "Liora—stay with me!" The frozen wolves suddenly break free and fall to the ground, gasping.

Anarchy breaks out. Magnus staggers backward, stunned. He exhales, "What are you?" I am unable to respond. My mind is spinning. It boils in my throat.

Holding me closely with his arms encircling me, Rylan pulls me near. "You accomplished that by using your voice.

My mouth quivers. "I didn't intend to." Magnus recovers swiftly, his smile reappearing—slowly and dangerously. "Well," he murmurs, "that clarifies everything."

Shaking off the enchantment, the hunters get up once again. Rylan clenches his jaw. "We're heading out." Magnus chuckles. "You're not leaving."

From the trees, more wolves emerge, obstructing all routes. Rylan gives me a downward glance. He speaks in a calm yet urgent tone.

"Are you able to do it again?" Weakly, I shake my head. "I—I'm not sure." Magnus moves in closer. Bring her over to me. Gently. The hunters move forward.

Rylan steps ahead of me, his body beginning to shift as surges of power emanate from him and his bones elongate.

However, there are far too many of them. Too many. Magnus's eyes shine. "I've been waiting for this moment for years." With his claws sliding loose, Rylan growls.

Magnus then utters the words that chill my blood: "Kill the Alpha." The hunters jump. Rylan makes a lunge. The edge of the ravine behind them falls beneath my feet.

The earth gives way— And I stumbled.