The Omega he Rejected

Chapter15

Chapter Fifteen

Rumi couldn’t sleep that night.

Thoughts of what Kael’s curse might be kept her up, even Lyra had mentioned something about his eyes being the way they are because of some curse. Nobody tells her anything around here probably because she’s new and they’re not sure if they could trust her just yet.

Aside from Mira no one else looked at her with contempt so that’s a huge progress.

She tossed and turned. The crickets were louder tonight.

Kael was on night watch tonight she thought maybe she could stop by but decided against it.

Instead she threw on her training clothes and running shoes and decided a run might be the wise choice. She ran into Tomas who was on patrol.

“You know you shouldn’t be out here at this hour, Kael would have a fit when he finds out.”

“i know. The thing is i’m having trouble falling asleep so I thought a little run in the moonlight might help.”

He looked sceptical.

“come on I won’t go too far I promise.”

“okay but don’t take too long.” he warned. “I’ll be keeping an eye out.”

“thanks Tomas I really appreciate this.”

He smiled.

Rumi took off into the woods. The feel of the night air on her face was good and relaxing but she couldn’t shake off the weird feeling of being watched. She’s had to stop a few times because it felt like there was something in the shadows stalking her but each time she stopped the gloomy shadows seemed to stop too.

Maybe she was simply being paranoid.

Rumi woke to heart wrenching howls followed by blood cuddling screams.

She shot off from her bed instantly, heart hammering across her chest. For one disoriented second, instinct dragged her back into old habits and she began to panic thinking she’d overslept then she remembered where she was. She was in Black Hollow, safe and supported.

Another scream echoed outside and Rumi tossed the blankets and hurried toward the door.

Cold air slammed into her immediately the second she stepped outside. The entire camp was awake.

Wolves rushed across the clearing toward the northern tree line while others whispered anxiously near the fire pits. Her stomach knotted at the thought that something was very wrong.

Rumi spotted Lyra near the center of camp.

“What happened?” she asked.

Lyra looked pale.

“They found someone.”

A strange chill ran down Rumi’s spine.

“Who?”

Lyra swallowed hard.

“Tomas.”

Rumi froze.

Tomas? The broad-shouldered wolf who’d smiled at her and said hi on her first morning here.

The one who’d told her to be careful on her midnight run. Her stomach twisted sharply.

“Where’s Kael?”

“He went with the patrol.”

Rumi was already moving before Lyra finished speaking.

“Rumi—”

She pushed through the trees toward the gathering ahead.

The scent of blood hit her first and her steps slowed immediately.

Wolves stood scattered through the forest clearing in tense silence.

No one spoke.

Rumi stopped cold the second she saw the body.

Moon Goddess…

Tomas lay crumpled against the roots of a tree, eyes open toward the sky.

His throat ripped open. Blood soaked the ground beneath him in dark crimson streaks.

Rumi’s stomach lurched violently.

A healer crouched nearby with a grim expression while several patrol wolves searched the surrounding woods.

Kael stood near the body so still.

His silver eyes lifted the second he sensed her approaching and immediately hardened.

“You shouldn’t be here.” he said but Rumi barely heard him. She couldn’t stop staring at Tomas.

The brutality of it. The utter violence.

There were no struggle marks or defensive wounds, just death…Fast and vicious he must not have seen it coming.

“What happened?” she whispered.

Nobody answered immediately. Then finally, Darius spoke quietly.

“No scent trail.”

Rumi frowned weakly. “What?”

“There should be scent everywhere,” Darius muttered. “Rogue, hunter or something…”

Kael stepped toward her slightly.

“Go back to camp.”

Rumi looked at him sharply. “You think I can’t handle this?”

“That's an order."

A flicker of irritation crossed her face, but before she could answer, Mira emerged from deeper within the trees.

Her expression was tense.

“We checked the perimeter. Nothing.”

Her gaze shifted toward Rumi briefly, then towards Tomas’s body and something unreadable flashed through her eyes.

Rumi suddenly felt cold.

“He was on patrol?” she asked quietly.

Darius nodded once. “Last night.”

Rumi swallowed hard because that was the last time she saw him. He was one of the people who was welcoming to her.

The memory hit painfully now.

A strange pressure built behind Rumi’s ribs.

Kael’s voice broke throu

gh her thoughts quietly.

“Rumi.”

She looked up.

“Go back.”

This time she obeyed because she suddenly felt sick.