The Omega Queen

Twenty-Five

“All right, we have lettuce, tomatoes, olives, onions and cheese,” Cahira said. “We have sour cream and meat at home. What else do we need?”

Erin signed then wrote down her answer when she remembered her company was still learning. They wandered the market aisles, collecting the ingredients she needed. Cahira looked at her answer and nodded.

“Yes, of course, peppers. Alexander may not look like it, but he does appreciate spicy flavors. I prefer milder things.”

Erin nodded. She liked a bit of heat herself, but her father had also preferred milder flavors. It led to some interesting dinner pranks when she was younger. She wouldn’t pull such things with her mother-in-law. Erin knew there was ample Tabasco and chili powder at their residence, so everyone could flavor their meal as they wished.

Most of what she needed to make the bread was already in the kitchen, but they had grabbed lard for frying. Erin knew she could have made do with vegetable oil, but lard was her mother’s preferred medium. She also grabbed apples in anticipation of making dessert as well as corn for a surprise side dish.

“Oh, this is so exciting,” Cahira happily chatted as they made it to the register and headed out. She never made anything like Erin described, and she was eager to participate.

They reached home and had barely stepped through the front door when the alarm call flooded the pack’s link: ROGUES!

Cahira suddenly stiffened and grabbed Erin’s hand. She pulled the startled she-wolf along as she bolted for the basement. Erin didn’t fight her, sensing her urgency. Beyond the walls of the stately home, she could hear the distant alarm howls and knew the pack was under attack.

Cahira pulled her down into the cellar where there was a heavy metal door. Opening it, she pulled Erin in after her. Then she pulled the door closed and engaged the heavy locks. Erin looked at it thinking it reminded her of a bank vault. In fact, the entire small room was reminiscent of a vault with thick, soundproof walls and an air exchange system.

One wall had several shelves loaded with nonperishable goods and jugs of fresh water. There was also a hot plate and a few pans and other utensils. Opposite that, there was a closet with blankets, pillows and even a couple of collapsible cots. It was certainly a well-stocked safe room.

Cahira moved to a computer at the back of the room. Turning it on, Erin saw they could view the live feed from several cameras dotted around the mansion and its grounds.

“We’ll be safe here,” Cahira assured her.

Erin blinked, looking at her.

“Oh, you aren't connected to the pack link yet,” Cahira frowned. “Rogues are attacking.”

Erin sucked in a breath. She had guessed something major was happening, but she hadn’t considered that possibility. Surely, the king’s pack was the one place safe from rogues. Now, the alert howls made sense, as did Cahira’s reaction.

They were safe, but what about everyone else? Did the hospital have a safe room? What about patients that couldn’t be moved? What about the newborn pups? What about the packhouse and all its staff?

“Easy, Erin! Breathe!” Cahira said, watching her go pale. “Here, sit down, sweetie.”

Cahira ushered her to the small office chair and had her sit down, “Breathe. Deep breaths. In and out. In and out. Breathe, Erin. I can’t have you passing out or Alex might just kill me. Breathe.”

“Mother? Where are you?” Alexander’s voice rang in her mind as if summoned.

“Erin and I are in the safe room under the manor,” Cahira assured him. “We’re fine. But Erin is having a bit of a panic attack.”

“f**k! I’m coming…”

“No, you have to defend the pack. Do what you have to do, I have Erin. She is calming down.”

“…Fine. Watch her carefully.”

“Of course.”

The link closed, and she knew her son was focusing on the fight in front of him. She almost pitied the rogues who had attacked as he would be throwing his full weight at them now to protect his mate. There would be no mercy in him, not that there was ever much in Alexander to begin with. But she had bigger concerns in front of her.

“There, there. Good. Breathe.”

Erin sucked in a deep breath and tried to find a place of calm as her wolf anxiously paced the recesses of her mind. This was not her childhood pack. It was the pack of the King. This pack was much larger, stronger, and amply prepared. And Alexander would protect them.

‘Yes, Mate is very strong,’ Eir agreed, finally settling down.

“Here is some water,” Cahira encouraged her to take a sip. “Drink slowly. There you go.”

Erin followed her advice, sipping from the cup. Her wolf finally seemed calmer, and her heartrate was slowly returning to normal. Cahira rubbed her back, providing a soothing presence as any good Luna would do.

“Feeling better?” Cahira asked.

Erin nodded, but she couldn’t bring a smile to her face. She had gotten so used to sleeping without nightmares she wasn’t prepared for such an acute reaction. Would she ever be able to escape her memories?

‘Maybe we should talk to someone?’ Eir suggested. ‘That Gamma female seemed very kind and knowledgeable.’

‘But we promised…’

‘That was when we were younger. We have our Mate now. He can protect us.’

‘But when he finds out the truth, he won’t want us anymore.’

‘You don’t know that.’

‘You remember what our mother said. No Alpha would want us for a mate. It’s too great of a risk.’

‘Our Mate will.’

‘But…’

‘He will. You can trust him.’

Erin sighed. There was no arguing with her wolf when it came to their mate. Her wolf was confident in that connection, but Erin couldn’t help but doubt it. The shaman of her pack had given her careful warning about the sacrifices she would have to make but also would be required from her mate if he accepted her.

‘You will have to tell him sooner or later,’ Eir reminded. ‘We can’t let him mark us unless he has all the information.’

‘I know.’

“Erin?” Cahira asked. “Is it something you want to talk about?”

She shook her head. If she was going to tell anyone, it needed to be her mate first. After that she would need to decide what she would do next. At the very least, she did still have the wishbone Laverne gave her. If nothing else, it would be her escape if her greatest fears were confirmed. But it wouldn’t be a happy retreat.

Living with the Fae was comfortable and quiet, but it was not the same as the camaraderie and security of being with her own kind. Erin hadn’t realized how much she missed just being around other wolves and the members of this pack had been friendly and welcoming for the most part. If she was being truthful, she really didn’t want to leave. Once they weathered this attack, she needed to make a decision.